Harsha : The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar

by Rajat Pillai

Nothing is permanent in politics. Only scars remain forever. Born a royal and surrounded by luxury, Prince Harshavardhan had assumed that life would be easy. But everything changes shortly after his 17th birthday as the young prince is thrust into hostile territory all alone. A grand game of deceit beyond his age is simmering, and Harsha is the central piece. A ruthless invader, a barbaric neighbor, allies with changing loyalties and untrustworthy deputies are all part of the volatile political landscape he inherits. To add to his woes, a pair of bloodthirsty, psychotic twins stalk him across kingdoms, tracking his every move. The only thing that keeps Harsha alive is the desire to rescue his sister imprisoned by a savage rival. Will the young prince defy all odds to counter Bharatvarsh’s two mightiest kingdoms? Where will destiny take Harsha? Will the Vardhana dynasty sink into history?

276 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2022

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense read with well developed characters and a well constructed plot, the book offers so much more than just a political fiction.

The writing grips the reader right from the very beginning as the book starts with a scene that both introduces you to the main characters as well as what’s going to be the main plot.

It’s dark yet adventurous and thrilling throughout the entire read. The characters are dynamic and mature which from the blurb I was not expecting. A 17 year old main protagonist amidst enemies and battles gave more than any other intense adult characters in the story.

I am so glad it’s so different from the typical young adult fiction of similar genres.

You will be introduced into a complex world of a kingdom which is trying to protect itself from fierce enemies, invaders and hard to trust allies. You will get a taste of fictional characters who aren’t like human at all who are actually bloodthirsty and barbaric.

I loved the minimal descriptions of the characters as well as the scenarios presented in various parts of the book. I would like to highlight the chemistry between the characters as well as the subtle romance which I feel is so well done.

The ending wraps up pretty well all the chaos and the utter madness. I would say the plot has been well planned and presented in a way it went beyond all expectations.

I loved the first book by the author and this one didn’t disappoint me either! This one went far beyond my expectations.

[Ishan Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is important that we start knowing the real history which is not taught to us due to the liberalisation of so called pseudo secular brigade. The traitors , murderers Mughals are hailed as superheroes while the real heroes like Maharana Pratap ji , Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ji , Prithviraj Chauhan ji and many others dont even get a mention.

This novel covers yet another unsung warrior of the past : Prince Harshvardhana. At the height of Harsha's power, his Empire covered much of North and Northwestern India, with the Narmada River as its southern boundary. He eventually made Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh state) his capital. The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting scholars, artists and religious visitors from far and wide.The Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.His biography Harshacharita ("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet Banabhatta, describes his association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and and the palace with a two-storied Dhavalagriha (white mansion).

Just like other books of the author this one also gives a favourable account of the unglorified kings. The pace of the story is varied . The cover is vibrant and the content is pretty detailed especially the war scenes. Being a huge movie buff , I felt like watching Bahubali while reading the book

Overall yet another commendable work by the author.

[AANVI WRITES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stay focused, ignore the distractions, you will will accomplish your goals faster....
This saying goes well with the book Harsha, I picked up this book as the previous books of this author was a entertaining read for me.

Harsha by Rajat Pillai is an incredible historical political saga that revolves around Prince Harshavardhan, a 17 year old lad. Born and brought up in a luxurious lifestyle, he is thrust upon the responsibility of rescuing his abducted sister Rajyashri, and to save his kingdom from evil hands, after the death of his parents King Prabhakarvardhan and Queen Yasomati.

As he delves into the mission, he gets to taste the actual unknown realities of life. Caught in a web of conspiracy, deceit and politics, will the young prince succeed in his mission or lose to the plans of his untrustworthy allies? What happens next? Read the book to know more....

What I liked?
Well planned and researched plot.
Impressive writing style.
Descriptive narration.
Well developed characters.

My Verdict
A treat to lovers of history and a entertaining read for others....

[Meera Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rajat Pillai’s historical fiction is a portrait of Harshavardhan, a young warrior who gets thrust into a position of great responsibility well before his age.

Born into a loving, royal family, Harsha doesn’t realize what it takes to lead a kingdom and keep warring forces at bay until he is forced to confront the loss of his loved ones and fight for his motherland.

I love reading books that are steeped in Indian history and that regale the readers with tales of kings & queens.

Right from the first page, I knew I’d be fully immersed in Rajat Pillai’s storytelling because of the essence it carries. His writing style is action-oriented but doesn’t shy away from painting vivid pictures of palaces, forests, battlefields, and other landscapes.

There were instances where I felt that the author could have used the “show, don’t tell” technique to assert how a character was feeling or the state of things. That would have added a great deal to the reading experience.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is the thought-provoking nature of several passages. I highlighted many of them and I know that these ideas will remain with me for life.

The chapters in the book are relatively short, which further engages you and makes you want to keep reading.

Harsha is a... Read the rest of the review on my blog.

