When I started reading Queen of Fire, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it. I expected to read something new and captivating, even though I knew that the protagonist was the rani of Jhansi. But all the opening scenes were familiar to me. We’ve studied the history of the independence movement in India in such excruciating detail that there is no way I can forget about the revolt of 1857, the story of Mangal Pandey, the Doctrine of Lapse, or the tale of the cartridges greased with the fat of cows and pigs.
This made Queen of Fire completely different from the other two books in this series. I knew nothing about Didda before reading Queen of Ice, and I had not heard of Queen Prithvimahadevi until I read Queen of Earth. Would Queen of Fire be completely familiar?
The answer was no. If anything, I think Queen of Fire is the most powerful of the three books. Once I got sucked into the story, there was no putting the book down. It’s astounding how Devika Rangachari brings characters alive! Yes, Rani Lakshmibai was familiar to the student in me, but never before did she leap out of the pages, alive and real, a firebrand who became a legend.
Queen of Fire traces the young queen’s story, drawing us into betrayal, treachery, hope and loyalty. On the one hand, the queen has friends who are willing to die for her, just as she is willing to die for her people. On the other hand, there are those who would betray her to her worst enemies. We see Jhansi through her passionate gaze, her determination not to let her people down.
And then, every so often, we see the world through her son’s eyes. Little Damodar worships his mother and is awed by her courage. But a giant hand of fear grips his belly. Will he ever be as brave as his mother? Of course he will. But … but what if he loses her?
Emotion, suspense and drama make Queen of Fire the kind of book that takes your breath away.
| Title | Queen of Fire |
| Author | Devika Rangachari |
| Tags | Historical Fiction, Indian independence, Young Adult |
| Rating (out of 5) | 5 |
| Age-group | 12+ |
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