Sunday, 11 August 2024

Nadir (The Empress of Indraprastha # 3)-Sonali Raje

Book: Nadir (The Empress of Indraprastha # 3)
Author: Sonali Raje
Publisher: Vishwakarma Publications

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if your life was its Nadir?

The Empress of Indraprastha series takes a unique approach to the Mahabharat. It focuses on one current issue of societal relevance in each installment of a story told through Draupadi’s lens. Part 1 focused on unconventional marriages and gender equality, part 2 on women’s empowerment. Part 3 addresses maternal support for married daughters, and tackles the canker of sexual harassment by highlighting the victim-perpetrator pairs of Draupadi-Keechak and Arjun-Urvashi. In this fictional retelling of the epic, discover a never-seen-before persona of Draupadi, the formidable warrior queen, who stands tall despite her life being at its – Nadir.

Book 3 takes off from the events after the Raajsooya Yagya at Indraprastha and the events that take place after the Pandavas are invited to Hastinapur for a game of dice by the Kauravas. The book starts with the events at Hastinapur and what happens when the Pandavas lose the game, and with that everything that they wagered. What stood out for me, and what sets the tone for the book was the powerful writing of the scene when the disrobing of Draupadi is written. The way that particular scene is written shows you what to expect in the book. The manner in which Draupadi retains her elegance and power in the face of adversity was truly amazing. Another aspect of the book that I loved was that how the same point is recalled during the end of the book in Matsya and the manner in which the actions of the Pandavas are different. Another part of the book which is wonderfully written is when Draupadi visits Hidimbaa and the events that take place there. What works in the book is its impeccable storytelling and the plot which keeps you turning the pages. Another aspect of the book that I loved was that the characters are neither black or white, there are shades of grey and the author does not restrain herself on presenting the moral dilemmas that the characters face, specially in the Hastinapur court after the game of dice. Skillfully retaining key stories from the Mahabharata, while blending in her concept of highlighting an issue of societal relevance in the plot.

Sonali’s writing is powerful and keeps you engaged as you turn the pages of the book. The book is longer than the previous two, however the pacy plot doesn’t let you feel the increased length. The events of this book set the tone for the next books nicely and with the side plots developing, I am excited to see how she proceeds and the social issues that she takes up in the upcoming books. The issue of maternal support for married women, especially after the disrobing in the Hastinapur court. I really liked the way she structured it. With each book in the series raising the bar, I am excited to read the remaining books and to see how she brings the story to a close. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

Check out my review of the previous books in the series

 

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