pretty_little_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Never having read about Chanakya before, apart from the basics in history textbooks, I was eager to pick up this book and I am so very glad I didn’t wait any longer. Chanakya: The Legend Begins, is a well-written historical fiction book that gripped me from the very first pages. It’s not long either and so I finished it under 3 hours, and I wasn’t even reading it continuously.
The plot was well-made and I feel that it will prove a good foundation for the upcoming sequels in the trilogy. The events were all well-paced and the string of connection which led one to the other, was also well held. The pacing we see was good without any rushing and it proves just as well.
The characters are all worth noticing- whether they are good or bad. In Chanakya, or Vishnu Gupta, as he was earlier known, we see s mere child, striving to be the best among people seniors to him by decades. His drive and eagerness to learn for- the thirst for knowledge, and also his intellect leave a lot to be desired in the reader. And justly so. I am eager to read more about the prodigy. In the cunning Prime Minister, Maha-amatya Kartikeya, we can also notice the shining intellect and thirst for power. In some ways, he and Chanakya are no doubt, very alike. I also feel that Chandra will play a bigger role in things to come.
The writing style was also good and the editing well done. I commend the writer for starting this exciting series and admit that I am now committed to finding out what happens next.
I genuinely loved the book and I rate it a 4/5 stars. Will definitely pick it up again just before the release of the second part, so that I am all refreshed and ready to delve into the politics of Magadha.
The plot was well-made and I feel that it will prove a good foundation for the upcoming sequels in the trilogy. The events were all well-paced and the string of connection which led one to the other, was also well held. The pacing we see was good without any rushing and it proves just as well.
The characters are all worth noticing- whether they are good or bad. In Chanakya, or Vishnu Gupta, as he was earlier known, we see s mere child, striving to be the best among people seniors to him by decades. His drive and eagerness to learn for- the thirst for knowledge, and also his intellect leave a lot to be desired in the reader. And justly so. I am eager to read more about the prodigy. In the cunning Prime Minister, Maha-amatya Kartikeya, we can also notice the shining intellect and thirst for power. In some ways, he and Chanakya are no doubt, very alike. I also feel that Chandra will play a bigger role in things to come.
The writing style was also good and the editing well done. I commend the writer for starting this exciting series and admit that I am now committed to finding out what happens next.
I genuinely loved the book and I rate it a 4/5 stars. Will definitely pick it up again just before the release of the second part, so that I am all refreshed and ready to delve into the politics of Magadha.
confuzzledreader's review against another edition
4.0
Ashok K Banker has beautifully narrated the story of one of the India's wittiest legend- Chanakya. The author in the first book of The Itihasa series, introduces us to the prodigy as a 7 year old child who is brilliant and outshines his seniors in knowledge. This book narrates the story of young Vishnu Gupta, his childhood days and his connection with Chandragupta.
The book starts with Vishnu Gupta being scolded by his Guru because he came late for his class but Vishnu with his knowledge and wit leaves the teacher shocked and speechless. Vishnu at the tender age of 7, has read and learnt The Rig Veda by heart. His knowledge was often seen as showoff which made Vishnu look like a rude and arrogant child. But his father always told him to never showoff his knowledge but to blend in with the people.
Vishnu and his family were living happily in their village, when one day his father announced that they need to go to the Capital city of Patliputra for conference of the Brahmins. The city of Patliputra, as described by the author was corrupted and the city's minister was the one who was hell bent on obtaining power ignoring all the harm caused to the citizens. During one of the conferences , Vishnu started questioning the Gurus and left them speechless and this was when the minister first noticed Vishnu.
" Power is not a dog that comes wagging his tail when you whistle. It is a wolf that snarls and is powerful enough to rip your throat out with a single action. It cannot be domesticated; it must be conquered. And to conquer the wolf of power, one must use hard steel and even harder resolve."
The minister lured Vishnu's family to stay in Patliputra by offering them security and successful career but hid the real motive of making Vishnu stay. When Vishnu got to know the evil plan of the minister, he had no choice but to stay quiet for the sake of his family. What does the minister want from Vishnu? Will Vishnu leave the path of Justice and truth and keep quiet for the rest of his life?
You need to read the book, to get your answers.
