Book Review- The Palace of Illusions

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Mahabharat is an epic Indian legend that is a precise mix of folklore, mysticism, and a story of numerous characters which not only diversify in their inherent traits but inevitably make me marvel upon varied types of human temperaments.

"The Palace of Illusions" written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a retelling of Mahabharata from the standpoint of the famously maligned female of her times yet a dominant character of Mahabharat, Draupadi. The Palace of Illusions seizes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical.

This book, in my view, is broadly an imaginary-autobiography of Draupadi.

The book is inscribed in the first person. The Princess of Panchal begins with the portrayal of the sufferings associated with her shortly after she was born. Then she carries the reader to the journey leading to her matrimony with five princes, and of becoming the mistress of the breathtaking and stupendous palace named Indraprastha, to the hardships of strategic duels with her mother-in-law, and along with her life account she provides insight into her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna meanwhile opening up her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands' most dangerous enemy.

This book is an unmistakable read for the ones who are die-hard fans of Mahabharat (like me!!)

Some of my favorite quotes from the book are-

“ There was an unexpected freedom in finding out that one wasn't as important as one had always assumed!”

“Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path—all they do is trip you up.”

“Aren't we all pawns in the hands of time, the greatest player of them all?”

“I saw something I hadn't realized before: words wasted energy. I would use my strength instead to nurture my belief that my life would unfurl uniquely.”

“What is it in us that carves negative impressions so deeply into our brains?”