5 Must-Read Mythological Fiction Novels for your TBR List!
The epics of ancient Hindu history are in themselves literary marvels. The lavish stories of a bygone era are available easily to us today. All the stories known to us are taken from the Vedas, Puranas, or epics.
Today's writers bring a twist to the story by modernizing the story or presenting a completely new perspective of the story. All these stories are written with due respect to the ancient culture and within creative boundaries.
Through these books, the readers also get a sneak peek into stories that are not known to them. In this blog, we recommend 5 must-read novels that are inspired by ancient epics and Hindu Mythology
IMMORTALS OF MELUHA by Amish Tripathi
The story revolves around Shiva, a tribal chief who gets caught up in the mystery of a legend. A legend that Neelkant [Lord Shiva] will come to the rescue of the Suryavanshis residing in Meluha and protect them. This book will make you fall in love with Shiva.
The mystical elements are kept alive by the author through realistic and logical references to Mansarovar, Lord Shiva, the principles of the Suryavanshis, and their devotion to Lord Rama, among others.
To make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracized and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills.
The story between Shiva and Sati is an absolute delight to readers and depicts the intensity of love. Amish Tripathi does a really good job of maintaining the pace of the story.
Truly a page-turner that will leave you eagerly waiting to read the next part.
THE MAHABHARATA SECRET by Christopher C Doyle
A retired nuclear scientist is murdered, leaving only emails with clues for his nephew, Vijay. Together with his friends, Vijay follows a trail through ciphers and ancient ruins that are 2000 years old.
In 244 B.C., Asoka the Great discovers an ancient and terrible secret buried deep within the Mahabharata, a secret that could potentially destroy the world and has been hidden away for over 2300 years.
Pursued by powerful dark forces and caught between the secrets of the past and the intrigues of the present, can they unravel the mystery before an unspeakable horror is unleashed upon the world?
The novel centers around a secret society formed to protect the Mahabharata secret. The author skillfully incorporates subtle references to the Mahabharata, reflecting his thorough research and making the story truly captivating.
With a treasure hunt atmosphere and danger lurking over Vijay, "The Mahabharata Secret" truly stands out.
THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Taking us back to a time that is half history, half myth and wholly magical, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni gives voice to Panchaali, the fire-born heroine of the Mahabharata, as she weaves a vibrant retelling of an ancient epic saga.
Married to five royal husbands who have been cheated out of their father’s kingdom, Panchaali aids their quest to reclaim their birthright, remaining at their side through years of exile and a terrible civil war.
But she cannot deny her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna—or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husband’s most dangerous enemy—as she is caught up in the ever-manipulating hands of fate.
RAM- Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish Tripathi
Ram Rajya. The Perfect Land. But perfection has a price. He paid that price. 3400 BCE. INDIA Ayodhya is weakened by divisions. A terrible war has taken its toll. The damage runs deep. The demon King of Lanka, Raavan, does not impose his rule on the defeated. He, instead, imposes his trade. Money is sucked out of the empire.
The Sapt Sindhu people descend into poverty, despondency, and corruption. They cry for a leader to lead them out of the morass. Little do they appreciate that the leader is among them. One whom they know. A tortured and ostracised prince. A prince they tried to break. A prince called Ram. He loves his country, even when his countrymen torment him. He stands alone for the law.
His band of brothers, his Sita, and he, against the darkness of chaos. Will Ram rise above the taint that others heap on him? Will his love for Sita sustain him through his struggle? Will he defeat the demon Lord Raavan who destroyed his childhood? Will he fulfill the destiny of Vishnu?
The first installment of the series deals with the themes of the rule of law and the clash between societies. This is the story of a hero we all know by heart!
Prithvi, a twenty-one-year-old, is searching for a mysterious middle-aged aghori (Shiva devotee), Om Shastri, who was traced more than 200 years ago before he was captured and transported to a high-tech facility on an isolated Indian island. When the aghori was drugged and hypnotized for interrogation by a team of specialists, he claimed to have witnessed all four yugas (the epochs in Hinduism) and even participated in both Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Om's revelations of his incredible past that defied the nature of mortality left everyone baffled. The team also discovers that Om had been in search of the other immortals from every yuga. These bizarre secrets could shake up the ancient beliefs of the present and alter the course of the future. So who is Om Shastri?
Why was he captured? Board the boat of Om Shastri's secrets, Prithvi's pursuit, and adventures of other enigmatic immortals of Hindu mythology in this exciting and revealing journey.
Pick up these books and explore an era of excellence and duty.
Happy Reading!