Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta is the third book in the Ram Chandra series
PLOT: 4/5
CHARACTERS: 4.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 4.5/5
CLIMAX: 4/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 4.5/5
My Musings
After learning a great lesson in patience by waiting for the 3rd book in the Ram Chandra series, I finally got my hands on it in the first week on July 2019.
What had started as an annoying curiosity turned into a mild shock when I discovered that the name of the said book had been changed from Raavan: Orphan of Aryavarta to Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta.
The reasons for the sudden change being unknown to me, my interest was certainly piqued. And hence it was with great inquisitiveness that I sat down to read Raavan.
Read on to know more about my thoughts on the book that kept me waiting for two long years.
What to Expect?
Expect a book that is an ideal blend of fantasy and mythological fiction. Expect a book that, though on the lengthier side, is a fast-paced and racy read.
Expect a book that takes one of the most hated characters from our living history and tells us a fascinating story of his life. A story that moves away from mythology and explores the world of fantasy enthused retelling.
Who Can Read?
The language is a perfect blend of eloquence and simplicity. But, more or less it leans on the easier side. The book can be picked up by any beginner level reader.
How to Go About it?
The best way to read Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta is to first get familiar with the previous two books of the series before delving deeper into the world of Raavan.
Let’s Talk About the Storyline
Raavan is only a young boy when he is made to leave the ashram of his father, Rishi Vishrava.
With the responsibility of looking after his ailing mother and newborn brother Kumbhakaran on his inexperienced shoulders, Raavan along with his Mama, Mareech, sets out to seek work in the kingdom of Kalinga.
Intelligent and shrewd, Raavan quickly moves ahead in life and amasses decent wealth moving on to become one of the most powerful names in Lanka.
This is the story of Raavan which takes us right from his childhood to his adulthood when he finally becomes the King of Lanka.
How good are the characters?
If there are two reasons you should read the book – then they are the characters of Raavan and Kumbhkaran.
Raavan is a very complex character, the full extent of whose personality is never really shown to the reader. He invokes such vastly different kind of emotions in the reader that sometimes it feels very surreal.
He will make you adore him, admire him, detest him, pity him, respect him, loathe him and so much more. Right till the very end, the author manages to surprise us with different shades of Raavan.
Kumbhkaran is yet another character who is admirable, caring and charming. With the kind of innocence and selflessness that only comes with loving someone unconditionally, Kumbhkaran’s dedication and devotion to Raavan is the stuff that legends are made of.
Let’s talk About the Writing Style
Amish makes good use of descriptions and extra bits of information to add to the rich tapestry of the book.
Even though certain scenes and situations are very vividly described, the book doesn’t slow down in pace.
There is a kind of nervous energy that makes one restless while reading the book, and the odd bits of mystery thrown every once in a while only adds to its many intrigues.
Amish does well to skip the unimportant chapters (or rather years) of Raavan’s life and only talks about the ones that are life-changing or important to the story.
I love how the bromance and the subtle (and also a very respectable) kind of romance are included in the story to give it an edge above the rest. It’s a very well written book, indeed!
How good is the climax?
The climax of borders on average. The kind of anticipation it creates while leaving the readers again on a cliffhanger is something that everyone should look forward to.
But apart from that, the end of the book doesn’t come with a conclusion (not even to the subplots), it just teases the reader some more and gives them a peek into what can be expected from the next book in the series.
It All Boils Down to the Entertainment Quotient
Raavan is worth every minute that you spend reading it.
With the classic combination of action and adventure doused in a generous dose of mythology and fantasy, the book appeals to almost every kind of reader.
That Amish decides to pour in a generous amount of information and detailing is like the icing on top.
In writing this book, Amish has moved away from the style of regular writers of mythological fiction and proved his mettle as one of India’s most popular literary star.
It is different from any other fiction that has ever been written on this great villain of the Hindu heartland and when it comes to entertainment, it is surely a great one.
My Final Verdict
Just go for it!
Read Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta if
- You are looking for a mythological fantasy that has a bit of everything – action, adventure, subtle romance, a good dose of bromance and a generous dose of drama.
- You are looking for a 5-star entertainer.
- You have been patiently waiting for the third book of the Ram Chandra series.
- Just like me, you are a fan of Amish and his books.
Skip it if
- You don’t enjoy mythological cum fantasy fiction.
- You are expecting to read unadulterated mythology.
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