There’s something special about trilogies. Readers find a three-book series much more appealing than any other number of books in a series. Seven books might scare you off. Duologies are over before you know it. But trilogies… they seem to be the perfect number. It adds a layer of balance and provides a solid structure for the overall story. Hence, making the reading experience much more enjoyable. There are several mind-blowing trilogies written by Indian authors but hardly anyone knows about them. So, here’s the ultimate list of trilogies across all genres written by Indian authors, specially curated for you.

{We have compiled a list of Books by Indian Authors for Beginners that you may want to check out.}

1. The Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi

The Immortals of Meluha: You must have already heard of this trilogy. It’s super popular and for all the right reasons. Besides being a fresh new take on mythological fiction with a flavour of fantasy, this is an adventurous tale of the protagonist, Shiva, who is just a common man and not a God. Yet.

The Secret of the Nagas: The second book in the series follows the journey of Shiva as he is bent on unfolding the secrets of these mysterious Naga warriors. With a thrilling pace and a compelling narrative style, this book will be over before you know it. With the rise of evil everywhere in the kingdom, Shiva realizes that he’s on this path to prophesied glory for the long haul. The best part about this series is how vivid the imagery is and how beautifully emotions have been portrayed through the writing.

The Oath of the Vayuputras: The last book of the Shiva trilogy captures the gruesome battles that ravage the land to restore peace and bring down the wrath of evil. Shiva’s journey through the battles and his transformation from being a mere mortal to a divine soul is captured in this finale. This trilogy will stay in your memories for a long time.

2. The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh

Sea of Poppies: This is the first in a breathtaking historical fiction trilogy written by a terrific Indian author set in the backdrop of the Opium Wars in China. The book takes the reader through the experiences of a diverse cast of characters who are on the ship named Ibis voyaging through the Indian Ocean.

River of Smoke: Set in the early nineteenth century, this book is about how the characters handle the storm in which the ship Ibis got caught up. Instead of reaching their expected destination, they end up in Canton. Enriched with generous details and a praiseworthy writing style, the author continued the story of an unusual band of questionable characters during the Opium Wars.

Flood of Fire: Despite being the concluding book to the Ibis Trilogy, the events of this book are just the embers of the fire that is about to rage on. As the tension between China and British India increases, Opium trading and smuggling being one of the primary reasons, war is declared by the British Government. Amid the war, this book takes the reader through the turbulent lives of the characters in this book as they struggle to meet ends to survive.

3. Bahubali: Before the Beginning by Anand Neelakantan

The Rise of Sivagami: You must know of the blockbuster films Bahubali: The Beginning and Bahubali: The Conclusion already. This trilogy is about one of the most influential characters from that movie duology – Sivagami. Serving as prequels for those two movies, this first book in the trilogy follows the story of Sivagami as she is riled up for vengeance against King Somadeva for executing her father. Ripe with intricate powerplay, the book is a breathtaking extension of the Bahubali world that we all loved on screen.

Chaturanga: Sivagami advances toward her goal of avenging her father as she gets closely entangled in the political games of the great kingdom of Mahishmati. The author continues to spin his magic through words and generous plot twists against the backdrop of grand kingdoms rich with elements of passion and ambition as well as love and loyalty.

Queen of Mahishmati: As the battles continue, Sivagami is closer than ever to her goals. But ambition doesn’t always take you where you plan to go. On her journey to become the Queen of Mahishmati, Sivagami faces impossible choices and this is the story of how love, ambition, loyalty, and vengeance are all part of the big game. The final instalment in this grand and thrilling trilogy is equally enjoyable and an incredible reading experience.

4. Brotherhood of the Conch Series by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Conch Bearer: Twelve-year-old Anand is entrusted with a magical conch shell that needs to be returned to its rightful home. Along with his friend, Nisha, and a mysterious man named Abadhyatta, this unusual quest takes Anand far away from home and closer to his life’s purpose. Although written for children, this trilogy can be enjoyed by adults as well.

