The Secret of the Nagas is the second book of the Shiva trilogy by Amish. Taking off right from where the first book ended, Shiva embarks on a journey through India in search of evil, in search of the Nagas. Secrets keep tumbling out, as Shiva and Sati learn that her first child is still alive, the Naga he has been hunting all this while, as well as her twin sister, the Queen of the Nagas! His search for truth ultimately leads him to the Naga capital of Panchavati, where he comes face to face with the Secret of the Nagas.
TSOTN loses the novelty of the first book, has too many characters, and to some degree, the repetitiveness gets to you. The romance and marriage of Shiva and Sati now well understood and accepted, the focus shifting to the amorous designs of Anandmayi on the Meluhan General Parvateshwar, resigned to a life of celibacy. Shiva's travels and adventures make for a fast paced read in most parts, but with the novelty gone, and the almost-pedestrian language lending a feel of amateurity, you might be tempted to put down the book once in a while. Amish does get you smiling about some of the imaginations and explanations - most strikingly the tall temple spires "transmitting" the voices of the Vasudevas :)
TSOTN brings Shiva closer to the riddle of good and evil, the balance between the opposing forces, and the understanding that different is not necessarily evil. It also exposes his weaknesses, his loss of control, his battle to retain his "siddhi" in the face of personal tragedy and emotions.
The first was better, but the second is a worthy sequel!
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