Title: The Exiled Prince (The Crystal Guardian Series, #1)
Author: Ravi
Publisher: Fingerprint
ISBN: 978-81-7234-481-8
Number of Pages: 262
Price [INR] : 199
Genre: Fiction (Mythology)
Legend has it that there exists a supreme Crystal of Creation, with part of the souls of Lord Shiva and Narayana suspended within it. This single most powerful weapon, with the power to construct, annihilate, and recreate the universe, remained hidden somewhere deep within the Himalayan ranges for millennia . . . until now.
And now . . . it has gone missing!
Rama, the hero of the ages, must embark upon a perilous journey to find the Crystal of Creation before someone else, someone with an insatiable lust for power, discovers it and the reign of the entire cosmos falls into his hands.
And thus begins an epic adventure that will take Rama beyond the kingdom of Ayodhya into lands where he will have to battle the fiercest of demons that have colonized the earth, and, in the course, change the destiny of human lives forever. This tale will also seek to answer a question that has never been asked: Who was Rama really? What was his real purpose? Is he the real immortal?
As powers greater than the universe itself come together only to erupt into chaos and intrigue, discover a tale set in a time before Time, where the immortal Rama will come to life and reveal his mysterious world through his eyes as he begins his true purpose-the quest for the Crystal of Creation.
When I held this book in my hand, as I was leafing through the book, I came across a bookmark in the book which said, “A uniquely different telling of the Ramayana, narrated from a stunning new point of view – Rama’s own.” The first thought that came to my mind was what could be new or different in Ramayana. Yes, we have grown up reading and watching the Ramayana stories. Then I read, the blurb of the book and I was intrigued.
As I started reading the book, the range of emotions varied between amazement, curiosity, incredulousness, awe, wonder, stunned surprise….
The Exiled Prince is an interesting tale that blends magical, mythical adventures into the Legend of Ramayana and all this is narrated by Rama himself. Central to the story is the Crystal of Creation that has to be guarded to prevent it from going into some wrongful hands.
Rama narrates the stories from his father’s past, regarding his adventures as a warrior, killing of Shravan and his parents when he allowed his arrogance and pride to cloud his judgement, the king’s marriage to Queen Kaushalya and the assassination attempt by Mukhar and effect of this on his health and subsequent marriage to Kaikeyi. The story of how Rama and his brothers were born kind of amazed me. This was something that I had never read or heard about it earlier.
Rama and Lakshman have been introduced as young boys with no realization of their purpose on this earth. The sages and the Gurus with their immense wisdom and knowledge help them to attain enlightenment. The cosmic forms of energy play their roles in their enlightenment and strengthens them with supernatural and divine powers. They were told that everything in life happens for a purpose and that what happens today is connected to what awaits in the future tomorrow and that Rama was engineered to be a war machine!!
The book showcases Rama’s wars with various demons and subsequently his marriage to Sita and his exile. The Crystal of Creation is not found in this book and should be revealed in the sequel.
I liked this very refreshing take on the Ramayana. The author has done extensive research for this book to bring about some unusual, unknown (at least to me), surprising aspects of the legend of Ramayana.
The narrative is fast paced and flows smoothly and compels you as a reader to keep turning the pages. The imagery created with words is vivid which enhances the reading pleasure. Except for the war scenes which in my opinion were too descriptive and lengthy, rest of the story reads like a breeze.
With The Exiled Prince, the author has piqued my interest about the The Crystal of Creation and am looking forward to the sequel where more mysteries along with a refreshingly different take on the legend of Ramayana is unraveled.
Rating : [usr 4 text=”false” size=20]
42 Responses
sounds very interesting Shilpa!!
And my list of books grow! 😀
I enjoyed reading it, Pixie 🙂
You know what, I make my reading list based on reviews of some blogs too 😀
On my next trip to India I think I will use your blog to decide which books to buy 🙂 very nice review
Aww! You made my day, Jayashree! Thank you so much! 🙂 ♥
Ah !! Here’s another new one 🙂 Just yesterday I ordered ‘Jaya’ and ‘Sita’ on FK. Wish I’d ordered this one too. Seems fascinating ! Now my interest is really high 🙂 Thanks for sharing it here…. !
Sita is on my wishlist too! 🙂
lovely review SG…
Thank you Bikram 🙂
Mythology retold from a new perspective always makes for an interesting read.
Yeah, there are always some new insights, some new twists… 🙂
Hmmm, sounds like an interesting book. Great job on the review. You are getting to be quite the pro at book reviews. ♥
Thanks Kathy! You are too kind 🙂 ♥
Thanks for the wonderful review.
My pleasure, SG 🙂
More than the reviews- which are really quality reviews anyway, do you finish reading all these books so fast 🙂 ? I am quite intrigued by that fact alone :-). Guess I would also consult your blog while choosing my books- specifically from Indian authors….Thanks.
LOL 😀 When the goal is to read one book a day, I am somehow able to find time to do just that 🙂 Thank you so much, Jayanta for your encouraging words 🙂
I’m waiting to go back home to order so many books what can I say! I’l refer to ur reviews and Tulika’s A2Z Challenge posts for the same 🙂
That sounds like a plan 😀 Thanks for the confidence in my reviews, Nabanita! In fact even I have ordered 2 books from Tulika’s April posts 🙂
A lot of mythology centered books have flooded our world. I particularly think fast paced stuff don’t suit me but wil still pick this one up.
Oh yes, suddenly there is a deluge of books on Mythology. I’ll be picking up Rise of the Sun Prince, which is again based on Ramayana, soon 🙂
I really enjoy checking in here for your book reviews, helps me to stay connected with the world of contemporary fiction, because lately I have been only reading “old” stuff 🙂
This one is lying around in my home. My husband read it and shared parts of it with me…somehow I am a bit old-fashioned and want my mythology told in more traditional ways. Though I have read a few re-tellings of Ramayana and Mahabharata, I prefer the ones that are less “new-agey”, if you know what I mean 🙂
Thanks Beloo, glad you like the reviews here! What ‘old’ stuff are you reading these days?
Yes, I know what you mean. I like to explore different authors, genres, styles… sometimes it backfires, but then usually it is a wonderful and a good experience too 🙂
Good review, Shilpa! You are on a book reviewing spree. How do you find so much time to read? Amazing!
Thanks Rachna! Oh, I have a big target and I am seeing only that, just like Arjuna’s eye on the bird’s eye 😀
lucky you!! u r reading one book a day?!!!! how cool is that!! wow!
So far, have been able to manage that 😀
Very well written review Shilpa! I will certainly try to read it! Congrats…. as usual u are really doing a challenging job!! 🙂
So good to see you, Pra, after such a long long time. How have you been? Are you back to blogging? Thank you, glad you liked this review 🙂
Very comprehensive review. Sounds interesting. Must read!
Thank you Ma’am 🙂
Wow Shilpa! You are indeed lucky to find time to read and review so many books! I envy you:)
Thank you so much Mr Bhatia 🙂
This sounds like m kind of book– the feminist in me never liked Rama, but maybe this book will give him another chance.
Do check it out, Damyanti. Am sure you’ll like it 🙂
Interesting. I love Indian mythology so might like this book. You are indeed on a book reviewing spree. 🙂
Yes, on a book reading spree too 😀
ah this book sounds very interesting! how i wish i cud read so much like u!!
It surely is an interesting one. You have a small baby na?!
Great review! It’s always interesting to read a fresh take on well known tales and classics; and the author here seems to have done a good job!
Thanks Fab! Yes, it is interesting and insightful at the same time 🙂
Well written, detailed review.
We liked the book too, our review-
http://bookadorers.com/the-exiled-prince.html