I loved the book so much. It's such an amazing read with crisp narrative. I loved Vishnu Gupta's character and seriously I was dumbstruck while reading about him - how intelligent he was. The character of Chandra played a small part in this book yet it was powerful. The language is easy and understandable and the book is fast paced. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
Definitely Recommended!
The book starts with Vishnu Gupta being scolded by his Guru because he came late for his class but Vishnu with his knowledge and wit leaves the teacher shocked and speechless. Vishnu at the tender age of 7, has read and learnt The Rig Veda by heart. His knowledge was often seen as showoff which made Vishnu look like a rude and arrogant child. But his father always told him to never showoff his knowledge but to blend in with the people.
Vishnu and his family were living happily in their village, when one day his father announced that they need to go to the Capital city of Patliputra for conference of the Brahmins. The city of Patliputra, as described by the author was corrupted and the city's minister was the one who was hell bent on obtaining power ignoring all the harm caused to the citizens. During one of the conferences , Vishnu started questioning the Gurus and left them speechless and this was when the minister first noticed Vishnu.
" Power is not a dog that comes wagging his tail when you whistle. It is a wolf that snarls and is powerful enough to rip your throat out with a single action. It cannot be domesticated; it must be conquered. And to conquer the wolf of power, one must use hard steel and even harder resolve."
The minister lured Vishnu's family to stay in Patliputra by offering them security and successful career but hid the real motive of making Vishnu stay. When Vishnu got to know the evil plan of the minister, he had no choice but to stay quiet for the sake of his family. What does the minister want from Vishnu? Will Vishnu leave the path of Justice and truth and keep quiet for the rest of his life?
You need to read the book, to get your answers.
I loved the book so much. It's such an amazing read with crisp narrative. I loved Vishnu Gupta's character and seriously I was dumbstruck while reading about him - how intelligent he was. The character of Chandra played a small part in this book yet it was powerful. The language is easy and understandable and the book is fast paced. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
Definitely Recommended!
booknbhook's review
2.0
It’s the first book of the,”Itihasa,” series. Everybody has a brief idea about who Chanakya was, but this book starts by introducing us to his childhood self and how he became the Chanakya we know.
I love reading historical fiction, and the whole setting of the book is great but for me this book does nothing but introduce us to the characters of this series, and show off Chanakya’s skills from an early age. Honestly,I expected a little more substance.
Even the ending of the book did not catch my attention, which it should have considering there are going to be more books in this series and I, as a reader should be invested in the story, wanting to know more about what is happening or going to happen in order to pick up the next book.
There are some topics discussed in the book, like the fight between good and evil, and human trafficking, which the author has entwined as the sub-plots quite brilliantly, which I really enjoyed reading.
This book is a quick read, as it is only of 150 pages,and is fast paced. I wouldn’t be reading this series any further.
I love reading historical fiction, and the whole setting of the book is great but for me this book does nothing but introduce us to the characters of this series, and show off Chanakya’s skills from an early age. Honestly,I expected a little more substance.
Even the ending of the book did not catch my attention, which it should have considering there are going to be more books in this series and I, as a reader should be invested in the story, wanting to know more about what is happening or going to happen in order to pick up the next book.
There are some topics discussed in the book, like the fight between good and evil, and human trafficking, which the author has entwined as the sub-plots quite brilliantly, which I really enjoyed reading.
This book is a quick read, as it is only of 150 pages,and is fast paced. I wouldn’t be reading this series any further.
meeranair_54's review
4.0
STORY: Ashok K. Banker in the first installment of his historical fiction series, the Chanakya trilogy, introduces us to the legendary figure as a young boy of 7 years age, also called Vishnu Gupta. Far from his home, in the city of Pataliputra, there's a minister (Maha-Amatya Kartikeya) who rules by brute force and evokes great terror in the minds of the citizens. When Vishnu and his family head to Pataliputra for a congregation, his life gets bound in the chains of wanting to protect his family and doing the right thing.
REVIEW: I've always been intrigued by Indian historical fictions related to characters from the epics. And this one was such a wonderful read! I finished reading it in one day. The plot presents certain broad themes of battle between good and evil, importance of knowledge, tradition, monarchy etc. But the narrative that fills in the blanks is so refreshing because it draws a profile of an individual we've come to see as a master-thinker, a guide to Bindusara and Chandragupta Maurya. So to read about Chanakya as a 7 year old was so fulfilling.
