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Ashok and the Nine Unknown
You know what, the best revenge will be watching you failing to achieve your dreams… Do what you can, Ashok. The game has just begun!
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, helplessly, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. The wailing of people who had lost their loved ones on the battlefield cut into his soul, and it was then that he heard a cry for help…
As realization of the devastation of war seeped in, Ashok decided to dedicate his life towards the betterment of society and try his best to prevent any destruction of life. Realizing he could not do so single-handedly, Ashok created a secret society comprising nine chosen members, who were known as the ‘Nine Unknown’, to help preserve knowledge that, in the wrong hands, could be used to destroy humanity.
Little did Ashok know that the safekeeping of such knowledge had a high price to it; that shadows walk amidst us; and that sometimes our actions unspool unimaginable consequences…
The first of two volumes, this book has the power to transform your idea of reality!
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, helplessly, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. The wailing of people who had lost their loved ones on the battlefield cut into his soul, and it was then that he heard a cry for help…
As realization of the devastation of war seeped in, Ashok decided to dedicate his life towards the betterment of society and try his best to prevent any destruction of life. Realizing he could not do so single-handedly, Ashok created a secret society comprising nine chosen members, who were known as the ‘Nine Unknown’, to help preserve knowledge that, in the wrong hands, could be used to destroy humanity.
Little did Ashok know that the safekeeping of such knowledge had a high price to it; that shadows walk amidst us; and that sometimes our actions unspool unimaginable consequences…
The first of two volumes, this book has the power to transform your idea of reality!
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2018
64 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Anshul Dupare
2 books18 followersAnd here is a little bit about me, my friend, hear my tale,
Nimble wordsmith, navigator of a boat following history's trail,
Sailing through sea of stories, love and support of my readers is my holy grail,
Hightailing to the next shore of unseen vale, I savor philosophy and drink ideas for ale,
Unfettred in my imagination even against the blowing gale,
Lock me in a room full of books and I would still be happy even if it's a jail!
Nimble wordsmith, navigator of a boat following history's trail,
Sailing through sea of stories, love and support of my readers is my holy grail,
Hightailing to the next shore of unseen vale, I savor philosophy and drink ideas for ale,
Unfettred in my imagination even against the blowing gale,
Lock me in a room full of books and I would still be happy even if it's a jail!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
March 24, 2021
Yellow background and 9 faces on the cover made me check the book page when I got the mail. As if the cover was not enough the title "Ashok and The Nine Unknown" gave me confidence on the book further. I have more than 15 works (some independent and some series) on Ashoka. Half of them are around 9 mysterious knowledge holders. Majority of them are related to supernatural powers. I liked such a book, so I said yes for this book within a few minutes. Though I took around 2 months time to read the book & another month to finish the review, it was an awesome read. I feel that should have read it earlier.
Talking about the plot, the story started with the after-war scene of Kalinga. Amidst dead bodies, Ashoka realized what he had done for his ambition of becoming Chakravartin Samrat of whole Bharatvarsha. He knew he could not undo what was done, but he could try to avoid similar incidents in the future. So he took the help of his minister Radhagupta and created an order of 9 knowledgeable (which are unknown for the normal world). There were some sorcerers who wanted to obtain this information/ knowledge for a darker purpose. Read the book to know more.
Unlike the current trend, where authors create a treasure hunt kind of plot related to historic and/or mythological incidents, Anshul has created historical fiction. The book contains some part of dark magic and supernatural, which makes the story more interesting. Talking about my observations
1) Awesome cover art
2) Nice plot and conceptualization
3) Good use of conspiracy theory
4) Good characterization
5) Liked linking of various steps Ashoka had taken after the war of Kalinga
6) Medium to fast paced story
7) Language level was medium. No issues for seasonal readers. Maybe challenging for English beginners
8) Book finished at a high tempo, I will definitely wait for the sequel in the series.
All and all a good book, which can give you company for 2-3 days.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
Talking about the plot, the story started with the after-war scene of Kalinga. Amidst dead bodies, Ashoka realized what he had done for his ambition of becoming Chakravartin Samrat of whole Bharatvarsha. He knew he could not undo what was done, but he could try to avoid similar incidents in the future. So he took the help of his minister Radhagupta and created an order of 9 knowledgeable (which are unknown for the normal world). There were some sorcerers who wanted to obtain this information/ knowledge for a darker purpose. Read the book to know more.
Unlike the current trend, where authors create a treasure hunt kind of plot related to historic and/or mythological incidents, Anshul has created historical fiction. The book contains some part of dark magic and supernatural, which makes the story more interesting. Talking about my observations
1) Awesome cover art
2) Nice plot and conceptualization
3) Good use of conspiracy theory
4) Good characterization
5) Liked linking of various steps Ashoka had taken after the war of Kalinga
6) Medium to fast paced story
7) Language level was medium. No issues for seasonal readers. Maybe challenging for English beginners
8) Book finished at a high tempo, I will definitely wait for the sequel in the series.
All and all a good book, which can give you company for 2-3 days.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
June 15, 2019
Follow Just A Girl High On Books for more reviews.
I received a copy of this book as part of The Book Genie PR Book Review Program.
I'm not sure where to begin with this review so I guess I'll start with the first thing I noticed about it—the cover. The book has a rather attractive cover that instantly makes you want to read it, I'll give you that. Set right after the events of the Kalinga War, the book is about Ashok and the impact the war had on Ashok. Yes, the blurb is intriguing enough, too.
That is why I picked up this book in the first place. That and the fact that I really, really, really like reading historical fiction. But you see, the thing with historical fiction is that it is a rather difficult genre to write. You can't create events of your own. You can only create new ones. And those new ones should also not be the kind that might depict a change in any other event or simply a change in some important person's personality. This is often confusing and more often than not, people end up creating a blunder. This was not the case with Anshul Dupare as he wrote his book, Ashok and the Nine Unknown. He didn't change the facts; he created a new story using the facts; and he wrote a rather unconventional novel where he connected Indian history to Egyptian mythology.
But then, that's where, I believe, it got confusing. You see, the part where the Egyptian mythology comes in was new. I doubt I have ever seen that happening in any Indian historical fiction. But by the time the book ended, it also felt as if while trying to make an unconventional story, Dupare got lost on his way and ended up creating something much more strange. I'm not saying that the story was bad. It was nice, definitely something new and I liked it but it was also a little peculiar, is all. For example, there were incidents in the novel that could have simply been left out and the story or the characters wouldn't have been affected in the least!
Apart from that, there was this other thing that really irked me up. The editing. See, it's like, when you read a historical fiction or simply any fiction, you expect it to be written nicely. That just wasn't the case with this novel. Despite of being published by one of the most reputed publishing houses in India, the editing was very poor. Now even if I forget how the narration wasn't up to the mark and that many things were mentioned twice (and they didn't need to, mind you), I still couldn't ignore the grammatical errors. Some of them were in fact, glaring me right in the face. Now I am not going to post examples here because I believe this book could have been edited and published in a much better way, but if you have read it, then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I guess, I just never expected such a thing from Rupa Publications, is all.
Now there is this one more thing that irked me a little. I wasn't sure whether to say this or not but eh, I guess if I have mentioned editing, then I should give this a go too. Well, there were times when India was mentioned as um, India, actually. The thing with historical novels is to always, always, ALWAYS get the facts right. So here's a fact. India wasn't really called India until the Britishers arrived. I mean, think about it. India isn't really a Hindi word. Bharat is. The name may have been given earlier but the Indians never really used it. You can search that online, too. And because words like akhand bharat were used, I'm guessing the author already knew of it but had forgotten to check.
Yet, despite the bad editing, I think the story deserves a clap. I mean, it takes wonders to think up of a story like this. More to actually connect something from Indian historical fiction to the Egyptian. And let's not forget that it takes even more wonders to write an unconventional novel. So yes, you can pick it up if you're looking for a different story. I haven't really seen much books about Ashok anyway, so this was a nice change.
I received a copy of this book as part of The Book Genie PR Book Review Program.
I'm not sure where to begin with this review so I guess I'll start with the first thing I noticed about it—the cover. The book has a rather attractive cover that instantly makes you want to read it, I'll give you that. Set right after the events of the Kalinga War, the book is about Ashok and the impact the war had on Ashok. Yes, the blurb is intriguing enough, too.
That is why I picked up this book in the first place. That and the fact that I really, really, really like reading historical fiction. But you see, the thing with historical fiction is that it is a rather difficult genre to write. You can't create events of your own. You can only create new ones. And those new ones should also not be the kind that might depict a change in any other event or simply a change in some important person's personality. This is often confusing and more often than not, people end up creating a blunder. This was not the case with Anshul Dupare as he wrote his book, Ashok and the Nine Unknown. He didn't change the facts; he created a new story using the facts; and he wrote a rather unconventional novel where he connected Indian history to Egyptian mythology.
But then, that's where, I believe, it got confusing. You see, the part where the Egyptian mythology comes in was new. I doubt I have ever seen that happening in any Indian historical fiction. But by the time the book ended, it also felt as if while trying to make an unconventional story, Dupare got lost on his way and ended up creating something much more strange. I'm not saying that the story was bad. It was nice, definitely something new and I liked it but it was also a little peculiar, is all. For example, there were incidents in the novel that could have simply been left out and the story or the characters wouldn't have been affected in the least!
Apart from that, there was this other thing that really irked me up. The editing. See, it's like, when you read a historical fiction or simply any fiction, you expect it to be written nicely. That just wasn't the case with this novel. Despite of being published by one of the most reputed publishing houses in India, the editing was very poor. Now even if I forget how the narration wasn't up to the mark and that many things were mentioned twice (and they didn't need to, mind you), I still couldn't ignore the grammatical errors. Some of them were in fact, glaring me right in the face. Now I am not going to post examples here because I believe this book could have been edited and published in a much better way, but if you have read it, then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I guess, I just never expected such a thing from Rupa Publications, is all.
Now there is this one more thing that irked me a little. I wasn't sure whether to say this or not but eh, I guess if I have mentioned editing, then I should give this a go too. Well, there were times when India was mentioned as um, India, actually. The thing with historical novels is to always, always, ALWAYS get the facts right. So here's a fact. India wasn't really called India until the Britishers arrived. I mean, think about it. India isn't really a Hindi word. Bharat is. The name may have been given earlier but the Indians never really used it. You can search that online, too. And because words like akhand bharat were used, I'm guessing the author already knew of it but had forgotten to check.
