The Twentieth Wife - Indu Sundaresan

This book has been on my reading list for quite some time after I got a recommendation from one of my friends. Also I had been watching glimpses of the serial Siyasat aired on Epic channel which made me want to read this book. I got this book from Kindle and just couldn't put it down.

This is the first book in the trilogy and focusses on the lives of Salim (Jahangir), Mehrunissa (Nur Jahan), Ruquaiya, Emperor Akbar, Ghias Beg, Asmat Begum and Ladli. The book is very fast paced though the chapters are lengthy. It has lot of historical facts amidst the fictional tale. Even though it's a work of fiction it feels very close to reality.

It's an intriguing journey of Mehrunissa from just a girl next door to the most influential empress.  It's a very well written book. There's just one disconnect - at most places it's said Nur Jahan was the 18th wife but the book says the 20th wife.

Now the sequel to this book which is Feast of Roses is on my reading list. While this book ends on the note of Mehrunissa marrying Jahangir and acclaiming the title of Nur Jahan, the sequel focusses on her journey as an empress.

A great read and a recommended read for history lovers.

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