Between letters, the author weaves threads picked from the lines the two pen friends share. The book depicts Kashmir from different points of view, ranging crucial aspects of the regional, social, political and emotional. The outstanding craft of this book makes it a powerful one.
The fearsome Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi comes alive in this well-researched book. India’s freedom struggle, in which the Queen played a dominant role, the account follows her from when she becomes the ruler. Dramatically written, the book includes monologues by Damodar, Lakshmibai’s son, which adds tenderness to the narrative.
“This is a brilliant historical fiction grounded in thorough research. The narrative is engaging and layered. While the focus remains on a queen ruling at a time when women were not documented in historical records, the story makes room for emotional relationships as well as complex details of lifestyle from that period.”