Chandramouli

"They were standing on the terrace that overlooked the charming garden below, bursting with rare
flowering plants and creepers, ornamental shrubs and fruit trees-the result of the princess's personal undertaking. She had decorated the wooden enclosure surrounding her quarters in the harem with paintings done in vegetable dyes, made for her by a maid who had learnt the art when she had worked under Jain monks."

Rani Padmavati: The Burning Queen by Anuja Chandramouli

Possible Triggers..Suicide

I knew nothing about the story of Rani Padmavati when I chose this book. I had seen it here on GR and was taken with the stunning Red and Gold cover along with the description of the book. I adore Historical Fiction but this story is not one I knew literally anything about.

I do read much on Cleopatra but Rani Padmavati, the Queen of Chittor, who commits jauhar, (Self-immolation to avoid captivity) , I had no knowledge of. And that is good because it allowed me to go in fresh and not compare the story to any others I had read about her..since I haven't.

Padma, as she is referred to in the book, was married to Rawal Ratin Singh and together they ruled the Indian kingdom of Chittor. Their love story was genuine. It was not just a marriage of convenience. They adored one another.

Padma possesses beauty that is almost incomprehensible. She is breathtaking and void of malice as well. Her personality is like sunshine but with a mischievous quality and she is also blessed with high intelligence.

Alauddin Khalid is the conqueror and he has conquered alot. It is inevitable that he wants to take over Chittor and so the book..short as it is under 300 pages, has a strong degree of tension running through it at all times.

I already knew how this story would end from reading reviews and just from the title. But there is so much to Padma's story. I would really recommend this to Historical Fiction fans, particularly those who, like me, enjoy reading about Historical Royalty. It is written in deeply shimmering, vibrant Prose and the imagery and the scenery are beautifully imagined. I read it in one sitting.

The writing also has a sort of light.dark quality. For example, at times there is a playful edge to it but do not mistake that for a lack of intensity. As others have mentioned, Padma's vision is written incredibly and is one of the most intense scenes I have read this year in any book. It catches you off guard as well.

While there are no happy endings in the physical sense for Rani Padmavati, the Spiritual element is a different story. If one believes that love..and the human soul..extend way after death and are endless through time, you may look at the end a bit differently as the book blends the beauty of the love story of Padma and Rawal Ratan Singh beautifully with the spiritual element of love never ending.

Compare that to the vast emptiness of the life of the conqueror, who may have won the physical battle but absolutely lost the emotional war, as he has nothing to show for all his victories except an empty soul devoid of love or anything remotely resembling it.

This book was beautifully written, taught me so much and I really liked it. I do wish it had been a bit longer and I sort of wish Padma had narrated it as we are told much without being shown frequently. I wanted more of Padma which is hard to get in a book that is a bit on the shorter side. Still, it was a unique and beautiful read about a unique and beautiful queen who had more courage than almost anyone I have read about. Highly recommended to Historical Fiction fans.… (lisätietoja)