The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming: Plagued by a disturbing vision, Anand had to make a difficult choice. He embarks on a journey through various Indian landscapes as well as through time. He travels hundreds of years into the past and comes across several sorcerers and a jinn.

Shadowland: Now an apprentice in a pristine magical Himalayan valley, Anand is learning the ancient secrets of the Brotherhood. But he is forced to take yet another treacherous journey to restore the source of the magical energy of the Silver Valley. Filled with adventure, this trilogy is a must-read for Indian children and adults alike.

{We have carefully curated a list of 5 Best Books by Amitav Ghosh that maybe of interest to you.}

5. The Mahabharata Quest Trilogy by Christopher C. Doyle

The Mahabharata Secret: Drawn from the events of the great Indian epic of Mahabharata, this novel is a mythological and historical thriller. It kicks off with the murder of a retired nuclear scientist who sent a few cryptic messages to his nephew, who is also the protagonist of the novel. As Vijay, the main character, crosses various hurdles to unlock the cryptic messages, he’s also keen on solving the mystery behind his uncle’s demise. Threaded through themes of religion and science, this book will interest readers who are curious about ancient India but also love the thrill as they read.

The Alexander Secret: Vijay and his friends are now part of an elite task force with a quest to solve another riddle that will lead them to ancient secrets that might shake their world. Packed with mythology, science and fantasy, this sequel doesn’t go light on being a thriller either.

The Secret of the Druids: The final book in this trilogy comes back with another massive mystery that leads to the secrets linked with Mahabharata and ancient Rome. The protagonist of the series, Vijay, is back at solving puzzles with his elite task force. As usual, packed with action and adventure, the reader will be left wanting more at the end of this trilogy.

6. The Taj Mahal Trilogy by Indu Sunderasan

The Twentieth Wife: A historical fiction set in the seventeenth century, tells the story of Mehrunnisa – the daughter of a Persian refugee – as she becomes the most well-known Empress Nur Jahan, the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir. The story of Mehrunnisa is more about her resilience and ambition to beat all odds of being a woman in times when they weren’t seen or heard.

The Feast of Roses: The love story of Jahangir and Mehrunnisa continues in the second book of the trilogy. Even after becoming an empress, life was not easy for Mehrunnisa. Along with political intrigue and complex conspiracies unfolding in the Mughal Empire, the story largely follows the intense upheavals faced by Empress Nur Jahan as she adjusts to her new life of royalty.

Shadow Princess: The final book in this series delves into the lives of Emperor Jahangir’s daughters. This is the story of two sisters who compete for everything in their grand lives. It follows their ambition to gain power over the harem as well as to win the attention and affection of their father who was still grieving his wife. The author’s ability to weave a historical tapestry of rich details and wonderful characters made this trilogy a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.

7. The Kalki Trilogy by Kevin Missal

Dharmayoddha Kalki – Avatar of Vishnu: Born to cleanse the world, Kalki, the last avatar of Vishnu learns about his heritage and embarks on a journey through battles and life’s innumerable tragedies. First in the trilogy, this story follows Kalki as he prepares himself to learn the ways of being an Avatar of Vishnu.

Satyayoddha Kalki – Eye of Brahma: Facing defeat while Kalyug is knocking at the door, Kalki is on his way to becoming who he’s supposed to be. Constantly being thrown off the path by armies of Pisach, getting involved in the war of Vanars, or encountering Manasa and her homeland… will Kalki win the race against time?

Mahayoddha Kalki – Sword of Shiva: Kalki’s world is upside down as he learns about his brother’s capture. The pressure of saving the world from utter devastation makes Kalki battle truths and terrible wars. In the final book of this trilogy, the reader is at the edge of their seats and compelled to continue reading as they try to find out if the world is destroyed completely or if Kalki achieves his life’s purpose.

8. The Aryavarta Chronicles by Krishna Udayasankar

Govinda: This trilogy is a mythological reimagining with Govinda, the cowherd-turned-prince, as the main character against a backdrop inspired by historical events in India. Infused with science fiction and fantasy elements, the series is embedded with ancient secrets and the main character, Govinda, would have to find his way through those while also understanding the true meaning of nobility – of being an Arya.

