Brothers at War

Empire of the Moghul #4

by Alex Rutherford

Now a major DisneyPlus Hotstar Special - THE EMPIRE is streaming nowThe brutal battle for power continues in the fourth book in the epic Empire of the Moghul series.'A totally absorbing narrative filled with authentic historical characters and sweeping action set in an age of horrifying but magnificent savagery. The writing is as compelling as the events described and kept me eagerly leaping from one page to the next' Wilbur SmithAgra, India, 1606. Jahangir, the triumphant Moghul Emperor and ruler of most of the Indian subcontinent, is doomed. No amount of wealth and ruthlessness can protect him from his sons' desire for power. The glorious Moghul throne is worth any amount of bloodshed and betrayal; once Jahangir raised troops against his own father; now he faces a bloody battle with Khurram, the ablest of his warring sons.Worse is to come. Just as the heirs of Timur the Great share intelligence, physical strength and utter ruthlessness, they also have a great weakness for wine and opium. Once Jahangir is tempted, his talented wife, Mehrunissa, is only too willing to take up the reins of empire. And with Khurram and his half-brothers each still determined to be their father's heir, the savage battle for the Moghul throne will be more ferocious than even Timur could have imagined...'Rutherford's glorious, broad-sweeping adventure in the wild lands of the Moghul sees the start of a wonderful series...In Babur, he has found a real-life hero, with all the flaws, mistakes and misadventures that spark true heroism... Breathtaking stuff' Manda Scott'Alex Rutherford has set the bar high for his sequels' Daily Mail'Alex Rutherford brings the period and the history of the region alive. The characters are dynamic, and the deadly regional politics of alliances and treaties are reflected by the internal tensions at court' US Historical Novel Society

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

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Alex Rutherford is the pen name of Diana Preston and her husband Michael. Both studied at Oxford University reading History and English respectively. They are keen travellers and have now clocked up visits to over 140 of the world's countries.

Says Diana 'our greatest love is India where we've spent at least a year of our lives. Our research into the building of the Taj Mahal for our non-fiction book 'A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time', led us to explore the early history of the dynasty which built the Taj – the Moghuls. To help us get inside the heads of the founders of the Moghul dynasty for our fiction quintet 'Empire of the Moghul', we've read all the chronicles of the time. Over the years we've also retraced the steps of the Moghuls from the Ferghana Valley in Kyrgyzstan – home to the first Moghul emperor, the boy-king Babur – to Iran and to the blue domes and minarets of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, across the red deserts to the Oxus River, over the Hindu Kush to Kabul and Afghanistan and down through the Khyber Pass to the plains of northern India.

'In fact, apart from on one occasion when we were stranded on a remote island off the coast of Borneo and forced to hide from pirates, some of our hairiest moments when travelling have been when researching our non-fiction books. While working on our book about Captain Scott and the race for the South Pole, 'A First Rate Tragedy', the Russian research vessel on which we were sailing into Antarctica's Ross Sea was nearly lost in one of the worst storms in Antarctic history with 140 knot winds (over 240 kilometres per hour) and 20 metre high waves. The life rafts washed overboard and the superstructure iced up like the inside of an old fridge, putting us in danger of capsizing. On another occasion while researching our book on one of our favourite characters the buccaneer-naturalist William Dampier, 'A Pirate of Exquisite Mind', we set out in his footsteps to cross the Darien Isthmus in Panama with local Indian guides. We had to dodge FARC guerrillas, Colombian paramilitaries and the deadly fer de lance snake, in the latter case wading waist high in rivers – our guide claimed snakes can't bite and swim at the same time!'

Reviews

[Arun Divakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mughals in their heyday were rulers to look up to in terms of their accomplishments and skills at administration. While Babur was focused on gaining a foothold in India and Humayun was engaged in clinging on to it, the empire effectively shifted gears into efficient administration by the time of Akbar. The empire expanded in scope, size and complexity during Akbar’s reign and this was balanced by an efficiency at how things were managed . It was such a well-oiled administrative machine that Jahangir inherited and set to work on. He contributed immensely to the growth and further strengthening of the empire and probably for the first time, the Mughals had a comparatively stable political tenure. This was also the time when a British emissary (Sir Thomas Roe) spent time in the Mughal court and documented India’s atmosphere and environments extensively through his book. The juicier part is also that all the elements at play during this period resembled a Shakespearean drama : a rebelling young son, a scheming Queen, a King in the throes of wine and opium and an empire who were not really privy to all that was boiling at the royal house. Alex Rutherford focusses extensively on Jahangir’s life and times in the fourth volume of his Mughal series.

