lprongs's review against another edition
Soft DNF because I didn't really know what "grimdark fantasy" meant and my life is effed up enough right now, thanks. Still very intrigued by the concept and would love to give it another try when my real life isn't so grim, although I'm a bit hesitant given what appears to be an uncomfortable amount of misogyny (unclear yet whether it's the character or author).
aureliasepia's review against another edition
5.0
Sons of Darkness is truly the grittiness and darkness of Game of Thrones meets the glory and beauty of the Mahabharata. It is both Gourav Mohanty’s debut novel and the very first grimdark epic fantasy coming out of India. To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. Mohanty writes with far more skill than I would have thought possible for a new author, and Son’s of Darkness is no mere Mahabharata retelling.
I came to this book already a fan of the Mahabharata but was unsure of what to expect upon hearing it was a retelling partly inspired by Game of Thrones. Having finished it, I am so glad I took the chance to read Sons of Darkness. It is not a retelling but a complete and utter reimagining of epic portions. Set in Aryavrat, a world full of warring factions where mythological beasts such as griffins fly in the sky, and Daevas plot against and trick humans.
There is no truly definable good or evil amongst the cast of characters, every faction has seemingly good reasons for their actions and machinations. This moral greyness lends delightful complexity to the story. Every character has been carefully crafted, fully fleshed out and most importantly, they’re intriguing. Old favorites such as Krishna and Karna are given new life, nearly unrecognizable in the best possible way, yet retain some of their best traits from the original epic. While original characters such as Masha and Rain shine right beside them. I particularly enjoyed Krishna, who in this reimagining is a clever kingmaker. As well as his strong, warrior wife Satyabhama, it was enjoyable to see such a strong woman command respect as the War Mistress. Shakuni’s character, while an unpleasant torturer, was also one of my favorites, he was written in such a way that made him simultaneous hard but fun to hate.
The world building is top tier, and incredibly refreshing. Especially if you are tired of the tendency for epic fantasies to be set in medieval Europe. The rich beauty, colorfulness and diversity of India shines in Aryavrat, while also being thoroughly unique and unlike any other fantasy setting I have had the pleasure of experiencing thus far.
The only places the novel struggled in my opinion was pacing in the initial 20% of the story. It was slow; while incredibly intriguing, the action seemed to lag behind setting up the world and characters, which is not uncommon in epic fantasy, and did not bother me. However, I can see how some might find it hard to push through that first bit of the book. Yet if you do, the story’s pace does pick up and you are rewarded again and again as the stakes are continuously raised and action becomes essentially nonstop as you reach the later quarter of the book.
All in all, I am very excited to see where the next book in the Raag of Rta series takes us. I am thoroughly enchanted by Gourav Mohanty’s writing and cannot wait to see how his career progresses. Here’s to hoping we eventually get a Sons of Darkness movie or show, this tale is perfect for adaptation.
----
A big thank you to Netgalley and Gourav Mohanty for allowing me the chance to read this wonderful novel. All opinions are my own.
I came to this book already a fan of the Mahabharata but was unsure of what to expect upon hearing it was a retelling partly inspired by Game of Thrones. Having finished it, I am so glad I took the chance to read Sons of Darkness. It is not a retelling but a complete and utter reimagining of epic portions. Set in Aryavrat, a world full of warring factions where mythological beasts such as griffins fly in the sky, and Daevas plot against and trick humans.
There is no truly definable good or evil amongst the cast of characters, every faction has seemingly good reasons for their actions and machinations. This moral greyness lends delightful complexity to the story. Every character has been carefully crafted, fully fleshed out and most importantly, they’re intriguing. Old favorites such as Krishna and Karna are given new life, nearly unrecognizable in the best possible way, yet retain some of their best traits from the original epic. While original characters such as Masha and Rain shine right beside them. I particularly enjoyed Krishna, who in this reimagining is a clever kingmaker. As well as his strong, warrior wife Satyabhama, it was enjoyable to see such a strong woman command respect as the War Mistress. Shakuni’s character, while an unpleasant torturer, was also one of my favorites, he was written in such a way that made him simultaneous hard but fun to hate.