Kaurava: The well-known tale of how Emperor Yudhistir lost his empire plus everything else in a game. This series is a refreshing take on the events of Mahabharata from the point of view of the most important and central character of Govinda. The author continues to create wonderful descriptions through his vivid imagination and the power of masterful storytelling.

Kurukshetra: In the final book of this trilogy, the author focuses on Govinda’s raging emotions as he is unable to stop the inevitable from happening despite his best efforts. As war brews among kins and kings, Govinda is distraught and finds himself on the brink of the world’s end. The gorgeous writing will compel you to read the engaging scenes of the book and crave more. If you love twists in Indian mythology, then this trilogy is a pretty good choice.

{We have a recommendation post about 10 Best Books by R.K. Narayan that you may want to check out.}

9. The Partition Trilogy by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

Lahore: Set in two primary cities that bore the brunt of the partition of India – Delhi and Lahore – this book provides an unusual perspective through backburner events which ultimately led to the separation of a country into two. It will take you back to the days of that summer which felt like it was going to melt the world down.

Hyderabad: The second novel in the trilogy takes the reader to Hyderabad which has been ruled by the Nizam’s family for over 200 years. But what happens when the words of a prophecy sit like a sword on the Nizam’s neck while Nehru and Mountbatten continue their plans to separate the nation? Based on heavy research, this story also highlights how it is always the women who become collateral damage during wars.

Kashmir: High up in the Himalayas, the final book in this trilogy is set in Kashmir as the title indicates. Surviving through the aftermath of a messy partition, Kashmir is going through conflicts beyond anyone’s control. This book depicts the chaos that had gripped the people of Kashmir in its maw and how it led to the first India-Pakistan War within months of Independence.

10. The Trilogy by Mulk Raj Anand

The Village: The story follows the protagonist, Lalu, who is a young Sikh peasant. Set in the backdrop of a rural Punjab, this book captures the village in its most raw and vivid form. If you’re interested in an authentic rendition of life in a tiny Indian village, this book will serve you exactly that. Apart from the remarkable village life, the story touches upon the discontent of a young man as he felt bound by the petty life in that village. Little did he know that his wish to get out of the village would come true in quite a twisted way.

Across the Black Waters: The story continues with Lalu, or Lal Singh, who enlisted in the British Army and got sent to France to fight in World War 1 against the Germans. With hardly any knowledge of war and world politics, Lal Singh survived those years and this book captures his experiences as he navigates through a life, he never saw coming.

The Sword and the Sickle: The final book in the trilogy builds upon the anger in Lal Singh and his hunger for freedom while the entire nation gathers momentum for the Independence movement. The character of Lal Singh evolved and developed due to his various tumultuous experiences and this book justly sheds light upon the role of Indian farmers in the quest for freedom.

11. Stranger Trilogy by Novoneel Chakraborty

Marry Me, Stranger: A contemporary romance twisted into a mystery thriller that follows the protagonist, Rivanah, in the city of Mumbai. What happens when you have a seemingly perfect life – a job, a boyfriend, happy family? In this book, it goes haywire as a stranger starts to entangle himself in Rivanah’s life.

All Yours, Stranger: The main character, Rivanah, is thoroughly confused about this phenomenon in her life she calls “stranger”. When the police were unsuccessful in finding him, the stranger left Rivanah with hundreds of questions tossing and turning in her head – almost pushing Rivanah into the depths of madness.

Forget Me Not, Stranger: The final book in this trilogy is ripe with more mysteries. The stranger is still playing games in Rivanah’s life and causing her to question everything she feels. Battling through a turmoil of emotions, Rivanah wants to see the end of it. Or does she?

