Rising of a Dead Moon

by Paul Haston

An Indian girl is forced into an arranged marriage then widowed. She escapes a widow's burning and flees to Africa to find the father who has abandoned her. A story of hope and tragic drama, Paul Haston's critically acclaimed novel is set against a backdrop of 19th century Indian Indenture: the shipment of Indians to work on the white-owned sugar plantations in Natal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Africa, War, Ebooks, India

238 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2012

About the author

Paul is a dad, a husband, and a believer in things magical, which is why he loves writing, both for children and for adults.

Recent books for middle grade children include Tinker Tailor Schoolboy Spy, Flying with the Spitfires, and Billy and the Match Girl, which was long listed for the Canadian Society of Children's Authors Illustrators & Performers (CANSCAIP) 2020 Writing for Children Competition.

Paul is an advocate for elephants. Echo and the Magical Whispers and Lost Echo are books one and two in The Whispers Series, a magical realism about elephants written for children aged 9 - 12 and sponsored by Elephants for Africa, an elephant charity based in Botswana with profits from the books going to help the preservation of elephants. Echo won a silver medal at the 2015 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards.

Books for adults include the recently published Flowers for the Bees, set against the bloody backdrop of Indian independence from Britain in 1947. The book was long listed for the 2016 Exeter Novel Prize.

Paul can be contacted at greateditnow@gmail.com. If you would like to review one of his books on Amazon or Goodreads that would be brilliant!

The author's webpage is http://www.paulhaston.com/

Elephants for Africa webpage is http://www.elephantsforafrica.org/

Reviews

[Vaisakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rising of a Dead Moon is all about a seventeen year old Indian girl whose life has been oscillating between being Usha-Nakti and Usha again. The book set in the British colonial time, focuses on the plight of a young widow who is blamed for being inauspicious when her husband, three times her age passes away. She is shunned by the society and her miserable fate does not abandon her no matter where she goes. Her journey from the girl who rejoiced in the lap of her father, listening to stories, to the girl escaping the sati pratha and fleeing to Africa in search of her father is a gripping one. You feel for the girl and feel rage beyond words at the people who treat her inhumanly. You wish to see her smile when she is treated like a person by Dr. Hitchcock and J. Rothwell and feel the pain when they have to move on leaving her with the authorities.
Pros:
1. Amazing narration. The book fast paced.
2. Getting a lot of historical facts correct made the story flow.
3. Playing with readers emotions and easy character involvement grip the readers till the end.
Cons:
1. A bit too sad for my taste.(Sorry)
2. The ending....could have been different and better. It actually reminded me of Water by Deepa Mehta.
3. there is a reference of praying to Brahman, the universal one...i feel that reference is wrong. Brahmans are supposed to be the highest caste of Hindu society and they are the ones who used to get the 1st right to step into temples in olden times. No brahman can assume the title of god or a prophet.
Over all the book was a good read but too sad for my taste. I would give the book a 3.5/5 but I was pleased with the amount of work put into the novel, the correctness of most historical references and being from Orissa, the reference of Jaganath, Puri made me really happy. So I would rate the book a 4/5. Contemporary readers will surely love the book.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy kindly provided by author and Goodreads friend Paul Haston.

This novel narrates the story of Usha, a Bengali girl who is forced into an arranged marriage and shunned by her own family as well as her husband's when she becomes a widow. In an effort to locate her father who has disappeared, she goes to South Africa and ends up in even more dire straits. A chance meeting with Lt. James Rothwell, an Englishman lacking the usual imperialist prejudices, gives her a glimpse of hope, but she goes through many trials before she meets him again.

Haston does a very good job conveying the mindset of a young Indian woman. Her attitude to religion, gender roles, and the colonial system brings her plight and that of her people into extremely sharp focus. Although I thought Rothwell was a perhaps a little too forward-thinking for his time and place, there are examples of such people in history. And his relative open-mindedness and purity of feeling serves to underline the racism, indifference and corruption of the British colonials who maintain a system practically identical with slavery.

The story is told with great intensity. The plot is full of twists and turns which keep the reader engaged, but the ending was a surprise. I did find that there were some problems with syntax and punctuation; however these were not great enough to lessen the force of the message.

[Rieta Ganas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting read at most times - one those books that gets you to the end in one go.
The happenings in India and the hindu scriptures was very well researched and used appropriately, although being South African I somewhat felt that there was a part missing - perhaps the notion of the "zulus" and their integration into society at that time required more research.
The story of a heroine that could actually be placed anywhere geaographically but would still have the stigmas and culture of one's birth location that is somehow imprinted as part of a DNA trait, follow as a shadow.
The story has numerous themes, sometimes too many, but in a way this is what will appeal to different readers- it leads to many introspective questions and the end will either reaffirm one's answers or leave room for more doubt.
Overall, a very good read!