[Saloni Singh Chauhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar' by Rajat Pillai is an incredible tale of politics and bravery. The protagonist of the story is Prince Harshvardhan. King Prabhakarvardhan has two sons, crown Prince Rajyavardhan and Harshvardhan. The book started with the scene of a battle field where Harsha fought bravely against Gyanabhatt. After killing him, he felt that the sense of achievement is missing. After the 17th birthday of Harshvardan, everything got changed in his life. Politics, war, fight everything he has to face. What happened with Harsha you'll come to know after reading the story.
The narration style of the author is amazing. It was like watching a movie. I liked language and vocabulary used by the author.

[Sruthy Pisharady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I am not a fan of historical fiction, I have previously read the work of the author Rajat Pillai which urged me to pick up this book. The story begins by introducing us to the royal family of Sthaneshwar. The first half of the book takes us through the lives of its main characters and the relationship between Sthaneshwar and neighbouring states. We also understand the current political atmosphere of the state. The relationship between the family members of the royal family of Sthaneshwar was interesting to read. It was warm and cordial unlike the relationship portrayed usually in books about royal families. In the second half, the book takes unexpected turns which make the story exciting. The book is able to keep its readers hooked till the last page with a fast-paced plot and engaging writing style. If you like Indian historical fiction with equal parts of family drama and ancient wars, you should definitely pick up this book.

[noorthebookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

HARSHA- the fearless warrior of thanesar


Life certainly makes you wiser, whether you want it or not. The experiences, the ups & downs that life throws at us, the loss, the grief of losing your loved ones, the snatching away of all the comforts, the luxuries, the loving care of dear ones, watching helplessly your dear ones in trouble definately makes one prepared for weathering the storms.

This is what exactly happened with our young prince, merely of 17years of age when life completely threw him off his feet & he had to, without any other choice, learn to stand up for himself, for his people & for his family (of whatever was left).

He learnt at a very young age, how death is the final end & not even the most powerful king (like his father) can evade it. He learnt how one can get so emotionally drained when a loved one leaves us, that one can even put one's own life at stake without batting an eyelid (like his mother did). He learnt how even a fatherly figure (like his brother) who was all wise & knew work politics, can be deceived by someone who masks himself as your ally if you trust someone blindly. He learnt that for the greed of power, money & land, even your most faithful friend/ employee cn turn against you when opportunity arises. He also learnt that helplessly watching your dear ones (like your sister) in pain, can make one rise from the ashes like a phoenix & take charge of one's destiny.

All this & many more life lessons are infused in this amazing mythological fictional story inspired from real events. Here are some more i loved;
- we all wonder why we are subject to all the suffering in the world. Infact nobody is spared from the balancing forces that run the world, it has a higher purpose.
Nobody is spared, not even Godyin their human form.
- when life puts people through toil, they emerge as scarred survivors.
- the most beautiful people & the most dangerous people in the world, both have numerous scars inside them.
- true love doesn't seek material possessions but only genuine affection.
- life is defined not by what one received from the world but by what one gave to the world.
- fear is only in the mind.
- sometimes an enemy can be useful to.
- always pray before consuming your food.
- your scars may wound you but the path you choose, decides your destiny.

I actually looked up "Harsh ka Tilla" & searched for facts about the legendary king.
I have added the author to my list of favourite mytho- fiction authors.
.
#harsha

[Raj Nandani ( Wrap the Fury) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review of Harsha

Harsha by Rajat Pillai is a historical fiction based upon the story of Prince Harshvardhan of Thaneshar. The story begins with a battle scene and proceeds to the whole family of Prince Harsha celebrating the marriage of his sister. The atmosphere of the kingdom is happy and celebratory; everyone is enjoying it. The family dynamics remind me of Ramayana. There are discussions of politics and kingdoms intermingled with family talks. Everything seems to be going well for the Vardhanas with a few visible enemy kingdoms. The future of Sthaneshwar seems prosperous and bright for now. Suddenly, the King dies, and the reality changes drastically for the royals of Sthaneshwar.

"Whether rain or sunshine, flood or drought, poverty or prosperity, human conflict is beret of a sense of time, place and even reason."

The writing style of the book is lucid and fast-paced. The battle scenes are well-described, and I was lost in the story as I began to read more and more. It becomes better as we read more. This book is filled with the historical element of battle and politics. Apart from that, there is thrill, wit, humor, and action in the story. The characters are well developed, and the sudden revelations spice up the events further.

"Everywhere else, there was only murky water in varying depths. On the surface it was placid, concealing all the misery and debris below, like people who lead normal lives."

There are several instances when I witnessed contemporary issues seeping into the historical context, and they were all well placed and subtle. The religious conflicts, the myths and rituals for power, the question of God and God's relevance, and several other issues are also tackled properly.

