Rate this book

The Serpent's Tooth (2013)

by Alex Rutherford(Favorite Author)

4.32 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0755347641 (ISBN13: 9780755347643)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Headline Fiction

series

Empire of the Moghul

review 1: When I started reading this series I was amazed by the quality of research which the author had done. Book after book the tempo kept building up. every new chapter brought with it unknown facts and it opened a new doorway into Mogul history for me. The outcome was exactly as the genre suggested "Historical Fiction" based on reality and true events.But this book left me a little disappointed, It bucked the trend and moved from being a story of a dynasty to a story of an individual,his love for wife and his relationship with his children.What was more disappointing was the story line and its pace. It was as if years just pass one without anything of significance happening. Time just stood still. Even after finishing the 2/3rd of book there was no direction to the book. Overa... morell an ok read but not too great.
review 2: By Alex Rutherford. #5 in Empire of the Moghuls. Grade A+No Indian kid has grown up without experiencing the (doubtful) pleasure of mugging the Moghul era from their middle school History books. Established by Babur, who carved his destiny out of nothing, its rulers ruled India for nearly three hundred years. Characterized by treachery, war, lies and other good stuff we all love, the line is popular for fighting and overcoming tremendous odds to eventually succumb to their own temperament. The Serpent’s Tooth, sequel to The Tainted Throne, is one such story of the mesmerizing rule of Shah Jahan and his beloved wife, delivering a vivid account of the Taj Mahal, and the treacherous deeds of his son Aurangzeb. Is Alex Rutherford’s pen mightier than the Moghul sword? Let’s go back in time to Hindustan, sone ki chidiya, and find out.This book is a detailed account of Shah Jahan’s life as the Emperor of India, his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and their journey in marking India as one of the most glorious empires of the world. Shah Jahan has been portrayed exactly as the history accounts of him. He was a strong and a just ruler with many allies and who believed in his grandfather’s Akbar ideology. He maintained cordial relations with Rajputs and other Hindu rulers in order to balance the power in favor of his empire. Readers can find good amount of references in the story about Rajput bravery and the valor of their king. The story has sufficient glimpses of the lavish Moghul life led by Shah Jahan in Agra along with his wife Mumtaz Mahal to keep the readers hooked. The author does a stellar job in portraying the stark contrast to this extravagance as Shah Jahan mounts his scorching campaign across the lengths and breadths of Deccan and other areas in order to recapture his lost hold.The sudden demise of Mumtaz Mahal and life after that has been captured beautifully. No stone has been left unturned to keep readers engaged with subtlety and craftiness as we read how the Emperor of the World deals with his grief. Aurangzeb enters the limelight late into the novel, as is befitting. Then there is the Taj Mahal.One of the seven wonders off the world.A symbol of love and a marvel which is still the pride of our country. It is indeed engaging to read the description of how the humongous monument came into light and how it ended up as a resting place for the great ruler and his wife.It is an unrivaled treat for fans of the Moghul era, or history buffs in general. It might not equal the technicalities and details given in narrative non-fiction, but it gives you a juicy story that is historically and factually accurate and comprehensive. From the raids of Timur, to the illustrious rule of Akbar and to the religious divide under Aurangzeb, this series takes no wrong step. It is one of those rare breeds that deserves the bestseller tag it has. Without a doubt, it can be easily described as one of the best descriptions of Moghul era in modern times. Skip it at your own risk.Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at [email protected] less

Download links for: The Serpent's Tooth

Advertising