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So glad you are enjoying it, Terry. Me too. I have a lot going on right now, but I keep sneaking a chapter here and a chapter there. I am wishing for a long, uninterrupted read but don't seem to get any. This book makes me think of The Raj Quartet, although they are quite different other than setting in India.

Nidhi, so glad you have started. This one is going to go deep into May for me, so you may catch up and leave me behind.

Yes, I will still be reading it in May as well.

I have finished chapters 26 to 28 . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[
Apt remark on Biju Ram's death - He had lived like a mad dog and it was only right that he should die like one ....
I thought Ash's troubles were over with Biju Ram's death . But no ! There was miserable Bithor and the evil , repulsive Rana waiting for them ! Death was preferable than being tied to such a repulsive creature - the Rana .
The bitter sweet meeting between Ash and Juli was sad and painful to read . Ash's great despair and Anjuli's helpless submission to her fate are hateful. I just wish that somehow all three of them - Ash , Anjuli and Shushila - can escape from Bithor and the obnoxious Rana . How dreadful when evil customs and atrocious people like the Rana and Nandu have the power to butcher and strangulate lives and get away with it ! My blood boils at the thought of Anjuli and Shushila tied for life with the Rana . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

Savita, I just got to Chapter 19 and opened your spoiler. (view spoiler)[I am also enjoying the relationship between Juli and Ash. I don't know how they are going to work out such a difficult situation and I am afraid our bad guy is going to figure out who Ash is. I like the little brother. Ash has a habit of saving the lives of these royals. (hide spoiler)]

Sara , you have almost caught up with me ! I agree about the little brother Jhoti - ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ He is a lovable brat 😊 ! I don't particularly like Shushila though. She tends to be spoilt and self centered . I wish Anjuli wouldn't waste so much care and concern over her . Anjuli should be a bit strict with her - not cruel , just strict . But it's true that Anjuli's own position is so shaky in the royal household . She doesn't have much authority . 😒
Anjuli is really a good hearted and a very loyal person , a gem of a human being . Good Ash has discovered her - but under what circumstances 🙄 !
I had to smile at your dry last remark- Ash has a habit of saving the lives of these royals . True ! 👍 😊 (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

I am up to Chapter 18, so trailing a bit behind. Unfortunately, I have to finish a book for my book club by Monday night, so I have to switch my attention to something that I am not enjoying as much.

I had exactly the same problem, Terry, but I am back to this one for the weekend. Hate when I have to move from the book I am enjoying to another that doesn't have the same power over me.

Finished Part Three. (view spoiler)[So happy Ash did not end up letting Biju Ram go. He would never have been anything but a threat. Somehow, I do not think the trials are over. Juli is to be married to the Rana and I do not know how they are going to get around that, but I cannot believe Ash is going to ride off and back to the likes of Belinda. (hide spoiler)]

Loving this book!

Glad you're enjoying this book , Sara ! I too am ! The descriptions are so vivid and the author has created some interesting characters . A bygone era is being very well described and without any prejudices - sensitively handled , I must say .

I was also very glad about ☆☆(view spoiler)[ Biju Ram's death . One evil less . Great description of the bait used by Ash and of Biju Ram's horrible death - likened to the death of a mad dog !
As for Ash and Juli .... well , please read on .... (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

Savita: (view spoiler)[ His death was so appropriate, retributive justice and he did it to himself. I love that the story is unpredictable. I don't see what is coming, although I know Ash and Juli are not through with one another.

I am also enjoying the setting, the sweeping differences between the northern mountains and these southern desert lands. I also think the other characters are beautifully developed. I care what happens to each of them. (hide spoiler)]

Yes , that's true , Sara , the story is enjoyably unpredictable ! And , yes , it's my gut feeling , too , that ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Ash and Juli are not through with one another. (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

I am up to Chapter 23 and wondering where this story will lead next!

