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My perspective on “The Shiva Trilogy” by Amish Tripathi (Vedant, Class 8 Student)

The Shiva Trilogy is a phenomenal read for any book lover. For me, the paramount aspect of the Shiva Trilogy is that although it may considerably help, there is no prerequisite knowledge of Hindu mythology, despite the text being heavily based on the Hindu God Shiva. This skilful use of language enables anyone to understand it promptly; however, this is only the tip of the iceberg of amazement.

As for the actual plot, it is exceptionally engaging, albeit somewhat complicated in certain areas. Due to my intense love for thrillers and battles, I found the start and finish (especially the twist) incredibly gripping and I could barely put the book down; contrarily, the midsection could have been slightly more active – as this would ensure the lingering of excitement in the reader – instead of politics and relationships.

And now, onto the preeminent segment of the Shiva Trilogy: The Characters. There are some very diverse and convoluted characters in these stories, all interweaving and intertwining with each other until they become akin to beads in a hopelessly chaotic ball of thread. One of these is Bhagirath, son of Dilipa, Emperor of the Chandravanshi empire, and Prince of the Swadeepan Empire. He is connected to Emperor Dilipa and Princess Anandamayi through fatherhood and brotherhood respectively; he is also connected to Mahadev Shiva, General Parvateshwar, Major/Captain Nandi, and many others by friendship. Therefore, we can see how easily this ball of thread can be unravelled and examined.

Another quality which continually astounds me is the sheer multitudinous myriad of personalities which the characters are perpetually switching between. Take Mahadev Shiva as an example – he can be light hearted and facetious when talking with a friend like Veerbhadra or Brahaspati, but undoubtedly ferocious in certain circumstances, e.g. launching the Pashupatiastra as a form of revenge for the gruesome and unforgivable murder of Sati by Swuth.

The final factor in my admiration for this series is how adroitly Amish Tripathi has made every single event have some degree of importance; like Shiva’s uncle Manobhu being a member of the Vayaputra council, Sati’s previous stillborn child – and unrevealed sister - actually being a Naga (The Lord Of The People and The Queen Of The Nagas, in fact) and some traumatising event in Shiva’s childhood leading him to take the right decisions, follow his “Dharma”, and protect the weak/b from harm.

In conclusion, I think that the Shiva Trilogy is an amazing read for any book enthusiast with many commendable parts to it that makes it an absolutely unforgettable read. And now voraciously waiting for the next unsurpassable series from Amish Tripathi.