The adversaries - David Hair

'Genuinely dark and unsettling . . . The story-telling within the novel is outstanding' - The Historical Novel Society on The Pyre, book 1 of the Return of Ravana. A thrilling timeslip historical fantasy from award-winning author David Hair.

Mumbai, 2010

Everyone's talking about Swayamvara Live! This brand-new TV reality show is recreating the ages-old custom where young men compete for the hand of a noble bride. In this case, the bride is Bollywood stunner Sunita Ashoka, who is pledged to marry the man who wins the on-screen contest. For Vikram Khandavani, it's a chance to draw out his nemesis Ravindra, the reincarnated sorcerer-king - but he's taking a deadly gamble.

Delhi, 1175

King Prithviraj Chauhan is about to storm the swayamvara of the beautiful Sanyogita - but he's not the only one fixated on the bride-to-be: Ravindra-Raj is coming too, and he's riding at the side of a fierce invader. Only Chand Bardai, in another life known as Aram Dhoop, the Poet of Mandore, stands between Ravindra and all the thrones of India.

The Adversaries is the sequel to The Pyre and the second book in award-winning author David Hair's Return of Ravana series.