The second volume of the adrenaline-fueled saga that began with Nandi’s Charge unfolds in riveting details in Varaha’s Vengeance

9 February 2024

HarperCollins India is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of

VARAHA’S VENGEANCE

The Battle of Vathapi Book 2

by  Arun Krishnan

408 pp | Rs 499

Available wherever books are sold | Releasing 16 February 2024

‘A fascinating tale of a turbulent Bharat in the seventh century CE, centred on the Battle of Vathapi, which changed power equations between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas.’

 — Bibek Debroy

‘Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction or simply love a good adventure, this sequel is sure to leave a lasting impression.’ — Amish Tripathi

‘The second book in this trilogy is just as exciting, meticulous and pacy as the first.’ — Ashwin Sanghi

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ABOUT THE BOOK

SEVENTH-CENTURY INDIA. A GRIM STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL UNFOLDS. WILL THE PALLAVAS BRAVE THE CHALUKYA FURY, OR BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE RELENTLESS TIDE OF HISTORY?

After months of setting their plan in motion, three gallant Pallava captains march forward, driven by King Narasimhavaraman’s vow to avenge their clan’s honour. In response, the indomitable Chalukya King Pulikeshi launches a fierce counter-attack, aided by his brother, Kubja Vishnuvardhana.

Backed by their powerful allies, the Chalukyas spare no effort in their attempts to decimate the Pallava army, ambushing the enemy on both land and sea. The very survival of the Pallavas hangs in the balance. Can they withstand the unbridled force unleashed by the resurgent Chalukyas or will they succumb to the overwhelming might of their adversaries? Can they rally their defences before all is lost?

The second volume of the adrenaline-fueled saga that began with Nandi’s Charge unfolds in riveting detail in Varaha’s Vengeance, taking readers on a thrilling journey through one of the most exciting periods of Indian history.

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Talking about the book Arun Krishnan says, ‘Varaha’s Vengeance, the exciting second book of The Battle of Vathapi Trilogy, dealing with the Chalukya response to the Pallava moves to destabilize them, will take the readers back in time and immerse them in a world of historical intrigues, spycraft, battles and heroism.’

Ridhima Kumar, Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins India adds ‘The second book in The Battle of Vathapi series is just as thrilling as the first. Just when you think the Pallavas are inching closer to weakening the Chalukya stronghold, a fierce counterstrike unfolds. I’m eagerly awaiting the third part now to see how it all ends.’

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Arun Krishnan has studied and lived in different cities across India, USA, Singapore and Japan, before putting down roots in Bangalore. He started off with a degree in engineering and a doctorate, and went on to work in sectors like IT, high-performance computing, bioinformatics, computational biology and HR analytics. He has worked at various corporations, research institutes and also in academia as an assistant professor of computational biology. And then, just to shake things up, Arun went for an MBA and turned entrepreneur. He is a polyglot and is conversant in Tamil, English, Hindi, Bengali, Japanese and Kannada. He loves to sing and plays the guitar, keyboard and percussion instruments. He is also an amateur historian and enjoys visiting historical places. While he has over fifty published articles in journals, conferences and book chapters, this is his first work of fiction. You can connect with him on X @ArunKrishnan_ and on Instagram @authorarunkrishnan

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For review copies, interviews, excerpts or more information, please write to: sohela.singh@harpercollins.co.in