The Vault of Vishnu, Bharat Collection 6

THE VAULT OF VISHNU - Ashwin Sanghi : BOOK REVIEW : Honestly speaking this week has seen an overdose of China in the news for deadly reasons. And the last place I expected to read about China was in this novel. Entirely my fault, because I failed to noticed the Chinese writings on the photograph of the sword on the cover of the book. Can’t say much about the plot without revealing key points but the style of juggling between timelines and eras of the Super Past & the Present, is a reminder to Ashwin’s CHANAKYA’S CHANTS which was the first novel of his responsible for converting me as his fan, although this plot is entirely different from the earlier one. The title is brilliant. To understand that one has to read the entire descriptive saga spanning centuries and continents laced with Mystery, Knowledge, Spiritualism, Betrayal, Treachery, Mythology, Imagination, Action, Murder and finally Victory. A very interesting and intriguing thriller thanks to Ashwin’s fantastic storytelling and exhausting & painstaking research on the massive subject. There is the super bonus for readers from Tamil Nadu especially Tamilians who will be pretty kicked about the richness in their history and culture which plays a crucial role in the adventure. I must also consider myself fortunate because I did not buy the Kindle version and picked up the book instead as the bottom of most pages contain the list of newer names and descriptions of places mentioned in the narrative flow. This format is usually messed up big time in the Kindle versions. And also the book version included the Author’s autograph which was a pleasant perk. Overall a very entertaining and knowledgeable journey concealed in a pacy thrilling page turning potboiler. Ashwin Sanghi scores a century once again, spanning centuries. A Highly Recommended Read. 😊 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great Narrative but Boring Autobiography Section of the Chinese Traveller The Vault of Vishnu by Ashwin Sanghi is a gripping fusion of mythology, history, and thriller—true to the author’s signature style. The storyline is fast-paced and intriguing, seamlessly connecting ancient Indian legends with modern geopolitical events. Sanghi’s ability to blend fact with fiction keeps the reader engaged and curious throughout. However, the autobiographical portions of the Chinese traveller—intended to provide historical depth—often feel dry and overly detailed, slowing the momentum. These sections, while informative, read more like textbook passages than storytelling and can test your patience. Despite that, the book redeems itself with a strong central plot, well-researched mythological tie-ins, and an exciting climax. A solid read for fans of historical thrillers—just be prepared to skim a few slow pages.

Just one word 'magnificent'. The author has phenomenal skills of molding intense facts with deadly twists, mysterious turns n mind-blowing thrill, beautifully designed plots, jaw-dropping moments of the revelation of each character's dark secrets. The first chapter starts with gut-wrenching mysterious war scene between India and China giving goosebumps with a puzzle. Wing Commander Paramjit Khurana is assigned to find out the brainstorming military assignment. In her journey, author beautifully curves n blends modern science with ancient history and mythology buried under human engineering concepts which can change the entire course of warfare. Throughout the course of the book, there is always an excitement to get to the next page. I got to learn so many new words and information and yes, about Huen Zang's journey to India. The reader will definitely be well versed and astonished by the fact that how remarkably advanced and enriched our ancient civilization used to be in terms of Science, Art, Medicine, Warfare, Religion, lifestyle etc. Absolute five out of five from me. I'm gonna read all the other books of this author.

Blending history and mythology, and coming up with a racy concoction set up in contemporary times. This has become Ashwin’s forte. But sad to say, this one was a drag just like his last book. Or maybe it’s just me who’s come to expect too much out of India’s Dan Brown. The book has got all elements : intrigue, mystery and pace but it’s just not intense. Quoting BB King, the thrill is gone. Characters are introduced and we get one para to one page about their background, that’s it and the action kicks in. Conversations around myth and science are great, but interpersonal ones fall flat and feel forced to the point of being cringeworthy. Yet, I am a sucker for historical and mythological fiction, so I do always read Ashwin for the sheer amount of research that goes into connecting varied religions and cultures and giving historical events meanings, the keys that hold the potential to avert a disaster in our times. If Ashwin continues writing along similar lines, I will continue reading his works. People who have not read him before, will definitely find this one unputdownable. On a side note, Ashwin sure does love Lord Hanuman :)

