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swar28's review against another edition
3.0
The book gave away a lot of elements of surprise, to be honest. But overall, compared to Ram, this was definitely better.
Waiting to see how the 3 books would now come together in the 4th one.
Waiting to see how the 3 books would now come together in the 4th one.
voodoo_dexter's review against another edition
4.0
The author certainly has a grasp at the retelling of mythological stories. The interwovenness of all three books certainly keeps the reader in anticipation. Also, Spoiler Alert, the cliffhanger at the end of the third book in the series has me already anticipating the next-in-line book(s). There are certain plots that felt rather unexplored or maybe it's the fodder for the next book(s), but just too many of such plot developments can lead to disappointments. Anywho, the character building is impeccable, and to add the time skips in the entire trilogy certainly adds up to the expectations from the author.
lucifer_melz's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookpup's review against another edition
4.0
I'm blaming Vishwamitra for everything. He can go somewhere where he can't harm them all. Raavan does have a bit of honor. Kumbhkarn is the sweetest and I stand by my word.
I can't wait to see what will happen next in the series but I'm not sure the author has announced that yet.
I can't wait to see what will happen next in the series but I'm not sure the author has announced that yet.
curlyhead's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
deepikaks_2006's review against another edition
4.0
The general opinion of Raavan has always been that of a ruthless villain hated by all, the one who kidnapped Sita, and defeated and killed by Ram. Here, the character Raavan, Enemy of Aryavarta is given a whole new dimension that we might have heard about but never cared to venture further into. I enjoyed a lot of aspects of the book like the portrayal of the protagonist( antagonist in this case too) as a painter where the depth of his love is explored. A brilliant chapter where Raavan makes beloved brother Kumbha read a beautiful poem he wrote is quite a contrast to later in his life when Raavan is tired of communicating with his brother who is trying to lead him in the path of Dharma. An honorable mention about the character portrayal of Kumbhakaran has to be made since it was not just a blatant character known to everyone as a person who sleeps for long durations and just fought the war in the end,no. He is much more that that, an educated , caring, dharmic( only too blinded by his love for his brother) son, friend and brother. The mention about the Sabarimala tradition and Kamakhya temple was a very good addition. It might seem like he is driven by only one emotion but as we all know an emotion is conceived differently by everyone. So here we are given a man who loved to the extent of mindless destruction. So go ahead and read this book to see Raavan in all his glory that created and destroyed him eventually. Kudos to Amish sir for being able to bring such a complex character to life, also deciding to show us the face of this brilliant mastermind/villain on the cover as a portrayal of exploring his character in all its entirety.
uditnair24's review against another edition
4.0
I was always of the firm opinion that raavan's character needed more explanation and understanding. But all we witnessed was the demonised presentation of one of the most powerful characters. The author simply takes you through this journey and gives various dimensions of the character. To put it literally the book was actually gripping and unputdownable. Another thing which strikes me is the presentation of ideas and facts in between through the story. Like how temples were a sociocultural hub and how Indian concepts like dharma, niyoga, etc were defined and comprehended. Indeed it's a great read for all out there.
vigneswara_prabhu's review against another edition
3.0
The third entry in the Ramachandra Series by Amish, focuses on the childhood and life of Raavan, the titular antagonist, whose final battle with our hero Ram is to set to be one between good & evil. But in order to define evil, we need to understand it. Which is what writer Amish has set about exploring in this story.
Raavan's rise to be the evil villain strangling the sub-continent of Sapta Sindhu starts from a place many readers would by now have guessed. Born as a Naga with deformities, and harboring certain homicidal psychopathic tendencies, the neglect he and his brother faced from their renowned sage father, sowed the seeds for his hatred.
But what truly pushed him over the edge of insanity and villainy, was another tragedy. Raavan, who grew up resentful of everyone who was not his own, had placed in his mind the idealized version of someone whom he saw as his salvation. Someone who personified for him, everything that was good and noble in this world. And through her, at one point, Raavan was able to reconcile with his darker impulses, and persuaded to use his considerable wealth and intellect, for the betterment of the nation.
Unfortunately, this hopeful future, where Raavan would shape to become the hero of his own story, and savior of the nation, would come to nought, as the greed and folly of weak men, robbed of him, the sole light that served as his moral guide point. Her death, robbed of him any sense of salvation or peace; as he allowed the dark passenger within him to take over, and unleash the full terror of its fury. So much was his grief, that he cursed the land that caused her death, and forever condemned it to ruination.
Having read that, I got flashbacks of [b: Batman: The Killing Joke|96358|Batman The Killing Joke|Alan Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346331835l/96358._SX50_.jpg|551787], where one bad day gave birth to one of the most sadistic, depraved and unhinged creatures that wears the skin of man.
And a thing that I like about Raavan's bad day, is that it's not as if he was a good man, who went through continued trauma turned to evil. But Raavan was always a conflicted man in terms of morality, one capable of great love for his own, while inflicting grievous suffering on those that are not. All he did, all that was done to him, had brick by brick, constructed the villain known as the Lankesh, the Iraiva. The one chance that he had for redemption, was snuffed out, due to fate and perhaps karma, to ensure that he would stay on this path of tyranny and self-destruction. In doing so, he becomes the perfect antagonist, for the Machiavellian Vishwamithra and the Malayaputhras to use, as a figure head to unify the rest under the banner of Rama.
