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saumyaisreading101's review against another edition
5.0
The Palace of Illusions is a retelling of the Indian Epic Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective. I have always found Mahabharata to be a fascinating read and reading it from a woman's perspective really peaked my interest. This epic never ceases to impart timeless life lessons. From the beginning of this book till its end, Draupadi's transition from a naive girl to a formidable woman, as a result of the tragedies that befall her and her family, is commendable.
Her father, King Drupad, organises a yagna to get a son who will avenge him for the humiliation he faced at the hands of Dronacharya. In this yagna, along with a son, he gets a daughter as well, who takes birth from fire. This is both unexpected and unwanted for King Drupad. This daughter is Draupadi. From her very childhood, she has a sense of being unwanted and keeps to herself and expresses her emotions only to her brother Dhristdyumna and her Dhai Ma. Despite being tucked away in a palace with not much of an opportunity to go out in the world, she is a strong headed girl and has it in her to challenge the norms of the society in respect of the roles of both the genders.
This story has every major incident that took place in the Mahabharata from Draupadi's angle and what she felt when it happened. The way she viewed each of her five husbands, knowing their strengths and weaknesses. From feeling loved to proud to betrayed, she faces it all. Draupadi is not a very forgiving woman and causes a catastrophe like no other due to the humiliation she faces of being disrobed in a court full of men with her husbands witnessing it all as mere spectators because of being "honour bound".
What honour, Draupadi thinks, lies in watching a helpless woman being robbed of her modesty without doing anything to put a stop it. Here, she challenges their oath and their so called warrior's pride . This book is brimming with such strong moments that as a reader I couldn’t help feeling like a part of the story myself. I felt Draupadi’s pain and her insecurities myself. I appreciate the way her character has been interpreted by the author and I believe that Draupadi’s actions and thoughts were totally legit.
This book is a masterpiece.
Her father, King Drupad, organises a yagna to get a son who will avenge him for the humiliation he faced at the hands of Dronacharya. In this yagna, along with a son, he gets a daughter as well, who takes birth from fire. This is both unexpected and unwanted for King Drupad. This daughter is Draupadi. From her very childhood, she has a sense of being unwanted and keeps to herself and expresses her emotions only to her brother Dhristdyumna and her Dhai Ma. Despite being tucked away in a palace with not much of an opportunity to go out in the world, she is a strong headed girl and has it in her to challenge the norms of the society in respect of the roles of both the genders.
This story has every major incident that took place in the Mahabharata from Draupadi's angle and what she felt when it happened. The way she viewed each of her five husbands, knowing their strengths and weaknesses. From feeling loved to proud to betrayed, she faces it all. Draupadi is not a very forgiving woman and causes a catastrophe like no other due to the humiliation she faces of being disrobed in a court full of men with her husbands witnessing it all as mere spectators because of being "honour bound".
What honour, Draupadi thinks, lies in watching a helpless woman being robbed of her modesty without doing anything to put a stop it. Here, she challenges their oath and their so called warrior's pride . This book is brimming with such strong moments that as a reader I couldn’t help feeling like a part of the story myself. I felt Draupadi’s pain and her insecurities myself. I appreciate the way her character has been interpreted by the author and I believe that Draupadi’s actions and thoughts were totally legit.
This book is a masterpiece.
christymaurer's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it was my frame of mind, but I had a hard time following this
prashansatripathi's review against another edition
5.0
It truly is an impeccable story of love, vengeance, anger and righteousness. A great read.
lexlux's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Palace Of Illusions.
A powerful name for a vastly powerful book populated by characters varied and lovable and so ever changing that just as you hate them one moment, your heart weeps for them the very next.
The story is at its heart, one of the two great epics of India through the eyes of the one who was until now only thought of as a pawn in the game, the Pandavas' wife, Draupadi, or as she likes to be called, Panchaali.
We follow this tempestuous princess from the time of her mysterious birth to her early formative relationships with her brother, the people who attend to her, Krishna and various others.
We follow her as the carefree and rebellious girl falls in love but is forced into an unusual marriage situation. Panchaali adapts. Paanchaali influences. Panchaali forgets. We follow her as she acquires all that she has dreamed of, all that she desperately wished for, and then loses it and still stands tall and by her husbands' side, steadfast, despite everything crumbling around her. We follow her as she becomes a queen, a mother, a hermit, a servant and back to a queen again. We marvel at her rage and the depths of the passion she has in her to crave such vengeance. And once, obtaining that vengeance, how peacefully she gives it up again.
This is a story of an endlessly strong woman born into a man's world, years ahead of her time. She struggled and strived all her life to remain relevant in a narrative that focuses on a man and his exploits. But, unbeknownst to her, she is and will always be remembered for the womanhood that she so wished away as a young girl. She will be remembered for her strength, for her fierceness, for her conviction, for inciting five warriors to begin a war that would change the world that even their father's death couldn't.
