This review of the second part of the Shiva trilogy follows my earlier blog where I have reviewed
the first part 'The Immortals of Meluha'.
The second part 'The
Secret of the Nagas' picked up where the author had left off with a skillful Naga
targeting Shiva’s consort Sati after the attack of Mount Mandar and killing his friend Brahaspati. Shiva vows to hunt down the Nagas to avenge Brahaspati. Along this quest, he searches for answers to understand what evil is and if the Nagas can lead him to this secret. As
promised by the very attractive book cover and the blurbs from other reviewers published on the book, this second part of the trilogy is action packed. Perhaps a little too action packed. Shiva battles the Nagas, the Nagas battle
with others. There are also fights with the Brangas who support the Nagas. A
mission to combat ‘bandit’ Parsuram is led by Shiva while Sati duels with tigers. A second love story apart from that of Shiva and Sati is also
thrown in. Kartik is born to Shiva and Sati and long lost siblings are
re-united in this second book. With so much happening, I honestly
felt like I was watching a hindi television serial that had twists and turns and
ample ‘dramebaazi’ on every page of the book. However, what irked me the most
was the revelation of the secret of the Nagas, their identity and their
delineation. The pleasure I had felt in reading familiar names in a fresh light
evaporated when justice was not done to these very revered and familiar names.
For those who like
racy books, possibly this book might be a treat. I have to admit, I was hooked
to the book, but it gave me the impression, that the author had almost thrown
away the opportunity of writing a classic thriller by merely being crisp in his
writing. I was hoping, the author would
lend a little more color to Shiva’s character apart from his blue throat in
this volume, but alas!, Shiva remained very one dimensional, almost to the
point where, he became just a figure head for the legend that He was out to
destroy Evil in the world.
On the positive side, this book is certainly very vivid in
its descriptions and would make an eminently watchable movie. The intense
action in every battle and the internal turmoil that Shiva was undergoing has
been expressed well. I could almost hear the drums in the war and see the blood
shed. Shiva’s discovery of the deep underlying message that Evil is a matter of
perspective was well narrated, and I could almost see him in the ancient
temples and hear his conversations with the Vasudev Pandits who helped him in
this discovery.
I would give this book a three star rating out of five for
its racy plot and innovative story. A
crisper story, a different choice of words to replace commonly used Indian
phrases such as ‘what rubbish’, better characterization and good editing will
probably elevate this book to a much higher level. I do hope that while the
author tones down what is not necessary, the high energy levels that are in the
first two books continue in the third and final book of the trilogy, 'The Oath
of the Vayuputras’. I look forwad to reading the final version and hope for a
spectacular finish!
