Ashoka - Lion of Maurya - Ashok Banker

After Sita, I chose to pick a book on Ashoka. Have seen serials on Ashoka but had never read about the life of Ashoka. As per the general perception, Ashoka is depicted as a power hungry human always. However this book completely changed that opinion of mine.

The book start is slow and initially I cribbed picking this book. From chapter 3 the pace of the book picked up and grabbed my interest. Depiction of Bindusara is as usual a bad emperor. I would have liked to read this book from the birth of Ashoka which was a little annoying as the book starts when Ashoka is already a young prince.

Some of the chapters portraying the mass execution of Chandikas the Royal guards gave me goosebumps. I liked the conversation between Ashoka and Kautilya (Chanakya) whereby the former wanted to seek guidance.

I just hope there is sequel to the book since the book ain't complete and neither is there any mention that this is book 1 in the series. I would definitely want to read further the life of Ashoka.

Overall a nice book and one can most definitely read and see Ashoka in a different light rather than the general assumption about him being a shrewd and cruel person.

Time to read the next book now.


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