Book Review: Sita and Ravana: The Last Battle by Preetha Rajah Kannan

Some books don’t just entertain — they stir something deep within. For those of us who believe that Indian mythology is not mythology but itihasa — our sacred Sanatan history — Sita and Ravana: The Last Battle is not just a retelling. It’s a revival.

Inspired by Valmiki’s Adbhut Ramayana, Preetha Rajah Kannan’s latest offering doesn’t end with Ravana’s fall in Lanka. Instead, it dares to look beyond the traditional closure, revealing a threat even more formidable: Sahastra Ravana, Ravana’s thousand-headed elder brother, the tyrant of Pushkar. This is not a symbolic enemy — he is a cosmic-scale villain who even defeats Lord Vishnu in battle. And when Rama himself falls, mortally wounded, it is Sita who rises — not as a supporting figure, but as the warrior the universe had been waiting for.

The moment I read the blurb, I knew this was different. But I wasn’t prepared for how visually powerful the narrative would be. The writing is intensely cinematic. You can see the scenes unfolding — divine astras blazing through the skies, celestial beings watching in dread, and in the heart of it all, Sita stepping into her destiny. If you’re even a little bit of a visual storyteller or a filmmaker at heart, this book is a full storyboard waiting to be brought to life. Every sentence holds the weight of ancient emotion, every dialogue carries fire, and every chapter feels like a moment of cosmic history remembered, not imagined.

Preetha Rajah Kannan deserves every bit of praise. Her grasp over the scriptural depth, her fluid storytelling, and her ability to honour the original while giving it a fresh, powerful shape — it’s masterful. She doesn’t “modernize” mythology. She respects it. And that’s rare. There’s not a single moment where you feel she’s twisting it to fit a trend. In most popular retellings, Sita is either seen through the lens of suffering or sacrifice — the dutiful wife, the silent sufferer, the moral compass. But in this book, inspired by Valmiki’s Adbhut Ramayana, Sita is shown in her divine form — fierce, commanding, and cosmic. Her Sita is not a rebranded feminist icon — she’s Adi Shakti, timeless, fearless, and rooted in dharma. That portrayal alone deserves standing ovation.

But here’s the most unexpected and delightful part. My 10-year-old son picked up the book purely because of the cover and title. He’s not typically drawn to heavy books — especially not ones with 270+ pages. But something about this story gripped him. He sat with it, dictionary in hand, decoding new words and names, and wouldn’t let go. Every evening, he’d ask me about “Sahastra Ravana” or what “Pushkar” meant. And as a parent, there’s no greater joy than watching a child fall in love with our itihasa — not through lectures or textbooks, but through storytelling that ignites curiosity. That, to me, is the author’s biggest win.

When a writer can connect with an adult reader’s emotion and simultaneously hold the attention of a 10-year-old — that’s not just skill. That’s shakti. And Kannan has it.

Final Thoughts:

Sita and Ravana: The Last Battle is not just a book. It’s an experience. It’s an invocation. It’s a reminder that Sita was never just the consort — she was the storm waiting to rise. For anyone who loves our Sanatan heritage, this book will speak to your soul. For those who see mythology as story, it might just awaken something more. Either way, read it. And then, like me, wait eagerly for Preetha Rajah Kannan’s next.

Title: Sita and Ravana: The Last Battle  

Author: Preetha Rajah Kannan

Publisher: Jaico Books

Where to Buy: Jaico Books- Sita and Ravana: The Last Battle – Jaico Publishing