The development of our protagonist Harsha is commendable to the story. It begins with a child following his brother to a prince emerging out of dire situations to gain his kingdom back and save the people he loves. There are several instances of close saves of the main character as the events pass, and the wit of the character is not the only thing that saves him every time.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It is a perfect mixture of thrill, suspicion, mystery, intrigue, history, and action. I will give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book is suitable for readers who like to read fast-paced, action-packed historical thrillers with politics and wit as its undertone. But I must warn you that this book discusses mild torturing and child abuse and describes many life and death situations. If you are okay with these, then you are going to enjoy this.

[The Book Critiques · Rating 5 out of 5]

The abrupt demise of King Prabhakarvardhan and Queen Yasomati of Thanesar, left the Vardhan brothers in shock, and as if this blow was not enough for them, destiny played a cruel game with them in the form of abduction of their sister Rajyashri. To save their sister from their biggest foe Devgupta, Rajyavardhan the crown Prince initiated the War against Malva and became the victim of treachery by his own Father-in-law.

Harshavardhan, the youngest Prince of Thanesar was thurst with the responsibility of his kingdom after losing his family but things were not easy as they look, his sister was still captive of Malvas and his army chief in his absence took advantage of the situation and crowned himself as the new King of Thanesar.

Read the story of an unsung hero of the past and find out yourself how he changed his destiny.

The first half of the book mostly talks about the Vardhan family and focus less on Harsha, the protagonist of this story, so there was this constant nagging at the back of my mind that why the title is Harsha when the story is all about his family. But the next half left me perplexed as the table turns, the prince who was full of self-doubt became the saviour of his motherland.

I like how the author has described each character, the vivid description of the characters helped me to picturise them.

Not only this, the author has presented the facts as is it. Without hindering the actual history of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, the author has impeccably shared the tale of King Harsha in his own words.

But what I truly like about this book is the narration, the gripping narration kept me engaged throughout the book.

This is the fourth book by the author, I got a chance to read his earlier works also and I am happy to see the changes in his writing style, the author has come a long way, from using descriptive narration to focusing on dialogues, I can see the growth in author's work.

I highly recommend this book to all Indian historical fiction lovers.

[Prince Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this story would have never ended, the story of Harsha teaches that whatever happens in your life keep focusing on the things which you can do to make that time better and better and learn from your mistakes, and always listen to all people because the great idea comes by discussing and understanding it better.

This book gave me a smile and the satisfaction that a reader wants sometimes and this time I got that and I would cherish this story very long in my heart.

After researching I came to know that this book is inspired by Harshavardhana who was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He was a member of the Vardhana dynasty and was the son of Prabhakara vardhana who defeated the Alchon Huna invaders, and the younger brother of Rajyavardhana, a king of Thanesar, present-day Haryana.

The author has presented this story very well and has justified every character he had weaved and I also like the writing style of the author and in future, I would like to read more of his works as he made me his fan with this book and this is my first historical fiction which I have loved.

Glimpse

At the age of seventeen, he had to endure the death of his parents and big brother who was murdered by deception by his father-in-law, Harsha has lost everyone whom he loved and only his sister is alive and she is captured by Vishnu Gupta the brother of Devgupta who called as Asura Gupta.

Devgupta wants to marry the Princess of Thanesar and sacrifice her to gain more power and become the powerful king of Bharat Varsha, when the father of Princes came to know he rejected the offer and married her to a respectable king of kanauj Grihavarman.

Harsha is now on run for saving his life and his kingdom had been taken by deception by his chief advisor who declared himself king and made the people of Thanesar suffer, on the same time there is a twin brother who was sworn to kill Harsha and is searching for him and Harsha only motto is to save his sister who recently got captured by Devgupta.

To know more go grab the book and start reading this thriller.

[Rudra Maheshwari · Rating 4 out of 5]

History, being the most fascinating subject itself, is a challenge to the modern world, as History is known to be the best teacher in my opinion. Apparently, people closely bonded to me are aware of my love towards History that too Indic History, which makes me travel to different stages of zeal while reading. I dedicated most of my spare time in studying the apt Indian History with no Euro-Centric but Indic perspective. This unfolds the reason for picking this book, composed on the contemporary inspiration of King Harshavardhana, who ruled Northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He hails from the Vardhana Dynasty and a descendant of King Prabhakaravardhana who fiercely vanquished the Alchon Huna invaders, and younger to Rajyavardhana, King of Thanesar (present-day Haryana).
The plot has been divided into two halves, first of which deals narrating the talks about Vardhana Dynasty and hardly centres to Harsha but the second half turns the table, where Harsha who was absolutely in the dilemma of self doubt and incompetency happens to be solely savious of the Kingdom.
He had been through tough times from a tender age of 17, when he lost his parents and elder brother, the Crown Prince who was skinned to death by deception by his father in law. He was only left with his sister alive in his family and the grief of losing everyone was devastating. It wasn 't yet enough to his fate, but also his sister happens to be captured by Vishnu Gupta, who does this to fulfil the desire of his brother Devgupta. He admired to marry her with the vision of crowning himself as the greatest and most powerful king of Bharat Varsha.
The narrative has an intriguing style of writing that possesses to captivate one's utter attention towards the read. It is well crafted and has the aptness that is needed while Historical re-telling. I passionately loved the book, narration, plot and all those elements that have been included.
The most appealing part that caught my attention is the cover, which was literally enough to choose the read.

