Michelle Moran's latest historical fiction novel Rebel Queen (#468) is due out in March. Her forte is writing about real women in history, trying to shed light on those whose stories aren't as well known. (See my posts of 11/13/12 & 5/3/11.)
The subject of Rebel Queen is the Rani of Jhansi, Queen Lakshmi. If you're not a student of Indian history, the chances are that you've never heard of her, even if you've read books set in the time of the mutinies against British Rule in the 1850s.
Her story is told through the eyes of Sita, a girl from a small village who rises to become one of the Rani's Durga Dal, her cadre of female bodyguards, trained in the same martial arts as their male counterparts, and close companions to the Rani at the court. From the first glimpse of the cover photo through to the last word of the Glossary, this story is awash with vivid colors, scents, emotions and politics. It's a world that will keep you enthralled as you're caught up in the intrigues of court life, and the maneuvering for power by those who live there. I really didn't want to leave that world to eat or sleep myself. (Though someone handing me an endless supply of samosas would have been welcome!)
Understanding what motivates the major characters makes the ending to the Rani's story inevitable, yet poignant, from our knowledge of how the British conquered India and did their best to destroy yet another ancient civilization. Ms. Moran has done another outstanding job in making the India of the mid-nineteenth century come alive. If you enjoy historical fiction, don't miss Rebel Queen.
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