One of the well - known 'Mahabharata - based novels is 'The Palace of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It retells the story of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective, giving a new and fresh take on the ancient epic. Another is 'Vyasa' by Ashok K. Banker, which also delves deep into the world of the Mahabharata and its complex characters.
A great 'Mahabharata - based novel is 'Karana's Wife: The Outcast's Queen' by Kavita Kane. It focuses on the character of Karna from the Mahabharata, and through the eyes of his wife, it explores the story further. This novel gives a different dimension to the character of Karna, who is often seen as a tragic hero in the original epic.