[Geeta Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrown into a stream
Life and death he sees
Odds heavy weigh him down
Will he cross or drown…

That’s ‘Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar’ in a nutshell.

A historical fiction with a lot of twists and turns, 'Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar’ is nothing short of a political drama packed with intrigue, deceit, and shattered dreams. It is the story of the young and uninitiated Prince of Thanesar who has never ever been taken seriously by his subjects. Growing up in the shadow of his elder brother Rajyavardhan, the Crown Prince of Thanesar, our protagonist i.e., Harsha is a happy teenager who does not aspire for the ultimate…the Crown. However, fate has something else in store for him. Suddenly, flung into a whirlpool of intrigue, deceit, and political gameplay Harsha finds himself all alone with a choice to either fight to win or face a death violent. With his loved ones gone too early, and his faith in those close to his family shattered, Harsha loses the will to live, but there is one person for whom he must fight against all odds…his sister. Will Harsha be able to overcome his personal hurdles? Will he be able to survive the weapons of deceit that await him in the form of humans? Will he be able to turn the tide of the war to his favor?...These and many such questions are bound to arise in the reader’s mind as the story progresses.

A story of grit and determination, Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar is also the story of coming of age of a young prince. It is a story of strategy and survival. It is a story of clever moves and making most of opportunities available. It is a story that is capable of winning hearts and tickling the brain to ponder over some well-articulated thoughts that are truly quotable.

Well narrated and evenly paced, the book scores high in terms of plot, characterization, and language. Vivid imagery and lucid language combined with an element of suspense makes the book a page-turner in every sense.

VERDICT

A must read for those who love historical fiction. The book scores a perfect 5 on 5.

[Kitabi Keeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

▶ A coming-of-age chronicle of young Prince Harsha

• Insights: Bravery Determination and Conspiracy. That is Harsha for you in a nutshell. The death of King Prabhakarvardhan and Queen Yasomati of Thanesar leaves both the Vardhan brothers stranded amidst unpredictability and unwavering hostility. Their sister Rajyashri gets abducted and Harsha, a young prince and the protagonist of the story is bagged with the responsibility of rescuing her from unfriendly lands. At just about 17 years  of age, with quite less experience but equally high motivation, the young Prince is caught unexpectedly in a web of grave political turmoil, altering loyalties, unknown enemies and unchartered regions. His intense appetite to bring back his sister and his unswerving resolve to win the war- both physically and psychologically, ultimately makes the cut. It makes him shine out as the silver bullet within a quite complex yet earnestly narrated plot.

• REVIEW: Fiction is only fiction for readers who cannot relate it to their reality. The story of Harsha shares lessons to survive in today's world, it draws an unsaid comparison with the volatility of the environment that we live in, quite metaphorically yet literally. People today are surrounded by drama, suspense, unpredictability and unclear intent; but Harsha shows us that if one's end goal or target is defined, then nothing can deviate one from his mission. The author's imagination is praiseworthy, the reader grows along with the characters and their noteworthy journey. 

• STRENGTH:
1. The cover image is extremely appealing- gives the feel of an epic/period drama
2. The narration is extremely gripping and quite crisp, will keep one hooked onto the chapters

• Drawbacks:
It is a long read, hence people need to be interested in the genre to be able to read it to its entirety

• TARGET READERS: Readers interested in period dramas and conspiracy reads

• AGE GROUP: Young Adults

• GENRE: Historical period fiction

• RATING: 4.4/5

[Preethika P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harsha! Fearless warrior of the century ❤️

We have the assumption that braveness come from inside. In what circumstance we will spike our protective layer as braveness and try to eliminate the problem? What if everything you had was plucked out and the entire situation remorse you to kill yourself by guilt? What if you have to take care of the people but want to die the next minute?

Harsha was only 17 when he faced the trouble of his life where his parents died, his brother was skinned to death, his sister was abducted and his love betrayed him. No one at that age would have survived this problem. But he survived, pushed his limits and converted his luck as a survival chance and withdrew his power and authority and saved his kingdom.

The story was deep and sad to know that it happened for real. Even as a fiction it was hard to read. The events which happened simultaneously to down a kingdom was so brutal. It took sometime to digest the fact that they skinned a man alive to satisfy their false ego.