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Towards the final act of the book, there is however one part of the story which I didn't love all that much. The revelation that the feared indomitable Raavana, his right-hand Kumbakarna, as well as Lanka, the most powerful kingdom in Sapt Sindhu, were paper dragons. Ones who projected a veneer of strength and formidability. While Raavan himself and Kumbakarna had grown weak due to being the victim of a the Asurasthra. Their armies were ravaged due to the spread of an 'unknown' plague across Lanka. (One guess as to who the masterminds behind that might be). And the Lankan empire as a whole is a hollow superpower, who could crumble after a strong breeze.
While I understand this is to setup events for the eventual confrontation in the final book; we feel almost robbed of the true underdog battle we were expecting when Ram would be forced go up against the might of Lanka & Raavan.
I haven't read the final book, but let's hope that the story wraps up nicely in the final volume.
Raavan's rise to be the evil villain strangling the sub-continent of Sapta Sindhu starts from a place many readers would by now have guessed. Born as a Naga with deformities, and harboring certain homicidal psychopathic tendencies, the neglect he and his brother faced from their renowned sage father, sowed the seeds for his hatred.
But what truly pushed him over the edge of insanity and villainy, was another tragedy. Raavan, who grew up resentful of everyone who was not his own, had placed in his mind the idealized version of someone whom he saw as his salvation. Someone who personified for him, everything that was good and noble in this world. And through her, at one point, Raavan was able to reconcile with his darker impulses, and persuaded to use his considerable wealth and intellect, for the betterment of the nation.
Unfortunately, this hopeful future, where Raavan would shape to become the hero of his own story, and savior of the nation, would come to nought, as the greed and folly of weak men, robbed of him, the sole light that served as his moral guide point. Her death, robbed of him any sense of salvation or peace; as he allowed the dark passenger within him to take over, and unleash the full terror of its fury. So much was his grief, that he cursed the land that caused her death, and forever condemned it to ruination.
Having read that, I got flashbacks of [b: Batman: The Killing Joke|96358|Batman The Killing Joke|Alan Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346331835l/96358._SX50_.jpg|551787], where one bad day gave birth to one of the most sadistic, depraved and unhinged creatures that wears the skin of man.
And a thing that I like about Raavan's bad day, is that it's not as if he was a good man, who went through continued trauma turned to evil. But Raavan was always a conflicted man in terms of morality, one capable of great love for his own, while inflicting grievous suffering on those that are not. All he did, all that was done to him, had brick by brick, constructed the villain known as the Lankesh, the Iraiva. The one chance that he had for redemption, was snuffed out, due to fate and perhaps karma, to ensure that he would stay on this path of tyranny and self-destruction. In doing so, he becomes the perfect antagonist, for the Machiavellian Vishwamithra and the Malayaputhras to use, as a figure head to unify the rest under the banner of Rama.
--------------------------
Towards the final act of the book, there is however one part of the story which I didn't love all that much. The revelation that the feared indomitable Raavana, his right-hand Kumbakarna, as well as Lanka, the most powerful kingdom in Sapt Sindhu, were paper dragons. Ones who projected a veneer of strength and formidability. While Raavan himself and Kumbakarna had grown weak due to being the victim of a the Asurasthra. Their armies were ravaged due to the spread of an 'unknown' plague across Lanka. (One guess as to who the masterminds behind that might be). And the Lankan empire as a whole is a hollow superpower, who could crumble after a strong breeze.
While I understand this is to setup events for the eventual confrontation in the final book; we feel almost robbed of the true underdog battle we were expecting when Ram would be forced go up against the might of Lanka & Raavan.
I haven't read the final book, but let's hope that the story wraps up nicely in the final volume.
tanzid's review against another edition
5.0
As usual Amish mesmerized his readers with amazing story-telling and marvelous plot-line. One couldn't help but falling in love with Raavan. He seized the reigns of his own destiny, faught for it, and paid for it. Even the darkest of soul have a star in its heart. Raavan and Vedabati is the proof of that.
And the way Amish weaved the tale! Truly amazing.
And the way Amish weaved the tale! Truly amazing.
pransu_123's review against another edition
5.0
Amish's writeups are filled with suspense and humanising the so called legendary characters
Ravan, the book written from the perspective of the mighty villain of the Ramayana gives a clearer overview of how a disrupted childhood and youth can make a person violent and ruthless.
He was no wonder a great enemy of Aryavartha but his ruthlessness largely persisted because of the level of hatred he had for his father and everyone else as a cause and effect, such as being mistreated for being a Naga or because of he death of his beloved when he was young.
Ravan, the book written from the perspective of the mighty villain of the Ramayana gives a clearer overview of how a disrupted childhood and youth can make a person violent and ruthless.
He was no wonder a great enemy of Aryavartha but his ruthlessness largely persisted because of the level of hatred he had for his father and everyone else as a cause and effect, such as being mistreated for being a Naga or because of he death of his beloved when he was young.