I love something which is based on character. Character is building block of any story. Plots, dialogue and other in story become filler then. We can associated or think something like brand name - when Amitabh is on screen - certain things and quality are expected out of him. His screen presence will matter - does not matter how messy at a times plot could be.
Same thing happen when you have a story based on well defined character. You will expect - tough decisions and reaction as per his attitude and viewpoint will come out. But char building is not so easy. painfully you have to build series of events and plot - which will define the basic feature of this man.
If you’ve read the first part of’Shiva Trilogy’ i.e.’The Immortals of Meluha’, then this is a MUST read for you. Otherwise, you can’t even understand the concept and plot depiction of the story. One needs to go through the first part to grasp and enjoy this wonderful sequel.
This is mythology, history and social practices of a society very well woven into a nice story. Shiva a tribal leader slowly rises to prominence as a powerful leader may be subsequently into God. The most beautiful part of the story is that where the perfect society of Meluhans dumping their imperfect across the Vindhyas who are the unfortunate ones with additional limbs, distorted face and mutilated bodies born so.While every care has been taken by the author not to distort the social setup he has let his imagination run freely linking up events through the common thread of love and hatred. The names he has chosen are more geographically identifiable. The story has managed to weave in Shiva as Pasupathi from Meluha, Parvathi the Mother Goddess, Ram as the supreme Lord of the times, Ganesh the elephant headed God and Kali the black form of Parvati, the Naga Queen, The axe wielding Parasurama who kills the kshatriya hordes, the weakestform of warfare which we indians were not familiar with in those days the sea or inland water warfare and a scientifically produced Amrita bhana. What a mix and what timelines has he managed to bring together! Pure fiction and mesmerising. Looking forward to the last volume of the series.