Love changes everything. When we have all the love and support we love to be with the person or with the entire society. A small twist in the story will change that love into hatred and they twist their limit to betray them and even worse kill them. For a small accident, that king Shashank brought the entire kingdom to downfall even when he realised that he is killing his close relatives 😓

Noone could have suffered like Harsha did. The strategy he framed even in the difficult situation saved him and his people and helped to outnumber the big army in the last fight. The pain he endured flowed like a stream in the book that every reader can feel. At the end I was surprised to see that it happened for real and it was took from Harshacharita. Fascinating right 🌹
Beautiful story with beautiful writing. Hatsoff to the writer

[Gunjan Mittal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harsha by Rajat Pillai is a historic fiction based on the king Harshvardhan of Thaneshar. The story starts with the scene of war and the family getting ready for the wedding of the princess. King Prabhakarvardhan of Sthaneshwar has two sons, crown Prince Rajyavardhan and Harshvardhan. Both the brothers are really close to each other and their sister, who is visibly the apple of their eyes. The wedding ceremonies were disrupted a little by the enemy kingdom, however, the celebrations continue. The kingdom of Sthaneshwar has all things going right. The future of the kingdom is full of love, prosperity and brightness. Things change suddenly after the death of the king.
The way the author has designed and described the characters is amazing especially the character of Harsha. His development from a young boy who follows his brother and father to a smart and independent prince is outstanding. The other characters are also well described. All the characters have an important role to play. All the characters are well developed.
The writing style is fast paced and lucid with simple language. This keeps the reader hooked and makes this a true page turner. There are philosophical elements like importance and relevance of God, the thirst for power and myths have been described well.
There are a lot of historic elements, especially around the war and politics.
Overall, I will recommend this book to all the lovers of history, fiction action and war. It has elements of family, brotherhood, drama, politics and humor, everything to make a book a page turner for the reader. I will rate it a 4.5/5 and know that it is something most people who like fast based historic fiction will love.

[Rishma Bora · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓."

The book narrates the tale of Harshavardhan, a royal prince born into luxury but his life wasn't easy. The book starts from a scene in the battlefield where Harsha fought against Gyanabhatt but he lacked sense of accomplishment because he felt his 17 year old self was too ruthless to kill people. Shortly after his parents and his elder brother was murdered, his sister was captured by a rival and his Kingdom was seized by deception. Harsha must fight his battles alone to stay alive, rescue his sister and also to get back his Kingdom from the betrayers and enemies. The book follows the life of Harsha and his development from a young lad following the footsteps of his brother to the rightful King that he is by gaining his kingdom back.

The writing style of the book is lucid and the language is easy to understand. The plot of the book is well researched and well narrated. The character development of Harsha was brilliant and the every scene in the book is very nicely described. Apart from being rich in historical elements, the book is filled with thrills and actions which mades the book engaging. The book is fast paced with action packed thrills mixed with historical elements which makes the plot gripping. The book gives an insight into the politics of India during the period when it was ruled by Kings and Queens. I don't do well with numerous characters and names, but the book has a lot of characters and names which made it a little difficult for me to remember them. However, I would still recommend this book to the history lovers and people who are curious to learn about the unsung warrior of India- Harsha.

[ROSHNI SATHYADAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harsha is the prince of Thanesar and his world turned upside down just after his 17th birthday. Wave after wave of mishap is awaiting him in his life. How will he overcome the hurdles thrown at him at a young age and in a lone state? Will he be able to save himself and his people from this turmoil? What are the encounters that lead him to be one of the best kings in history? 

The book narrates the journey of the prince through the desolate phase of his life. The author is successful in passing on the feelings of deceit, heartbreak, confusion, and conflicts of Harsha to the readers. After the read, Harsha becomes someone close to our hearts. Harsha’s thoughts were interesting to watch. I like the small pieces of advice that are interlaced and that are all-time relevant. We get to understand the prince deeply. His inner conflicts give us the readers, a platform for a self-debate. Each of us is given a chance to think over it.

People usually get to see the rosy side of the royal life. Here, we get to know the things that lie beyond the luxury and pomp of such a life – the flipside we are unaware of or least depicted. Along with the prince we get to know war, love, sadness, and the crumbling of his happy life. The initial phase of the evolution of Harsha into a great king is shown to us.

The detailed portrayal of each character is commendable, and I like the fact that each of them has its own inevitable role in the story. I especially like the way the twins are sketched. War story means violence, so I shouldn’t be complaining about the violence pictured.

Harsha is a fascinating read for historical fiction fanatics. It is gripping, emotional and contemplative.

[Sagar Naskar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book : Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar
Author : Rajat Pillai

The most beautiful lines I got in the book 👇

Nothing is permanent in politics.
Only scars remain forever !!

Well written from start to end.This book is amazing and hard to believe the writing is excellent and plot will keep you absolutely hooked!!!

Such an intriguing and unique storyline. It's a very short read.A story full of emotional ups and down. Eloborate writing and smooth transition between scenes. The plot and the plot twist were shocking and I like it alot. This book got me hooked right from start and you just can't stop reading it unless you have finished it.

I enjoy fiction based on kingdoms and wars between empires a lot. Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar is an incredible book on politics, bravery and splendor. I got lost in the pages of this brilliantly written book.

