Five stars!

Usha Narayanan is my “go-to” author when it comes to Indian mythology, and with her latest release she has proven again that she can bring ancient epics to colourful life.

Kartikeya is introduced as a child, cast out and in trouble, unloved because he seems so vastly different. It is his very difference, though, which makes him triumph in the end. As such, this isn’t just a retelling of old myths but also the story of an “underdog” who dares to be different, comes into his own and finally finds his rightful place in the greater scheme of things. All of us who have at any time in our lives felt inadequate, unloved, purposeless, self-conscious or like a weird outsider will rejoice in Kartikeya’s ultimate success and perhaps find it a bit easier to make a leap of faith and reconcile themselves with the fact that everyone is unique and everyone deserves love.

It was fascinating to learn about the hero’s origins and in how many ways he was connected to others and to the epic battle between the devas and the asuras. I enjoyed discovering his softer side full of kindness, faith and perseverance, a side which made him show love to animals and thus ensured their support. It was also intriguing to see how he handled the dilemma of two wives, one celestial and one earthly, and how the two sides of his character found their perfect matches in these two wonderful women. While I know woefully little about the actual stories behind this cleverly woven, entertaining tale, all the protagonists came alive for me with their many motivations and personalities. And as I live in Sri Lanka, I whooped with glee when realization dawned that Kartikeya a.k.a. Skanda is none other than the deity Kataragama revered by Sri Lankans. It was lovely to see that the author had paid tribute to this part of his life too.

As with her previous books, the author managed to captivate me from page 1 and had me going through an emotional journey alongside the many vividly portrayed characters, rooting for the brave Kartikeya.