Book 1: GOVINDA Aryavarta – the ancient realm of the Noble. For generations, the Firstborn, descendants of Vasishta Varuni and protectors of the Divine Order on earth, have dominated here. For just as long, the Angirasa family of Firewrights, weapon-makers to the kings and master inventors, has defied them. In the aftermath of the centuries-long conflict between the two orders, the once-united empire of Aryavarta lies splintered, a shadow of its former glorious self. Now, the last Secret Keeper of the Firewrightsis dead, killed by a violent hand, and the battle for supreme power in the empire is about to begin. But who holds the key to the fantastic and startling knowledge of the Firewrights, which in the wrong hands will bring doom upon the empire? And does GovindaShauri, cowherd-turned-prince and now Commander of the armies of Dwaraka, have it in him to confront the dark secrets of his past and discover the true meaning of being Arya, of being noble?
Book 2: KAURAVA Nothing left to fight for is nothing left to lose... Emperor Dharma Yudhisthir of the Kauravas and Empress Panchali Draupadi rule over the empire built for them by GovindaShauri with the blessings of the Firstborn and by the might of those whom everyone believes long gone – the Firewrights. Now, the Firewrights are ready to rise from the ashes of the past, and as Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the empress is forced into a terrifying exile and the many nations of the realm begin to take up arms in a bid to fight, conquer and destroy each other. The only way Govinda can protect Aryavarta is by playing a dangerous game. But can he bring himself to reveal the terrible secrets that the Vyasa has protected all his life – secrets that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them? InKaurava, the second book in The Aryavarta Chronicles series, Krishna Udayasankar continues to recreate the world of theMahabharata and the lives of its characters through stunning imagination and powerful storytelling. This is the epic like it was never told before.
Book 3: KURUKSHETRA War is upon the realm, but is Aryavarta prepared for what will follow? The empire that wasAryavarta fades under the shadow of doom. As a bitter struggle ensues to gain control of the divided kingdoms, Krishna DwaipayanaVyasa of the Firstborn and the Secret Keeper of the Firewrights both watch as their own blood, their kin, savage and kill on the fields of Kurukshetra. Restraint and reason have deserted the rulers who once protected the land and they manipulate, scheme and kill with abandon – for victory is all that matters. At the heart of the storm stands Govinda Shauri, driven by fickle allies and failed kings to the very brink of darkness. He may well be the greatest danger Aryavarta has faced yet, for he is determined to change things forever. Reforging the forsaken realm in the fire of his apocalyptic wrath, he prepares to destroy everything he loves and make the ultimate sacrifice of them all for the sake of one last hope: that humanity will rise, that there will be revolution. In the spectacular, gripping final episode of The Aryavarta Chronicles, Krishna Udayasankar’s recreation of the world of the Mahabharataestablishes her as a storyteller of formidable power and imagination.
About the Author
Krishna Udayasankar is a graduate of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, and holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the Nanyang Business School, Singapore, where she presently works as a lecturer. Krishna’s bestselling debut series of mytho-historical novels, The Aryavarta Chronicles (Govinda, Kaurava and Kurukshetra) has received critical acclaim. She is also the author of Three, a historicak fantasy based on the founding legend of Singapore, Objects of Affection, a full-length collection of poetry (Math Paper Press, 2013), an editor of Body Boundaries: The Etiquette Anthology of Women’s Writing (The Literary Centre, 2013), and the co-author of two well-adopted textbooks, International Business: An Asian Perspective (McGraw Hill, 2012, 2015) and Global Business Today (McGrawHill, 2014). When she is not watching Rajinikanth movies first-day, first-show, complete with applause and whistles, or hanging out with her fictional characters, Krishna can be found with her family, which includes three book-loving Siberian Huskies, Boozo, Zana and Maya.
