Wielder of Trishul by Satyam Srivastava

 

Genre: Fantasy- Mythical fiction, world building, inter-kingdom politics.

I am a sucker for myths and mythological fictions, and this book ticks all the boxes! The book is set in the fictional planet of Dhruv-lok, and you will find references to a lot of Hindu mythological places like Mount Sumeru. The world is divided into a lot of small-large kingdoms. There's a prophecy that the newly wed Queen of Siddha-lok will give birth to a child who will wield Lord Shiva's Trishul. But there's a catch- just like Shiva, the child will either be the Savior of the people or the Destroyer of the worlds; and it depends on the time of his birth. There are murmurs of a curse associated with the kingdom as well.

On the other side of the mountain, Shukracharya accepts a disciple - a mere 4 year old kid- who shows a lot of promise. He is destined to avenge the past, but the enemies of his tribe will not stay still. A soldier is tasked with the sin of killing a child. On the other side, King of Dhananjay binds his most trusted courtier with a promise- the promise to kill his son if he is born at the wrong time.

Will the upholders of Dharma do the sinful acts to keep their kingdoms safe? There talks of dissent brewing among the smaller kingdoms. There is backstabbing, there are mysteries and there is heartbreak! Read the book to find out what happens!

My views-

The world building is a little confusing at the beginning. There a lot of characters to keep track of, but it becomes simpler as you delve deeper into it. Almost all characters are morally gray, blinded and bound by their duty, caste and past. The book ends on a cliff hanger, and keeps you waiting for the next book! A very interesting read! Highly recommend for mythology fans!

Ratings-

Characters - 4/5

World building- 3/5

Politics- 4/5

Story- 5/5