Customer Reviews

Heir to Govandhara

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This intriguing story quickly engaged me in an ancient world where the gods of India take on human form, promise mortals peace and prosperity, then wreak havoc on them. Heir to Govandhara took me on a thrilling and suspenseful journey into that world, which the author filled with the rich and exotic textures of Indian culture and myth. I found the experience both compelling and beautiful...

Heir to Govandhara, Saira Ramasastry's debut novel is both thought provoking and entertaining. The book's plot is beautifully crafted and highly original, and it keeps the reader guessing until the very end. In Heir, Ms. Ramasastry has created characters of surprising depth and complexity. It is truly fascinating to witness their emotional and mental development as the story unfolds. Upon reflection, I believe that this especially pertains to the story's central character, and my personal favorite character, Sri. Throughout the course of the story, Sri develops from a simple and naïve young girl into a sensual, mature and worldly young woman. During her journey from girl to woman, Sri experiences many difficult and complex emotions. Ms. Ramasastry has a real knack for conveying these raw, often disturbing emotions quite subtly and efficiently. Therefore, the reader is able to truly appreciate the power of Sri's transformation and the beauty that can be found in her strength of character. Often sensual and sexy, always beautiful and poetic, Heir of Govandhara is a true masterpiece. After reading this novel, I cannot wait to read Ms. Ramasastry's future works.

It's been a long time since a book moved me. HEIR TO GOVANDHARA did just that. It grabbed me and kept my emotions on high. I also had about twenty questions that I emailed Sara Ramastry and she answered every single one. Most authors don't do that.

Heir to Govandhara transported me to a mystic and mythical world of love, betrayal, adventure and beauty. The characters became alive and real, and I rejoiced with them, wept with them, and ultimately mourned their destiny. Written in an elegant and beautiful style, the book is far more than the average save-the-world fantasy. In fact it transcends the usual aspects of the fantasy genre, and shows a fresh originality, both in characterization and plotting. The author has woven a rich and flowing tapestry of intrigue and personal destiny. The people of Ms. Ramasastry's world are wonderfully real and fascinating, exotic and multi-faceted. Not one of them is merely a generic hero or villain. Each has his or her personal motivations that enhance the beautiful and mythic story. Heir to Govandhara will stay with you long after the story is read. The book makes you consider the aspects of good and evil, right and wrong. I feel richer for having read this story, and it cries out for a sequel.

I must truely admit this book and writer totally surpassed my expectations. This is the first book I have ever read that totally puts you where the story is. It invokes emotions most stories do not. It carries you like the winds and the sea. Warms you like the sun. Chills you like the cold air.

The charactors to me were so vividly painted that they did indeed seem and feel real. Not once has this book been slow nor too fast pasted it was enough to keep you steady constantly wondering what will happen next. So I totally recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. 5 stars is not enough to rate this I give a mega million stars. Thank you so much for writing this book Saira Ramasastry you truely are an artist and a writer.

While I am by no means an expert in Indian mythology, or the setting in which Govandhara seems to be based, I am somewhat of an avid reader of fantasy-fiction. And with the stagnant quality of most fantasy in the modern times, I found Heir to Govandhara refreshing and scintillating. The characters were well developed, and there was a sensual aspect underlying the meaning of the work that had me staying up late into the night (and missing classes) for Govandhara. I can only hope that more authors will follow the example of Govandhara, and that the pool of fantasy will be refreshed!

The knowledge that this is Saira Ramasastry's first book is almost as stunning as the story itself, due to her talent for using language as an artist wields a brush, or a weaver stitching a tapestry. The author is able to enfold you into the environment of which she writes with effortless strokes of her pen, giving you rich characters, a beautiful land, and the lushness of her South-Asian based mythology. Throughout each page, I did not cease to be impressed with the depth of the story. The author conveys joy and sadness with equal skill, allowing you to share in the jubilations and poignancies of her characters. A tremendous debut, one that this reviewer believes provides an audience eager for the continuation of the tale.

I bought this book not expecting to enjoy it because I don't usually like fantasy or romance. I started reading the book and had to finish it. I got so involved in the characters' lives and the beautiful world. I wanted the story to go on forever, and am waiting for the sequel. The story is both simple and complex. Sri, bred from generations of nobility, is the Intended Queen for the next god to come to the Kingdom in mortal form. The story traces her life from girlhood to womanhood, painting her in all her identities -- leader, wife, sister, Queen, lover and friend. Ramasastry is young and her style has some things to work out. However, her writing is beautiful, honest and piercing. It possesses an unusual depth. What she lacks now will easily come with age. She has a gift for bringing the reader inside her world and making them experience what her characters experience. I felt joy when her characters felt joy. I cried when they cried. It's an amazing experience. I highly recommend Heir to Govandhara to everyone. It changed me.

When Heir to Govandhara arrived, I couldn't put it down. I put off housework, college, and other things until I finished it. The storyline of the book, and the characters blend well together, and create a world that has depth and life.

The characters have dimension to them, from the intended queen Sri to her nurse Jabala, to the grand priest Ajan. The only character that seemed somewhat one-dimensional was Maraci, but that could also be because all he wanted was to keep Sri happy, be a powerful king people would revere, and throw many grand parties.

The plot of the book is simple, but offers many hidden parts and side trips that aren't expected. Sri is the intended queen that will fulfill the third miracle, which would occur 1000 moons after Varuna walked the earth, when a boy would be born with all the powers of the sea god. Sri is expected to find this boy who would be king, and finds him in the most unlikely of people, her twin brother. The marriage of these twins brings peace and harmony to Govandhara, although not everyone is satisfied with the marriage.

Heir to Govandhara is a well-written book that creates a world full of characters that really shine through. For a first novel this is a really excellent one, and I'm hoping Ramasastry writes another one.

Sri was the product of careful breeding as she is expected to become the Queen to the King, the next God, of Kasimi and its four priestly kingdoms of Northern, Southern, Isles, and Goane. However, a male twin was born with Sri so that as she trains for her upcoming role, her parents still have a child to love. While Sri studies to become the Queen in the spiritual capital of Govandhara, her biological family dies during the unrest.

Sri begins her quest to find her mate by stopping at the home of her family to pray to Brahma for their souls. She notices a boy about her age and realizes that in Brahma's mysterious way her journey ends before it begins as he is the next king. They bond, but when he turns out to be her fraternal twin Marci, the Isles reject his claim to the throne. Marci angrily reacts by using his magic to destroy the Isles. With the help of Goane Head Priest Devyn, Sri rescues the people of the Isle. She flees to Goane where she falls in love with Devyn. They have a child, but Marci needs the girl as his heir and will do anything to abduct her.

Readers interested in an intelligent, complex, insightful, but delightful taste of eastern philosophy and religion inside a fabulous fantasy story line will want to read HEIR TO GODVANDHARA. Saira Ramasastry educates while entertaining her audience with a deep yet exciting tale with characters and magic that seem real. The plot rivals the best of the fantasy genre yet offers a deep understanding of India's rich heritage that leaves the audience waiting for the next spin.

Harriet Klausner