Until the time of Jahangir, women were hazy figures forever committed to the background never to be heard of much at the Mughal court. This changed twice during the life of the emperor. The first was when he fell in love with Anarkali who was a concubine of his father ( then emperor Akbar) and as a punishment for this travesty, Jahangir (then known as Salim) was banished to the hinterlands of the empire and Anarkali was bricked up alive. While being heralded as one of the greatest love stories, it goes without saying that the incident might have been pretty embarrassing for both father and son. The second was Jahangir’s marriage to Mehr-Un-Nisa who as the empress came to be known as Nur Jahan and who in subsequent years was the de facto ruler of India while the emperor squandered away his days in wine and opium. Never before had the reins of the empire passed on to a woman and Nur Jahan proved an equal to Jahangir in administrative capabilities while being hidden behind the veils of the court. There was also a trend that Jahangir started in his youth that came to haunt every other Mughal ruler for two generations down the line – rebellion against the emperor (who incidentally was his father). This was continued by his son Shah Jahan and then by his grandson Aurangzeb. Rutherford continues his streak at writing highly readable historic fiction and since the material is the stuff of soap operas, he relishes the subject. Another trend that I am seeing for the past two books is that the books are now divided between the current ruler and the heir. Which means that book #3 was half about Akbar and the half about Jahangir and here book #4 is divided between Jahangir and his son Khurram (later Shah Jahan). While there was a lot of focus on Khurram, I found that the latter part of the book did not focus much on the emperor. Nur Jahan is also fleshed out relatively well as an individual who is in pursuit of power that only the throne of the empire could bestow upon her and not as a cliché antagonist.

A relatively well written book on the Mughals and one of their most dramatic timelines.

[Pooja Banga · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously this looks like a propanda to me ,the half of the book is about Akbar and Jahangir evilness .
Some of events related to Akbar are discussed here .

I am not even sure whether I liked the character of Mehrunissa .I hated and liked her at the same time .

As far as I have read ,she appears to be a strong lady but is weak in some ways.She has always been in chains all through her life first by her father and then by her husband .

She didn't get the respect and fame she wanted

[Debamitra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read it, so I read it. Will not recommend it. Should have stopped at Raiders from the North.

[Shrikanth Venne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 of moghuls is about mainly 4 characters.
1. Mehrunisa - 4th book mostly revolves around her, who is ambitious, manipulative, cunning and a great presence of mind. She is the main character in this book. Being an empress she has done an excellent job of handling the empire on behalf of Jahangir(Salim). Mehrunisa is example of a women who is ambitious in those days when women were considered backward. She is the best example for today's women for getting ambitious and presence of mind but not other qualities.2 star for this character in this book.
2. Jahangir- whole reading the 3rd book I got to know Salim himself is Jahangir which I was unaware about. In this book he has a character who only and only trusts her wife mehrunisa. Trusting her too much cost his estranged relation with his favorite and rightful heir of moghul Empire and his life by driving himself into wine and opium world that too provided by her own wife. no stars for him.
3. khurram- Akbar's favorite grandson and a loyal and ambitious leader and a commander. He is named Shah jaahan (yes the same person who built Taj Mahal. One of the wonder of world today). 1 star for him
4. khusrao - a Centre character in the starting but not that authrative.

overall this book is about the relationship between submerged in opium father(jahangir) having a manipulative wife(mehrunisa) and two son one being too ambitious(khusrau) and other being loyal to his father(khurram) them too suffering for his loyalty all credits to mehrunisa. I would say it's a GOODREAD... 😊

[Pari {Ridhee} · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didnt know the fourth book in the series would be so boring. It was almost like the story was being dragged. The only thing that was there in the book was Khusrau's rebellion, Khurram and Jahangir and Mehrunissa's ambitions. Though the parts with war in it were a bit interesting. Most of the part was dragged. But, it might have happened like that in reality, too. The only parts a reader can enjoy in this book are the parts with war in it. The other parts just keep on dragging on. Every incident after Khurram escaped his father was as if it was thoroughly planned in advance with Jahangir. And, if Jahangir was a great ruler, I still dont understand how he didnt understand Mehrunissa wanted to take over through him and Shahiyar?

All in all, this book didnt live up to my expectations, though my instincts tell me that this is the only book which was not so good in these series.

[Harshad Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly the best one of the lot so far, the story of Khurram aka "Shah Jahan" is far better than his ancestors. Thoroughly enjoyable and projecting a clear protagonist unlike the previous ones where the Moghuls are kind of anti-hero, if any of the Moghuls worthy enough to rule quarter of the world population and the richest of the empires in this historical fictional world is the aptly named Ruler of the World(Shah jahan).