Another blockbuster from Ashwin. If his previous novel Keepers of the KalaChakra made Quantum Physics glamorous, then The Vault of Vishnu makes Bio engineering alluring. He serves the novel as a seven course meal to his readers. The Hors d' oeuvre is the Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Hanuman Gayatri mantra. The soup is the map showing Xuanzang's ( or Hsuan-tang) journey. The appetizer is the India-Chinese standoff at Doklam in 2017. The salad is the fictitious meeting at Integrated defense staff HQ. Then off course is the gripping plot narrated in classic Ashwin Sanghi style. For the desert you have the reveal at Chdiambaram temple. The Mignardise is the discussion at Cafe Turtle. Incidentally Cafe Turtle is my favorite book cafe in the country. As with his other novels, you will be hooked from the very first page and plot will have your apt attention till the end. End note: The book will definitely spike interest in Angkor Vat.

Written with the same gusto that epitomizes his earlier works, Ashwin Sanghi has you by the tenterhooks as he traverses modern and ancient times effortlessly weaving a gripping tale with elements of mythology, philosophy, religion and ultimately global espionage and intrigue. The Vault of Vishnu takes the reader on several journeys and is almost a virtual ancient travelogue of the 7th century Chinese monk Xuanzang that at one point seems like information overload. The rest of the book is a fictional account at advanced human engineering through genetic modification through ancient mystical Ayurvedic potions and a race of highly elusive man-monkeys, which by itself could have been an interesting tale. Definitely worth a read and leaves several lingering thoughts on India’s history and tantalizes the reader to explore deeper into some of the interesting topics such as the Pallava Cambodia connections etc.

#bookreview #TheVaultOfVishnu #IndiaVsChina I'm sure the author (Ashwin Sanghi) wouldn't have thought in his wildest dreams that his latest novel in the Bharat Series would become so menacingly synonymous with the events happening in real life! (just to clarify, the novel was published in January while the events we are witnessing now in Ladakh materialized much later). It was the mother of all coincidences that after being fed up with all the rumours/propaganda/conspiracy theories being propagated by the media, internet warriors about the dumbfounding incidents on the Indo-China border and looking for an escape in the world of mythological fiction, I picked up this novel, only to be served with more of the same! The opening sequence is almost a retelling of the Galwan bloodbath; only difference being its setting is in Doklam. The Chinese soldiers seem to possess some seemingly supernatural abilities which makes them overpower and annihilate an Indian Forward Post. The incident is captured on camera and the Indian top brass assign Wg Cdr Pam Khurana (former pilot, now in the DRDO) to do whatever it takes to discover the source of the apparent Chinese superhuman abilities. Meanwhile, Ashwin sticks to his trademark style of alternating the current day events with a fictionalised narration of Hiuen Tsang's(we've read about him in our school history books) epic journey across China, Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, India spanning across 16 years ( 630-646 AD). As expected, the novel is a racy cocktail of real life events, mythology, history, modern science (AI, Robotics, Genetic Engineering) & espionage. The success or failure of such a venture always lies in how you connect all the dots, maintain the central theme and the pace. And I think the author did a good enough job of doing all that. At times, the older narrative did get a tad laboured and predictable but the monotony was broken by the events happening at a lively pace in the other narrative. The ending was satisfying enough and that makes a lot of difference. It certainly is one of his better novels though definitely not the best. As such, it is going to be very difficult for him to match or surpass his earlier masterpieces - 'The Rozabal Line' and 'Chanakya's Chant'. The events unfolding in Ladakh may just provide another reason to pick up this novel for people who like realistic fiction (with ample creative liberties ofcourse). Overall Rating - 4/5. Definitely Recommended!

I’ma huge Ashwin Sanghi fan. And the latest book doesn’t disappoint. As usual the research that has gone into writing this book is incredible. I love the way Ashwin keeps two timelines of plot going in same pace and both merge in the end to give a satisfactory reading. He has surely improved in that aspect. It has all the usual Ashwin Sanghi’s elements: Page Turner, racy plot, suspense, rich history, blend of history with contemporary plot, action, science. Just grab this book, you’ll finish it in a couple of days!