Simha's Roar by Arun Krishnan - Book Review

Series: The Battle of Vathapi #3 (Not a Standalone)

Publication Date: 24th May 2024

Genre: Indian Historical Fiction 

4.5 stars 

One Liner: A fitting finale! 

7th Century, Bharat 

In the final installment of the trilogy, the Pallavas and Chalukyas are heading for a big war with allies supporting them on both sides. This is a game of cat and mouse where luck plays a role. The three Pallava captains are back in action, putting their lives at risk for the king they love. 

What happens when the clash begins? Who wins? Who losses? How many lives will the war take? 

The story comes in third-person omnipresent POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is NOT a standalone. The trilogy should be read in the same order for it to make sense. Check out my reviews for Nandi's Charge and Varaha's Vengeance.  

As with the previous two books, we get a list of the characters and their roles neatly categorized kingdom-wise. There are a couple of illustrations as well. 

The last book of the trilogy is the smallest in the series and is packed to the brim with action. We jump right into the main plot with the initial chapters continuing the individual threads from before. 

There are many decisions to make, some harder than others but war demands sacrifices and those involved have to pay. Given how I’m invested in the lives of my favorite three Pallava captains, I admit to getting teary-eyed more than once. 

The narration doesn't slack or dip at any point. We move on from one scene to another and from one setting to another at a steady pace. This keeps the momentum going (with loads of tension) and puts the reader in the right mood to anticipate the war scenes. 

The women don’t have much role in this one, though they do their bit. The leading ladies have to spend a lot of time waiting but that cannot be changed. That’s how it is. Since the aspect is more in the background, we can continue to focus on the plot development. 

The editing doesn’t seem to be at par with the previous books but it is not bad. A random repetition here and there. Nothing that should annoy the readers. 

I’ll be repeating myself but I have to mention how well the fighting scenes are executed. It is easy to visualize the moves and counter moves. The final sword fight between two kings is so, so good! Loved the whole scene. 

The discussions about war ethics – dos and don’ts yet again make the readers think. I cannot help but wonder if following some of these put us at a disadvantage and made the land more vulnerable to invasions. Sigh! 

Also, without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that the ending is bittersweet (more bitter and less sweet). As a writer, I know I’d do the same, but as a reader, I want something happier. *sob*

Still, the ending lingers in the mind long after the reader closes the book. It leaves us with a semi-heavy heart. This is the purpose. The ending doesn't dilute the impact of war but asserts how it can affect people and change their lives forever. 

To summarize, Simha’s Roar is a satisfying and worthy finale for the trilogy. I heartily recommend the series for fans of Indian historical war fiction. Note that the cast is huge and can be confusing but don’t let that stop you! 

Thank you, HarperCollins India, for eARC.