The third book brings Shiva to the heart of the mystery he has been chasing: what the real evil of his age is, and who has been protecting it. His search takes him to Pariha, home of the Vayuputras, a secretive tribe of the previous Mahadev's followers, whose oath and knowledge prove crucial to the choices ahead.
With the kingdoms of India dividing into alliances, the novel turns into a war story of sieges, naval battles and political deals, while also exploring Shiva's relationships with Sati, Ganesh, Kartik and the Naga queen Kali. Amish uses the conflict to question whether a resource that benefits some can be justified by the harm it does to others.
This is the longest book of the trilogy and closes the saga that made its author famous. Readers new to the series should start with The Immortals of Meluha, as the plot depends heavily on the earlier books. It ties together threads from all three books, sometimes at length.
Book details
| Author | Amish Tripathi |
|---|---|
| First published | 2013 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Mythology |
| Type | Fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 565 |
| Setting | Meluha, Swadweep, Pariha and Devagiri, ancient India around 1900 BC |
Themes
- War and its cost
- Nature of evil
- Sacrifice
- Environmental harm
- Duty
Who should read it
Fans of the first two Shiva books who want the epic conclusion.