I have finished chapter 36 . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Ash is posted in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, adjoining Rajasthan. Sinister, lawless Bithor is , therefore, quite close by, up north from Ahmedabad . Then comes good news at last from Bithor ! Oh , I was thrilled to read that Juli is safe from the Rana ! Oh , I am so happy for Ash ! Still a long way to go , but at least there's hope . 😊 (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

Looks like Sara and Terry are soon going to catch up ! 😊

Gained a little ground on the weekend, but still trailing you, Savita. I'll let you know when I am able to open the spoiler. :o)

Please take your time , Sara 😊 .

Wikipedia’s bio of M.M. Kaye is quite interesting. All of her mare relatives were associated with either the Indian army or the Raj. I particularly was taken by surprise by this statement: “Kaye's literary agent was Paul Scott, who had been an army officer in India and would find fame as author of The Raj Quartet.��

This is a link to a picture of a very young and beautiful M. M. Kaye:

I had read that also, Terry. I noticed Scott was quoted on the cover of my copy. His Raj Quartet is the best thing ever written about India's Raj period.

I'm immersed in this book now and don't want to put it down to do the things we all know we have to stop reading and DO.

Terry wrote: "Wikipedia’s bio of M.M. Kaye is quite interesting. All of her mare relatives were associated with either the Indian army or the Raj. I particularly was taken by surprise by this statement: “Kaye's ..."

Thank you for posting the interesting link , Terry ! Lovely picture of the author ! And what a talented , sensitive and unprejudiced mind she had ! She really had a deep knowledge and understanding of British India .

I am up to Chapter 30 in Book 4. This story is just captivating!

I have just finished Book 5 and I agree, Terry, mesmerizing.

Agree , Sara and Terry !

Reading chapter 40 . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Out of the frying pan, into the fire ! ! Literally ! Suttee is raising its monstrous head ! Events are moving fast . There is great tension . Devastated to read Ash's final plan . He seriously means it . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

Chapter 40. Egads. (view spoiler)[As you say, Savita, devastating. Hard to imagine crowds gathering to root on such a custom, but they gathered for the guillotine, for hangings, and for the beheading of queens, so not that surprising really. The tension built in this section until I felt my spine stiffen. (hide spoiler)]

I am at Chapter 42 and I am now neglecting everything I ought to do to read "just one more chapter". This is how reading should feel.

I sooo need a book like this sounds! I’m dropping all other reads & starting Far Pavilions.

Be prepared, Annette, to disregard the rest of your life for a while!

End of Book Six: (view spoiler)[I was not surprised to find that Shu-Shu was a monster. I could not help thinking that Juli had given up everything for her love of Shushila and was repaid so vilely, also costing the lives of so many good men. I was so sad to lose Sarji. Somehow that felt like the worst blow, because he would never have been there if not for his friendship for Ash and they could have left so much sooner if not for trying to ease the pain for Shushila, who deserved to die the horrible death she had chosen. Vengeance beyond death to want to have Juli blinded and locked away. Geez! (hide spoiler)]

Sara wrote: "Chapter 40. Egads. [spoilers removed]

I am at Chapter 42 and I am now neglecting everything I ought to do to read "just one more chapter". This is how reading should feel."

Chapters 40 - 42 : it is impossible to put down the book !
Really , Sara , the descriptions are spine chilling .... blood curdling 👍🤯 !! ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ I was hoping against hope that Shushila would be saved too . But , at least , Ash gave her a merciful death - thank God for that !
Suttee was a barbaric , atrocious custom ! And the way the crowd gathered to watch and ... ugh ... enjoy and feel blessed ! Ugh ! You have pointed out similar human behavior in other places . It all leaves a sick taste in the mouth . Is this the way we are ? The horror of suttee and the crowd behavior has me shuddering and shivering . It's all so disheartening �� . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

I wish Annette had begun the book with us . It's such a pleasure to Buddy Read such a fascinating book with Sara and Terry ! I wish Nidhi had joined too . She would have been stunned and very interested .
I am reading chapter 43 .

I too wish I had option to keep other reads on hold and continue this book but I have work load till 25 May. All of my reads are on hold.

