"A vividly epic introduction to a brand new world in this fantasy debut that recreates a major Indian poem and boldly sings with echos of Game of Thrones."
A roaring and fiery start to a new fantasy series where a prophecy declares the Son of Darkness is due to rise. This is a reimagining of Vyasa’s epic and revered Mahabharata from ancient India, it also reminded me of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series in its intricate complexity. The author’s note at the beginning does say to bear in mind that his novel is completely different to what is known about the poem through other books and TV shows. In his newly imagined world, beloved characters will potentially take different journeys to those expected. On a personal level some of the names, including Krishna and Karna hovered in my awareness but I came to this story with no real knowledge and decided not to seek further information before I started. There is a very handy list of characters and a map at the beginning, my advice is to study and let them settle to become known to you before you enter. The chapters slide into a slow burn, a long introduction as it were, until the blazing action really explodes. It took me a while to find and feel the connecting patterns and pathways. I know that the story is due to continue in another novel, and believe this epic world with its myriad of characters does need to be properly established in your minds eye. The further I read, the more I sank into the deep inky depths. My emotions gathered as I began to understand the characters, and the plot took flight. There is a desperate darkness that runs through the novel, yet hope remains. I was almost reading between my fingers as this tale began to close, as a battle of immense proportions awaits. Sitting on the edge of a burning precipice, Sons of Darkness is a monumental debut.
THE HOUSE OF THE DRAGON MEETS SUCCESSION IN AN EPIC REIMAGINING OF THE MAHABHARATA
'An unforgettable wild journey set in re-imagined Vedic India' SF Book Review
'Like Game of Thrones in an Indian alternative universe... exhilarating... heralds the arrival of a special new talent' Dan Jones
'Mahabharata imbued with A Song of Ice and Fire, The First Law, & MalazanBook of the Fallen' Novel NotionsSOME BALLADS ARE INKED IN BLOOD
Bled dry by violent confrontations with the Magadhan Empire, the Mathuran Republic simmers on the brink of oblivion. Senator Krishna and his third wife Satyabhama have put their plans in motion, both within and beyond the Republic's blood-soaked borders, to protect it from total annihilation.
But they are soon to discover that neither gold nor alliances last forever - and that they are not the only players on the board.
Mati, Pirate-Princess of Kalinga, has decided to mend her ways and become a good wife. But old habits die hard, especially when one habitually uses murder to settle old scores.
Brooding and beautiful Karna hopes to bury his brutal past, but finds that destiny is a miser when it comes to granting second chances.
Hero-turned-torturer Shakuni limps through a path of daggers. Meanwhile, his foes and woes multiply, leaving little time for vengeance.
Their lives are about to become yet more difficult, as a cast of sinister queens, naive kings, pious assassins and ravenous priests are converging where the Son of Darkness is prophesied to rise... even as forgotten Gods prepare to play their hand.
