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Note: As it's self published... I know it's not going to get much attention so I actually took the time to find out a contact email for... I hope, Omnivoracious to beg them to read it and consider featuring it. I can't recall if they ever have on that blog but worth a shot.

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The cover is completely wrong for this book. I picked it up thinking I would be reading a fantasy book. More high fantasy than urban.

Instead, it's a very well written literary fiction that is somewhat historical. It's the first book in a trilogy and the story begins with the lead up to Prince Siddhartha's transformation into the Buddha.

It's near lyrical at points as we follow the life path of a little casteless girl named Mala. Her family is at the bottom of the caste system as the unofficial 5th caste, the casteless. And among them, the very worst jobs that increase the severity of their "untouchable status" are tanners and chandlers. Mala's father is a tanner.

Mala is different. It's not very obvious at first til one day she meets a white tiger cub in the forest. She realizes her danger as the mother must be nearby and sure enough, she shows up sending Mala into a deep fright that her death is immediately coming.

Instead, there's a voice in her mind. It's the mother tiger! Mala will not be harmed and can go home safely.

She runs but then comes across a dirty traveler who asks if she has food. It is the duty of a good Hindu to honor such requests so Mala invites the traveler back to her home even though her family has barely enough food for themselves.

He turns out to be a yogi named Asita. As the story progresses, we learn that Asita is one of the genuine wise yogi. They are the ones who have mastered many of the enlightenment aspects of Hinduism, and do not abuse them for their own purposes.

This is the beginning of what makes this story a solid 5 stars for me. We begin learning alongside of Mala via Asita, the higher aspects of Hinduism. About how the gods are various aspects of Devi, their god. The mythology between the aspects and how they came to be.

Soon after that, Mala is returning home from the forest when a different voice speaks in her head. A voice cautioning her to stay a moment as she's about to step clear of the forest. She pauses, and finds herself witnessing the murder of her parents. As she is hidden, the wicked men leave, satisfied that they've achieved their main goal. It's not a random assault.

Her childhood is now ended and she must find a way to survive.

And thus begins the real story.

If you are unfamiliar with Hinduism as I was, through Mala and later others, you will learn a great deal about it.

The author takes great literary license with the back story of the birth of Buddhism and weaves an engaging story. But is it fantasy? Or magical realism? Or are the seemingly supernatural aspects experienced by the characters a real thing?

Returning to my opener, the cover is simply wrong. It promises a very different kind of book and I feel it does an injustice as this book must be given more care in reading to truly immerse the reader.

I highly recommend this book to all readers. If a reader is not disposed to thinking of Hinduism as a real religion, it will still be a good story.

It belongs among the "best books of 2016", and will certainly go on that shelf for me. I'm adding Shelley Schanfield to my list of authors to watch. I hope the next book will not be a long wait!

Thank you Shelley for providing a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You've found a new fan!

I always love discovering unknown gems. Thanks for sharing.

Oh no, another one for my TBR! It sounds intriguing!