Amara (Dharani, #1)

If you're a fantasy fan, this is a must read. At long last, I think we may have a writer who wants to tell original mythic fantasy stories as opposed to retellings. Go ahead and take the plunge. I guarantee you - you will be glad you did. The writing is evocative and tight, the plotting is excellent, and the character arcs are truly heroic. Balimi is easily my favourite!

In some parts, 'Amara' reads like yet another fantasy story. And yet, as you read further and further into it, you find fresh takes on old narratives, and new narratives altogether. The ending - which, refreshingly, does NOT have a war or a fight - perfectly aligns with the rest of the book. I enjoyed the extractions from 'Dharani Samhita'. I wonder if the original Dharani Samhita will one day be written too! A no-brainer for all myth and fantasy lovers. Just pick it up and enjoy the story.

I've read Sharath Komarraju's work before and liked it (the Birbal novels are wonderful) so perhaps I am not the most unbiased person to post a review. But this is easily the bst story I've read this year, and I've read many! While I agree with the other reviewers here that this is a work of fantasy, I also think the story by itself is quite strong. The magic is very understated, as it should be. More than anything, this is a story of humans set in a human world. There were many places I went back just to re-read the passages. Some of them were so good!

Mythology doesn't have to be retellings of existing works. There is room - plenty of room - for original mythologies. While it is too early to say whether Sharath Komarraju's 'Dharani' will catch on, I can state with confidence that it is a brilliant start. If the map and the first novel are anything to go by, we're in for a ride. It's heartening to see the author move away from the crutch of Mahabharata Retellings, and to forge into a universe of his own. Must read!

Having been a long-time fan of Middle Earth, Westeros and the like, I could see some of the plot twists coming - but by no means all of them. There are some familiar fantasy tropes, but they're by no means necessary for the story to run. The map is exciting, mainly for the possibilities that lie ahead. How many stories could be told about these five kingdoms over the next few years? I hope many!

Probably Sharath Komarraju's best work yet. I've always thought the Hastinapur novels were good, but the care the author has taken to build this new world, and to introduce it to us in this novel, is just amazing. The writing and plotting have become better. Compare this to 'Winds of Hastinapur' and you will see what I mean. There is less rambling, more structure, and every paragraph seems to be going somewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending of this book - I had a couple of expectations but the author managed to subvert both of them.

Finally the Indian fantasy genre seems to move beyond retellings into original work. It is too early to say, but 'Amara' is a strong, strong start. And it is clear from the author's other material (the map, the epigraps) that he intends to write many novels set in this world. I hope he does. For anyone who appreciates creativity and deeply imaginative worlds, this is a perfect try. Go for it!

Finished Book 1 in three hours flat. Can't wait for Book 2! I find myself thinking about the story, and going back to the 'excerpts' from Dharani Samhita that precede each chapter.

I made use of the printable PDF to read on paper. The experience was much better than your regular paperbacks because you have larger paper, and the print has so much more room to breathe. The story itself is wonderful. At times I found myself lost in the world Sharath has created. At the end, I thought there would be a longer article or something about Dharani Samhita. But there wasn't. In any case, I recommend this book to one and all, whether you have read Sharath's work before or not.

Loving the epigraphs at the start of each chapter. The hints that the author provides that this is just a small glimpse into a much larger world are awesome. I can feel myself getting drawn into the narrative. The story is heartbreaking and fulfilling at the same time - it is almost a meditation on what it takes to be a hero. Must read for all fiction lovers.

Sharath Komarraju is one of my favourite writers working in the Indian space today. And 'Amara' reinforces my belief. It is surprising to me always that he is not more famous than he is. In a crowded landscape where everyone writes some mythology retelling or another, his 'Amara' is an original piece of work set in a world of his own creation. Dharani has its own landscape, its own weather system, its own resource politics, and its own magic. Step into the world and experience it all. The author only scratches the surface with this first book, but more is to come soon. Clearly.

The book reads beautifully on the Kindle. Just finished reading two chapters and the writing is very immersive. I can see I'm going to enjoy this!

Echoes of Terry Pratchett with the worldbuilding, and the writing is clear and crisp. I was easily transported into Dharani, and found myself wanting more by the end. The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch. Makes the reader feel that what we are reading is only a small part of a larger whole. Hope Sharath writes many novels set in Dharani. Any person who likes mythology and fantasy will enjoy this work. There is plenty to chew on here.

Fans of Game of Thrones will enjoy this. It has echoes of the Mahabharata, but perhaps that is to be understood because the world is based on Vedic Indian tropes. While this particular story takes place in the Niyata kingdom, to the southern edge of the world, there is plenty of explore in future books that I am sure Sharath will do a great job of. I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book - the first half seemed to drag a bit, but it was necessary in hindsight.

I am not new to Sharath Komarraju's work. I've read his Hastinapur series and liked it. When I got the email asking to be an early reader for 'Amara', I thought it would be something similar to the Hastinapur books. But I was pleasantly surprised! I love the fact that Dharani is a freshly-made world that has no connections to any existing worlds. My reader brain loved to just leap into the unknown and explore Dharani. The story of Dhvaja and Balimi is poignant and true. I found myself wishing the book did not end the way it did. Perfect weekend read for anyone who has even a small interest in fantasy.

Excellent book and story. Kept me hooked till the end. Hats off, Sharath!

I've read many of Sharath's books in the past, especially his Hastinapur novels, so when he asked me if I'd like to be part of the early reader team for Amara, I happily said yes. The world is something you recognize and yet there is so much to explore within it. This first book only gives you a tiny bit of what is to come. I loved Dhwaja's journey from selfish brat to self-sacrificing hero. Looking forward to more.

I've always wondered why Indian mythic retellings are always focused on existing stories, and why they don't write original stories. Here, Sharath Komarraju just does that. If you're a fan of original mythic fantasy stories, like Lord of the Rings, this is right up your alley! The writing is wonderful, the imagery is exquisite, and you will get lost in the world that the author has created. Excited that this is only the first book of many!