Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Touchstone Press, via Edelweiss, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
From the internationally bestselling author of Nefertiti and Cleopatra’s Daughter, comes the breathtaking story of Queen Lakshmi—India’s Joan of Arc—who against all odds defied the mighty British invasion to defend her beloved kingdom, premiering March 3rd.
Last week I shared a Guest Post from Michelle and today I have my review of her nee book!
Synopsis:
When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the mid-nineteenth century, it expects a quick and easy conquest. India is fractured and divided into kingdoms, each independent and wary of one another, seemingly no match for the might of the English. But when they arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, the British army is met with a surprising challenge.
Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male and one female—and rides into battle, determined to protect her country and her people. Although her soldiers may not appear at first to be formidable against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi refuses to back down from the empire determined to take away the land she loves.
Told from the unexpected perspective of Sita—Queen Lakshmi’s most favored companion and most trusted soldier in the all-female army—Rebel Queen shines a light on a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction. In the tradition of her bestselling novel, Nefertiti, and through her strong, independent heroines fighting to make their way in a male dominated world, Michelle Moran brings nineteenth-century India to rich, vibrant life.
You can get more info and background on the book on Michelle's website. An excerpt will be up prior to the book's release as well.
Review:
WOW. Every time I finish one of Michelle's books, I feel like I need to go back to school and relearn history that wasn't taught properly, or that was left out (and I thought I had a pretty good history teaching, being as it was one of my minors in college!)! She always finds so many intriguing things about historical women, that make you go 'WOW, ___ was an amazing woman ahead of her time". She blasts away any stereotypes and misconceptions about the famous person, and breathes such LIFE into them, that you leave the book wanting to learn more about the person and their world. AKA, Michelle rocks as an author!
I have to admit, my knowledge of Indian history was very limited, as far as from the Indian side of things. I had the British colonization side. So this book was an eye opener, as to how the British came in to a land and disavowed the local culture and set their rules upon it, ignoring the consequences (sound familiar? yep, plenty of analogies to American Indians). The book really captures the culture and explains the history and differences with the castes, SO well, that I feel like I finally have a better understanding of why they exist as they still do. It was also no surprise that even thought the British were ruled by a Queen, they sought to take away Queen Lakshmi's land, power and riches, as she was an honest and loved monarch. Michelle does such a great job putting the reader into this period of time, that when the fatal end comes, the reader can't believe that the fight has ended. While happy that Sita survives it felt like so much was lost, that it is a happiness tinged with regret.
Kudos to Michelle for another book that keep me up late into the night, trying to finish it in one sitting!If you are looking for a book with strong female characters, that takes you to a foreign land, and makes your forget about the 6 feet of snow outside your doorstep, get this one when it comes out March 3rd!
Click over to Michelle's website to read a Q&A about writing this book for more info too!
About the Author:
Michelle Moran was born in Southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, Moran used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her experiences as a volunteer on archaeological digs that inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra’s Daughter, Madame Tussaud, and The Second Empress, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. Visit her online at www.MichelleMoran.com.
Giveaway:
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| Possible picture of Queen Lakshmi, from Michelle Moran |
Review:
WOW. Every time I finish one of Michelle's books, I feel like I need to go back to school and relearn history that wasn't taught properly, or that was left out (and I thought I had a pretty good history teaching, being as it was one of my minors in college!)! She always finds so many intriguing things about historical women, that make you go 'WOW, ___ was an amazing woman ahead of her time". She blasts away any stereotypes and misconceptions about the famous person, and breathes such LIFE into them, that you leave the book wanting to learn more about the person and their world. AKA, Michelle rocks as an author!
I have to admit, my knowledge of Indian history was very limited, as far as from the Indian side of things. I had the British colonization side. So this book was an eye opener, as to how the British came in to a land and disavowed the local culture and set their rules upon it, ignoring the consequences (sound familiar? yep, plenty of analogies to American Indians). The book really captures the culture and explains the history and differences with the castes, SO well, that I feel like I finally have a better understanding of why they exist as they still do. It was also no surprise that even thought the British were ruled by a Queen, they sought to take away Queen Lakshmi's land, power and riches, as she was an honest and loved monarch. Michelle does such a great job putting the reader into this period of time, that when the fatal end comes, the reader can't believe that the fight has ended. While happy that Sita survives it felt like so much was lost, that it is a happiness tinged with regret.
Kudos to Michelle for another book that keep me up late into the night, trying to finish it in one sitting!If you are looking for a book with strong female characters, that takes you to a foreign land, and makes your forget about the 6 feet of snow outside your doorstep, get this one when it comes out March 3rd!
Click over to Michelle's website to read a Q&A about writing this book for more info too!
About the Author:
Michelle Moran was born in Southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, Moran used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her experiences as a volunteer on archaeological digs that inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra’s Daughter, Madame Tussaud, and The Second Empress, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. Visit her online at www.MichelleMoran.com.
Giveaway:
You can get a FREE signed bookplate for your copy of Rebel Queen too!
Just click over to Michelle's website for the form to fill out!
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