Interview Of Author Mani Kumar R

Interview Background: Author Mani Kumar R whose book, “SAROH: THE RISE” which got published worldwide on 27th of January 2026, has been interviewed by Shubhangi Verma, who is a Literary Editor, Columnist and Book Reviewer.

To check out this title on Amazon, click here 👉 SAROH: THE RISE

Average Ratings on Amazon: 4.8 ⭐/5 Stars

Average Ratings on Goodreads: 4.8 ⭐/5 Stars

Books Barista Remarks: A Reading-Worthy Novel 👍

Author’s Background: Author MANI KUMAR R, a fantasy novelist, began his storytelling journey in 2020. Over the past five years, he has explored multiple genres, steadily refining his narrative craft, world-building, and character depth. In 2023, he wrote Amaryllis, his debut fantasy novel about a flying mermaid, which marked a turning point in his creative path. This was followed by The Trosses, Princess in the Chamber, and The Crystal Code, stories that helped define his voice through mystery, emotion, and layered storytelling. His latest and most ambitious work is Saroh, an emotionally powerful epic centred on lions, exploring legacy, solitude, and inner conflict. The saga is set to continue with Saroh: Conquest and Saroh: The Downfall, expanding into themes of war, ambition, and destiny! 

Read the Interview here:

Shubhangi Verma: Firstly, congratulations on your latest book, “Saroh — The Rise!” What kind of response are you getting from this book? Please tell us your experience!  

Mani Kumar R: Thank you. The response has been really encouraging, especially from readers who say they felt conflicted about Saroh-sometimes understanding him, sometimes fearing him. That reaction means a lot to me, because I wanted him to feel human, not heroic or villainous in a simple way. Writing this book felt intense, almost like I was living inside his mind for a while.  

Shubhangi Verma: You began your writing journey in 2020 and have explored multiple genres since. What made animal fantasy and lions in particular, the right vessel for telling Saroh’s story? 

Mani Kumar R: Lions naturally represent power, hierarchy, and legacy. When I removed humans and used animals, the story felt more raw and symbolic. It let me talk about power, family, and ambition without modern politics or social labels. Lions felt mythic, almost timeless.  

Shubhangi Verma: Well, Saroh is born into power but starved of warmth. How intentional was this emotional absence in shaping his descent, and what were you exploring through that dynamic?  

Mani Kumar R: It was very intentional. I've always been fascinated by how emotional neglect shapes people. Saroh grows up surrounded by authority but without emotional connection, and that gap slowly turns into anger. I wanted to explore how someone can become dangerous not because they're born evil, but because they're emotionally alone. 

Shubhangi Verma: Interestingly, Ragnar embodies order, discipline, and legacy. Was he conceived as a traditional king figure, or as a cautionary symbol of authority taken too far?  

Mani Kumar R: Ragnar is both admirable and tragic. He truly believes discipline builds greatness, but he doesn't realise how cold that feels to a child. He's not a villain-he's a well-intentioned ruler who fails to see what his son actually needs. 

Shubhangi Verma: The father–son conflict lies at the heart of the novel. How did you balance Ragnar’s duty as a ruler with his vulnerability as a parent? 

Mani Kumar R: Ragnar always prioritises his role as king, even when it costs him as a father. That tension was important. He loves Saroh, but he doesn't know how to express it without control and expectation. That misunderstanding drives much of the tragedy. 

Shubhangi Verma: Exile is the turning point of Saroh’s transformation. What does the rogue land represent thematically in his evolution from prince to conqueror? 

Mani Kumar R: The rogue land is where Saroh is stripped of everything such as comfort, identity, protection. It forces him to rebuild himself from nothing. For me, it represents isolation, survival, and the birth of ambition without restraint. 

Shubhangi Verma: Unlike heroic fantasy arcs, Saroh’s rise is deeply tragic. Were you ever tempted to redeem him or was his downfall always inevitable?

Mani Kumar R: I thought about redeeming him, but the story kept pulling him toward tragedy. Saroh's greatest qualities like ambition, intelligence, dominance are also what destroyed him. I felt his downfall needed to feel earned, not avoided.  

Shubhangi Verma: Power in the novel is built through fear rather than honour. What does this say about leadership, both in the animal world you created and in human societies? 

Mani Kumar R: Fear is efficient but fragile. It creates obedience, not trust. I think that's true in real life too-leaders who rely only on fear may rise fast, but they rarely leave something lasting or peaceful behind. 

Shubhangi Verma: The Serengeti feels vast, violent, and alive. How did you approach world-building to ensure the land itself carried emotional and narrative weight? 

Mani Kumar R: I wanted the land to feel like it has a personality. The plains feel open and lonely, the jungles feel heavy and dangerous, the rogue lands feel hostile. The environment mirrors Saroh's emotional journey as he changes. 

Shubhangi Verma: Compared to your earlier fantasy works like Amaryllis and The Crystal Code, how did writing Saroh push you creatively or emotionally as an author?  

Mani Kumar R: Saroh was more psychological. My earlier works focused on worlds and ideas; this one focused on a mind and a downfall. It felt darker and more personal. I had to sit with uncomfortable emotions while writing.  

Shubhangi Verma: The climax forces a devastating confrontation between legacy and ambition. What did writing that final battle demand of you as a storyteller?  

Mani Kumar R: It was emotionally difficult. I didn't want a heroic victory, but something tragic and inevitable. Writing it felt like watching two world views crash-tradition versus ambition, father versus son, love versus pride.  

Shubhangi Verma: With ‘Saroh: Conquest’ and ‘Saroh: The Downfall’ planned, how will the saga expand its exploration of war, destiny, and the cost of power?  

Mani Kumar R: Conquest will explore Saroh as a brilliant but ruthless empire-builder. The Downfall will show how power, greed, and paranoia slowly consume him. It will be more about battles and more about how power changes the mind.  

Shubhangi Verma: At its core, “Saroh — The Rise” questions whether legacy is inherited or forged through violence. What do you hope readers reflect on after closing the final chapter?  

Mani Kumar R: I hope readers think about what legacy really means. Saroh shows that power can be taken, but wisdom and compassion have to be learned. I want readers to question whether conquest is greatness, or whether true legacy is something quieter.