Review: The Feast of Roses, the second book in Indu Sundaresan’s Taj Mahal trilogy, is a richly detailed and evocative historical novel that continues the saga of Mehrunnisa, the Empress Nur Jahan, one of the most powerful and fascinating women of Mughal India. Picking up after The Twentieth Wife, the novel explores Nur Jahan’s reign as Jahangir’s chief consort, highlighting her extraordinary influence in the Mughal court—her political acumen, shrewd alliances, and ability to shape the empire’s destiny in an era when women were rarely afforded such authority. Sundaresan’s prose is lush and immersive, bringing to life the grandeur of the Mughal court while also capturing the personal struggles, rivalries, and sacrifices that defined Nur Jahan’s journey. The strength of the novel lies in its ability to balance romance, intrigue, and historical authenticity, showing Nur Jahan not only as a lover and wife but also as a strategist, visionary, and ruler in her own right. Both intimate and epic, The Feast of Roses is a compelling portrait of power, ambition, and resilience, making it an unmissable read for fans of historical fiction and stories of remarkable women in history.