{If you’d like to be a part of a larger reading community – do check out our list of Book Clubs in India.}

12. The Gameworld Trilogy by Samit Basu

The Simoqin Prophecies: If you’re looking for an epic fantasy saga with several cultures blended in with wit and humour easily sprinkled all through the narrative, then look no further and pick up this series by the author who is heavily revered in the Indian Science Fiction and Fantasy community. Inspired by various mythologies such as Greek and Indian, this is the story of the rising of a dark lord, Dahn-Gem, and the heroes chosen to defeat him. Readers have found this tale extremely compelling once they started reading it.

The Manticore’s Secret: This trilogy gives tough competition to Tolkien’s worldbuilding and makes it worth reading. The dark forces are still on the rise and every weird character from the corners of the earth is coming out to fight the evil rakshas and his forces. The second book in this trilogy has proven to be the most fun for the enthusiastic readers of science fiction and fantasy.

The Unwaba Revelations: In the final instalment of this fantastic adventure, the gods are back and armies have been mobilized to save the world from evil. A whole rollercoaster ride full of monsters, secret plans, conspiracies and chameleons, this book provides a fulfilling and epic journey to its readers loaded with fun and hilarious storytelling.

13. NINE Trilogy by Shobha Nihalani

Curse of the Kalingan: Three young protagonists – Tara, Akash, and Zubin – are whirled into an occult world to fight off a vengeful ancient spirit that is bent on destroying the NINE whereas it is the wisdom and magical powers of the NINE that is preventing from chaos being unleashed into the world of mankind.

Vengeance of the Warrior: The second book takes the reader back to the seemingly ordinary lives of Tara, Akash, and Zubin. However, the evil doesn’t stay dead in this world and they only come back with vengeful power that can destroy the whole world. Once again, the trio is back to fighting the ancient spirit to prevent any warfare.

Rise of the Kalingan: Set in the backdrop of the Mauryan Empire, the final book of this trilogy, sets the stage for the gripping climax to this series. Secret spies, war cries, and unveiling of the secrets of the NINE… are you sure you can resist not reading this trilogy?

14. The Indian Trilogy by V. S. Naipaul

An Area of Darkness: The author pens down his observations and experiences as he travelled through various parts of India such as Bombay, Madras, and Kashmir in the 1960s. The book covers the author’s sharp realization of the poverty-stricken parts of India, corruption in big cities, and how there’s a remnant of the British Raj in the country and its people.

A Wounded Civilization: The author writes more about his views on India and its innumerable religions, culture, and social status. On his subsequent visits to his homeland, the author introspects and goes deeper into his evaluation of the suffering he comes across during his visits.

A Million Mutinies Now: Despite his vivid descriptions and unique narrative style, these books have been criticized for portraying India through a negative lens. However, these books are quite popular and shine light upon the darker parts of India that might have been only visible from an outside point of view. In the final volume of this travelogue trilogy, the author touches upon the Indian economy and ends the series on an ambiguously positive note about India and its people.

15. Harappa Trilogy by Vineet Bajpai

Harappa – Curse of the Blood River: Regarded as a literary thriller, this trilogy is a grand combination of mythology, history, occult, love, and ambition. Spanning over 3700 years, this is a page-turning start to a series that keeps the reader on edge. Set in the backdrop of present-day Delhi and Paris, and going back in time to Harappa, this book is a lot more than curses and conspiracies.

Pralay – The Great Deluge: The soul-gripping sequel takes the reader back and forth in time as evil rises everywhere. Dark forces, monsters, and the story of an ancient civilization make this book an unputdownable read.

Kashi – The Secret of the Black Temple: Almost drowning in the gigantic waves of Pralay, this book takes the reader through a convoluted journey of prophecies and sacrifices. With diseases, demons, and darkness unleashed upon the world, this book blends mythology and history pretty well to serve as a delightful read.

{Looking to add more south asian books to your reading list? We have you covered with a list of Books written by South Asian Authors.}

Indian authors are constantly coming up with fresh takes on ancient stories and adding their unique flavour through their writing style. The above-listed trilogies are just a glimpse into what the vast pool of Indian literature comprises. If you have come across any other trilogy written by Indian authors, please drop the names in a comment below.