He has been portrayed as a boy who was extremely intellectual and had great powers of logic, understanding, far superior than the gurus and adults of that time. At times the maturity he displays can stupefy you; after all how often do you find children or even teenagers nowadays with such clarity of thought. The pace of the novel is fast and gripping. There are a few Sanskrit terms used here and there, but they enrich your reading experience all the more. The language used in this novel is quite suitable for intermediate readers. If you are not very well versed in English, you might want to keep a dictionary at hand. That said, you must read Chanakya by Ashok K. Banker. It is a splendid read, one that I highly recommend! I simply CANNOT wait for the second book in this trilogy.
RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT: An engaging tale of how Chanakya's intelligence held him in high stead and brought him face to face with corrupt leaders.
Thank you Writers Melon and Westland Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
REVIEW: I've always been intrigued by Indian historical fictions related to characters from the epics. And this one was such a wonderful read! I finished reading it in one day. The plot presents certain broad themes of battle between good and evil, importance of knowledge, tradition, monarchy etc. But the narrative that fills in the blanks is so refreshing because it draws a profile of an individual we've come to see as a master-thinker, a guide to Bindusara and Chandragupta Maurya. So to read about Chanakya as a 7 year old was so fulfilling.
He has been portrayed as a boy who was extremely intellectual and had great powers of logic, understanding, far superior than the gurus and adults of that time. At times the maturity he displays can stupefy you; after all how often do you find children or even teenagers nowadays with such clarity of thought. The pace of the novel is fast and gripping. There are a few Sanskrit terms used here and there, but they enrich your reading experience all the more. The language used in this novel is quite suitable for intermediate readers. If you are not very well versed in English, you might want to keep a dictionary at hand. That said, you must read Chanakya by Ashok K. Banker. It is a splendid read, one that I highly recommend! I simply CANNOT wait for the second book in this trilogy.
RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT: An engaging tale of how Chanakya's intelligence held him in high stead and brought him face to face with corrupt leaders.
Thank you Writers Melon and Westland Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
pretty_little_bibliophile's review
3.0
Never having read about Chanakya before, apart from the basics in history textbooks, I was eager to pick up this book and I am so very glad I didn’t wait any longer. Chanakya: The Legend Begins, is a well-written historical fiction book that gripped me from the very first pages. It’s not long either and so I finished it under 3 hours, and I wasn’t even reading it continuously.
The plot was well-made and I feel that it will prove a good foundation for the upcoming sequels in the trilogy. The events were all well-paced and the string of connection which led one to the other, was also well held. The pacing we see was good without any rushing and it proves just as well.
The characters are all worth noticing- whether they are good or bad. In Chanakya, or Vishnu Gupta, as he was earlier known, we see s mere child, striving to be the best among people seniors to him by decades. His drive and eagerness to learn for- the thirst for knowledge, and also his intellect leave a lot to be desired in the reader. And justly so. I am eager to read more about the prodigy. In the cunning Prime Minister, Maha-amatya Kartikeya, we can also notice the shining intellect and thirst for power. In some ways, he and Chanakya are no doubt, very alike. I also feel that Chandra will play a bigger role in things to come.
The writing style was also good and the editing well done. I commend the writer for starting this exciting series and admit that I am now committed to finding out what happens next.
I genuinely loved the book and I rate it a 4/5 stars. Will definitely pick it up again just before the release of the second part, so that I am all refreshed and ready to delve into the politics of Magadha.
The plot was well-made and I feel that it will prove a good foundation for the upcoming sequels in the trilogy. The events were all well-paced and the string of connection which led one to the other, was also well held. The pacing we see was good without any rushing and it proves just as well.
The characters are all worth noticing- whether they are good or bad. In Chanakya, or Vishnu Gupta, as he was earlier known, we see s mere child, striving to be the best among people seniors to him by decades. His drive and eagerness to learn for- the thirst for knowledge, and also his intellect leave a lot to be desired in the reader. And justly so. I am eager to read more about the prodigy. In the cunning Prime Minister, Maha-amatya Kartikeya, we can also notice the shining intellect and thirst for power. In some ways, he and Chanakya are no doubt, very alike. I also feel that Chandra will play a bigger role in things to come.
