MOONLIGHT – THE JOURNEY BEGINS

In this novel, a young woman learns about her grandmother and finds her own strength in the process.

In 1970, Chandni Rai is 13 years old, living with her mother and brother in Mauchak, India. Her father, the son of Prince Kunjan Rai, dies, and in her grief, Chandni yearns to learn more of her family’s history. She specifically wants to know why her paternal grandmother, Kantabali, is considered a taboo subject in her family and why no one speaks about her save for unkind gossip in the town. Six years following her father’s death, Chandni is married to TJ Ramsay. She stays with his family, awaiting her passport, which will allow her to move to Manchester, England, to be with him. Feeling restless, Chandni decides to visit her mother one last time before leaving the country. She takes a train to Mauchak, but it is stopped and attacked by a group of violent bandits outside of Bundhpur, the place where Kantabali once lived. Chandni survives the attack and feels a renewed sense of purpose and courage. She travels through the jungle until she meets Bina, Kantabali’s former servant. Chandni wants to hear the story of Kantabali’s fate before she must face her own in Manchester. Das’ tale is an ambitious one, and it mostly succeeds. At times, the prose is a bit repetitive and the pacing is slightly off. A few major moments are only briefly examined, allowing readers—and other characters—little time to react. For example, in one of the story’s flashbacks, one player suddenly dies of cholera. Despite these minor missteps, the tale remains resonant. Its strongest aspects lie primarily in Kantabali’s story: her betrothal, her growing love for Kunjan, and the abuse she faced at the hands of someone she was supposed to trust. Chandni’s experiences in Manchester are similarly compelling, particularly in some of the parallels between her new life with TJ and Kantabali’s ordeals at the Rai estate. Overall, the author presents a tale of sadness and hope in an admirable fashion.

A moving story about family and fortitude.