The Palace of Illusions
Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Desc: A reimagining of the world-famous Indian epic the Mahabharat—told from the point of view of an amazing woman. Relevant to today’s war-torn world The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history half myth and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers in the Mahabharat the novel gives us a new interpretation of this ancient tale. The novel traces the princess Panchaali's life beginning with her birth in fire and following her spirited balancing act as a woman with five husbands who have been cheated out of their father’s kingdom. Panchaali is swept into their quest to reclaim their birthright remaining at their side through years of exile and a terrible civil war involving all the important kings of India. Meanwhile we never lose sight of her strategic duels with her mother-in-law her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands' most dangerous enemy. Panchaali is a fiery female redefining for us a world of warriors gods and the ever-manipulating hands of fate.