Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
In the ancient kingdom of Marhavad, noblemen dominate the lower castes, wielding mystic weapons, known as shartas, against any who oppose them. For generations the rule of Marhavad’s kings has been absolute. But now the line of succession is divided, and whispers of revolution are heard in even the royal palace.

Keshan Adaru, an outspoken man of unearthly charms, welcomes these changes. All his life he has foreseen an uprising that will shatter the castes and end the tyranny of the old laws. His visions have driven him but now, at the brink of their fulfillment, he finds himself obsessed with Prince Jandu Paran ~ a man whose entire family must be destroyed if the kingdom is to be freed.

Tarek Amia would gladly see Jandu Paran brought low. Born the son of a charioteer, Tarek has no love for the royal princes who have slighted and insulted him all his life. Only Keshan’s philosophies have elevated him from the brutal ranks of common soldiers. Tarek owes Keshan his devotion, but he is a pragmatic man and when he discovers Keshan’s reckless affair he realizes that Keshan may have to be sacrificed for the sake of his own revolution.

Young Prince Jandu Paran has never concerned himself with court intrigue. His life has been dedicated to the lordly art of archery and mastering the immense powers of the shartas. Handsome and arrogant, he is sure that no man can surpass him and yet Keshan Adaru’s mere touch brings Jandu to his knees. But his desire for Keshan is more than forbidden; it threatens to destroy Jandu’s pride, position and family. In the midst of this turmoil, an unspeakable event forces Jandu to redefine the meaning of honor and loyalty.

And now, as armies arise to war, each man must decide where his allegiance lies and what he will sacrifice in his heart and on the battlefield.

BOOK REVIEW:
“The Archer’s Heart” by Astrid Amara is amazing and should not be missed! This is an epic tale of politics, family, betrayal, war, exile, Gods/Goddesses, curses, blessings, and love.

I have to admit to initially being intimidated by the setting of this novel. Although it is never specifically stated, it appears the story is set in a land similar to India with its caste system and its mythology. Sometimes reading stories that take place in exotic lands and in different languages can overwhelm the reader with strange sounding names that get confusing. This fear was completely unfounded! I had no problem following the exotic names of characters and places, nor the rich mythology contained within this novel. I felt like I was immersed in an exquisite world of mystery and wonder. The place never felt false or imaginary; rather, it was immediate and alive.

In fact, I would not refer to this story as paranormal so much as one filled with mythology. I was impressed with the skill the author showed in making the lush mythology so easily comprehensible and the dexterity of keeping a cast of thousands clear and recognizable.

I cannot praise enough the nuanced characterizations that are to be found here. Many characters go from good to bad to somewhere in between and back again numerous times. I found myself switching allegiances to characters until the very end. People that I felt were so obviously wrong in their thoughts and political agendas I found myself not only sympathizing with but also rooting for and then cursing and then understanding ~ just like real life.

The relationship between two of the main characters, Jandu and Keshan, is a beautiful and wondrous liaison to watch develop. When they first meet, there is intense chemistry. Keshan understands his attraction but it is completely new and foreign to Jandu. Jandu doesn’t know how to interpret his passionate attraction to Keshan. So, he labels it as family affection, friendship, anything and everything but lust/love. It doesn’t help that homosexuality is not only against the law but is punishable by execution and that Jandu’s oldest brother is not only extremely religious, but he is also the Royal Judge invested with the obligation to uphold all religious and governmental laws. After their first kiss, Jandu is conflicted ~ he fears these new feelings, hates/blames Keshan for the kiss, and yet is also completely overcome with desire for Keshan. He fears he has been bewitched, yet, feels awakened to passion and life.

Again, the author’s skill must be praised. In an intensely moving and horrifying scene, Jandu is brought to court with his brother the Royal Judge to learn the family business. While Jandu is present, two men are brought before the court for homosexual activity. Jandu’s brother is repulsed and outraged at the two men and orders their immediate execution. Jandu watches as the two men are forced to kneel down and are beheaded in front of him for the very feelings and actions he dreams about sharing with Keshan ~ a deeply powerful scene!

Juxtaposed to Jandu and Keshan’s relationship, is one between Tarek and Darvad. Tarek is in love with Darvad, who is straight and vying to be king. The characterizations of this relationship will resonate with any gay man who has struggled to deal with romantic feelings for a straight friend. Darvad may or may not grasp the romantic longings of his friend and may or may not deliberately toss him just enough attention and moments of affection to feed Tarek’s obsessive desire for the man he cannot have. Complicating these interactions is the fact that Darvad has elevated Tarek from a lower caste to a higher caste, improving not only Tarek’s life but also Tarek’s family and progeny. Tarek is not only grateful but, perhaps, also loyal to a fault. As he watches his life falling apart around him, he can’t resolve his attraction for Darvad instead he seems to be almost paralyzed by these feelings.

While the relationship between Jandu and Keshan was like a glorious lotus blossom slowly unfolding to greet the morning sun, Tarek’s obsessive love for Darvad seems to drain the light from his life. It is a beautiful revelation of the two sides of love.

There is much to discover in this astounding epic tale. The writing is top rate; the story lines are compelling; the characters are complex and authentic; the mythology is gripping; all in all, this is a novel that is not to be missed!

If this book is indicative of Astrid Amara’s skills as a writer, I can’t wait for the next novel and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it listed on the NY Times best seller list sometime in the future. Highly recommended!!

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