John Speed (2)

Interesting read, but a bit militaristic and, at times, quite gory. I admit, I don't know a lot of history from India, so found it a bit hard to follow at times. I have no concept of where this books falls into the time line of Indian history, but I believe it's roughly "medieval" since it deals in the time period of Shah Jehad, builder of the Taj Mahal and his sons. I feel somewhat at a loss after finishing the book because I don't know how things played out from the point where the book ended. I feel there should be more to the story.… (meer)

I have to admit, I did not find Tiger Claws to be nearly as enjoyable as its predecessor The Temple Dancer. The characters were simply less interesting and less engaging than those of the previous novel.

Set in 17th-century India, Tiger Claws focuses on the rise of two leaders, Shivaji and Aurangzeb. The schemes of royal courts and perils of war surround these two figures and drive much of the novel's plot. While the world in which these figures exist is carefully drawn, the numerous characters themselves often remain flat and underdeveloped.… (meer)

*Lush and Exotic*
A sensational debut, an incredibly well told story by a master story teller. For a first novel, this is simply outstanding and deserves high acclaim. I read this book in 24 hours. The lush and exotic scenery is very evocative of India in the 1600s and I truly felt I was there in the scene and not watching from the sidelines. The authors ability to create an atmosphere so real that the reader is literally able to hear the sounds of trumpeting elephants, the jingling bells worn on the feet of veiled women, to feel the wet spray of waterfalls and raging rapids, shows pure talent and promise of an author to be watched and remembered as one of the great historical novelists to come. The story is engaging, riveting, and the reader gets a firsthand account education of the place and time. Everything that one needs in a good book is here. Romance, action, adventure, culture and history, murder, good dialogue, beautiful scenery, what a great epic movie it would make. In fact, recently I had just watched the DVD of Fritz Lang's India epic that was filmed in the 50's and this book was a good match for the setting and time. Lots of plots and twists and turns, believable characters, and the future of two more books to come in the trilogy turned this book into a hit for me. I love historical fiction and am very selective about authors and good writing styles, I hope to see this novel hit the best seller list. I eagerly await the next installment.… (meer)