[Mikela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the group read selection for the month of a group that I belong to. I would like to thank the author who was kind enough to make it available as a free download to members.

What I liked/disliked: While I liked the crisp, sparse writing that moved the story on with a steady even momentum, I cannot help but feel that he was a little too clinical when talking about important events thus distancing the reader from them rather than bringing the reader into the story. For example, this is the excerpt about her wedding night.

"The cold reality of her arranged marriage made Nakti shudder. What could she possibly have in common with a man three times her age, a man to whom she had been promised, but had met only once?

Beckoned forward, she received from the Purohit the sacred mantras. Holding her head down to assuage the tears, she walked barefoot around the sacred fire and made her vows in the Saptapadi, the inevitability of her enslavement becoming apparent.

May the night be honey-sweet," her husband vowed.

Night it was for sure after that, but not honey-sweet. The lecher did not keep to his vows. He treated her like a slave. It was a miserable time. She hated her husband and she hated herself. Krishna eventually came to her rescue."

That excerpt covered her marriage and the death of her husband. The same treatment was given to all the momentous events throughout the book, from her flight from her husband's funeral pyre, the journey by ship to Africa to her eventual arrival at the sugar plantation where she was indentured. We were told what happened but not given enough information or description to see or feel empathy for the characters. While I liked the book it was not a book that I felt emotional attachment to. The book was well researched and it showed.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend it to those looking for a quick and easy historical fiction.

originally published on http://chapterofdreams.com/

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about the life of a young Indian widow who flees her tragic life after the death of her old husband to Africa as an indentured worker. I found the characters of Usha and her father to be most believable. I did have difficulties with Rothwell who did his best to treat everyone well. But felt that he and his wife were truly caricatures. Where I had difficulty was that in his efforts to make the lives of the coolies better he totally missed the mark in understanding his friend Krishnan and ultimately Usha herself. Also, I did not feel that the wife was fleshed out well enough to be believable. I also felt that other characters were dropped and could have been woven in further (e.g. Royston)

The ending was very abrupt and although was probably the most appropriate of endings I would have liked a little more lead up. Perhaps its a good thing that I was left wanting more.

All in all a good book and I am glad to have read it.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I cried at poor Usha's treatment. A widow's life in India was and still is appalling. The woman escapes Sati and flees to Africa to a sugar plantation. The writing is well crafted, indeed brilliant at times. What I particularly liked was the story. i won't give too much away, but there are sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat, and the ending - dramatic, shocking - is a fitting climax.

The two main characters are complex and multifaceted, which makes their interaction completely enjoyable. I liked the underlying themes of search and spirituality. The book can be read on several levels. The story itself will satisfy most people, but there is contemplation and a self-questioning, which takes this into a different realm.

So glad I came across this.

Highly recommended.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book only 4 stars because it took me quite a while to get involved in it. Having seen the movie WATER I knew the fate of widows in India-treatment that is wholly barbaric. That and the fact that I became tired of the adjective "trembling" being over used. That said, I am now glad that I stayed with the book. I ended up really enjoying it. The ending was the only one that could have taken place and, though sad, was a relief from "they lived happily ever after." All in all a worthwhile read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally drawn in by this story. The characters in this book remind me of Victorian English characters who suffer from unrequited love and angst, although this is not a romance novel per se. The setting and time befits the way this has been written. The story is very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. The ending was a total surprise. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

I really did like this book. Filled with intrigue, the rich history of Natal, South Africa and the Indian culture you are taken back in the colonial time when the English was still in control of the land. The arrogance of them coming here, ruling and making their own laws that only suite them was evident throughout. And even after Independence and democracy the legacy that the English left still causes many problems we still have to face as a nation.
None of us is better then the next person. It does not matter the color of the skin, we have the same blood that flows through our veins, the same needs. The author did a splendid job creating this story with the backdrop of the defeat at Isandlwana, the victories over the Zulu empire and the general life in Durban, capital of Natal.

It is a story about a young Indian woman, Usha who came to SA on a quest to search for her father who left for SA when she was 6. Believing the lies of the man in India she signed up for the indenture and ended up working on the cane fields of Natal in the most horrific conditions. The unforgiving heat of the country, the constant abuse and living conditions, gave this woman pause to think about her life and her unrelenting belief in her religion that sustained her throughout the plot line. Abused by her In-laws and rejected by a mother she thought it best to go away. On her first day, she met a young officer who became her radiant light and savior in so many ways.
A wonderful young woman, strong in character, strong in the body and a faith to keep her going was endearing and wonderfully created to make this a remarkable read.