Still your positive comments are great motivators, I will go through spoilers as I will proceed and comment if I feel necessary.

Yes , Nidhi , do read this fascinating book when you have time in hand . It's interesting , amazing .... and then gets totally stunning ! 😳

Definitely Savita, you see this book has not got a single negative comment which is great feat for a book of this magnitude, I am glad that it has come to our notice through this buddy read.

Savita, I caught you! I will have little reading time today, but maybe this evening. You are so right in all you say in your spoiler, Savita.

Nidhi & Annette, I will look forward to your comments as you are able to read. There will come a point where the book will just demand that you read it and not stop.

About to jump back in my read (RL relenting a little). Looking forward to reading all these ‘spoiler�� comments :O)

So glad you will be getting some time again, Vero!

Sara , you've finished Book 6 - you are way ahead of me ! I am only on chapter 44 . I'm trying to increase my pace .

Well, Savita and Sara, you are both way ahead of me. I am in the middle of Chapter 33.

Terry , you will catch up with me soon . I am not very far ahead .
Waiting to see your reaction to the events in chapters 40 - 42 . Profoundly emotionally driving ! 😳🤯

Those chapters are heart-stopping. I had no reading time yesterday, so you guys will probably catch me as well.

Srinagar and Dal Lake in Kashmir photo:

Shalimar Garden:

I shattered Garden in Kashmir:

Thanks, Terry. What a beautiful place Kashmir is!

I hate the auto correct on my iPad. It messes up my posts all the time. The last post was of the Nishat Garden.

I know! Most of the time the thing it changes it to makes absolutely no sense.

Thanks , Terry ! Dal lake is looking so beautiful ! Truly said about Kashmir - Switzerland of India ! The land , the weather and the people ... all are beautiful ! It's sad about the prolonged civil unrest , here , due to conflict with neighbouring Pakistan .
I couldn't open the third link apparently due to some technical problem . I will try again later.

Read nearly 4 chapters last night and am at chapter 7, wayyyy behind everyone 😊 It really grabs you and paints the places incredibly vividly. Not much dialogue so far which gives this feeling that you are being told a story. That can be problematic but somehow it works here.

Definitely carrying on. Aiming to do 40-50 pages a day, while also reading shorter books in between.

Oh , yes , Veronique , you are wayyy behind at present 😊 , but if you are a fast reader , I think you will be able to catch up with us . Enjoy the book !
I hope you are nicely settled in your new house .

Welcome, Veronique. I soon got lost in the story and hope you do too.

As it’s, I have a professional colleague friend, an engineer, whose family fled Kashmir, many years ago. I wonder if he has read this book.

Vero, you will find yourself swept away in no time. I didn't get to read anything yesterday, but spent quite a bit of time with Ash on my mind.

It is extremely sad that human beings cannot allow such a beautiful place to also be a place of peace and harmony. It looks like it would soothe your soul. I am a sucker for mountains!

Sara wrote: "Be prepared, Annette, to disregard the rest of your life for a while!

End of Book Six: [spoilers removed]"

I finished Book Six and was horrified to read chapter 47 ! ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ It is true , Sara , that I didn't like Shushila from the beginning , but I got taken by surprise by how evil and vindictive she was ! Evil ! Evil ! Evil ! A beautiful She Devil ! A Monster! I , too ,wish she had burned in the pyre with her monstrous husband !

The price for Juli 's safety was too high ! Sarji , Govind , Manilal ! Good men - all dead ! Felt terribly sad here . And the beautiful horse , Dagobaz , he died too . What a tired company now left to go back . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆
I've started Book 7

I know, Savita! That broke my heart. (view spoiler)[It was easy to see Shu-Shu as just selfish and spoiled, but loving Juli in her own way. What a shock to know Juli suffered so much at her hands. It made me wonder why Juli wanted to save her pain, even at the end. The price was far too high, just as you say and could have been higher. She risked Ash's life--definitely not something I would have done after being treated as she was. (hide spoiler)]