We live in a very politically charged time in India, when a lot of the debate is to do with whether… Fantasy suffers from the same cultures explored, the same western histories interspersed into the stories over and over again, so we need books like the Sons of Darkness that build their stories from a different foundation. It was a refreshing read and also a crucial read for epic fantasy fans wanting to diversify their reading and shed light on new, upcoming authors from different areas of the world. When we call for variety on our shelves, books like this are important and should be consumed voraciously (especially when they are this good.)

Sons of Darkness: an Indian inspired epic dark fantasy that Sons of Darkness: an Indian inspired epic dark fantasy that

Sons of Darkness is a debut novel by Gourav Mohanty that was released June 2022. It’s a retelling of the Indian Epic Mahabharata in a more dark, nihilistic sense. In the author's words:All the world is a stage, and the play is badly cast. Pirate princesses and naïve kings, pious assassins and ravenous priests, warrior women and vengeful boys converge where the Son of Darkness is prophesied to rise even as Forgotten Gods prepare to play their hand. The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light in dealing with their own people.

Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem Digital Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

What do you call an angry sheep and an angry cow?’ Draupadi laughed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Baaa... aaad moooo... ooood.’”The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, Hebrew Megillat Milḥamat B’ne, or Beb’ne Ḥoshekh, also called War Rule, or War Scroll, a Dead Sea Scroll, and one of the most important documents of the Essene sect of Jews that established a community at Qumrān in the Judaean desert during the first half of the 2nd century bc. The Essenes thought themselves to be the holy elect of Israel, the Sons of Light, who would at the end of time engage in a catastrophic war with the enemies of Israel, the Sons of Darkness.