When I read the blurb for Sigiriya, I was a little hesitant to read it. I am not very familiar with West Asian literature, history, and religion. But I am a big believer in experiencing (and in this case: reading) things that are out of my comfort zone. I am so glad that I decided to read Sigiriya!! It was a compelling and exciting look at Kasyapa and his legacy.
Sigiriya is a story based on Kasyapa, a Sri Lankan king who existed almost 2000 years ago. This book follows Kasyapa from the age of five to his death by suicide during a battle. It was a fascinating story that intrigued me from page one.
The storyline was medium-paced, and it worked perfectly for the book. If it had been fast-paced, I would have missed out on some of the small details that the author wove into the book.
I liked Kasyapa. He went through so much when he was a child (losing his mother, being raised by his father’s servants), and it shaped him into the man, and eventually, the king that he was meant to be. I did think he was a little nuts to keep Migara around, but the author did keep with historical accounts.
Speaking of Migara, I couldn’t stand him. He left a bad taste in my mouth every time he appeared in the book. There was a point in the book where I had to put it down because I couldn’t believe that Kasyapa kept him as head of the Army. He ranks up there as one of my most unpopular secondary characters.
I was a little put off by Amira being a concubine at 12 and Kasyapa summoning her to his bed-chamber. Now, I understand that it was commonplace for children of her age to marry or be used as concubines but still. I also couldn’t quite place where she came from. She had red hair, white skin, and blue eyes….so I was thinking Russia?
I do want to warn you that there are several scenes of graphic violence throughout the book. I was a little disgusted by the chamberlain’s execution. He was impaled through his rectum and then gutted. I was squirming in my bed when I read that scene.
The end of Sigiriya was not a happy ending. I was expecting that. I did feel that it did justice to Kasyapa’s rule. I did find fault with what happened to the harem, though. I couldn’t believe what was done to them and what they were forced to do!!!!
I would recommend Sigiriya to anyone over the age of 21. There is no sex but there is violence.