Yet, despite the bad editing, I think the story deserves a clap. I mean, it takes wonders to think up of a story like this. More to actually connect something from Indian historical fiction to the Egyptian. And let's not forget that it takes even more wonders to write an unconventional novel. So yes, you can pick it up if you're looking for a different story. I haven't really seen much books about Ashok anyway, so this was a nice change.
March 29, 2019
What have i done? If this is victory,what,then,is defeat?
These are the words of Ashok after Kalinga war when he saw battlefield of corpses.
There is a wounded man Amritya who lost his one eye,two hands and a whole in his stomach,Ashok want to help him but he cursed Ashok and jumped in river.
After that Ashok heart was changed and he started helping his people and said No to war.He is going in search of knoweldge and he converted to Buddhism.
One day he asked his minister Radhagupta to search 9 people who are experts in Nine different fields.This way Nine unknown formed and they studied different subjects and helped Ashok in his Vision.
In this book there are more vast subject taken related to that time ,this shows the Vision of Great king Ashok in that era and devotion of him towards his people.
We could relate his knoweldge in terms of infrastructure because he build Saanchi stupa,Ashok Stambh and our national emblem.
This book takes you to a fantasy ride to Mayong a magical city and Egypt for Sphinx a statue of lion.
I am glad that i read this book its way beyond my imagination.
Author job is faboulous ,awesome narration style,character well defined ,writing style superb totally liked it.
Recommended to everyone
These are the words of Ashok after Kalinga war when he saw battlefield of corpses.
There is a wounded man Amritya who lost his one eye,two hands and a whole in his stomach,Ashok want to help him but he cursed Ashok and jumped in river.
After that Ashok heart was changed and he started helping his people and said No to war.He is going in search of knoweldge and he converted to Buddhism.
One day he asked his minister Radhagupta to search 9 people who are experts in Nine different fields.This way Nine unknown formed and they studied different subjects and helped Ashok in his Vision.
In this book there are more vast subject taken related to that time ,this shows the Vision of Great king Ashok in that era and devotion of him towards his people.
We could relate his knoweldge in terms of infrastructure because he build Saanchi stupa,Ashok Stambh and our national emblem.
This book takes you to a fantasy ride to Mayong a magical city and Egypt for Sphinx a statue of lion.
I am glad that i read this book its way beyond my imagination.
Author job is faboulous ,awesome narration style,character well defined ,writing style superb totally liked it.
Recommended to everyone
May 25, 2019
The book preaches the importance about a minimalistic way of life in a beautiful manner.
After the battle, Ashoka decided to look over the destruction. The place that he had once been exiled now lay in utter collapse with houses burned down and many bodies still unburied. It was said that this was the first time that Ashoka saw the direct impact of war.
According to legend, upon seeing the utter devastation, he said: “What have I done?” For the rest of his life, he would not forget the horror that he saw on this day.
Historical fiction is one my favourite genres. Ashoka the great emperor whose earlier inscriptions are still motivational to the entire World. His entire personality is described in this book very well, i have read a lot about Ashoka so i know his life very well how hia heart got turned out after the dreadful and last war of his life named Kalinga. His strategies towards social reform for his empire is a worth material to learn.
Author’s research work is really awesome am impressed with the details. A perfect combo of thrill and historical events. Narration could be more specific but flow of yhe story is good nothing is inappropriate or exaggerated. A very gopd balance pace and language is also good. I always recommend such informative fictions. I would like to recommend this to the thriller and historical fiction lovers.
After the battle, Ashoka decided to look over the destruction. The place that he had once been exiled now lay in utter collapse with houses burned down and many bodies still unburied. It was said that this was the first time that Ashoka saw the direct impact of war.
According to legend, upon seeing the utter devastation, he said: “What have I done?” For the rest of his life, he would not forget the horror that he saw on this day.
Historical fiction is one my favourite genres. Ashoka the great emperor whose earlier inscriptions are still motivational to the entire World. His entire personality is described in this book very well, i have read a lot about Ashoka so i know his life very well how hia heart got turned out after the dreadful and last war of his life named Kalinga. His strategies towards social reform for his empire is a worth material to learn.
Author’s research work is really awesome am impressed with the details. A perfect combo of thrill and historical events. Narration could be more specific but flow of yhe story is good nothing is inappropriate or exaggerated. A very gopd balance pace and language is also good. I always recommend such informative fictions. I would like to recommend this to the thriller and historical fiction lovers.
September 24, 2019
I am a huge history buff, regardless of it been a fiction or non-fiction. And because I love history, I make sure to read one book of this genre every month. So I recently had the pleasure of reading ‘Ashok and the Nine Unknown by Anshul Dupare’, and as you must have guessed, I was thrilled by this read.
What really made me pick this book up was its fascinating. The aura of mystery it had, compelled me to read this book sooner than later.
Book Blurb:
You know what, the best revenge will be watching you failing to achieve your dreams… Do what you can, Ashok. The game has just begun!
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, helplessly, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. The wailing of people who had lost their loved ones on the battlefield cut into his soul, and it was then that he heard a cry for help…
As the realization of the devastation of war seeped in, Ashok decided to dedicate his life towards the betterment of society and try his best to prevent any destruction of life. Realizing he could not do so single-handedly, Ashok created a secret society comprising nine chosen members, who was known as the ‘Nine Unknown’, to help preserve the knowledge that, in the wrong hands could be used to destroy humanity.
Little did Ashok know that the safekeeping of such knowledge had a high price to it; that shadows walk amidst us; and that sometimes our actions unspool unimaginable consequences…
The first of two volumes, this book has the power to transform your idea of reality!
Review:
Ashok and the Nine Unknown is a retelling of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and the secret society of Nine he found around 270 BC by Anshul Dupare. This book is power-packed with high-octane drama, love, Thriller and magic, all interwoven intricately with each other.
Anshul’s Ashok and the Nine Unknown takes you on a roller-coaster ride with this engrossing story, grounded with historical facts. The story-building and the narrative of the author was so powerful that I was in the thrall of author’s penmanship. The vividness of the emotions, it's very essence, was so palpable throughout the book that I was compelled to delve further into the story and be part of it.
Characters:
I loved, how the author has carved each character, with their distinct personality. And how these characters helped shape up the story and move in the right direction.
Overall, Ashok and the Nine Unknown was an admirable read that I was delightfully lost in it completely. What's more, it finished at such a high, encouraging note that I am now excited to read more books in the series.
I will definitely recommend this book to the fans of the historical/thriller/fantasy fiction genre.
Rating: 5/5
What really made me pick this book up was its fascinating. The aura of mystery it had, compelled me to read this book sooner than later.
Book Blurb:
You know what, the best revenge will be watching you failing to achieve your dreams… Do what you can, Ashok. The game has just begun!
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, helplessly, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. The wailing of people who had lost their loved ones on the battlefield cut into his soul, and it was then that he heard a cry for help…
As the realization of the devastation of war seeped in, Ashok decided to dedicate his life towards the betterment of society and try his best to prevent any destruction of life. Realizing he could not do so single-handedly, Ashok created a secret society comprising nine chosen members, who was known as the ‘Nine Unknown’, to help preserve the knowledge that, in the wrong hands could be used to destroy humanity.
Little did Ashok know that the safekeeping of such knowledge had a high price to it; that shadows walk amidst us; and that sometimes our actions unspool unimaginable consequences…
The first of two volumes, this book has the power to transform your idea of reality!
Review:
Ashok and the Nine Unknown is a retelling of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and the secret society of Nine he found around 270 BC by Anshul Dupare. This book is power-packed with high-octane drama, love, Thriller and magic, all interwoven intricately with each other.
Anshul’s Ashok and the Nine Unknown takes you on a roller-coaster ride with this engrossing story, grounded with historical facts. The story-building and the narrative of the author was so powerful that I was in the thrall of author’s penmanship. The vividness of the emotions, it's very essence, was so palpable throughout the book that I was compelled to delve further into the story and be part of it.
Characters:
I loved, how the author has carved each character, with their distinct personality. And how these characters helped shape up the story and move in the right direction.
Overall, Ashok and the Nine Unknown was an admirable read that I was delightfully lost in it completely. What's more, it finished at such a high, encouraging note that I am now excited to read more books in the series.
I will definitely recommend this book to the fans of the historical/thriller/fantasy fiction genre.
Rating: 5/5
April 17, 2019
I am really confused where to start the reviews. First of all I would like to mention that it has amazingly designed cover with catchy colours that makes us fall in love with it with the first site. I have read many books about Indian historical fiction and mythology but I have come across book based on Ashoka for the first time. I learnt few things in school and then from movie and series about him but it was long ago so it’s hazy to remember it.
The book starts with very famous scene where after winning a battle of Kalinga, he realised his mistake and he regrets about it after seeing many corpses.And after that he decided to change the path. I loved the opening scene. The dialogue is written wonderfully. The thing I loved about the book is “Nine Unknown” I never knew about them before. That part is completely new for me. If we talk about the book the plot is amazing. The book is written wonderfully. Good use of vocabulary and language. Page turner. Different content than routine historical fiction genre. I loved the slight fictional or supernatural touch to the plot. War and politics are portrayed perfectly. The plot holds your attention till the end. Overall indeed good one. I definitely recommend this.
The book starts with very famous scene where after winning a battle of Kalinga, he realised his mistake and he regrets about it after seeing many corpses.And after that he decided to change the path. I loved the opening scene. The dialogue is written wonderfully. The thing I loved about the book is “Nine Unknown” I never knew about them before. That part is completely new for me. If we talk about the book the plot is amazing. The book is written wonderfully. Good use of vocabulary and language. Page turner. Different content than routine historical fiction genre. I loved the slight fictional or supernatural touch to the plot. War and politics are portrayed perfectly. The plot holds your attention till the end. Overall indeed good one. I definitely recommend this.
April 10, 2019
✓ASHOK AND THE NINE UNKNOWN✓
Author: Anshul Dupare
Genre: fiction
.
◽"The secret of life is to live and let live...the magic you create by living, loving and by helping others."
.
⏹[BLURB]
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. It was then that he heard a cry for help...
What did Ashok? What hides behind the unimaginable consequences?
.
⏹[REVIEW]
The entire book, right from the very first page, it attracts my attention and keep me glued to it. The fact of this book is based on a powerful research and lots of informations.
Bright yellow colour and the beautiful design make cover eye-catching and it also realises the significance of the book.
