The second book of the Shiva Trilogy picks up immediately after the first, with Shiva determined to find the masked Naga who attacked Sati. The search takes him and his companions beyond Meluha to Kashi, a city of tolerance on the Ganga, and to Branga, a kingdom desperate for a medicine that only the Nagas seem able to supply.
Along the way Shiva learns that the Nagas are not the monsters he was told about, and he encounters figures who will transform his understanding of his family, including the fierce Naga queen Kali and a young warrior named Ganesh. Battles with pirates, a plague and political betrayals keep the plot moving quickly.
Amish expands his world with new kingdoms and philosophies, asking whether evil is a people or a force. The novel ends on a revelation that sets up the final volume, and like its predecessor it sold in huge numbers across India. Its pace rarely slows.
Book details
| Author | Amish Tripathi |
|---|---|
| First published | 2011 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Mythology |
| Type | Fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 396 |
| Setting | Kashi, Branga, Panchavati and the Narmada region, ancient India around 1900 BC |
Themes
- Prejudice
- Family secrets
- Nature of evil
- Loyalty
- Destiny
Who should read it
Readers who enjoyed The Immortals of Meluha and want to see the Shiva saga widen.