The world building is top tier, and incredibly refreshing. Especially if you are tired of the tendency for epic fantasies to be set in medieval Europe. The rich beauty, colorfulness and diversity of India shines in Aryavrat, while also being thoroughly unique and unlike any other fantasy setting I have had the pleasure of experiencing thus far.
The only places the novel struggled in my opinion was pacing in the initial 20% of the story. It was slow; while incredibly intriguing, the action seemed to lag behind setting up the world and characters, which is not uncommon in epic fantasy, and did not bother me. However, I can see how some might find it hard to push through that first bit of the book. Yet if you do, the story’s pace does pick up and you are rewarded again and again as the stakes are continuously raised and action becomes essentially nonstop as you reach the later quarter of the book.
All in all, I am very excited to see where the next book in the Raag of Rta series takes us. I am thoroughly enchanted by Gourav Mohanty’s writing and cannot wait to see how his career progresses. Here’s to hoping we eventually get a Sons of Darkness movie or show, this tale is perfect for adaptation.
----
A big thank you to Netgalley and Gourav Mohanty for allowing me the chance to read this wonderful novel. All opinions are my own.
madisoncib's review against another edition
4.0
First and foremost, I would like to say how much I loved Satyabhama's character. Seriously, she was the highlight of this book for me. The Silver Wolves, too. Alright, on another note, I absolutely enjoyed this book. The prose, the political intrigue, and the grimdark quality certainly molds this story into something really entertaining to read. There's a lot of interesting narrative techniques, too, and the rate at which (as well as how) information is unveiled makes way for a lot of clever and fun revelations. While I was reading, each chapter played out like a high-budget fantasy TV show reminiscent of Game of Thrones. If political machinations interest you, I would definitely recommend reading this. Also, Mohanty's character work is definitely to be applauded. Most, if not all, perspectives were interesting to follow, and I can't wait to see how the sequel plays out.
At first, getting really engrossed with the story took a bit, especially after being separated from Muchuk Und so quickly. The prologue was so strong, and it really caught my attention. After that, it was definitely a little slow-moving as we were introduced to the central characters, however, it was still really enjoyable. In the end, things certainly picked up speed, and everything wove together in the Battle of Mathura. Incredible war sequences. Incredible everything. I would be remiss, also, not to mention Satyabhama's duel. It was so good. Though, I did want a little more from Mati's character. She seeps into the background towards the end, and I was expecting more from her character arc.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC!
At first, getting really engrossed with the story took a bit, especially after being separated from Muchuk Und so quickly. The prologue was so strong, and it really caught my attention. After that, it was definitely a little slow-moving as we were introduced to the central characters, however, it was still really enjoyable. In the end, things certainly picked up speed, and everything wove together in the Battle of Mathura. Incredible war sequences. Incredible everything. I would be remiss, also, not to mention Satyabhama's duel. It was so good. Though, I did want a little more from Mati's character. She seeps into the background towards the end, and I was expecting more from her character arc.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC!
library_baker's review against another edition
Too big and slow for current mood. May revisit in a few years
_yumitsang_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dilipc01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
loe_ming's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
Incredible Mahabharata retelling, I need more
Incredible Mahabharata retelling, I need more
sameerhusa1n's review against another edition
4.0
I have a massive fascination with mythology, especially with the mythology of my own country. But I have found the Indian landscape for mythological fantastical retelling a very bland genre.
Until that is, Sons of Darkness released.
Sons of Darkness, as advertised, reminds me the most of Game of Thrones. The constant power struggle between great nations, politically motivated actions of individuals, the blurred binary of good and evil characters, and a lot more.
I have never been well-versed in the original source material, so, I went into the story completely blind. Since then, I have done a lot of research on Mahabharata and have come to hold a great deal of respect for it. (I always hold books in high regard when they make me a more cultured individual)
The book follows a huge cast of characters and has a good hold on juggling all the beats so that one storyline does not overshadow another one.