With compelling writing style author didn't bore the readers. The fast paced storyline, well crafted plot with life-like characters make it very interesting. The element of fantasy and so many unexpected twist and turns permeated throughout the book.
However, I was little confused in presence of supernatural elements for few times.
(Verdict):-
Being an ardent history lover, I really enjoyed this one.
It throws light on a little known battle and narrates a tale of bravery which is mostly missing from our history textbooks.
So, I'll definately recommend it.
Author: Anshul Dupare
Genre: fiction
.
◽"The secret of life is to live and let live...the magic you create by living, loving and by helping others."
.
⏹[BLURB]
Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. It was then that he heard a cry for help...
What did Ashok? What hides behind the unimaginable consequences?
.
⏹[REVIEW]
The entire book, right from the very first page, it attracts my attention and keep me glued to it. The fact of this book is based on a powerful research and lots of informations.
Bright yellow colour and the beautiful design make cover eye-catching and it also realises the significance of the book.
With compelling writing style author didn't bore the readers. The fast paced storyline, well crafted plot with life-like characters make it very interesting. The element of fantasy and so many unexpected twist and turns permeated throughout the book.
However, I was little confused in presence of supernatural elements for few times.
(Verdict):-
Being an ardent history lover, I really enjoyed this one.
It throws light on a little known battle and narrates a tale of bravery which is mostly missing from our history textbooks.
So, I'll definately recommend it.
July 15, 2019
The book starts with the ending of devastating Kalinga War. The war is known to us as the reason of Ashoke's Transformation from Cruel emperor to a religious one. But here the book has unfolded something new .
Ashoke was cursed by Amartya, who had lost his family in this war .
Ashoke thought of doing something great and necessary . But the mission is impossible for an one man army . So here The nine unknown came to help him .
This is actually the first part of the series .
My Take
I am fond of Indian history. But this book doesn't only contain historical refference but there are some input of mythology and fantasy Which have made the plot more intriguing.
I love the storytelling .
The plot is woven nicely.
I have to admire the attractive cover .
The book is a page Turner.
I finished it within busy 2 days !!
It's definitely a 5/5⭐️ read for me
Ashoke was cursed by Amartya, who had lost his family in this war .
Ashoke thought of doing something great and necessary . But the mission is impossible for an one man army . So here The nine unknown came to help him .
This is actually the first part of the series .
My Take
I am fond of Indian history. But this book doesn't only contain historical refference but there are some input of mythology and fantasy Which have made the plot more intriguing.
I love the storytelling .
The plot is woven nicely.
I have to admire the attractive cover .
The book is a page Turner.
I finished it within busy 2 days !!
It's definitely a 5/5⭐️ read for me
May 30, 2019
Ashok and the Nine Unknown is a historical fiction that deals with the aftermath of the the Kalinga war and how Ashok, the emperor became grief ridden and was consumed by guilt because of the bloodshed he was responsible for. As he realized the harsh reality of battlefield and how his victory came at a price of slaughter, he decided to set himself free of this burden and dedicate his life to a journey that will lead him to peace and help him restore humanity. He created a secret society of nine unknown men to accompany and help him reach his goal.
The research behind this book is done well but the fact that's its a historical fiction gives the author the advantage of having plenty of content to work with which he used to create his very own fantasy world that deals with grief, guilt but also mysteries, which can, more or less, change the course of humanity.
The main problem with this book is it feels like a retelling of the events that happened centuries ago rather than something we're reading for the first time which ofcourse isn't surprising since those historical events we've read about in our history lessons are a major part of this book. But the thing is even if you're writing a historical fiction, you can make it look like it's freshly written and you can own it by your writing style and how you decide to tell the story, unfortunately, this is where the problem actually begins. The narrative is vague and unconvincing because of very small things that you can miss if you're not paying attention.
For example, In the first few pages of the book, the man who's on the verge of death and Ashok are in a conversation and the dying man says “You attacked Kalinga solely for your greedy ambitions— your dream of conquering all of India.”
Now, keep in mind this conversation is happening in 261 BC and India wasn't called India up until the time when the country was ruled by British Empire.
This may not strike some people as odd but the thing that irks me is that just moments before this conversation, this line is used, “History will remember him as an emperor who ruled over Akhand Bharat.” which proves that the author doesn't have a problem with using words that were relevant to that timeline and yet for some reason words like India, hospitals are used which makes it difficult for a reader to connect to the world because as soon as you read the word, your imagination doesn't take you to a place where people are being cured by the means of Ayurveda but a place with white tiles and beds where the dying people lay with machines attached to their bodies.
This is something that is crucial and yet is overlooked by authors, many times, especially while writing about a different timeline. It's important that the world building and dialogues are written after keeping in mind that these events are happening at a certain time period and the mannerisms and premises were different at that time than they're today. One word is enough to zap the reader out of the world you've worked so hard to create so it's a request that these little things are kept in mind.
The charcaters that were important for the storyline didn't deliver what was expected of them and no development was seen throughout. Their characterization was poor and they even seemed irrelevant at some points.
There were also a lot of grammatical errors which I couldn't look past and since the narrative is also not vivid, it feels like a monologue of a history lecture. I had really high expectations and I am disappointed to say the least.
I wish the author all the best though.
The research behind this book is done well but the fact that's its a historical fiction gives the author the advantage of having plenty of content to work with which he used to create his very own fantasy world that deals with grief, guilt but also mysteries, which can, more or less, change the course of humanity.
The main problem with this book is it feels like a retelling of the events that happened centuries ago rather than something we're reading for the first time which ofcourse isn't surprising since those historical events we've read about in our history lessons are a major part of this book. But the thing is even if you're writing a historical fiction, you can make it look like it's freshly written and you can own it by your writing style and how you decide to tell the story, unfortunately, this is where the problem actually begins. The narrative is vague and unconvincing because of very small things that you can miss if you're not paying attention.
For example, In the first few pages of the book, the man who's on the verge of death and Ashok are in a conversation and the dying man says “You attacked Kalinga solely for your greedy ambitions— your dream of conquering all of India.”
Now, keep in mind this conversation is happening in 261 BC and India wasn't called India up until the time when the country was ruled by British Empire.
This may not strike some people as odd but the thing that irks me is that just moments before this conversation, this line is used, “History will remember him as an emperor who ruled over Akhand Bharat.” which proves that the author doesn't have a problem with using words that were relevant to that timeline and yet for some reason words like India, hospitals are used which makes it difficult for a reader to connect to the world because as soon as you read the word, your imagination doesn't take you to a place where people are being cured by the means of Ayurveda but a place with white tiles and beds where the dying people lay with machines attached to their bodies.
This is something that is crucial and yet is overlooked by authors, many times, especially while writing about a different timeline. It's important that the world building and dialogues are written after keeping in mind that these events are happening at a certain time period and the mannerisms and premises were different at that time than they're today. One word is enough to zap the reader out of the world you've worked so hard to create so it's a request that these little things are kept in mind.
The charcaters that were important for the storyline didn't deliver what was expected of them and no development was seen throughout. Their characterization was poor and they even seemed irrelevant at some points.
There were also a lot of grammatical errors which I couldn't look past and since the narrative is also not vivid, it feels like a monologue of a history lecture. I had really high expectations and I am disappointed to say the least.
I wish the author all the best though.
February 27, 2019
Ashoka and the nine unknown
""We are the nine unknown and we will never let the torch of knowledge and the flame of wisdom die.""
The cover of the book look so attractive and eye catching. The name itself is enough to to know what is the actual "nine unknown". The burlb is like icing on the cake.
This book is like mixed fiction. I'm glad that I picked this book. Story starts with the end of battle of kalinga one of the greatest Battle in history. Now everything is destroyed and ashoka is on new path. After the battle the region is divided into parts. Now ashoka time to take action and save the people.
The point is what is actually nine unknown. Are they men, are they women or nine powers? This chapter is beautiful explained in detail. I have read this chapter 3 times just to understand in depth. Do you want to know what is actually nine unknown then you have to pick up this book. I promise it won't disappoint you.
The character are well development and describe. Every character has it's own important role to play. The narration in indeed great. The map in the starting help you to understand better. The fact that author did great job by adding facts and fiction in the same book.
When I started reading this. I don't even know I'll finish this in maximum 3 hours. The language is lucid that's keep you hooked up till end. This is the first book that I can say it can be increased to more 300 pages still people will love it.
This book ends on such a high note. That you will definitely read next part of it. I just can't wait for another part. In a nutshell a must have book in bookshelf.
""We are the nine unknown and we will never let the torch of knowledge and the flame of wisdom die.""
The cover of the book look so attractive and eye catching. The name itself is enough to to know what is the actual "nine unknown". The burlb is like icing on the cake.
This book is like mixed fiction. I'm glad that I picked this book. Story starts with the end of battle of kalinga one of the greatest Battle in history. Now everything is destroyed and ashoka is on new path. After the battle the region is divided into parts. Now ashoka time to take action and save the people.
The point is what is actually nine unknown. Are they men, are they women or nine powers? This chapter is beautiful explained in detail. I have read this chapter 3 times just to understand in depth. Do you want to know what is actually nine unknown then you have to pick up this book. I promise it won't disappoint you.
The character are well development and describe. Every character has it's own important role to play. The narration in indeed great. The map in the starting help you to understand better. The fact that author did great job by adding facts and fiction in the same book.
When I started reading this. I don't even know I'll finish this in maximum 3 hours. The language is lucid that's keep you hooked up till end. This is the first book that I can say it can be increased to more 300 pages still people will love it.
This book ends on such a high note. That you will definitely read next part of it. I just can't wait for another part. In a nutshell a must have book in bookshelf.
June 13, 2019
I received a copy of this book through The Book Genie Review Program
The story picks up when the Battle of Kalinga ends. Everything is in ruins and that is when King Ashoka decides to venture on a new path. The king then brings together nine prodigies from different fields to help him fix his wrongs and restore peace and humanity. The writing style is appreciable because it is very well described and the detailing is really good. It did feel like I was reading an article or a history book at some points in the book and it lacked freshness. The language used falls somewhere between easy and complex and the problem I had with it was that it was not very relevant to the time line of the story. The characters were well evolved and intricate. The protagonist are a very strong point of the book. The mystery of the story and the characters keeps you reading the book till the last page. The cover is impressive and noticeable; I loved the detailing on it. It will definitely be a cover buy for a lot of people. This book is for the history buffs and lovers of historical fiction. Truthfully, I did enjoy the book but it’s not something I’d go for again.
