Scan barcode
A review by ladybookamore
Mohini: The Enchantress by Anuja Chandramouli
4.0
First and foremost, I thank the author for giving an opportunity to read her latest work of mythological fiction.
Mohini The Enchantress is a beautiful tale of the goddess of beauty and fertility belonging to the Hindu pantheon. Even though the storyline itself is fascinating, the narration was overdressed with picturesque descriptions.
Mohini The Enchantress is more of an introspective story. Following a story pattern of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's latest bestseller The Forest of Enchantments, Mohini The Enchantress allows its readers to view the Hindu pantheon from the perspective of a mythological figure, who is infamous for being a seductress. The author goes beyond this stereotype to establish a firm ground to recreate the character of Mohini. Thematically, Mohini The Enchantress explores the concepts of predestination and free will in a unique manner. Instead of opting for a third person perspective, the author goes on to explore the character by viewing her life story through her owm eyes. Indeed, the question of identity and destiny, which builds this book, is similar to that of The Forest of Enchantments. However, I deem Mohini The Enchantress to be better, as far as the structure concerned. Unlike the former, Mohini The Enchantress does not lack the various nuances of a first-person narrative. It balances the introspective passages with real-time observations of the world around her. It ses that her internal monologues have been woven into the fabric of the plot, and that (I believe), is one of the best aspects of Mohini The Enchantress.
Yet, there were some unavoidable p(l)otholes in the book. Mohini The Enchantress brims with elaborate introspective passages, which often make the flow of the story overwhelming for its readers. Considering the philosophical worth of the book itself, the plot has many digressions, and the narrative style fluctuates quite a lot. While a proper balance is struck between introspection and experience, the former is bogged down by ornamental filler passages and philosophically profound writing. I think that Mohini The Enchantress could have had a more elaborate storyline instead, so that these passages could have a space of their own, in order to bloom in the minds of its readers.
However, Mohini The Enchantress is no doubt a brilliant mythological retelling with an equally admirable cast and writing style. I convey my best wishes to the author for her future endeavours.
Mohini The Enchantress is a beautiful tale of the goddess of beauty and fertility belonging to the Hindu pantheon. Even though the storyline itself is fascinating, the narration was overdressed with picturesque descriptions.
Mohini The Enchantress is more of an introspective story. Following a story pattern of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's latest bestseller The Forest of Enchantments, Mohini The Enchantress allows its readers to view the Hindu pantheon from the perspective of a mythological figure, who is infamous for being a seductress. The author goes beyond this stereotype to establish a firm ground to recreate the character of Mohini. Thematically, Mohini The Enchantress explores the concepts of predestination and free will in a unique manner. Instead of opting for a third person perspective, the author goes on to explore the character by viewing her life story through her owm eyes. Indeed, the question of identity and destiny, which builds this book, is similar to that of The Forest of Enchantments. However, I deem Mohini The Enchantress to be better, as far as the structure concerned. Unlike the former, Mohini The Enchantress does not lack the various nuances of a first-person narrative. It balances the introspective passages with real-time observations of the world around her. It ses that her internal monologues have been woven into the fabric of the plot, and that (I believe), is one of the best aspects of Mohini The Enchantress.
Yet, there were some unavoidable p(l)otholes in the book. Mohini The Enchantress brims with elaborate introspective passages, which often make the flow of the story overwhelming for its readers. Considering the philosophical worth of the book itself, the plot has many digressions, and the narrative style fluctuates quite a lot. While a proper balance is struck between introspection and experience, the former is bogged down by ornamental filler passages and philosophically profound writing. I think that Mohini The Enchantress could have had a more elaborate storyline instead, so that these passages could have a space of their own, in order to bloom in the minds of its readers.
However, Mohini The Enchantress is no doubt a brilliant mythological retelling with an equally admirable cast and writing style. I convey my best wishes to the author for her future endeavours.