(Reviewed by Ishita RC)
The price of a promise, paid in blood.
The deadly Halahala, the all devouring poison was an accidental find during the churning from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras. Even the great Omnipotent Shiva didn’t escape its potent effect. However a small portion of the poison still remains, and now this powerful weapon is the cause of battle between the asuras and the devas.
As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess The Halahala, Shuva turns to the neutrality of mankind and righteousness of King Vikramaditya to protect the universe from the curse of the Halahala.
My love for mythology started in the lap of my great-grandmother. So obviously I have heard about the story of King Vikramaditya and his righteous rule. For this very reason I have been attracted to this book for a very long time. The plot is simply a fantastical sweeping journey through the elements of myth and legend that paints a vivid and dramatic picture right from the moment you start the book.
The quality of writing is powerful and beautiful and manages to transport the readers to a surreal world that captures your attention with its strength of plot conviction, majestic characters, face pace of narration and equally significant sub-plots that point towards exciting future installments. There is not a single element of the book that I would change and I cannot emphasise enough how much I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
The Guardians of the Halahala is an absolutely fantastic book that I would recommend to all, especially those who love fantasy and mythology. Being based on Indian mythologies, some might find difficulty in enunciating certain terminologies. Don’t lose hope; this is one of those books that you can always go back to for another read.