The story picks up when the Battle of Kalinga ends. Everything is in ruins and that is when King Ashoka decides to venture on a new path. The king then brings together nine prodigies from different fields to help him fix his wrongs and restore peace and humanity. The writing style is appreciable because it is very well described and the detailing is really good. It did feel like I was reading an article or a history book at some points in the book and it lacked freshness. The language used falls somewhere between easy and complex and the problem I had with it was that it was not very relevant to the time line of the story. The characters were well evolved and intricate. The protagonist are a very strong point of the book. The mystery of the story and the characters keeps you reading the book till the last page. The cover is impressive and noticeable; I loved the detailing on it. It will definitely be a cover buy for a lot of people. This book is for the history buffs and lovers of historical fiction. Truthfully, I did enjoy the book but it’s not something I’d go for again.
June 18, 2019
and the Nine Unknown cannot be explained with one genre. It is a historical fiction with fantasy and thriller.
Plot is very interesting which will keep a reader glued till the end.
It is a very well researched book.
The author's writing stylish so good that it won't make a reader feel bored.
Usually we find this types of books without very tough language and Hard words. But this book is understandable for every leaders. The author used easy language yet unique.
The characters are very well developed. Every character has its own role which is crucial for the plot. No extra implementations are there.
The best part of the book is it conveys some good messages. The book contains some philosophical talks which I loved reading.
Loved the unpredictable climax.It kept me hooked till the end.
As everyone can see the cover is very bright and gives a mythological feeling. It is very attractive and the eye catching.
The title is absolutely fine and perfect for the plot.
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Plot is very interesting which will keep a reader glued till the end.
It is a very well researched book.
The author's writing stylish so good that it won't make a reader feel bored.
Usually we find this types of books without very tough language and Hard words. But this book is understandable for every leaders. The author used easy language yet unique.
The characters are very well developed. Every character has its own role which is crucial for the plot. No extra implementations are there.
The best part of the book is it conveys some good messages. The book contains some philosophical talks which I loved reading.
Loved the unpredictable climax.It kept me hooked till the end.
As everyone can see the cover is very bright and gives a mythological feeling. It is very attractive and the eye catching.
The title is absolutely fine and perfect for the plot.
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
March 11, 2021
As always I was hoping articles after articles on Wikipedia and The Nine Unknowns caught my attention, which indirectly gave recco of this book and here I was, reading it. Now, after finishing it - I wonder why I took this one on hand !
The storyline is absolutely interesting and sounds mysterious, however the execution is not that strong which holds you through this thriller. Plot is developed with sub-stories in an amateurish way just to increase the length of the book. Of course there are twists and turns which are commendable but not too shocking - you see them coming. Also commendable how dots are joined from Atlantis to Kalinga to Egypt. But ah, these are only a few good things. 'Hi' 'Good night' 'Sweet dreams' 'bullshit' - this language is being spoken around 240 BC ! Similarly Sufi and Allah are mentioned in this time ! Some homework is definitely lacking here.
Despite having great potential in the storyline, it becomes a straight tale - falling flat book in totality which totally diverts from its title and the theme. Check it out at your own risk.
The storyline is absolutely interesting and sounds mysterious, however the execution is not that strong which holds you through this thriller. Plot is developed with sub-stories in an amateurish way just to increase the length of the book. Of course there are twists and turns which are commendable but not too shocking - you see them coming. Also commendable how dots are joined from Atlantis to Kalinga to Egypt. But ah, these are only a few good things. 'Hi' 'Good night' 'Sweet dreams' 'bullshit' - this language is being spoken around 240 BC ! Similarly Sufi and Allah are mentioned in this time ! Some homework is definitely lacking here.
Despite having great potential in the storyline, it becomes a straight tale - falling flat book in totality which totally diverts from its title and the theme. Check it out at your own risk.
November 7, 2021
3.5 stars.
The book was nice. it was about ashoka And his efforts to repent his sins. Moreover, He created a secret society to retain the knowledge.
The main characters are well thought and initial plot line was amazing.The characters of ashok and amartya provided nice contrast for the plot line. book started really amazingly, I was bracing myself thinking I found a jewel. But by the middle of book, confusion started. It almost seems like author had too many ideas and want to add all of them in this book. Along with indian mythology and myong myth, he added dragon. this worked well with plot , so no complaints. But unfortunatelly , he thought he would explore atlantian myth and then added egyptian mythology to all this. Further ahead, the book started to get strange path and finally came to an unsatisfying end.
So, all of the stars are for first Half. Yes, it was that good.
The book was nice. it was about ashoka And his efforts to repent his sins. Moreover, He created a secret society to retain the knowledge.
The main characters are well thought and initial plot line was amazing.The characters of ashok and amartya provided nice contrast for the plot line. book started really amazingly, I was bracing myself thinking I found a jewel. But by the middle of book, confusion started. It almost seems like author had too many ideas and want to add all of them in this book. Along with indian mythology and myong myth, he added dragon. this worked well with plot , so no complaints. But unfortunatelly , he thought he would explore atlantian myth and then added egyptian mythology to all this. Further ahead, the book started to get strange path and finally came to an unsatisfying end.
So, all of the stars are for first Half. Yes, it was that good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2019
📘INTRODUCTION - ASHOK and the Nine Unknown is a mythological fantasy fiction written by author Mr Anshul Dupare and is published by @rupa_publications . Mr. Dupare is an avid traveller, a voracious reader and creative writing has been his hobby for a long time.
📗PLOT SUMMARY - The book opens up with the horrifying and dreadful scene of the battlefield after the Kalinga War where Ashoka finds himself surrounded by the corpes of dead and the wailings and cries of their loved ones. This leaves an unerasable impression of regret on his soul and so he decides to dedicate his life for the betterment of the society and the prevention of any such war in the future.A step ahead in this endeavour he decides to create a secret society of Nine Unknown to safeguard the knowledge that if fallen in wrong hands might destroy the whole humanity.
Little did he knew that the safeguard of such knowledge requires a huge price to be paid.
📙REVIEW - The plot of the story is quite interesting and intriguing. It is very well narrated and is evidence of author's first hand knowledge of historical events. The character potrayl of all the characters is just outstanding especially that of Ashok's and Amartya's. The story is swiftly told with a lot of mystery and verve elements. The cover of the book seems very attractive and relevant. The title of the book too is appropriate wrt the plot. The story is told in a simple, lucid and easily understandable language . The ending of the story leaves some questions unanswered for which we have to wait till the second part is released. The writting style of the author is highly commendable here and i look forward to read the 2nd part as soon as it comes in the market.
Highly recommended for all mythology fantasy lovers.
📗PLOT SUMMARY - The book opens up with the horrifying and dreadful scene of the battlefield after the Kalinga War where Ashoka finds himself surrounded by the corpes of dead and the wailings and cries of their loved ones. This leaves an unerasable impression of regret on his soul and so he decides to dedicate his life for the betterment of the society and the prevention of any such war in the future.A step ahead in this endeavour he decides to create a secret society of Nine Unknown to safeguard the knowledge that if fallen in wrong hands might destroy the whole humanity.
Little did he knew that the safeguard of such knowledge requires a huge price to be paid.
📙REVIEW - The plot of the story is quite interesting and intriguing. It is very well narrated and is evidence of author's first hand knowledge of historical events. The character potrayl of all the characters is just outstanding especially that of Ashok's and Amartya's. The story is swiftly told with a lot of mystery and verve elements. The cover of the book seems very attractive and relevant. The title of the book too is appropriate wrt the plot. The story is told in a simple, lucid and easily understandable language . The ending of the story leaves some questions unanswered for which we have to wait till the second part is released. The writting style of the author is highly commendable here and i look forward to read the 2nd part as soon as it comes in the market.
Highly recommended for all mythology fantasy lovers.
May 27, 2019
Ashok and the nine unknown begins with Ashok standing on the battlefield of Kalinga looking at what he had done. He was miserable and to add further to his despair,he met a man who was deeply wounded.As his injuries were severe there was no hope for his survival yet the man's anguish comments speared his soul. The book from there on becomes more interesting as the steady trend of thrilling twists are introduced.
That man who name is revealed as Amartya survived and took a vow to avenge all that he had lost. Ashok was not a king according to him,he was a murderer of many innocent souls and repentance would not change that fact.
Another thing that was of immense important was the famous nine unknown. They were the talented people who were protecting nine different subjects that had the potential to either make and destroy the mankind. Ashok discussed this with Radhagupta and ordered him to find suitable people for upholding this responsibilities. In other words he wanted to safeguard in order to make the world more prosperous and advanced.
But what would the king do when there are enemies are lurking in the shadows and waiting? Waiting to destroy Ashok's adherence to spread peace and a sense of equality and not only that but seeking something else higher than imaginable. What if there were people whose he trusted ready to double-cross him at the right moment? Find out how far can vengeance go before it completely engulf a person's sense of morality.
I always have a voracious fascination when it comes to the Mauryan dynasty especially Ashok. Maybe because i'm residing in the land where one of the bloodiest and vicious war in the history was fought, i've heard stories about the Kalinga war from many that it has been etched in my memory. This book contains so many gory details and at times it was terrifying. Ashok who was widely regarded as one of the greatest ruler of India had a change of heart after seeing the brutal outcome of becoming victorious only to loose something in him, a part that speaks to his soul. Although parts of the story is fictionalized it no way looses its importance. An amazing read. And after reading the conclusion i must say that i need the second book because this one ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger.
That man who name is revealed as Amartya survived and took a vow to avenge all that he had lost. Ashok was not a king according to him,he was a murderer of many innocent souls and repentance would not change that fact.
Another thing that was of immense important was the famous nine unknown. They were the talented people who were protecting nine different subjects that had the potential to either make and destroy the mankind. Ashok discussed this with Radhagupta and ordered him to find suitable people for upholding this responsibilities. In other words he wanted to safeguard in order to make the world more prosperous and advanced.
But what would the king do when there are enemies are lurking in the shadows and waiting? Waiting to destroy Ashok's adherence to spread peace and a sense of equality and not only that but seeking something else higher than imaginable. What if there were people whose he trusted ready to double-cross him at the right moment? Find out how far can vengeance go before it completely engulf a person's sense of morality.