The story is based on Prince Harshvardhan, the younger son of King Prabhakarvardhan. King Prabhakarvardhan's elder son, Rajyavardhan is the Crown Prince. The book starts with the war scene where Harshavardhan fought bravely against Gyanabhatt But after killing him, he was not elated with the victory. Everything changes after his 17th birthday as the youngest prince of Thanesar found himself in hostile lands, left all alone with the responsibilities of his kingdom and rescuing his sister from the grasp of his rival.

The writing style is simple, and this book has a suspense filled narrative. This book should be picked up by fans of the historical fiction genre.

⭐ Rating : 4.5/5 🌟⭐
⭐ Must Recommended 🌟

[Vaj Vijaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW
BOOK - " HARSHA THE FEARLESS WARRIOR OF THANESAR "
AUTHOR - " RAJAT PILLAI "
GENRE - " HISTORICAL FICTION "

Historical fiction has been my favorite genre for a while and reading these on Indian history is a treat for history lovers like me.

This is the story of the young prince Harsha who is the son of king Prabhakarvardhan and queen Yashomati. All was well in the kingdom but untill one fateful day, Harsha's sister, the princess Rajyashri was abducted by the swore enemies of the empire- Devgupta of the malvas.

The crown prince of the Thenasar Rajavardhan sent out to battle against Devgupta and save his sister. But due to the treachery of his own father in law, Rajavardhan lost his life.

Now with the sudden demise of the king Prabhakarvardhan and his brother, a 17 year old Harsha was thrust with the responsibility of the Vardhan Pushyabhuti dynasty as well as to defeat the wicked Devgupta.

This book is a treat to the action thriller fans where the ancient warfare is explicitly explained. One can see the intensity while reading the instances. The author also made a point to give a detailed and vivid description of the life in the palace and the kingdom which was enlightening. One hardly reads about the lifestyle or the nuances of the daily life in history books but this made up for it.

The book speaks about the various alliances, political treacheries which take place in the court.

A great read. Looking forward to explore the author's other works.

[Hepzibah Becca Jael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harsha- The Fearless Warrior of Thanesa
Rajat Pillai

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Genre: Historic fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 266
Price: 399

Review:

As a student of literature I always love peeking into history and this book was a definitely intriguing and interesting book that had me hooked in its pages! I loved how the author has written the book, because it's history and usually history tends to be boring but he has walked the fine line of history and entertaining and made it his own! (Maybe we should ask him to write our history books and save the kids from boredom.... ;p )

The book is definitely one of the best historic literature I've read from an Indian author, I love tales of unsung heroes and Harsha is a tale of a warrior that the author has highlighted in the book! Harsha is shown to be fierce and fearless, but he wasn't always like that he's tossed and turned inside a political drama due to unexpected events that make him the crown prince! This book is something of a coming of age novel for Harsha who turns from silly teenager to a responsible and fierce warrior who can turn wars like one turns tables!

The book has a unique pace, it's not too fast or to slow it's kinda just right, the characters are really strong and well built, the background of the characters is relevant and makes the reading interesting, the plot is steadily building and the climax hits at just the right time! Overall a fantastic read, a book that every historic fiction lover and ones who love the underdog story will love!

[Ruchi Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this author’s previous work so I had to pick this book up. I will briefly summarise the blurb here without inclusion of spoilers that will give you idea about the book. The protagonist of the story is Harsha, Prince Harshvardhan. King Prabhakarvardhan has two sons, crown Prince Rajyavardhan and Harshvardhan. The book started with the scene of a battle field where Harsha fought bravely against Gyanabhatt. After killing him, he felt that the sense of achievement is missing. He is just 17 and he felt strange. He assumed that his life would be easy but everything changed after his 17th birthday as the young prince is thrust into hostile territory all alone. He faced many unknown enemies and territories. Such as a ruthless invader, a barbaric neighbor, allies with changing loyalties and untrustworthy deputies are all part of the volatile political landscape he inherits. To add to his woes, a pair of bloodthirsty, psychotic twins stalk him across kingdoms, tracking his every move. The only thing that keeps Harsha alive is to rescue his imprisoned sister. Read the book to unfold complete plot. I liked the plot. It’s a complete package of war, politics, drama and suspense. The narration style of the author is crisp. It was like watching a movie. I liked language and vocabulary used by the author. And hats off to the imagination of the author because the plot is too flawless. Such an interesting read. Recommended from my side.

[Dharani Kannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fabulous historical fiction that stole my heart right at the first page with vivid picturisation and impressive way of writing. I'm always fascinated about the historical war and fight scenes. Those parts of the book especially impressed me.

