WOMEN’S FICTION | HISTORICAL FICTION

‘Breathtaking, positively breathtaking. As ever it was gorgeous, magical, touching, emotional… I was entranced by the stories of Mary and Sita and barely looked up… Kept me rooted to the page. And the ending!!… A sheer triumph of a novel and one that I didn’t want to end.’ Angela Marsons, bestselling author of the Kim Stone series

‘This was a book I didn’t and couldn’t put down… This is my absolute favourite by Renita so far and I would HUGELY recommend this book to anybody that loves a book that will engage you from page one.’ Best Crime Books and More

‘I couldn’t put down this emotional and heartfelt novel!… One of the best stories that I’ve read this year!’ Loreal’s Books, 5 stars

‘An absolutely fabulous, heart-rending, tear-jerking journey… Highly recommended epic read!’ Relax and Read Reviews

For fans of Kathryn Hughes, Dinah Jefferies, Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Kristin Hannah

An unforgettable and heart-wrenching story of love, betrayal and family secrets. In colonial India a young woman finds herself faced with an impossible choice, the consequences of which will echo through the generations…

1928. In British-ruled India, headstrong Sita longs to choose her own path, but her only destiny is a good marriage. After a chance meeting with a Crown Prince leads to a match, her family’s status seems secured and she moves into the palace, where peacocks fill the gardens and tapestries adorn the walls. But royal life is far from simple, and her failure to provide an heir makes her position fragile. Soon Sita is on the brink of losing everything, and the only way to save herself could mean betraying her oldest friend…

2000. When Priya’s marriage ends in heartbreak, she flees home to India and the palace where her grandmother, Sita, once reigned as Queen. But as grandmother and granddaughter grow closer, Priya has questions. Why is Sita so reluctant to accept that her royal status ended with Independence? And who is the mysterious woman who waits patiently at the palace gates day after day? Soon Priya uncovers a secret Sita has kept for years – and which will change the shape of her life forever…

A breathtaking journey through India from British rule to Independence and beyond; a world of green hills, cardamom-scented air, and gold thread glinting in the sun, brought to life by Renita D’Silva’s exquisite writing. If you love Kathryn Hughes, Dinah Jefferies or Kristin Hannah, this is the novel for you.