Tiger Claws: A Novel of India

I loved this book. Fire up the time machine Mr. Peabody and become a fly on the tent wall of some of the greatest warriors that ever lived. John Speed tells a story so rich and honestly written that it made me feel like I was there experiencing it. The characters were real and balanced, totally believable. Even Shivaji, the great hero of the story, had his moments of doubt and desperation. This is a great summer read and I couldn't put down. It was both exciting, romantic and spiritual with a historically based plot that left me wanting more. I pray that Mr. Speed is hard at work with the next installment of this promised trilogy.

This book is a very good read, with vivid historical detail. On the other hand, the book is at times difficult to follow because I knew little of the history prior to the beginning of the tale. Perhaps his earlier book supplies the prior history (I did not read his first book). Also, there are many characters with unfamiliar and similar sounding names that can become confusing for the casual reader. I had some thoughts similar to the reviewer who thought the book was boring --in particular, waiting for something to happen and the disconnect of the first 75 pages from the rest of the book. I did not, however, think that the book was boring. I felt that the book was interesting enough to keep me engaged and the two principal issues seamed minor by the time I finished the book. An odd aspect of the book was that it starts out strong, hits a weak spot, then becomes strong again. Despite these considerations, the book is a very enjoyable read and one I recommend.

An enjoyable novel of India In the era of Shah Jehan (of Taj Mahal fame). Colorful characters and an engaging plot characterize this novel. For anyone who loves the culture... you can almost smell the incense coming through in the pages of this work. The book gives a nice sense of that period in Indian history. Loads of vivid imagery fill the book, and it seems to be extremely well researched... with attention paid to those myriad small details which make it so easy for the reader to slip into this time and place. While maybe not the very BEST of this genre, the book certainly has a respectable place amongst the novels of Mughal India. SJD

Readers of "The Temple Dancer" will likely enjoy "Tiger Claws," John Speed's second book in a planned trilogy. Chronicling the latter years of Mogul emperor Shah Jahan's reign and the power struggles that emerge as he declines,Speed paints a picture of 17th century Indian life that is both intriguing and, at times, horrifying. Through the eyes of a high ranking eunuch named Basant we glimpse the realities of life inside Jahan's palace: from Basant's vivid childhood memories of being made into a eunuch, to Princess Roshanara's clandestine affair with ambassador Shaista Khan, to the emperor's obsession with twin sister concubines. As Shah Jahan withdraws into an opium infused world his sons begin to vie for control of his empire - especially Dara, the pampered court favorite, and Aurangzeb, the dangerous Viceroy of the Deccan. While drawing you into this story Speed simultaneously introduces you to Shivaji, a disinherited Hindu chieftain who begins retaking his rightful territory with the help of longtime friends and sinister allies. There is a lot going on in this novel and though the storyline is engaging the characters are almost exclusively male. Princess Roshanara plays a prominent role in the first third of the book, while the temple dancer Maya appears when the story moves outside the palace. Since "The Temple Dancer" focused mainly on two female figures I was surprised by this seeming reversal - neither Roshanara nor Maya progress beyond the two-dimensional sphere, though if you've read "The Temple Dancer" you'll be able to add much more personality to Maya than is present in the story. Nevertheless, the end of the novel makes it clear that Maya's time with Shivaji is just the beginning of another adventure, and in this sense the riveting dialogue, political maneuvering and action in the male driven story adds an exciting chapter to her life. In truth, had I not read "The Temple Dancer" and been so eager to learn more about Maya I probably wouldn't have missed her playing a larger role in the novel. Fans of historical fiction will devour the detail in this story. Speed's profound knowledge illuminates the novel, drawing you into a world rich with Indian culture, religion and tradition. Though the ending is somewhat abrupt it seems that Speed is setting the stage for the final book in his trilogy. I can't wait to finish this adventure with him.