Tara: The Sati Series V | Mythological heroines from the Ramayan and Mahabharat reimagined through a feminist lens in this bestselling series |
The monkey queen of Kishkindha emerges as far more than a footnote in this inventive retelling of the Ramayan. Dasgupta strips away centuries of passive characterisation to reveal a sovereign caught between two irreconcilable philosophies: her late husband Bali's reverence for animal wisdom and his successor Sugreev's faith in human logic. What unfolds is a richly layered exploration of power, grief and the messy business of survival. Tara becomes a diplomat navigating the treacherous intersection of two realms, where the comedy and vibrancy of the forest kingdom mask deeper fractures. A mysterious tragedy shatters the fragile equilibrium, forcing her to reconcile her devotion to Bali's memory with the demands of her new role. Dasgupta's prose moves with genuine lyricism, capturing the texture of loss whilst celebrating Tara's quiet resistance. The political machinations feel urgent rather than mythological; her struggles with loyalty, betrayal and self-determination resonate with genuine stakes. This final instalment of the Sati series doesn't simply retell ancient narratives but resurrects them through a distinctly contemporary consciousness, granting marginalised heroines the complexity they've always deserved. A moving, surprising meditation on how women carve space for themselves amidst chaos.
- Author: Koral Dasgupta
- Publisher: Pan
- Genre: Religion & Spirituality
- ISBN: 978-8119300754
- Pages: 344 pages