The Silent Witness – Anuradha (Illustrated by Artist Namboodiri)

Seventeenth-century Malabar. Law and order lay in shambles as the ruthless Portuguese terrorize the local coastline. Native kings are fractured, trapped in separate camps for and against the foreign invaders. In this climate of betrayal, the ultimate battle for the throne of Kochi begins.

Written by eminent historical fiction writer Anuradha (the pen name of Radha Narayana Menon), The Silent Witness is a thrilling saga of unyielding loyalty, deceptive political plots, forbidden love, and brutal wartime strategy. The rift across the land runs so deep that the Samoothiri of Calicut—the sworn, ancestral enemy of the Kochi kingdom—has made the desperate decision to join forces with his rival to expel the foreign outsiders.

Against this volatile historical backdrop, the heir to the Kochi throne, Kerala Varma, and his brother, Veera Kerala Varma, are forced into exile, disguised as traveling sanyasis to escape Portuguese assassins. When Veera Kerala Varma falls desperately in love with Unnimaya, the gorgeous niece of a major Portuguese ally's army chief, personal desires clash violently with royal duty. To complicate the chessboard, the Dutch arrive, seeking a dangerous alliance to topple the Portuguese empire.

⚔️ Why You Won’t Be Able to Put This Book Down:

• Masterful Historical Tapestry: Experience a meticulously researched, atmospheric journey into 17th-century South Indian history, maritime trade wars, and royal espionage.

• Breathtaking Illustrations: Visually brought to life with striking, classical sketches by the legendary, award-winning illustrator Artist Namboodiri.

• High-Stakes Romance: Follow the sweeping, high-stakes love story between a prince in hiding and a lady from an enemy camp.

• Political Intrigue: A complex web of shifting alliances featuring the Zamorin (Samoothiri), the Kochi Royals, the Portuguese, and the arriving Dutch East India Company.

Will foreign alliances save the kingdom or destroy it? Will love triumph over royal duty? Open the pages of this spectacular epic to witness the untold history of Malabar.