Arti Chavan | Shadow of the Serpent Fort

Shadow Of The Serpent Fort

Forgotten Kingdoms of Bharata

Follow the journey of Malhar — where history, power, and destiny collide. A thrilling historical adventure set in the Indo-Greek period of 300 BC India, where dark secrets, haunted forts and power struggles come alive.

324 BCE - Ancient India

Set in the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s conquests, this epic tale unfolds the fierce struggles between ancient India’s mighty empires and the invading Greek forces.

Inspired by the tumultuous convergence of East and West during the Indo-Greek era, this story will transport readers on an adventurous journey of political intrigue, supernatural forces, and the timeless quest for power and honor

Meet the Characters

About The Author

Why This Story Matters

This is probably the strongest thing missing from the website today. People buy authors before they buy books. I began writing this novel during the COVID pandemic after watching my children fall in love with Greek mythology. I wanted them to discover the incredible stories hidden in India’s past through the same sense of adventure and wonder.

Arti Chavan is a debut novelist and a passionate storyteller who has crafted this epic historical thriller infused with a touch of the supernatural. Fascinated by ancient cultures and forgotten legends, she brings the rich heritage of ancient India to life in a gripping tale of adventure and intrigue.

Inspired by the relatively unexplored period of Indo-Greek history and folklore, her novel immerses readers in opulent palaces, haunted forts, and treacherous landscapes that still exist in present India.

An Indian expat in the US with an MBA and a career in strategy, Arati blends her professional expertise in crafting narratives with her passion for sharing India’s history with a global audience. Balancing her writing, a tech career in California, and family life with her husband and two children, this debut novel is a labor of love, born from her desire to share India’s stories with her children and the world.

Actual Historical Timeline

327 BC

Alexander The Great Invasion of India

Alexander the Great crossed the Hindu Kush into the northwestern Indian subcontinent, initially conquering Achaemenid Persian satrapies in current Afghanistan and Pakistan, before facing fierce resistance from local rulers as he advanced into India.

326 BC

Porus and Alexander War - Battle of Hydaspes River

A fierce clash between Alexander and King Porus near the current Jhelum river in present-day Punjab, Pakistan. Porus’ valiant resistance and formidable use of war elephants against the Greek strategy led to Alexander honoring Porus by reinstating him as a Satrap/regional ruler.

325 BC

Alexander leaves India

Alexander the Great, aiming to conquer the powerful Nanda Empire of Magadha, was forced to halt his campaign when his army, exhausted and fearing massive eastern armies, mutinied at the Hyphasis River (Beas), marking the easternmost extent of his conquests. Retreating through modern-day Gujarat, he left behind Greek mercenaries and Macedonian veterans to manage his Indian territories.

325 BC

Peithon appointed as Greek Satrap of Western India

Alexander the Great appointed Greek satraps (governor or viceroy) to manage conquered territories of the Western region of India. Peithon (Ancient Greek: Πείθων) (died 312 BC), son of Agenor (Αγήνωρ) was an officer in the expedition of Alexander the Great to India, who became satrap of the Indus from 325 to 316 BC, and then satrap of Babylon, from 316 to 312 BC, until he died at the Battle of Gaza in 312 BC.

324 BCE

Malhar’s Story Starts in the kingdom of Maha Shail

As Peithon schemes to capture Maha Shail, Malhar - an elite soldier bound by loyalty - finds his world unraveling. With the king dead and a newborn prince marked for death, a web of betrayal tightens, as ministers ally with the Greeks in a ruthless grab for power.

322-319 BC

Chandragupta Maurya’s reign starts

Chandragupta Maurya becomes king taking over from Nandas. Chandragupta, with the help of his mentor Chanakya (Kautilya), capitalized on the political vacuum left by Alexander's successors. He initially allied with the Greek satraps in the region, notably Seleucus I, one of Alexander's generals.

The Story

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s Indian campaign, the Greek satraps left behind set their sights on further conquest. Peithon, satrap of Western India, schemes to claim the peaceful Deccan kingdom, plunging it into turmoil. When the king dies, the newborn prince becomes a pawn in a dangerous game of power and betrayal. Malhar, an elite soldier and devoted protector of the kingdom, must rise to face the storm. Amid conspiracies and shifting alliances, he battles ruthless foes and guards those he holds dear. Alongside his patron, Count Satya, and the spirited Lalita, Malhar uncovers the haunting secrets of Fort Naaga—revelations that could alter everything he thought he knew about his past and the fate of his kingdom.

After Alexander the Great’s campaign ends, Greek satraps remain in India, seeking to expand their control. Peithon, the satrap of Western India, schemes to seize the Deccan kingdom, plunging Malhar—an elite soldier and fiercely loyal protector of the peaceful kingdom—into turmoil. When the Deccan king dies, the newborn prince’s life is in peril as treacherous ministers conspire with the Greeks for power. Joined by Count Satya, his patron, and Lalita, a spirited woman who holds his heart, Malhar must navigate political intrigue, battle adversaries like the cunning Rudra, and uncover the haunting secrets of Fort Naaga, which may hold the key to his own identity.

Shadow Of The Serpent Fort

Forgotten Kingdoms of Bharata

324 BCE - Ancient India

Meet the Characters

MALHAR KETU

RUDRA VARMA

LALITA GAURI

SATYA MITRA

PEITHON