I loved it! It wasn't as great as the first book as most sequels to books tend to be but I still loved it. This story now follows the married life of Mehrunnisa/Empress Nur Jahan to Salim/Emperor Jahangir. The books shows her wits, her cleverness and her positive outlook in life to defy all of her enemies. Her personality here is very much different from the first book ( The Twentieth Wife ) and I really do adore it! In the first book, she was seen as meek and only knows how to follow orders around. Yes, she was gentle but it wasn't enough to get her where she ought to be in life ( in the arms of her beloved Salim ). Then this book, showcases just how much inner hidden talent Mehrunnisa had. Just how scheming and powerful she could be. I love her and Jahangir's relationship here and I have had so much quotes saved regarding Jahangir's love for his twentieth wife. There were just some tedious moments of the book regarding the foreigners who went to Hindustan at that time, but that was truly the only part that dragged the book. Other than that, I love it. This book is very unique. Rarely, do I see in fictional literature, books that seems to villainize and antagonize Khurram / Emperor Sher Jahan and Arjumand / Empress Mumtaz Mahal ( to whom the Taj Mahal was built for ) so I really like the fresh take on that!

I kept listening to Arabian Nights Instrumental Version while reading this and although it took a while to finish this book, it was definitely worth it! After all, it's the journey that matters more than the destination.

Where and how can I even describe the beauty of this book?! This is the very first audiobook that I can confidently say that I have finished and it was amazing from top to bottom. I have listened to the audiobook on this from YouTube ( The Reading Hedgehog Club ) and I tell you that I, an agnostic theist person, enjoyed it thoroughly. The way this book was written is so beautiful and calming that it felt like I was being caressed by a mother, telling me that all the scary creatures under my bed will not have the power to harm me so long as I trust God. I would also like to steal a line from one of the comments of that YouTube video wherein one person stated: I felt like my mind was a dollhouse and he had reached into it and straightened the furniture.

That was worded out perfectly because it is exactly the same feeling I had from the very moment I had begun listening to the audiobook. I'm really not a fan of audiobooks and would prefer to read the book myself, but something about this particular audiobook pulled me in. Every line was exquisite and made me want to highlight the entire book myself. I wasn't even that much interested in mere Christianity ( pun intended ) but still just like how Jesus seeks out a lost lamb, this book has found me.

Does it answer all my questions regarding Christianity? No. Does it have all the answers to Christianity? No.

But did I feel closer to God, understanding even a tenth of his greatness? A hundred percent yes.

( P.S. I don't usually normally review using English language in a fanciful way but even when you are not religious, this book would inspire you to do so. )

I just really love simple stories like this. I'm just fascinated by how royalty worked during the Mughal period and this book literally had what I wanted. I was listening to Arabian Nights for the entire duration of me reading this. ( Yes, I know this takes place in India/Hindustan ) But it just fits the vibe so we. I really don't have much to say except that I breezed through this book and that there wasn't a single time that I was bored of reading this. It felt like a slice of life story and I felt like I was there when it happened. I love the main character's energy Mehrunissa ( Sun of Women ) and I just like her quietness unlike most female main characters who are noisy to prove their point, in here, she didn't. Salim/Jahangir on the other hand—well he is a bastard indeed but he is an