The characters hold significant similarities to characters from Game of Thrones:
• Krishna was the Tyrion Lannister of Mathura, using his brains over muscles to resolve complex situations.
• Nala went through a similar set of story beats as Arya, motivated by her thirst for revenge.
• Shishupal was the Jon Snow, falling into situations he would want to take no part in.
• Shakuni reminded me of Littlefinger with his constant scheming.
Shishupal's journey:
Satyabhama's journey:
Karna's journey:
Shakuni's journey (Favorite):
I cannot end the review without mentioning the Battle of Mathura itself. It was a grand and satisfying culmination of a war set-up from the beginning of the book. It was a messy affair with battle tactics and formations thrown together at the spur of the moment, which makes sense in the context.
If I have to spell out my problems with the books, although small, I'll have to mention the whole war arc excluding half of the characters that were built up in the first half of the book. I also had a problem with most female representation in the book being limited to the binary of being either a strong assassin or a weak princess - not that I complain, but I do wish for a broader set of characteristics.
Problem with the ending:
All in all, it was a fantastic read that exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait for the next installment.
4/5
Until that is, Sons of Darkness released.
Sons of Darkness, as advertised, reminds me the most of Game of Thrones. The constant power struggle between great nations, politically motivated actions of individuals, the blurred binary of good and evil characters, and a lot more.
I have never been well-versed in the original source material, so, I went into the story completely blind. Since then, I have done a lot of research on Mahabharata and have come to hold a great deal of respect for it. (I always hold books in high regard when they make me a more cultured individual)
The book follows a huge cast of characters and has a good hold on juggling all the beats so that one storyline does not overshadow another one.
The characters hold significant similarities to characters from Game of Thrones:
• Krishna was the Tyrion Lannister of Mathura, using his brains over muscles to resolve complex situations.
• Nala went through a similar set of story beats as Arya, motivated by her thirst for revenge.
• Shishupal was the Jon Snow, falling into situations he would want to take no part in.
• Shakuni reminded me of Littlefinger with his constant scheming.
Shishupal's journey:
Spoiler
Seeing Shishupal try to survive being stuck in the dead center of an ongoing war - a war his nation was going to wage if the normal course of action took place - his internal struggle to choose a side to root for was an interesting position for the character.Satyabhama's journey:
Spoiler
Satyabhama's arc took an unexpected turn at the end of the book. It was a ballsy move by the writer and made me admire her character - and the author's will - even more.Karna's journey:
Spoiler
Out of all the characters, Karna made the most deep impact on me. He was one of the few characters with good intentions all around, always being run over by his luck.Shakuni's journey (Favorite):
Spoiler
His intentions were always clouded with undertones of revenge. A selfish yet by far the more interesting character to read in the book. He always understood what people felt but remained undeterred in carrying out practical actions.I cannot end the review without mentioning the Battle of Mathura itself. It was a grand and satisfying culmination of a war set-up from the beginning of the book. It was a messy affair with battle tactics and formations thrown together at the spur of the moment, which makes sense in the context.
If I have to spell out my problems with the books, although small, I'll have to mention the whole war arc excluding half of the characters that were built up in the first half of the book. I also had a problem with most female representation in the book being limited to the binary of being either a strong assassin or a weak princess - not that I complain, but I do wish for a broader set of characteristics.
Problem with the ending:
Spoiler
One final problem I would mention is the cathartic finale becoming a deus ex machina. I see this happen in a lot of fantasy where the impossible problem is resolved by an unexpected force (in this case, Muchuk Und) and it just takes me out of the reading experience.All in all, it was a fantastic read that exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait for the next installment.
4/5
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What an interesting and engaging high fantasy!! Was definitely confused at the start and got the details wrong/assigned them to the wrong sides, but by page 80, was all over it and was super intrigued by everyone's story and their connection to the grander picture. I have only read the story about the queen and her five husbands, so this was such a good retelling, but explaining a wider sphere of characters and influences. Keen for the next book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, War, Alcohol, Animal death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Rape
ecarper's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.75