[Dave Hodgkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So epic means overlong, overwrought and terminally dull? Still, I finished it.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the history is interesting, I found the plot kept repeating itself which made the novel tedious.

[Dhananjayan Jayabal · Rating 2 out of 5]

It left some atrocities by Jahangir like killing a Sikh Guru and his several intolerance against some Hindu temples like Puskar in Ajmer.

[Snigdha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Four in the Empire of the Moghul series, I found the tale following Jahangir's ascend to the throne the most interesting story of all.
Jahangir married Mehrunissa, who was like a soul-mate to him and he loved her with all his heart. And yet, Mehrunissa harbored many ambitions within her. She wanted more and more power and she was ready to stop at nothing. She got Jahangir addicted to opium and wine. She took away the reins of the kingdom from him. Under the name of Nur Jahan, she was the one who took all the decision, sealed all official letters.
And to continue feeding her lust for power, she stood like a wall between Jahangir and his ablest son Khurram (Shah Jahan). She does not even care for her own family; since Khurram's beloved wife is her niece.
Plotting and manipulating at its best, this book also takes you deep within the haram of the Moghul emperor and the life of women within it. It delves deeply into the characters of the shrewd Nur Jahan, the naive Jahangir and the loyal, able but ambitious Khurram.

[Saif Hasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire of the Moghul is no longer a book series. It has become a brand. Sweeping dollops of imagination, a huge landcape of fiction and history, writing of epic proportions, the series is now a larger-than life look at history.
The Tainted Throne, the fourth book of the series, though not the best of lot, adds to the overall value.
History may have been compromised, or better still, tweaked for narrative virtuosity, overall the impact is that of reading a Demille screenplay.
All the books have a common strand, the emotional bond between father-son. Jahangir and Shahjehan never resolved their differences and this adds to the overall poignancy.
Go for it!

[Marcus Follin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, intense and intriguing. Hard to say much more without spoilers :-)

[VaultOfBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Alex Rutherford. #4 in The Empire Of the Moghuls Series. Grade: A.
I’m not really into history. And, to be very frank, the sight of this extraordinarily long book was enough to put me off. But then I had two month long vacations, and I ran out of books to read. So I started reading it. And, boy, am I glad I did.
The brutal battle for power continues in the fourth book in the epic Empire of the Moghul series.
Agra, India, 1606. Jahangir, the triumphant Moghul Emperor and ruler of most of the Indian subcontinent, is doomed. No amount of wealth and ruthlessness can protect him from his sons’ desire for power. The glorious Moghul throne is worth any amount of bloodshed and betrayal; once Jahangir raised troops against his own father; now he faces a bloody battle with Khurram, the ablest of his warring sons.
Worse is to come. Just as the heirs of Timur the Great share intelligence, physical strength and utter ruthlessness, they also have a great weakness for wine and opium. Once Jahangir is tempted, his talented wife, Mehrunissa, is only too willing to take up the reins of empire. And with Khurram and his half-brothers each still determined to be their father’s heir, the savage battle for the Moghul throne will be more ferocious than even Timur could have imagined…
When I read history, I don’t usually like it because it reads like a narrative. There’s no way that there can be precise dialogues, and there’s no way there can be minor detailing, because nobody can know what happened six hundred years ago. And in the absence of dialogues and details, the whole thing becomes drab and uninteresting.
So upon opening this book, I had expected the same thing. Also, this is the fourth instalment in the series, and I hadn’t read the previous books, so there was a chance I wouldn’t understand a thing, and that in itself was a turn off.
However, once I was through a few pages, I was totally stumped. The book was nothing like I had imagined!
Surprisingly, I liked it. That’s what has me so shocked, because I had expected I wouldn’t. It interests me when my father makes a story out of history [He loves history and has a razor sharp memory, which often leads to stories when we run out of things to talk of], but I had expected this book to be boring and of textbook quality. It wasn’t.
The way the author didn’t make it a narrative, but made it a story was impressive. The minute details, which, obviously, had to be made up, were awesome. They contributed to my imagination, and at the same time, made the story way more intriguing. Also, despite knowing the basic details, I found myself anticipating what would happen next. That’s impressive on the writer’s part, to have me that interested. He made the characters come alive.
For example, all of us know (all Indians, at least. Or maybe all Indians who paid attention in Class Seven…) that Nur Jahan controlled Jehangir, to the extent that she was even called the purdah empress, something that was remarkable for a woman of her time, but we don’t know how. The author had no way of knowing the exact incidents. He must’ve known the broader idea and maybe some things more specifically, but the way he let us into her head- amazing.
Though there were paragraphs that I skipped, often the over detailed wars because I was bored after a point, even they might interest someone. So in short, I loved most of the book, and even the parts I didn’t like would probably be liked by a lot of people!
I liked the book so much, that I’ve bought the first book in the series. I’m going to finish it and read the rest. The writer has to have something if he can make me read history.
Oh, and on the subject of the author, I’m sure most of you don’t know that Alex Rutherford is actually a pen name for the husband -wife writer duo, Diana and Micheal Preston. I have to say; never did I feel that two different people were writing the book. The writing style was consistent throughout.
This is one book I would definitely recommend. Worth every penny.


