YOUNG HARSHA WANTS ONLY TO BE A SCHOLAR – BUT WHEN THE CROWN FALLS TO HIM, CAN THE RELUCTANT PRINCE RISE TO THE OCCASION?
India, seventh century CE. Harsha, the youngest prince of the northern kingdom of Sthaniswara, is immersed in his studies at Nalanda. As far as he is concerned, the future of his realm is secure in the hands of his brother, the strait-laced crown prince Rajyavardhana. But when the time comes for his sister's swayamvar, Harsha is compelled to tear himself away from his books – for only a little while, he hopes.
Things, however, take an ugly turn at the swayamvar, as Devagupta, king of neighbouring Malava, makes no secret of his ire at not being chosen by the princess. And when their father, King Prabhakaravardhana, dies under mysterious circumstances soon after, the princes fear something sinister is afoot. While Rajyavardhana takes the throne, Harsha sets out to unravel a web of intrigue he suspects spans kingdoms.
But his mission is cut short as war rocks the land and adversaries entrap his brother. Burdened with the crown, the scholar prince must now face a rising force in the south that challenges his throne and a mighty opponent pulling all the strings. Amidst the chaos, Harsha is also determined to exact revenge upon Devagupta. Will Harsha's indomitable spirit help him vanquish his adversaries? Or will the hurdles prove to be insuperable for the powerful emperor?
