Ponniyin Selvan is one of the best books I have ever read, it is easily there on my top 5. There are so many great things about this book that I don't even know where to start. It is an exemplary historical fiction, has a great story, and most importantly, has great characters. The story of the book is basically about Raja Raja Chola, who was also known as Ponniyin Selvan (hence the title of the book), before he was king, and all the circumstances that led to him becoming the king. One of the highlights of this book, according to me, is the character portrayals. All the characters are deep and very relatable, even if the story is set in the 10th century. This book is a definite must read.