Originally reviewed at http://the-vault.co.cc

[Nick_britten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mehrunissa seems destined to spend her life in a loveless and violent marriage, stuck in the backwaters of the city of Gaur far from the splendors of the Moghul court. When her husband is brutally assassinated her life is changed forever and she is summoned to the harem of the Jahangir, the new crowned Moghul emperor.

Jahangir, is now ruler over most of the Indian subcontinent. With wealth beyond the dreams of most men, he must be utterly ruthless if he wants to hold on to that power. As love blossoms between Mehrunissa and Jahangir she finds the power of the Moghul throne intoxicating and with Jahangir enjoying the pleasures of wine and opium she finds herself as de facto ruler of the Moghul empire.

As her influence grows she must careful manage the relationships between Jahangir and his ambitious sons but as Mehrunissa plots and schemes to maintain and increase her power she drives a wedge between Jahangir and his eldest son Khurram and the Moghul empire explodes into rebellion and war.

With Khurram growing in strength and rebellious nobles resentful of her influence seeking her downfall, Mehrunissa must use all of her guile and power if her and Jahangir are to maintain their grip on the Tainted Throne.

Tainted Throne is the fourth book in the Empire of the Moghul series but can easily be read on its own.

I have to admit not being a huge fan of the previous three books but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This book is about relationships, how does a man of unparallelled power and wealth deal with sons who want that same power and wealth, especially when they become successful? Does he feel pride in their achievements or view them with suspicion and fear?

This is the dilemma facing Jahangir as his sons are successful on the battlefield but he has the added pressure of knowing that he had a failed relationship with his own father and rebelled against him. Will history repeat itself?

The main relationship in the book is between Jahangir and Mehrunissa. This is one of histories great love stories. From falling in love at first sight to their marriage, the love between them is evident throughout the book. The author really captures Jahangir’s astonishment as Mehrunissa refuses to act like a proper Moghul wife and hunts and rides with him, determined to enjoy every minute with him and as she proves her worth in the rule of the empire he is content to sit back and let her control the reins of power.

The book captures the unimaginably wealth and majesty of the Moghul court and the author fills it with an exotic cast of characters, from Indian princes, English adventurers, Portuguese monks to Hindu priests and scheming nobles.

If you want a book that is set away from the usual Euro-centric histories then I can highly recommend the Tainted Throne.

[Simran Khurana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth part of the series of the Mughal Empire. If you have read the previous three (as I already have) you will see the story woven in semblance to the others. The author's distinguished style of elaborating minute details, while creating the larger canvas for the story is well established. (I can almost hear the brains whirring away as the details are being chiseled out)

Mughal history is rife with controversies, rumors, and old wives' tales. I have so far read four books on the life of Jehangir (and Mehrunissa) by different authors, and each book spun a different tale about Jehangir's obsession with his twentieth wife. As expected, this book largely covers the trials and trbulations of Mehrunissa and her turbulent relationship with her step son Khurram (later known as Shah Jahan).

The best part of this book is while it remains true to the main story, the author skillfully meanders to etch out details which are otherwise not known. Mehrunissa is painted in shades of grey, and so is Shah Jahan. I wish the author dwelled more about the last few years of Mehrunissa's life.

The war scenes, are predictably, elaborate. To the point that I sometimes skipped through large portions of the battle scene. It kind of gets dreary to read how each soldier fought, how each horse was injured, and how the generals defended the forts. Maybe the author would do better to save pages in these episodes, the next time.

Overall, a good read. I would recommend the book if you are fairly intrigued by the ways of the Mughal. It helps to know our predecessors. But do take everything with a pinch of salt. As Mark Twain put it, 'The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice.'

[Tariq Mahmood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you learned to be careful of what you wish for?

