Faint Promise of Rain

October 15, 2014

Set in 16th-century Rajasthan, Duva's story introduces us to the lives of a family of Hindu temple dancers. From the moment of his daughter's auspicious birth during long-awaited rains, Adhira's father dreams of her future as a devadasi, a consecrated temple dancer symbolically wed to the Hindu god Krishna. Happy to follow his wishes and begin her training, Adhira soon displays spiritual gifts and abilities that surpass even her father's high expectations. Her mother and siblings, however, are desperate to change her path before she reaches puberty and is expected to enter into a sexual relationship with a wealthy patron. VERDICT Though seemingly flawless protagonist Adhira comes across as a bit bland at times, her family members are portrayed with much more nuance and are each given a compelling narrative as they seek what's best for Adhira. First-time novelist Duva describes the sacred dances so vividly that the reader can almost hear the dancers' feet hitting the floor and the tinkling of ankle bells. Historical fiction readers with an interest in non-Western cultures will find much to treasure in this evocative journey to the Indian desert.--Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Set in sixteenth-century India, Duva's debut tells the story of a devout Hindu family struggling to make the right decision for their youngest daughter. When Adhira is born, her father, Gandar, a temple dancer, decrees she will be a devadasi, a dancer bound to the temple and wed to Lord Krishna. But her mother, Girija, longs for a different fate for Adhira than a life of dance and sexual servitude to a wealthy patron. Girija is secretly proud of her eldest daughter, Padmini, who defied her father to marry a wealthy man. The eldest son, Mahendra, has also chosen a different path by joining a roving band of marauders in the hopes of becoming a warrior like his mother's ancestors. The couple's younger son, Hari Dev, is disabled and unable to dance, and therefore is of little interest to his father. As the family's fortunes decline due to dwindling resources, several realizations and a heartbreaking tragedy force them to seek out a new future for Adhira. A vividly rendered portrait of a bygone era.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)