As the story ends, I was sobbing, a mark of a truly great book. We all get what we deserve in the end, even if that is just what we want.
The story is fast paced, part mythology, part truth, part magic and all of beautiful Paanchali.
Special mention to Karna. Every person in his life failed him. That maginificent man deserved better.
A powerful name for a vastly powerful book populated by characters varied and lovable and so ever changing that just as you hate them one moment, your heart weeps for them the very next.
The story is at its heart, one of the two great epics of India through the eyes of the one who was until now only thought of as a pawn in the game, the Pandavas' wife, Draupadi, or as she likes to be called, Panchaali.
We follow this tempestuous princess from the time of her mysterious birth to her early formative relationships with her brother, the people who attend to her, Krishna and various others.
We follow her as the carefree and rebellious girl falls in love but is forced into an unusual marriage situation. Panchaali adapts. Paanchaali influences. Panchaali forgets. We follow her as she acquires all that she has dreamed of, all that she desperately wished for, and then loses it and still stands tall and by her husbands' side, steadfast, despite everything crumbling around her. We follow her as she becomes a queen, a mother, a hermit, a servant and back to a queen again. We marvel at her rage and the depths of the passion she has in her to crave such vengeance. And once, obtaining that vengeance, how peacefully she gives it up again.
This is a story of an endlessly strong woman born into a man's world, years ahead of her time. She struggled and strived all her life to remain relevant in a narrative that focuses on a man and his exploits. But, unbeknownst to her, she is and will always be remembered for the womanhood that she so wished away as a young girl. She will be remembered for her strength, for her fierceness, for her conviction, for inciting five warriors to begin a war that would change the world that even their father's death couldn't.
As the story ends, I was sobbing, a mark of a truly great book. We all get what we deserve in the end, even if that is just what we want.
The story is fast paced, part mythology, part truth, part magic and all of beautiful Paanchali.
Special mention to Karna. Every person in his life failed him. That maginificent man deserved better.
snoopysks's review against another edition
3.5
Started off strong as though it would add a new perspective but didn’t really reach past anything already established in the Mahabharata.
viveky23's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3.5/5
Chitra Banerjee's The Palace of Illusions presents a captivating retelling of the Mahabharata, centering on the enigmatic figure of Draupadi. While the novel skillfully weaves a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of human nature, it ultimately falls short of fully capturing the depth and nuance of its protagonist.
Banerjee's writing transports readers to the opulent world of the Pandavas and Kauravas. The novel delves into the complicated dynamics of the characters, particularly Draupadi's tumultuous relationship with her five husbands. However, while the author attempts to portray Draupadi as a strong and independent woman, she often succumbs to stereotypical tropes.
The novel's primary focus on Draupadi's romantic entanglements, especially her obsession with Karna, overshadows her other significant roles and accomplishments. While there are moments where Draupadi exhibits flashes of defiance and courage, these instances are fleeting. Instead, she is frequently portrayed as a capricious and impulsive figure, driven by emotions rather than reason.
Despite its shortcomings, The Palace of Illusions remains an engaging read, offering a fresh perspective on a timeless epic. However, readers seeking a truly empowering portrayal of Draupadi may be left wanting.
Chitra Banerjee's The Palace of Illusions presents a captivating retelling of the Mahabharata, centering on the enigmatic figure of Draupadi. While the novel skillfully weaves a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of human nature, it ultimately falls short of fully capturing the depth and nuance of its protagonist.
Banerjee's writing transports readers to the opulent world of the Pandavas and Kauravas. The novel delves into the complicated dynamics of the characters, particularly Draupadi's tumultuous relationship with her five husbands. However, while the author attempts to portray Draupadi as a strong and independent woman, she often succumbs to stereotypical tropes.
The novel's primary focus on Draupadi's romantic entanglements, especially her obsession with Karna, overshadows her other significant roles and accomplishments. While there are moments where Draupadi exhibits flashes of defiance and courage, these instances are fleeting. Instead, she is frequently portrayed as a capricious and impulsive figure, driven by emotions rather than reason.
Despite its shortcomings, The Palace of Illusions remains an engaging read, offering a fresh perspective on a timeless epic. However, readers seeking a truly empowering portrayal of Draupadi may be left wanting.
litwithadrija's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amruthasatti's review against another edition
5.0
another rendition of the Mahabharata that makes me want to read the original more.
shreyathakur's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
enjoyed the epic poem story-telling elements but the main character lacked agency in the novel (i know thats due to the time period but i thought she would find ways to go work around it)
untiredreading's review against another edition
5.0
Palace of illusions is an engrossing retelling of the great epic Mahabharat from the perspective of Draupadi. The story unravels with the birth of Draupadi and narrates her viewpoint of the world and of the male chauvinistic society. She was unique, smart, impatient and had an unending need to know everything. The story also reveals the not so good side of her driven by revenge and also of her forbidden love with the nemesis.