Lt. James Rothwell was a young officer in the British army, and when he nearly lost his life on the battlefield returned to England where guilt and the sense of duty helped him to make a huge mistake that cost him nearly everything dear to his heart. Battling with dreams and a crippled leg he returned back to Natal after inheriting a cane plantation. Finding the conditions horrific he went about to change the standard practices of his people. This caused many problems throughout the story. With a magistrate that has no problem taking bribes to line his own pockets. The bank that did not accept his relationship and a wife that was not willing to see and love the country as he did. His character is believable, likable, and I had the greatest respect for him as he went about to change the attitude of his own people towards the coolies. Trying to save the one woman who had his heart in her hands.

Annabelle's character, a typical English lady, hypocritical, prejudice and selfish in her ways caused many problems in their marriage and at the end she flee back to England creating lies that would cost Usha dearly.

Royston was a real piece of work, an abusive, filthy, drunk skunk that tried to weazzle more money out from the new land owner. Not caring about anyone but himself. His attitude offensive and really living the villain well.

It is a tale of forbidden love in a time when coolies were not seen as people. Of a father daughter relationship that needs restoration. Overcoming all the odds to find peace and happiness.

And the end...it will leave you speechless.
The story was well written, thoroughly researched and gave you a small glimpse during that period in the history of my country. Original in its delivery this story will capture the imagination as you read page after page.

Thanks for the opportunity Paul.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about the plight of a child bride in India who is forced into an arranged marriage and then suffers the hardship and harsh judgements that her new widowhood brings after her husband's untimely death. The story of Usha is a sad one, so be prepared for quite a dramatic story. I have always enjoyed learning of the rich Indian culture and country and this book delivers in its descriptions of the landscapes and culture of both India and Africa, albeit in a tragic and less than glowing way.

The story was very interesting and kept me engaged throughout. I did have a bit of trouble with the style of writing in that it was more "tell" than "show" in places. The author seemed to want to tell the reader a lot of what the characters were thinking, rather than let their actions show us. I think a little less of that would really warm the reader up to the characters more. I also tripped over the fact that there was too much addressing of the characters by name during conversation. Very rarely do people use the name of the person they are conversing with but it was appearing in almost every line of conversation. However, aside from that, the writing did flow quite nicely and was interesting to read.

I liked the twists and turns of the novel and the climax was exciting and satisfying. I loved the ending as well as all the references to the Hindu gods. I felt the book was a great escape to another world and time and definitely provided some food for thought as to how far we've come as a society and how much road we still have to travel. I loved the ending. That is my kind of ending. All in all an enjoyable read, if such a sad and tragic tale can indeed be called "enjoyable."

[Hermione Laake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has depth and surprising twists and turns of plot. There was something of the mystery building in it, which was reflected in the language and plot shifts. Essentially it is about the legacy of our history as colonisers and imperialists. It is beautifully crafted, with a strong sense of place.

There is a strong thread running through it, of the question of whether we can influence our fate, or whether we are, in the end, powerless against it.

Striving tends to achieve less than letting go, in this story, and I found myself reminded of several writers.

Haunting, and a book you want to savour and read over a few days.

I particularly liked Usha's father, Krishnan, and there was a moment when I was close to tears.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Set during colonial South Africa with great characters and a great plot. The one thing that really stood out to me was the author's (Paul Haston)writing skills. Very smooth reading. If you're a person that enjoys a historical back-drop and exceptional writing, I would highly recommend this book.

[Andrea Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything; an authentic voice, a gripping story, atmospheric settings and a tragic yet strong heroine. It held me to the very last page. Highly recommend!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usha, an Indian girl is forced into an arranged marriage then widowed. She escapes a widow's burning and flees to Africa to find the father who has abandoned her.

Set against a backdrop of 19th century Indian Indenture, the shipment of Indians to work on white-owned sugar plantations in Natal, Paul Haston's critically acclaimed novel is a story of hope and tragic drama.

Usha is a young woman facing many injustices by her culture, family and society. She endures much and marches on but finds the emotional toll unbearable. Just when we believe Usha will receive all she deserves another trial and tribulation tests her yet again. Her strength, courage and tenacity is put to the test, the outcome will surprise you as it did me.

Rising of a Dead Moon is a story rich in culture, human indignities and slavery. Undertones of romance and military are present as well. If you find the points cited unappealing than Paul Haston's book isn't a suggested read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rising of a Dead Moon: Paul Haston

How could anyone treat a woman with such brutality? The whipping meted out to Usha, the Indian widow, brought up a wave of emotion inside me. No punches pulled (literally) and a story that enmeshes the reader in its tension. Once I started reading, I found I could not stop. The bits in Africa on the plantation are atmospheric and the story gradually darkens and becomes more intriguing. I won't give the ending away but it is a shocker.

[Annika Telemar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The enthralling tragedy of a young Indian widow who tries to find her way in the world, and along the way discovers love, which is condemned from its very beginning.
I thoroughly enjoyed Usha`s journey; which was intriguing from the start.

Keep writing Paul!