I always have a voracious fascination when it comes to the Mauryan dynasty especially Ashok. Maybe because i'm residing in the land where one of the bloodiest and vicious war in the history was fought, i've heard stories about the Kalinga war from many that it has been etched in my memory. This book contains so many gory details and at times it was terrifying. Ashok who was widely regarded as one of the greatest ruler of India had a change of heart after seeing the brutal outcome of becoming victorious only to loose something in him, a part that speaks to his soul. Although parts of the story is fictionalized it no way looses its importance. An amazing read. And after reading the conclusion i must say that i need the second book because this one ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger.
December 24, 2018
Since quite some time I have been reading novels that have mixed genres, like mythology and fantasy, or history and fantasy and so on, it is an experiment and I have liked the overall result. On the similar lines recently I finished reading this book – Ashok and the Nine Unknown by Anshul Dupare. First, it started as a typically historical fiction but midway it changes its course, though the feel of history has been maintained according to the timeline and backdrop. Despite mixture of two genres, the novel comes out quite credible. It is not a story of one character – I think this feature is prominent in fantasy novels – you got the chance to meet different creatures, powerful people, landscapes and of course travelling seems inherited to this genre. Whatever I just mentioned, I got to see all that stuff in this wonderful novel. Basically the story of the novel emanates from the battle field of Kalinga – the deadliest battle ever occurred on the earth. From here we see the good side of the king Ashok, and other powerful characters too get momentum, like Amartya.
Yes, the novel hops from one place to another. But later on it all comes up to one sizzling pot. I mean Patliputra, Ashoka’s team, the immortal Amartya, dragons, magical powers from the land of Egypt. It becomes a heady dose ahead and I was baffled by the intensity of the novel. I wish it had been a long read, sadly only 200 plus pages. I loved it, in a nutshell.
Yes, the novel hops from one place to another. But later on it all comes up to one sizzling pot. I mean Patliputra, Ashoka’s team, the immortal Amartya, dragons, magical powers from the land of Egypt. It becomes a heady dose ahead and I was baffled by the intensity of the novel. I wish it had been a long read, sadly only 200 plus pages. I loved it, in a nutshell.
November 22, 2018
Reading anyone’s craft is no less than watching a live performance. It’s always a treat to watch the creator set the stage for you, build its characters, appoint character function and row you through the course of his tale. It’s a familiar style of having the author ride along in his journey, share your reactions as the plot unfolds and occasionally draw your attention to the finer details that adds to the quality of his story telling. The author here, unapologetically, opens the screen and introduces you to an already framed scene and navigates you through his craft which constantly echoes with the pains and agony of an unforgettable battle. While it’s easy to believe in Ashok’s cause, forgive him before even asked for, what grips you is the uncertain fate of Amartya and his damnation to live. As a reader you would want to save the soul of the wounded warrior, redirect his course, but then understand the writer’s effort to make his audience watch several lives linked to an ancient lost world. Special mention on mention how the writer could easily include a conversation in a different line to the present one without losing track and purpose. With well researched and intelligently devised plot line and multifaceted characters, the writer presents his gripping tale of faith, hatred, and an inescapable fate.
July 21, 2020
Is this Historical Fiction? Or is this mythological fiction? Is it magic? Or fantasy?
“Ashok and the Nine Unknown” gets concluded with a delightful mix of all these elements, making it a book worth remembering.
There was a reason was King Ashok—the powerful ruler of the Mauryan Empire—was called ‘Ashok the great’. After the end of the bloodliest battle in history, The Kalinga War, Ashok understands the reality of the brutal aftermath of wars. He pledges for peace and devotes his life towards the welfare of his people. Amartya, a Kalingan who had lost his family in the war, vows to take revenge on the king. He goes to the hilly province of Mayong, which is famous for wizardry and magical spells. Meanwhile, Ashok assembles nine people—whom he calls ‘the nine unknown’—each a master of their respective fields like psychology, sociology, microbiology and astronomy. Amartya’s quest to avenge on Ashok makes him surrender to brutal magic and witchcraft never seen before. It turns out that the mythical city of Atlantis has something to do with Ashok and the Kalinga war, which ultimately relates them to the desert lands of Egypt. Does Ashok’s nine courtiers have something to do with it? What conspiracy is lurking under the dark to pounce against mankind?
The author ties many mythical aspects of the past to bring to us an exciting adventurous experience. He starts the story with Ashok’s empire, and within no time he has included the lore of Atlantis into the storyline, along with Egyptian legends like the Sphinx and Egyptian Gods like Horus, Set and Ra. This concoction makes the story so unique and exemplary that the readers are welcomed with one surprise after another. Be it unforeseen plot twists, enchanting magical sub plots, or the brilliant jugglery between fantasy and reality—this book has it all. The characterizations see a very able usage of their distinct personality traits, and they turn out to be vehemently life-like and original. Lustful and vengeful sides of them are shown, in contrast to their kindness and compassion. The persons surrounding the king are always dipped in numerous conspiracies and involvements, and this fact is made to testify in the light of the grey characterisations Anshul constructs. He ensures that the decisions made by the characters, justified or not, have surplus backstories to support it. Thereby, through the roles they have to play in the storyline, they emerge to be multi-layered and staunchly real.
The character of Amartya has the pivotal role to play in the plot. We experience his agony and frustration, and his anger at Ashok. We see him getting transformed to whatever it takes to teach the emperor a lesson, and himself submitting to evil forces in the process. There are portrayals of the corruption of power, of our own psychology turning against us to ruin our peace. When Amartya turns into the blood thirsty, vengeful inhuman beast—we are made to question the fact that whether Ashok really was able to rectify the losses he had inflicted upon the lives of the Kalingans? Sheer grimace and helplessness drips from Amartya’s personality, turning him into an epitome of revenge and hunger for power. He screams for influence and control, not caring about his own life in the process.
In the realm of this book, life and death are not so intangible concepts as we now think of them. Through mysticism and chants, many characters are able to shatter the barrier of death. The story makes us see for ourselves—that death is not the cruellest of punishments, rather incessant unbearable pain and emotional warfare lies at the core of such brutalities.
Although reading the book felt like getting engrossed in a land of magic and myths, a few downsides could be noticed. Towards the end of the book, the plot advancement had become too hasty. With too many parallel happenings and simultaneous segments of the story proceeding at different locations, it was expected that the storyline could be jumbled up. The inclusion of the Egyptian lore wasn’t as fluent as the involvement of the Magadhi culture with Ashok at the epicentre, neither was it well devised like the legend of Atlantis. Too many characters were dying and getting reborn, and it was getting tedious to attach our faith to some of them. The scarcity of ‘strong’ characters (except for Amartya), the kinds who dominate and influence the storyline from start to end was very prominent. A more straightforward distilling of the storyline could have improved the book as a whole. Recommended to all fantasy and historical fiction lovers!
Disclaimer: this review is in lieu of a review copy
Originally published on my blog: https://deepansbookshelf.blogspot.com...
“Ashok and the Nine Unknown” gets concluded with a delightful mix of all these elements, making it a book worth remembering.
There was a reason was King Ashok—the powerful ruler of the Mauryan Empire—was called ‘Ashok the great’. After the end of the bloodliest battle in history, The Kalinga War, Ashok understands the reality of the brutal aftermath of wars. He pledges for peace and devotes his life towards the welfare of his people. Amartya, a Kalingan who had lost his family in the war, vows to take revenge on the king. He goes to the hilly province of Mayong, which is famous for wizardry and magical spells. Meanwhile, Ashok assembles nine people—whom he calls ‘the nine unknown’—each a master of their respective fields like psychology, sociology, microbiology and astronomy. Amartya’s quest to avenge on Ashok makes him surrender to brutal magic and witchcraft never seen before. It turns out that the mythical city of Atlantis has something to do with Ashok and the Kalinga war, which ultimately relates them to the desert lands of Egypt. Does Ashok’s nine courtiers have something to do with it? What conspiracy is lurking under the dark to pounce against mankind?
The author ties many mythical aspects of the past to bring to us an exciting adventurous experience. He starts the story with Ashok’s empire, and within no time he has included the lore of Atlantis into the storyline, along with Egyptian legends like the Sphinx and Egyptian Gods like Horus, Set and Ra. This concoction makes the story so unique and exemplary that the readers are welcomed with one surprise after another. Be it unforeseen plot twists, enchanting magical sub plots, or the brilliant jugglery between fantasy and reality—this book has it all. The characterizations see a very able usage of their distinct personality traits, and they turn out to be vehemently life-like and original. Lustful and vengeful sides of them are shown, in contrast to their kindness and compassion. The persons surrounding the king are always dipped in numerous conspiracies and involvements, and this fact is made to testify in the light of the grey characterisations Anshul constructs. He ensures that the decisions made by the characters, justified or not, have surplus backstories to support it. Thereby, through the roles they have to play in the storyline, they emerge to be multi-layered and staunchly real.
The character of Amartya has the pivotal role to play in the plot. We experience his agony and frustration, and his anger at Ashok. We see him getting transformed to whatever it takes to teach the emperor a lesson, and himself submitting to evil forces in the process. There are portrayals of the corruption of power, of our own psychology turning against us to ruin our peace. When Amartya turns into the blood thirsty, vengeful inhuman beast—we are made to question the fact that whether Ashok really was able to rectify the losses he had inflicted upon the lives of the Kalingans? Sheer grimace and helplessness drips from Amartya’s personality, turning him into an epitome of revenge and hunger for power. He screams for influence and control, not caring about his own life in the process.
In the realm of this book, life and death are not so intangible concepts as we now think of them. Through mysticism and chants, many characters are able to shatter the barrier of death. The story makes us see for ourselves—that death is not the cruellest of punishments, rather incessant unbearable pain and emotional warfare lies at the core of such brutalities.
Although reading the book felt like getting engrossed in a land of magic and myths, a few downsides could be noticed. Towards the end of the book, the plot advancement had become too hasty. With too many parallel happenings and simultaneous segments of the story proceeding at different locations, it was expected that the storyline could be jumbled up. The inclusion of the Egyptian lore wasn’t as fluent as the involvement of the Magadhi culture with Ashok at the epicentre, neither was it well devised like the legend of Atlantis. Too many characters were dying and getting reborn, and it was getting tedious to attach our faith to some of them. The scarcity of ‘strong’ characters (except for Amartya), the kinds who dominate and influence the storyline from start to end was very prominent. A more straightforward distilling of the storyline could have improved the book as a whole. Recommended to all fantasy and historical fiction lovers!
Disclaimer: this review is in lieu of a review copy
Originally published on my blog: https://deepansbookshelf.blogspot.com...