King Prabhakarvardhan and Queen Yasomati died leaving behind their sons, Rajyavardhan and Harshvardhan. They had a sister named Rajyashri who was under the custody of enemies. The story has been crafted around these circumstances where Harsha has a huge responsibility of saving his sister from the hands of an enemy kingdom. Harsha was too young to do all these things with no political experience. He was just 17 years old and he was so innocent to understand the political plays, cheating and the silent enemies who work behind his back. Though there were a number of plots made against him, his determination to bring back his sister never faded. The rest of the story revolves around the following questions-

♧ How did he break all the political plays?
♧ Whether he was able to save his sister or not !?

The story was quite good and impressive. The book is quite lengthy. Some areas of the book move faster whereas some other areas move at a slower pace. Harsha's determination to achieve his goal was mind blowing. It would for sure be a great example for this generation. A nice book which can be recommended to anyone who loves reading this genre! Go for it.

[Sayani · Rating 5 out of 5]

//Review//

🏹A gripping historical fiction that gives us the perfect blend of loss, grief, betrayal, war, bravery and courage. A fast paced, captivating tale of Prince Harshavardhan of Vardhana Dynasty
🌻

🏹The Vardhana Kingdom lost its King and Queen and also the Elder Brother of Harsha, the Crown Prince by Deception and treachery of his own father-in-law. Harsha was only 17 when he went to this turmoil and to add to his woes his sister was abducted by the rival kingdom. Harsha, a Prince who was leading a lavish and luxurious life suddenly became a central piece of this grand game of deceit.
🌻

🏹Ruthless invader, a barbaric neighbour, untrustworthy allies that are turning their back, corrupt officials, a harsh political and power struggle that Harsha faced at a tender age yet the zeal to rescue his sister kept him moving. This is Prince Harshavardhan the descendant of King Prabhakarvardhan who against all odds fearlessly faced the ruthless invader Alchon and fought against two mighty Kingdoms in order to protect Vardhan Dynasty from sinking into history and gor rescuing his sister.
🌻

🏹The writing style is eloquent that comes along with a proper blend of simplicity making it easily comprehensible. The character the plots are very well developed and well paced, I was totally engrossed to the story till the end. I will recommend to readers who is interested in this genre.
🌻
_________

[Nishita Patil · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Life is not all black and white, it's a shade of grey and we must decide which one suits us the best" is not a quote by any great person, that is just something I came up with right now.
I have not really read alot of historical or period drama, excluding the mythologies but definitely I have always been a fan of history and that's how this book happened to me .
So this book is all about the Vardhan family, the royalties and rulers of Sthaneshwar.
Harsha being the youngest of the royalty lives under a pampered bubble where life is all hunky and Dory.
But it doesn't continue for long since soon the kingdom witnesses death of King Prabhakarvardhan and Queen Yasomati . The Kingdom and Vardhan brothers are just gathering their lost footing post the trauma, but here comes yet another obstacle when their sister Rajyashri gets abducted .
17 year old Harsha now has to carry the weight of not just the his sister's safety but also protecting the Kingdom from an unfortunate fall.
Overall this would be perfect for the history nerds since it's based on true events and yet the characters and this story is barely shared with us through our history textbooks.
It was a good one when it came to action sequences, everything I found there was pretty much smooth flowing.
Although I would have liked it more if it could have added more intensity to characters since the book is a period book.

[Arohi Khedkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of Prince Harshvardhan of Thanesar 17 year old energetic boy whos life takes a drastic turn living him all alone in the hostile territory to protect his sister and his kingdom. This mythological novel is partly fictionalized and is based on true story; inspired by Banabhatts original work Harshacharitra.

First half of the book contains in-depth explanation about vardhan family, their allies, how peacefully they rule over Thanesar. It took me 15 long chapters to develop that interest and it was worth a try as second half was quite interesting. The real game becomes when Prince Harshvardhan is put-up into a dramatic situation and had to face harsh reality in battle of war. The betrayal hits hard specially when its done by our dear ones. Overcoming this all intellectually and bravely Harsha tends to fight his battle all alone.

The details were too much for me which made me difficult to keep up the pace with the initial story line but later on it all felt justified with all those progressing scenarios. The evil twin brothers were the one i was more interested into, they had their own interesting role and backstory in this. The writing style was pretty intriguing too which justified the theme. Cover is something which made me think to give it a try.

The complexity of kingdoms, betrayals, constant changing allies, war, hope; everything is well described in it.
Should definitely try out if you are into historical fictions!

[Bookwithmadhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the outset, the lives of the kings, the queens and all the royals in general is something that most of us envy and right from our childhood days, there are so many of us who wish they would be a Prince or Princess.

However, no one ever can imagine all the messes, disputes and complications that these royals have to face or overcome, not because of something that they did, but their only fault is just because being born in a certain family puts a target on them.

They say Uneasy Lies the Head That Wears A Crown and we see this quote being imbibed by our protagonist, Harshavardhan, who was the youngest Prince of Thanesar in the book, ‘Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar’ by Rajat Pillai.

Sometimes, when it rains, it pours and that is exactly what happens with Harsha when after losing two of his closest people, the bad things continue to keep coming in.

