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Book Review of Prince of Ayodhya (The Ramayana, Book I)

Prince of Ayodhya (The Ramayana, Book I)
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The terrain began to change almost at once. To their left a steady line of ironwood trees began to rise ominously. Their dark green foliage and somber trunks, some as much as eight yards high, made for a grim overhanging high hedge that loomed over the road. After a moment, Rama realized what else was eerie about this natural avenue; There was no birdsong or insect sounds at all.
Humps of reddish-black boulders began to sprout from the cliff face to their right, like boils on the face of some diseased animal. Just when he thought they were approaching the peak of the cliff, the road grew darker still. The anjan trees huddled in closer, reaching across the avenue in an attempt to touch the protruding boulders of the cliff face. He caught his breath when he saw a swatch of torn cloth caught between a jagged spur of rock and a clawing leafless branch, as if both had come together like pincers to pin some hapless traveler... From The Prince Of Ayadhya

Banker creates a marvelous landscape of princes, demons, mages, and lovers. I love good fantasy, and this one-of-a-kind epic charmed and delighted me. Kate Elliott, author of The Gathering Storm