The writing style was also good and the editing well done. I commend the writer for starting this exciting series and admit that I am now committed to finding out what happens next.
I genuinely loved the book and I rate it a 4/5 stars. Will definitely pick it up again just before the release of the second part, so that I am all refreshed and ready to delve into the politics of Magadha.
confuzzledreader's review
4.0
Ashok K Banker has beautifully narrated the story of one of the India's wittiest legend- Chanakya. The author in the first book of The Itihasa series, introduces us to the prodigy as a 7 year old child who is brilliant and outshines his seniors in knowledge. This book narrates the story of young Vishnu Gupta, his childhood days and his connection with Chandragupta.
The book starts with Vishnu Gupta being scolded by his Guru because he came late for his class but Vishnu with his knowledge and wit leaves the teacher shocked and speechless. Vishnu at the tender age of 7, has read and learnt The Rig Veda by heart. His knowledge was often seen as showoff which made Vishnu look like a rude and arrogant child. But his father always told him to never showoff his knowledge but to blend in with the people.
Vishnu and his family were living happily in their village, when one day his father announced that they need to go to the Capital city of Patliputra for conference of the Brahmins. The city of Patliputra, as described by the author was corrupted and the city's minister was the one who was hell bent on obtaining power ignoring all the harm caused to the citizens. During one of the conferences , Vishnu started questioning the Gurus and left them speechless and this was when the minister first noticed Vishnu.
" Power is not a dog that comes wagging his tail when you whistle. It is a wolf that snarls and is powerful enough to rip your throat out with a single action. It cannot be domesticated; it must be conquered. And to conquer the wolf of power, one must use hard steel and even harder resolve."
The minister lured Vishnu's family to stay in Patliputra by offering them security and successful career but hid the real motive of making Vishnu stay. When Vishnu got to know the evil plan of the minister, he had no choice but to stay quiet for the sake of his family. What does the minister want from Vishnu? Will Vishnu leave the path of Justice and truth and keep quiet for the rest of his life?
You need to read the book, to get your answers.
I loved the book so much. It's such an amazing read with crisp narrative. I loved Vishnu Gupta's character and seriously I was dumbstruck while reading about him - how intelligent he was. The character of Chandra played a small part in this book yet it was powerful. The language is easy and understandable and the book is fast paced. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
Definitely Recommended!
The book starts with Vishnu Gupta being scolded by his Guru because he came late for his class but Vishnu with his knowledge and wit leaves the teacher shocked and speechless. Vishnu at the tender age of 7, has read and learnt The Rig Veda by heart. His knowledge was often seen as showoff which made Vishnu look like a rude and arrogant child. But his father always told him to never showoff his knowledge but to blend in with the people.
Vishnu and his family were living happily in their village, when one day his father announced that they need to go to the Capital city of Patliputra for conference of the Brahmins. The city of Patliputra, as described by the author was corrupted and the city's minister was the one who was hell bent on obtaining power ignoring all the harm caused to the citizens. During one of the conferences , Vishnu started questioning the Gurus and left them speechless and this was when the minister first noticed Vishnu.
" Power is not a dog that comes wagging his tail when you whistle. It is a wolf that snarls and is powerful enough to rip your throat out with a single action. It cannot be domesticated; it must be conquered. And to conquer the wolf of power, one must use hard steel and even harder resolve."
The minister lured Vishnu's family to stay in Patliputra by offering them security and successful career but hid the real motive of making Vishnu stay. When Vishnu got to know the evil plan of the minister, he had no choice but to stay quiet for the sake of his family. What does the minister want from Vishnu? Will Vishnu leave the path of Justice and truth and keep quiet for the rest of his life?
You need to read the book, to get your answers.
I loved the book so much. It's such an amazing read with crisp narrative. I loved Vishnu Gupta's character and seriously I was dumbstruck while reading about him - how intelligent he was. The character of Chandra played a small part in this book yet it was powerful. The language is easy and understandable and the book is fast paced. I loved reading this very first installment of the Itihasa series by the author and very much eager to read the next book.
Definitely Recommended!
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