June 7, 2019
♥Book Review /recommendation♥
BOOK- ASHOKA AND THE NINE UNKNOWN
GENRE- HISTORICAL FICTION
PAGES-224
MY RATING- ♥♥♥♥♡
The Kalinga War was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire and the state of Kalinga. Kalinga was an important kingdom because it controlled the trade routes with Southeast Asia. Because of this, Ashoka, the Mauryan king, wanted to capture it. Therefore he lead his huge army to Kalinga in 261 BC.
The story starts when the king of king Ashkok is standing between the corpses. When he looked around not a single person was standing on his feet. Ashok was indeed victorious - but there was no reason for him to rejoice. He had destroyed a beautiful city and its people. And thus he had destroyed himself too.
Between all these thoughts in his heard someone crying. He stood up and run towards the voice. He was feeling really guilty. So, he wants to save as many life he could save. When he reached, he saw vultures were eating the bare flesh from man's chest and face. He tries to help the man but he denied his help.
Ashok again tried to reach him but he took a turn. He took another turn and fall in the Daya River. Before falling that man was cursing Ashok but Ashok couldn't hear his last words. The name of that man was Amartya. He was saved by his elder btother Vatsal but he lost his both arms and one eye. His condition was very bad but there was warrior alive in his heart.
He lost his family. He want to take revenge. On the other hand Ashok was a totally different person. He wants no war and no violence. All people accepted him as their king except Amartya.
To know what happened next, please read the book.
Language is very easy and plot is well developed. I was so happy while reading this book. Characters are well build up. I found lots of great quotations. One of my favorite is:-
♣Even when we know that something bad is going to happen there is still a rayof hope in our hearts. There is a sound, a kind of prayer that we keep chanting in our hearts that goes what if... We don't lose hope. We keep a green tree in our hearts in the hope that birds will surely come.
Thanku
BOOK- ASHOKA AND THE NINE UNKNOWN
GENRE- HISTORICAL FICTION
PAGES-224
MY RATING- ♥♥♥♥♡
The Kalinga War was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire and the state of Kalinga. Kalinga was an important kingdom because it controlled the trade routes with Southeast Asia. Because of this, Ashoka, the Mauryan king, wanted to capture it. Therefore he lead his huge army to Kalinga in 261 BC.
The story starts when the king of king Ashkok is standing between the corpses. When he looked around not a single person was standing on his feet. Ashok was indeed victorious - but there was no reason for him to rejoice. He had destroyed a beautiful city and its people. And thus he had destroyed himself too.
Between all these thoughts in his heard someone crying. He stood up and run towards the voice. He was feeling really guilty. So, he wants to save as many life he could save. When he reached, he saw vultures were eating the bare flesh from man's chest and face. He tries to help the man but he denied his help.
Ashok again tried to reach him but he took a turn. He took another turn and fall in the Daya River. Before falling that man was cursing Ashok but Ashok couldn't hear his last words. The name of that man was Amartya. He was saved by his elder btother Vatsal but he lost his both arms and one eye. His condition was very bad but there was warrior alive in his heart.
He lost his family. He want to take revenge. On the other hand Ashok was a totally different person. He wants no war and no violence. All people accepted him as their king except Amartya.
To know what happened next, please read the book.
Language is very easy and plot is well developed. I was so happy while reading this book. Characters are well build up. I found lots of great quotations. One of my favorite is:-
♣Even when we know that something bad is going to happen there is still a rayof hope in our hearts. There is a sound, a kind of prayer that we keep chanting in our hearts that goes what if... We don't lose hope. We keep a green tree in our hearts in the hope that birds will surely come.
Thanku
August 5, 2019
Ashok and the nine unknowns - as the title suggests is a book of historic fiction, one of the genres I'd fall for, all day everyday!
However, this book absolutely justifies my love for historic fiction, possessing all the elements of being one.
Ashok - who is now the king of Kalinga, after winning one of the greatest battles in the Indian history.
Everything is destroyed after the war. The king of kings is in a state of denial and remorse for being a reason of such large scale destruction. When he comes across a wounded soldier, Amartya, that he decides to dedicate his life towards the betterment of the society and of his people. However, having no choice but to pull himself together and rule the world. His kingdom needs his attention and now after the war, nobody is trustworthy. There are shadows in his kingdom whom he has to stop in accomplishing their missions. On the other hand, Amartya, goes to a far off land to learn black magic so that he could destroy the kingdom of Kalinga. Was he seeking revenge and will he be successful in his attempt or will Ashok succeed in saving his kingdom from such traitors?
To find out all these answers, pick up your copy and enjoy this thrilling book.
To accomplish the huge responsibility of protecting his kingdom, Ashok created the secret society comprising of nine members who came to be known as the "nine unknown"
The cover design deserves a special mention for this book since it is amazingly descriptive of the plot, the genre and somewhat the storyline. It doesn't mislead the readers and goes well with their expectations of what to expect in the book. The title is no less. Both the cover and the title together make a really attractive first impression and that's all that is needed to lure a reader into engrossing in a book as this one.
The narration was fairly good. I enjoyed reading the book and it sure was a page turner. No matter it's a little lengthy, but it's definitely worth your time!
One not only gets to read a beautifully plotted storyline but also learns a lot of new things (might or might not be factual)
I would definitely recommend this book to every reader out there, this one is a must to be on your TBR!
However, this book absolutely justifies my love for historic fiction, possessing all the elements of being one.
Ashok - who is now the king of Kalinga, after winning one of the greatest battles in the Indian history.
Everything is destroyed after the war. The king of kings is in a state of denial and remorse for being a reason of such large scale destruction. When he comes across a wounded soldier, Amartya, that he decides to dedicate his life towards the betterment of the society and of his people. However, having no choice but to pull himself together and rule the world. His kingdom needs his attention and now after the war, nobody is trustworthy. There are shadows in his kingdom whom he has to stop in accomplishing their missions. On the other hand, Amartya, goes to a far off land to learn black magic so that he could destroy the kingdom of Kalinga. Was he seeking revenge and will he be successful in his attempt or will Ashok succeed in saving his kingdom from such traitors?
To find out all these answers, pick up your copy and enjoy this thrilling book.
To accomplish the huge responsibility of protecting his kingdom, Ashok created the secret society comprising of nine members who came to be known as the "nine unknown"
The cover design deserves a special mention for this book since it is amazingly descriptive of the plot, the genre and somewhat the storyline. It doesn't mislead the readers and goes well with their expectations of what to expect in the book. The title is no less. Both the cover and the title together make a really attractive first impression and that's all that is needed to lure a reader into engrossing in a book as this one.
The narration was fairly good. I enjoyed reading the book and it sure was a page turner. No matter it's a little lengthy, but it's definitely worth your time!
One not only gets to read a beautifully plotted storyline but also learns a lot of new things (might or might not be factual)
I would definitely recommend this book to every reader out there, this one is a must to be on your TBR!
August 20, 2019
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/08/bo...
The war against Kalinga was over but Emperor Ashoka was not happy with the victory. Instead all he saw around was pain, suffering and death. The scenes at the war change Ashoka in a moment from the ambitious emperor to a brooding man. The citizens of Kalinga also accept this defeat and their fate and are happy to be under the rule of Ashoka, who promises better life and development for them. However, Amartya, a soldier of Kalinga, who lost his family, home, everything in the war is not ready to move on and is hell bent on avenging Ashoka for the devastation he created in Kalinga. After losing both his arms, one eye and suffering a severe injury in stomach, not much is left for Amartya to hold ground as warrior to fight back the mighty Emperor.
Ashoka, around the same time, plans to use the existing knowledge in the world for betterment of the society by creating a secret group of nine scholars ‘The Nine Unknown’. In a far away mysterious land, Mayong, people want to hide and safeguard their ancient and sacred knowledge from the outside world. Where does life take Amartya in his quest to avenge Ashoka; how far Ashoka succeeds in forming, keeping this secret society forms rest of the story.
As mentioned in the blurb, this is first of the two part series, hence the story is left incomplete by the end, where first part establishes the characters, their intentions, and their back stories. As much as the story is a historic fiction with story created around the after math of the famous Kalinga war, the author weaves a lot of fantasy elements into the narration. There are multiple stories running in parallel and the narration takes a while to tie them together to understand the final destination.
The characters, narration and story are all well developed by the author and since there is a sequel in making, the overall likability of the story obviously depends on how the second part will also turn out. The fantasy elements, conspiracies, are the highlights but the major takeaway is what Ashoka tried to teach to the world from his experience of the Kalinga war, from his transformation from an ambitious emperor to a wise and knowledge thirsty scholar.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/08/bo...
The war against Kalinga was over but Emperor Ashoka was not happy with the victory. Instead all he saw around was pain, suffering and death. The scenes at the war change Ashoka in a moment from the ambitious emperor to a brooding man. The citizens of Kalinga also accept this defeat and their fate and are happy to be under the rule of Ashoka, who promises better life and development for them. However, Amartya, a soldier of Kalinga, who lost his family, home, everything in the war is not ready to move on and is hell bent on avenging Ashoka for the devastation he created in Kalinga. After losing both his arms, one eye and suffering a severe injury in stomach, not much is left for Amartya to hold ground as warrior to fight back the mighty Emperor.
Ashoka, around the same time, plans to use the existing knowledge in the world for betterment of the society by creating a secret group of nine scholars ‘The Nine Unknown’. In a far away mysterious land, Mayong, people want to hide and safeguard their ancient and sacred knowledge from the outside world. Where does life take Amartya in his quest to avenge Ashoka; how far Ashoka succeeds in forming, keeping this secret society forms rest of the story.
As mentioned in the blurb, this is first of the two part series, hence the story is left incomplete by the end, where first part establishes the characters, their intentions, and their back stories. As much as the story is a historic fiction with story created around the after math of the famous Kalinga war, the author weaves a lot of fantasy elements into the narration. There are multiple stories running in parallel and the narration takes a while to tie them together to understand the final destination.
The characters, narration and story are all well developed by the author and since there is a sequel in making, the overall likability of the story obviously depends on how the second part will also turn out. The fantasy elements, conspiracies, are the highlights but the major takeaway is what Ashoka tried to teach to the world from his experience of the Kalinga war, from his transformation from an ambitious emperor to a wise and knowledge thirsty scholar.
June 10, 2019
Book Title: Ashok and the Nine Unknown
Author: Anshul Dupare
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Ashok and the Nine Unknown ' is interesting and historical.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is an artistic format of King Ashok and his nine unknown people around.
