Book: The Ayodhya Alliance (Bharat Collection #8)
Author: Ashwin Sanghi
Publisher: HarperCollins India
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Do you believe that the answers to our future lie in our past?
Seven thousand years ago, as he lay dying on the battlefield of Lanka,
Ravana whispered a secret to Lakshmana about a mysterious technology that held
the key to Ayodhya's prosperity and the world's destiny. For centuries,
desperately sought by explorers, marauders and emperors alike, it has been kept
hidden, safeguarded by warriors bound by an ancient oath. Now, as tensions
escalate along India's volatile borders and a crucial defence project teeters
on the brink of failure, Indian industrialist Aditya Pillai and South Korean
technocrat Somi Kim are thrust into a mission that will upend everything they
know. The two realize they must act fast, but never once do they anticipate
that they will stumble upon startling revelations about a miraculous force that
once connected Ayodhya to Kailasa, the Pandyan Empire, Rome, Damascus, Thailand
and Korea. As the forces of past and present collide, a question looms large:
who will harness the power of the ultimate enigma, and at what cost? The
Ayodhya Alliance spans continents and centuries, seamlessly weaving together
science, legend and history in a breathless race against time. In this
sweeping, unputdownable story of intrigue, betrayal, survival and love, master
storyteller Ashwin Sanghi casts his web wider than ever before, spinning once
again a riveting, edge-of-the-seat thriller.
The Bharat Collection by Ashwin has always blended mythology, history and fiction admirably for the past 7 books and he does the same in this book as well. The Ayodhya Alliance manages to take discrete events from history and mythology and tell us the tale of this secret that spans millennia and crosses borders as we know them. Ashwin’s writing is visual and powerful. As you read through the story, you can visualize the scenes, be it in 2025, or almost 5000 years ago, and that helps you become a part of the narrative. While the story is fictional, the facts that forms a part of the narrative are very well researched. As a reader, you are compelled to look up a few facts and that strengthens your connection to the story. Another aspect of the book I really loved was the way in which the author takes you back in time, one step at a time, easing you into the narrative. The decision to include a timescale that moves with the story was a great visual tool that helps you stay in touch with the primary plot. The writing is brilliant as usual and you are hooked right from the first page till the last.
The book not just focuses on the mythological stories, but also on the power
of love, relationships and friendship which form an integral part of the storytelling.
Through the story, Ashwin shows that while we might be separated by borders and
languages, our cultures are more similar than dissimilar, and it would be a
good experience to keep an eye out while exploring historical locations. The
idea that history repeats itself is presented so subtly and beautifully that you
almost smile at the realization in the end.
Coming to the characters, I liked how the author has created these characters
based on real-life historical figures that form a critical part of the book. Starting
from Aditya Pillai, I liked how he creates this resilient industrialist who
loves to take up impossible challenge, and when he given one, how he decides to
take that up. Somi Kim was another character I really admired for her presence
of mind, and her hold on history of not just her country, but the interlinkages
with the world history and mythology. While we have these characters in the
present time, the characters 2000 years ago are equally resilient and wonderful.
Padmasen’s character is wonderfully penned, and I liked how he shows resilience
and strength in the face of adversity. Equally important were the characters of
Mithra and Soju, specially how they adjusted to their situations and took up
the mantle when it was asked of them. But apart from all, there is one
character that stood out for me was that of Suriratna through her courage,
willpower and the ability to think on her feet. Her character was someone I
would really take inspiration from.
Overall, this is a book that is highly recommended for anyone looking to read a wonderfully written mythological-thriller that will help you look at geopolitics today in a completely different light. The book scores a 4.90/5 for me.
Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a Bookstore near you.
Check out my review of the previous books in the series:
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