Kim's Review: Chanakya's Chant

I had absolutely loved Ashwin's Rozabal Line and my mind was boggled by the connections and cross connections in that book. For this reason I had postponed reading Chanakya's Chant for quite awhile as I waiting for the chance to have enough time on hand to absorb multiple layers and research cross connections like I had needed to with Rozabal Line. A relaxed trip home to be pampered by mum, seemed like the right time and so it was in my purse with the ipad (for easy googling) as I headed to the airport.

Chanakya's chant interweaves 2 stories of different eras - the time of Chanakya and modern day India and follows the politics, the strategies and compromises that have to be made during a leaders ascent to the top.

The book is extremely well written. Both stories kept me on tenterhooks when I finished one chapter about the ancient time and wanted to know what would happen next, I was whisked away to the present age in the next chapter and vice versa.

If you are expecting another Rozabal line, you will be disappointed. Ashwin himself said that the first book was a story that he was itching to tell, his second book he started out wanting to write a bestseller. As a stand alone book it is brilliant, but if compared to Rozabal line, Chanakya's chant lacks the complexity and mutiple thread lines. So set aside your pre-conceptions and read it without thinking about the authors previous work and you will definitely love it.

Also read Brajesh's review of Ashwins first book and masterpiece - The Rozabal Line and his review of Chanakya's Chant.


Rating: 4 / 5