Plot:
The book, Ashok and the Nine unknown is the first book in two book part series. The story starts with the end of the Kalinga war where the emperor Samrat Ashok standing like a dead man in the battlefield when the wounded soldier Amartya cis heard crying and cursing Ashok for causing the massive destruction to life. It is said that the Kalinga War is the triggering point of his enlightenment and then only after this he waves a path towards peace. Understanding the difficulty by handling a big society alone, he created a secret society of nine members who were known as 'Nine unknown men' to help him to retain the peace and goodness in the society. AFter the war where Ashok took a peace step, Amartya goes in the opposite direction to take revenge for the destruction Ashok caused.
What does Amartya do and implement is the story about.
What I like:
1. The plot line
2. Relevant writing to the present generation
3. The clear difference of good and evil that is caused by the humans without knowing the consequences is explained well
4. A clear language made the book an interesting read
5. Maps and pictures and such illustrations created more interest
6. Good balance in maintaining the suspense, drama and fiction is to be appreciated.
What I didn't like:
The story is quite engaging and there are no drawbacks.
Characters:
Every character in the story is plotted very well. The character of Ashok's minister is very well relatable to the present era of politics.
Narration:
An interesting and engaging narration with an amount of suspense and thrill is observed in the story.
Language & Grammar:
A very fine language and grammar are used in the story
My Final Verdict:
A good thrilling read
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Author: Anshul Dupare
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Ashok and the Nine Unknown ' is interesting and historical.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is an artistic format of King Ashok and his nine unknown people around.
Plot:
The book, Ashok and the Nine unknown is the first book in two book part series. The story starts with the end of the Kalinga war where the emperor Samrat Ashok standing like a dead man in the battlefield when the wounded soldier Amartya cis heard crying and cursing Ashok for causing the massive destruction to life. It is said that the Kalinga War is the triggering point of his enlightenment and then only after this he waves a path towards peace. Understanding the difficulty by handling a big society alone, he created a secret society of nine members who were known as 'Nine unknown men' to help him to retain the peace and goodness in the society. AFter the war where Ashok took a peace step, Amartya goes in the opposite direction to take revenge for the destruction Ashok caused.
What does Amartya do and implement is the story about.
What I like:
1. The plot line
2. Relevant writing to the present generation
3. The clear difference of good and evil that is caused by the humans without knowing the consequences is explained well
4. A clear language made the book an interesting read
5. Maps and pictures and such illustrations created more interest
6. Good balance in maintaining the suspense, drama and fiction is to be appreciated.
What I didn't like:
The story is quite engaging and there are no drawbacks.
Characters:
Every character in the story is plotted very well. The character of Ashok's minister is very well relatable to the present era of politics.
Narration:
An interesting and engaging narration with an amount of suspense and thrill is observed in the story.
Language & Grammar:
A very fine language and grammar are used in the story
My Final Verdict:
A good thrilling read
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
July 13, 2019
I am definitely not a person who loves history. I was skeptical about reading the book. But the cover was catchy and so was the title. So I decided to give it a go. The nine unknown part of the title kept me thinking so I wanted to know quickly what it was all about. SO I immediately began reading the book. You cannot classify it into one genre. There is history, fiction, thriller and supernatural here and there. The book begins with the end of Kalingan war where there was massive destruction. Ashok himself couldn’t digest the fact that his victory was amidst thousands of corpses. The description of the war field, post the war as Ashok wanders among the corpses is heartbreaking.
Ashok decides that this would be his last war and this was a massive destruction that he would never want to wage a war again. He meets a man on his deathbed, whom Ashok wants to help. But the man refuses to take help and falls into the river which has blood red water flowing out. Before leaving the man cursed Ashok for his actions.
The man was rescued by his brother somewhere later, who later wants to take revenge on Ashok. The man’s curse kept lingering in his mind. Ashok wants to make betterment of society but realizes that he cannot do it single handedly. Ashok appoints nine unknown men to protect the society. Who are these nine people is explained separately in a chapter. But to have a deeper understanding you would have to read it more than once.
Amartya, the wounded man from the battleground met Ashok in his palace but still couldn’t get the answers he wanted. SO he decides to take revenge. He travels o the magical city of Mayong, where in the secrets and knowledge are being protected by the people. His actual purpose of the visiting Mayong was to learn black magic and take revenge on him. Meanwhile Ashok also sensed a couple of shadows wandering around.
This is the first part of two book series. Read the book to know if Amartya took his revenge? What would happen to his Ashok’s kingdom? Who are those shadows.
The plot was quite interesting and so was the characterization. The maps and figures were a relief in the midst of the story. The narration was simple and easier to comprehend.
Ashok decides that this would be his last war and this was a massive destruction that he would never want to wage a war again. He meets a man on his deathbed, whom Ashok wants to help. But the man refuses to take help and falls into the river which has blood red water flowing out. Before leaving the man cursed Ashok for his actions.
The man was rescued by his brother somewhere later, who later wants to take revenge on Ashok. The man’s curse kept lingering in his mind. Ashok wants to make betterment of society but realizes that he cannot do it single handedly. Ashok appoints nine unknown men to protect the society. Who are these nine people is explained separately in a chapter. But to have a deeper understanding you would have to read it more than once.
Amartya, the wounded man from the battleground met Ashok in his palace but still couldn’t get the answers he wanted. SO he decides to take revenge. He travels o the magical city of Mayong, where in the secrets and knowledge are being protected by the people. His actual purpose of the visiting Mayong was to learn black magic and take revenge on him. Meanwhile Ashok also sensed a couple of shadows wandering around.
This is the first part of two book series. Read the book to know if Amartya took his revenge? What would happen to his Ashok’s kingdom? Who are those shadows.
The plot was quite interesting and so was the characterization. The maps and figures were a relief in the midst of the story. The narration was simple and easier to comprehend.
April 8, 2019
Samrat Ashok was an invincible king, however, after watching the bloodshed of Kalinga war he felt that the war is unnecessary and it can only destroy the lives. This book starts, where Ashok finds himself responsible for the loss and destruction of Kalinga. The massacre left a huge impact in his heart and he decided to reform his act.
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
On the war ground, he finds mutilated bodies of people who are waiting to die soon. During this, He meets a man who is badly injured, he has no arms and his one eye is missing. Ashok tries to help him but in the disgust, he refused to accept the help.
After this, Ashok immersed himself for the betterment of Kalinga and he also decided to form a group of nine people who are experts in different fields. These knowledge are precious and can be misused if find by some other person. To safeguard this knowledge, Ashok formed a secret group of nine people and he gives them different responsibilities.
Elsewhere, the injured man of Kalinga reaches to Mayong, a village of North-east which is famous for its witchcraft and wizard. His name is Amartya and he just wants to destroy Ashok.
Gradually, the book tells about another secret community of shadow people, who are trying to fulfill their own motive.
This book is then connected to the Sphinx of Egypt and the lost city of Atlantis, which is very fascinating to read. Amalgamating all these, this book end with turbulence.
Writing style:
Even though including so many concepts and genres, the author has kept his writing easy and seamless which makes this book readable. The narration is gripping and urges to turn pages.
My perception:
This book is full of action, adventure, mystery, thriller, magic, and suspense. The author’s hard research reflects in the book. He has merged many concepts and folklore to create the plot of this book. There is some gore in the book, which would not like by many. The portrayal of Samrat Ashok and other characters are up to the mark and I am really eager to read the second part of this book. Overall, this book is entertaining and intriguing and I am sure that every reader can enjoy this.
Recommend reading!
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
On the war ground, he finds mutilated bodies of people who are waiting to die soon. During this, He meets a man who is badly injured, he has no arms and his one eye is missing. Ashok tries to help him but in the disgust, he refused to accept the help.
After this, Ashok immersed himself for the betterment of Kalinga and he also decided to form a group of nine people who are experts in different fields. These knowledge are precious and can be misused if find by some other person. To safeguard this knowledge, Ashok formed a secret group of nine people and he gives them different responsibilities.
Elsewhere, the injured man of Kalinga reaches to Mayong, a village of North-east which is famous for its witchcraft and wizard. His name is Amartya and he just wants to destroy Ashok.
Gradually, the book tells about another secret community of shadow people, who are trying to fulfill their own motive.
This book is then connected to the Sphinx of Egypt and the lost city of Atlantis, which is very fascinating to read. Amalgamating all these, this book end with turbulence.
Writing style:
Even though including so many concepts and genres, the author has kept his writing easy and seamless which makes this book readable. The narration is gripping and urges to turn pages.
My perception:
This book is full of action, adventure, mystery, thriller, magic, and suspense. The author’s hard research reflects in the book. He has merged many concepts and folklore to create the plot of this book. There is some gore in the book, which would not like by many. The portrayal of Samrat Ashok and other characters are up to the mark and I am really eager to read the second part of this book. Overall, this book is entertaining and intriguing and I am sure that every reader can enjoy this.
Recommend reading!
April 12, 2019
My Take:
A high octane roller coaster ride. This one is not for the weak hearted ones. It has all the elements of an super series ; Mystery, History, Fantasy, Horror and Suspense. The story line is strong and well researched. Language is captivating to the extent that when we read we feel that the incidents are unfolding live. The story moves in a good pace. All the elements are used beautifully. There is something for all genre lovers.
It starts with the great war of Kalinda and Emperor Ashok and how this war transformed him as a person, king. When a survivor questions him and presents the ruthless facts of brutal killings on the battlefield the King is shaken to the core.
A bit of self evaluation takes him to the path of perseverance of peace. Meanwhile Amartya the wounded solider leaves for a magic land Mayong where he learns lots of secrets which boasts his confidence.
Meanwhile Ashok too form a secret society to protect the weak and prevent the war situations and restore humanity.However what happens when their societies collide? Who are the 9 unknown, men or women ,what next with them are some questions that add more curiosity to the sequel. The book ends on a high end open scenario where reader can interpret as per their wish. Can't wait to grab the copy to see how the sequel unfolds.
I liked the way the war is described, its aftereffects, the transformation of Ashok, the losses, feeling of devastation.
The magical land of Mayong and Atlantis is also created beautifully. Writing stories parallel with detailed description of both the worlds is no mean feat, something the author has managed to pull off.
My Rating:
I would rate this book 4.5 /5. Awaiting the sequel to know how the series ends. Keep writing.
