From the floodlit TV studios of Mumbai to the glittering Rajput courts, Vikram, Amanjit, Deepika and Ras must battle the sorcerer-king Ravindra: his power is growing, and so is his evil reach . . .
The second in award-winning author David Hair’s series The Return of Ravana.
Mumbai, 2010: Everyone’s talking about Swayamvara Live!, the TV reality show recreating the ages-old custom where young men compete for the hand of a noble bride. In this case, the bride is Bollywood stunner Sunita Ashoka, who is pledged to marry the man who wins the on-screen contest. For Vikram Khandavani, it’s a chance to draw out his nemesis Ravindra, the reincarnated sorcerer-king – but he’s taking a deadly gamble.
Delhi, 1175: King Prithviraj Chauhan is about to storm the swayamvara of the beautiful Sanyogita – but he’s not the only one fixated on the bride-to-be: Ravindra-Raj is coming too, and he’s riding at the side of a fierce invader. Only Chand Bardai, in another life known as Aram Dhoop, the Poet of Mandore, stands between Ravindra and all the thrones of India.
‘David Hair hasn’t just broken the mould. He’s completely shattered it’ – Bibliosanctum on The Pyre
The second in award-winning author David Hair’s series The Return of Ravana.
Mumbai, 2010: Everyone’s talking about Swayamvara Live!, the TV reality show recreating the ages-old custom where young men compete for the hand of a noble bride. In this case, the bride is Bollywood stunner Sunita Ashoka, who is pledged to marry the man who wins the on-screen contest. For Vikram Khandavani, it’s a chance to draw out his nemesis Ravindra, the reincarnated sorcerer-king – but he’s taking a deadly gamble.
Delhi, 1175: King Prithviraj Chauhan is about to storm the swayamvara of the beautiful Sanyogita – but he’s not the only one fixated on the bride-to-be: Ravindra-Raj is coming too, and he’s riding at the side of a fierce invader. Only Chand Bardai, in another life known as Aram Dhoop, the Poet of Mandore, stands between Ravindra and all the thrones of India.
‘David Hair hasn’t just broken the mould. He’s completely shattered it’ – Bibliosanctum on The Pyre
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Reviews
Extremely interesting and riveting . . . will keep you hooked to the very end. Hair has managed to pack horror, reincarnation, mythology, ritual of Sati and history all in one book!
Riveting! Like its reincarnated heroes, I was drawn again and again to David Hair's gripping, blood-soaked tale
The Pyre was genuinely dark and unsettling . . . The story-telling within the novel is outstanding,
David Hair did an amazing job at recreating the Ravana legend . . . great tension and character development . . . This was a fantastically written novel which will appeal to readers outside the fantasy genre too. A 5 star read!'
If you like fantasy influenced by mythology and would like to explore beyond the well-known Western mythologies, The Pyre is an excellent departure point
I enjoyed the characters . . . [I] was sorry to say goodbye to the cast
A fantastically written tale . . . An amazing story set in a magnificent background, it had me hooked from the very first page. The last half of the book literally had me on the edge of my chair, rooting for the characters in both timelines and wondering how the history would unfold and if it would repeat itself
When it comes to Young Adult fiction, David Hair hasn't just broken the mould. He's completely shattered it . . .The Pyre is a great opportunity to experience a story featuring diverse locations and characters, not to mention a wonderful read all around
A good, gripping read
Having broken down myths and folklores to form stories for young minds, the reincarnation of Ravana and others from ancient Indian history, along with the sacrificial edge to the thriller series has pushed the author into the list of must-reads for young adults