It was like there was no catching break for our protagonist and many would have crumbled in his position, but Harsha knew the stakes of what he had to loose if he gave up and that was the motivation that kept him going.

There are some stories that create a setup for the novel, which are albeit a bit boring in the beginning as they are trying to easily thrust the readers into a story, and then there are books like Harsha, which started with a bang right from the very first page. Hence I am going to give this FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Livre_monde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot:

A young prince, a son, a brother, a writer, and a warrior, Harsha's life turns upside down in a moment when a set of political conspiracies take away everyone and everything from him instantly. Harsha, whom everyone thinks a little less competent to be a prince, resolves to earn back his kingdom and safely bring back his sister who has been kept captive by a rival king. With the little time, resources, and people available to his aid, at an age of 17, Harsha breaks away from the image of an incompetent prince to become a fearless warrior whom history will remember. 


Positives:

The amazing writing style of the author

Well narrated scenes/chapters

Detailed war scenes with lots of actions


Weaker points:

The plot needed a bit more strength. From the beginning, it was known where the story was heading and how things would end. It took away the thrill and the essence to continue reading the book. I skipped pages as I already knew what was written there.

Weakly developed characters. Despite amazing narration, none of the characters could touch the chord which would make me feel for them. None!


Recommended?

The story is inspired by true events. So, if you are a history enthusiast then please go for it. But if you are looking for a story with a lot of thrill and suspense then please skip it. 

[Gowravy Ravanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot revolves around the great brave Harsha son of King Prabhakarvardhan. The plot has been split into two parts each serving different phases of the story. The first half sketches about the Vardhana Dynasty and the things revolving around the dynasty whereas the second half veers around the main character Harsha who strings in finding himself as a great warrior and a Nobel man to the people of his kingdom.

Harsha, at the age of 17, lost his parents and elder brother, the Crown Prince who was shucked to death by the betrayal by his father-in-law. He was left with his innocent sister who was then captured by Vishnu Gupta, for his beloved brother Devgupta. Harsha was in the grief of losing everyone, he was devastated after knowing about the imprisonment of his only sister. The rest of the story sketches put how he made efforts to rescue his sister.

The cover is creatively appealing to me, and the title is very apt to the plot. The language is made simple yet radiant. The storytelling part could have been better however I haven't felt boring. The narration misses enticing the readers. Needs improvement in the case of character development, I find it hard to connect with the secondary characters however the author focused on the main character Harsha and it was portrayed well. The author missed exhibiting the essence of the story through the suspense element, at some pages I figured out what would happen next. The description of war scenarios was excellently portrayed. I must appreciate the author for his wonderful background research. I would recommend this book to all historical fiction readers who would enjoy reading about wars!

[Anugya Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

All about deceit and determination

Harsha, authored by Rajat Pillai, is an action-packed thriller loaded with suspense, detailed narration, and an engaging plot.

The story is about a 17-year old prince relying on his competent elder brother to reign the kingdom and live his life happily ever after. But such was the turn of events that all his plans fall flat, and destiny takes him to a different path. In a snap, he loses his family and a lot more. The author has very intriguingly developed the story around politics, which stuns the readers. Despite all the difficulties, Harsha keeps moving ahead to save his sister and his kingdom. Though less experienced, he was highly motivated.

The plot is full of many turns and twists; while you might be able to guess a few, others will shock you; and, therefore, keep you engaged. Some of the instances in the book are so cruel and brutal that they might make you shudder.

Overall, the narration, flow of the story, and writing are really good to keep readers vested in the book. Scenes of forests and battlefields, among others, are clearly and neatly described.

Another interesting fact, it is loosely based on the part of history – King Harshvardhan.

Go ahead and pick this book if you enjoy dwelling in the world of kings & princes, courage and determination, faith & deceit, and finally, good storytelling.

[Twinkle Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title - Harsha : The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar
Author - Rajat Pillai
Genre - thriller fiction

'Harsha : The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar' by Rajat Pillai is a historical thriller fictional read which revolves around the protagonist Harshavardhan. Prabhakarvardhan had two sons : crown prince Rajyavardhan and Harsha, prince Harshvardhan. The story starts with a scene in battlefield where Harsha fought bravely with Gyanbhatt. He was living a luxurious and smooth life until he turned 17. After his 17th birthday his life turned upside down when he lost his parents and brother. Also his sister was abducted by enemies. His only goal was to save his sister and kingdom from evil hands.

To know what happened next read the book.

The author has narrated the story really well which has the elements like mystery, thrill, suspense, war, politics, greed, power etc. The war scenes are described in detail which felt like watching it in real. His writing style is smooth and flowing that makes it an engaging read. Language used is simple and easily understandable. Characters are strongly built. The cover and the title of the book is totally apt to the content. The flow of the book is fast paced which makes it a page turner read.

In nutshell, a thrilling read.

Rating - 4.8/5

Recommendation - yes