A book by Sharath Komarraju - The Queens of Hastinapur.
Before I started reading the book, alot was going on in my mind. Questions like, what kind of conniving plans, the queens could have made which resulted in the great Mahabharata.
Initially, the book started very slow and did not make much sense since the first major half of the book was dedicated to the story of Ganga and how a maiden Jhanvi was chosen to carry on her torch.
The story moved on to Mathura where the maiden Jhanvi, lord Kubera and Nishanta carrier of information, land in Mathura to strengthen the state by setting up new ways to defend the city of Mathura from unknown attacks.
This is where we get to see a flashback of what conspired between Jhanvi and Devaki, arrangements made to transport Devaki's son (Lord Krishna) to a safer place. And how Jhanvi gave birth to Balram.
It then moves on to queen Ghandhari and how she deceived Bhishma and Kunti, making plans to be the ruling queen mother.
The bitter relation shared between Kunti and Madri, the two wives of Pandu. How Kunti set her terms to be the first one to bear 5 Celestial children and during the course lost everything that was dear to her.
In totality it was a good read as it gives you a basic picture of how things ignited between Kuru and Pandu's. Also, it clears
the fact that Draupadi wasn't the only one to blame for the great Mahabharat.