A high octane roller coaster ride. This one is not for the weak hearted ones. It has all the elements of an super series ; Mystery, History, Fantasy, Horror and Suspense. The story line is strong and well researched. Language is captivating to the extent that when we read we feel that the incidents are unfolding live. The story moves in a good pace. All the elements are used beautifully. There is something for all genre lovers.
It starts with the great war of Kalinda and Emperor Ashok and how this war transformed him as a person, king. When a survivor questions him and presents the ruthless facts of brutal killings on the battlefield the King is shaken to the core.
A bit of self evaluation takes him to the path of perseverance of peace. Meanwhile Amartya the wounded solider leaves for a magic land Mayong where he learns lots of secrets which boasts his confidence.
Meanwhile Ashok too form a secret society to protect the weak and prevent the war situations and restore humanity.However what happens when their societies collide? Who are the 9 unknown, men or women ,what next with them are some questions that add more curiosity to the sequel. The book ends on a high end open scenario where reader can interpret as per their wish. Can't wait to grab the copy to see how the sequel unfolds.
I liked the way the war is described, its aftereffects, the transformation of Ashok, the losses, feeling of devastation.
The magical land of Mayong and Atlantis is also created beautifully. Writing stories parallel with detailed description of both the worlds is no mean feat, something the author has managed to pull off.
My Rating:
I would rate this book 4.5 /5. Awaiting the sequel to know how the series ends. Keep writing.
June 2, 2019
I received a copy of this book through The Book Genie Review Program.
The beautiful and vibrant cover and the blurb made me pick this book up. It also helped that I had seen it being talked about in the Social Media.
The story of Ashoka that usually gets narrated is till the part where he fights the Kalinga war and then as a result of witnessing the blood and gore of the war he repents and embraces Buddhism.
In this story the author Anshul Dupare tries to weave a fictional fantasy story of the events after this period.
He has very nicely weaved in a story of the characters who were part of the war and their later lives. One particularly important character was Amartya who has lost a lot during the war and doesn't accept that Ashoka is a changed after that. He builds his life on the path of revenge. In parallel Ashoka forms a group of Nine unknown people who have to uncover a secret.
You will have to read this book to understand how all these events intermingle and what happens as a result.
The things I liked in the story are the way the author has clarified in the blurb itself that it is the first part of a duology so the reader is prepared for a sort of cliff hanger ending. The other thing is that at the end of the story he very clearly differentiated in a separate page as to what part of the story is from history and which part is fictional.
What I was not ready for was the fantasy element that gets introduced later on in the story.
It starts at a normal pace but picks up speed in the last part where it gets difficult to put down the book due to intrigue factor. A very well written engaging story.
Do pick this one up if you like historical fiction with fantasy elements in it.
The beautiful and vibrant cover and the blurb made me pick this book up. It also helped that I had seen it being talked about in the Social Media.
The story of Ashoka that usually gets narrated is till the part where he fights the Kalinga war and then as a result of witnessing the blood and gore of the war he repents and embraces Buddhism.
In this story the author Anshul Dupare tries to weave a fictional fantasy story of the events after this period.
He has very nicely weaved in a story of the characters who were part of the war and their later lives. One particularly important character was Amartya who has lost a lot during the war and doesn't accept that Ashoka is a changed after that. He builds his life on the path of revenge. In parallel Ashoka forms a group of Nine unknown people who have to uncover a secret.
You will have to read this book to understand how all these events intermingle and what happens as a result.
The things I liked in the story are the way the author has clarified in the blurb itself that it is the first part of a duology so the reader is prepared for a sort of cliff hanger ending. The other thing is that at the end of the story he very clearly differentiated in a separate page as to what part of the story is from history and which part is fictional.
What I was not ready for was the fantasy element that gets introduced later on in the story.
It starts at a normal pace but picks up speed in the last part where it gets difficult to put down the book due to intrigue factor. A very well written engaging story.
Do pick this one up if you like historical fiction with fantasy elements in it.
March 2, 2019
" Power is always hungry for more. The more you feed it, the more its hunger increases"
This book has a mixed genre. It starts out to be a historical fiction but after a quarter its all magic and fantasy and towards the end its a thriller. The story have been woven by the Author considering the facts, myths and legends about the Kalinga war, magical village named Mayong, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza and also as the name of the book says a secret society created by Ashoka named the "Nine Unknown Men", to preserve and protect knowledge that could harm humanity.
The books starts where the Kalinga War ends and where the Emperor Ashok is deeply affected by the destruction caused by the war. He holds himself responsible for everything and works for the betterment of people. But Amartya , a Kalingan swears to take revenge and finds all the possible ways for that. A magical city Mayong is introduced whose secrets and knowledge are protected by the people. A lot of magic, mantras, fire dragons and a lot of action in between takes it to another level.Then there is another story running in parallel who are just shown in shadows and have a mysterious motive behind there actions.The three stories find its way towards each other in the end.
Plot is interesting and gripping. There are some violent and creepy content in between which may or may not be liked by the readers ( i didn't). There were philosophical talks in between which i liked. Author has done a good research on the content and presented his masterpiece beautifully and i also found the cover very beautiful and attractive. Waiting for the next part !.
This book has a mixed genre. It starts out to be a historical fiction but after a quarter its all magic and fantasy and towards the end its a thriller. The story have been woven by the Author considering the facts, myths and legends about the Kalinga war, magical village named Mayong, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza and also as the name of the book says a secret society created by Ashoka named the "Nine Unknown Men", to preserve and protect knowledge that could harm humanity.
The books starts where the Kalinga War ends and where the Emperor Ashok is deeply affected by the destruction caused by the war. He holds himself responsible for everything and works for the betterment of people. But Amartya , a Kalingan swears to take revenge and finds all the possible ways for that. A magical city Mayong is introduced whose secrets and knowledge are protected by the people. A lot of magic, mantras, fire dragons and a lot of action in between takes it to another level.Then there is another story running in parallel who are just shown in shadows and have a mysterious motive behind there actions.The three stories find its way towards each other in the end.
Plot is interesting and gripping. There are some violent and creepy content in between which may or may not be liked by the readers ( i didn't). There were philosophical talks in between which i liked. Author has done a good research on the content and presented his masterpiece beautifully and i also found the cover very beautiful and attractive. Waiting for the next part !.
June 20, 2019
Story is set during times of King Ashoka of Mauryan dynasty. It's a fictional story but author's narration is so good that it appears as a true historical event. Author has wonderfully woven /linked lost city of Atlantis, Egypt's Sphinx, Chinese dragons, Ashoka and nine unknown stories in one entertaining plot.
Plot is complex with multiple plots running parallelly and linearly. It is fast paced and involves lot of twists keeping readers on edge of their seats. It has love, treachery, betrayal, sympathy, loyalty, black magic etc.
Main characters are Ashoka after the war of Kalinga changes for good and is working on betterment of Kalinga and Kalingans. Amartya is a soldier of Kalingan army who lost his family, hands and one eye in the war and waiting for opportunity to take revenge, there are a lot of other characters like Vatsal, Karnika, Arunoday, Radhagupta, Girika and many more. To know who are they, how they enter each others lives, what happens to Amartya, life of King Ashok's when he was old and his death, how Atlantians, Egypt's Sphinx and Chinese are related to this plot, nine unknowns the title speaks about etc and more more things read the book. You will enjoy every bit of the plot but you're left with a many unanswered questions and lot of curiosity to know what happens next. Readers have to wait till the next book is released.
Book is an amazing read and would recommend for all historical fiction lovers.
Plot is complex with multiple plots running parallelly and linearly. It is fast paced and involves lot of twists keeping readers on edge of their seats. It has love, treachery, betrayal, sympathy, loyalty, black magic etc.
Main characters are Ashoka after the war of Kalinga changes for good and is working on betterment of Kalinga and Kalingans. Amartya is a soldier of Kalingan army who lost his family, hands and one eye in the war and waiting for opportunity to take revenge, there are a lot of other characters like Vatsal, Karnika, Arunoday, Radhagupta, Girika and many more. To know who are they, how they enter each others lives, what happens to Amartya, life of King Ashok's when he was old and his death, how Atlantians, Egypt's Sphinx and Chinese are related to this plot, nine unknowns the title speaks about etc and more more things read the book. You will enjoy every bit of the plot but you're left with a many unanswered questions and lot of curiosity to know what happens next. Readers have to wait till the next book is released.
Book is an amazing read and would recommend for all historical fiction lovers.
September 9, 2019
Ashok and the Nine Unknown by Anshul Dupare is a wonderful book. It’s a story of King Ashok who decided to do war against Kalinga. Where he met Amartya.
Amartya who was a victim in the war cursed Ashok. Who knew he will be suffering from his own words. Want to know what is nine unknown? Why Amartya suffered?. Get your copies now.
The plot of the story is interesting with lots of twists and turns. I liked how the author tried to keep the reader engaged throughout. Though it’s a bit difficult to connect with the story due to switching plots. Yes, it created a lot of confusion.
The pace of the story is slow. The story is well narrated with a smooth flow. At times it will make you a bit tedious. The way the author sequenced the Events is commendable. I loved how each event had its own secret.
The narration of the story is crisp and relatable. The author added drama and dialogues which keeps the reader hooked throughout. The language and the writing style of the author are simple and lucid.
The characters that the author made are strong and can connect to the readers well. Each character had an appealing approach. Themes like love, loss, war are used by the author to make it an interesting read.
I loved the storyline. How the author portrayed each and every emotion. There are some amazing messages that the author conveyed through this book.
Overall it’s a wonderful book that you’ll love.
Amartya who was a victim in the war cursed Ashok. Who knew he will be suffering from his own words. Want to know what is nine unknown? Why Amartya suffered?. Get your copies now.
The plot of the story is interesting with lots of twists and turns. I liked how the author tried to keep the reader engaged throughout. Though it’s a bit difficult to connect with the story due to switching plots. Yes, it created a lot of confusion.
The pace of the story is slow. The story is well narrated with a smooth flow. At times it will make you a bit tedious. The way the author sequenced the Events is commendable. I loved how each event had its own secret.
The narration of the story is crisp and relatable. The author added drama and dialogues which keeps the reader hooked throughout. The language and the writing style of the author are simple and lucid.
The characters that the author made are strong and can connect to the readers well. Each character had an appealing approach. Themes like love, loss, war are used by the author to make it an interesting read.
I loved the storyline. How the author portrayed each and every emotion. There are some amazing messages that the author conveyed through this book.
Overall it’s a wonderful book that you’ll love.
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