While many epic fantasy stories are rooted in European history and culture (The Lord Of The Rings, Game Of Thrones), other parts of our world have just as much to offer this genre.
Take Gourav Mohanty’s epic and grimdark fantasy series The Raag Of Rta trilogy, which is as influenced by the epic South Asian poem The Mahabharata as it is by Thrones. Maybe more so.
With the second book of the trilogy, Dance Of Shadows, now out in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook, and the first, Sons Of Darkness, recently released in paperback (though still available in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook as well), I spoke to Mohanty via email about what inspired and influenced both this series and this middle piece.