Review:

Bride of the forest is a story of Drishadvati, Yayati’s Daughter. Well, this book left me thinking. The way the author has narrated the story is mind-blowing. From the very first chapter, the author manages to grab readers attention.

Also Read: Maroon In A Sky Of Blue by Girish Dutt Shukla : Book Review

It’s an unknown tale, which is beautifully written by the author. The gripping storyline and a smooth flow of words make it a delightful read. Drishadvati who was never valued by anyone and was passed as barter for favours, who’s fertility was bartered repeatedly in exchange for priceless horses, her pain, her anger, her sufferings, everything is just amazingly written.

I fell in love with the author’s writing. The writing style of the author is simple, engaging and rich. It’s a bit heavy read but then, each line has a story to tell. I loved the storyline of the book. One can feel Drishadvati’s pain, that anger

Each character has a story to tell that one could connect to. I took my own time to read this book as it left me thinking. It’s a story full of emotions, yes, it has a depth that cannot be explained in words.

Overall, it’s an amazing book with an interesting storyline and crisp narration. A book that you will definitely love.
It’s a must-read book if you love reading mythology.

About the Book:

The myth of Drishadvati appears in the Mahabharata as the ‘story of the salvation of kings by a maiden.’ While tales of surrogacy abound in the Indian epics, this is the first known example of a womb-on-rent. This strange story—of a girl whose fertility was bartered repeatedly in exchange for priceless horses—has intrigued modern scholars, playwrights and authors for its cultural significance. While earlier adaptations have cast its theme as the exploitation of a helpless woman, Bride of the Forest presents it as the story of girl who is surprisingly radical in her ultimate rejection of patriarchy.

Staying true to the original myths and springing entirely from the world of the Mahabharata, the novel brings to life several other characters: Garuda, the divine bird who flies Lord Vishnu around the world: the proud kings of Ayodhya, Pratisthan and Kashi; the arrogant queen, Devayani, and her duplicitous maid—whose stories reveal an intricate tapestry of human and divine relationships. Intertwined in the tales of traditional rivalries is the age-old war between the asuras and the devas that gave rise to the perennial male quest for immortality, transmuted into the human desire for sons that lies at the root of commercial surrogacy even today. However, it is the story of Drishadvati, her sacrifice and her nobility, that will enchant the reader.