Probably the best love story the world has ever known. Young love between a prince and a pauper which culminated in the largest and most magnificent tribute ever to a wife in the known history of the world. Yes, I am referring to the opulent yet magnificent Taj Mahal, which remains an unprecedented and unparalleled tribute to love of a woman. The authors faced a very difficult task to create a fitting story to match the famous structure, and I believe they have succeeded. The fourth novel in the Moghul series is the most engaging and riveting out the four so far, complete with a vamp in the Emperor's wife, vivid battle scenes, love and support. There is added spice of Europeans in the mix as mercenaries and tradesmen making the story even more sumptuous.
Authors have done a wonderful job of filling the blanks in the great story. Why was Mehrunissa so powerful? What drove her on? How did Arjumand and Khurrum become so much in love? What single fundamental question did every Moghul prince have to contend in his life?

I feel this was the best novel in the wonderful series so far. It just keeps getting better and better.

[ItsNeha]

The crevices splintered into the fabric of a soul that is fragmented and wounded with lovelessness and anguish, cannot be filled as likely as an ointment may fill the wound of a flesh.

The reaction to which, usually, is a tainted heart…and so, a tainted throne too!

‘The Tainted Throne’ is the fourth book in the ’Empire of the Moghuls’ series written by Alex Rutherford. Consecutively, the novel depicts the story of the fourth Moghul emperor Jahangir, followed by Babur, Humayun and Akbar.

Post the death of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar, the dynasty of Moghuls tripped in imbalance; like a goblet of poison skiddering sideways and spilling itself till the entire sky was gathered with venomous shadows of doom and gloom.

Punch-drunk by negligence, impulsiveness and lust for power, the map of the Moghul empire began to experience cracks, here and there, until, it neared its tearing downfall followed by total collapse.

Jahangir a.k.a. Salim was the eldest son of Akbar, born to his wife Hirabai, in Agra Fort. While growing up, Jahangir depicted to have a sensitive and anxious personality. Akbar, however, more inclined towards his ever-growing empire, was much lesser gravitated towards his son’s increasing complexity.

Nevertheless, not until Jahangir was a full-fledged grown-up, was that, he discovered himself to be yearning for a father who was never there, but only a king, whose imperial perfection he couldn’t strive to surpass or even match.

Often having to compete his own sons who were regarded much more than him by their grandfather Akbar, Jahangir found himself to be like a boat…a boat to nowhere.

The consequence – Jahangir glided on the slippery slope of rebellion and numbing pleasure experiences.

Gaining the throne, though, Jahangir lost himself, bit by bit, piece by piece, until it was too late for him to revert.

Jahangir turned out to be a ruthless ruler, who was willing to destroy anyone who appeared to him as a threat to the throne which he had acquired after awaiting nearly lifelong, and which, he didn’t want to lose at any cost, or to anyone.

His first battle, apparently, was with his eldest son Khusrau. Upon defeating him badly, Jahangir held his son captive in a dungeon, punishing him by getting his eyelids stitched by the hakims, so as he wouldn’t plot any further against him.

However, what turned out to be his greatest enemy was his own mind. His lovelorn mind caused him to murder Sher Afghan, the governor of Bengal, who was the husband of a woman he desired. The woman was Mehrunissa. She was the daughter of Ghiyas Beg, a loyal treasurer appointed by Akbar in Kabul.

Once a widow, Jahangir was free to marry her, and that was what he did, too. He married her. Soon after Jahangir’s first wife Man Bai, committed suicide, thereupon, Mehrunissa became the sole empress.

A genius by nature, Mehrunissa was highly skilled in various forms of arts including painting, poetry, embroidery, textiles, hunting, politics and even warfare. She could craft strategies which exceeded and transcended even Jahangir’s intellect, and it was she who was the real ruler behind the throne.

Mehrunissa was a sharp-witted woman, brilliant in all sorts, only except for the deep-seated anguish that guarded her heart since her childhood. Once upon a time, as a baby, she had been abandoned by her parents under a tree because they lacked resources and couldn’t raise her up.

Driven by this anguish, Mehrunissa grew up fuelled with the craving of power. And alas, as Jahangir’s weakness for opium caused him to slacken his hold over the imperial matters, Mehrunissa grasped the opportunity with zestful appetency and wrote her name in history as first of the very few most powerful women ever.

Jahangir was obsessed about Mehrunissa. He had endowed her with various glorious titles; first ‘Nur Mahal’ and then ‘Nur Jahan’, which signified ‘the light of the world’. Despite that she loved Jahangir equally well, but her love for power overpowered every other emotion she had.

While Jahangir, doused under opium, catered to her influence too soon and easy, Nur Jahan often played with his mind to cause him to do what she wanted. Under one such scenario, Jahangir even disowned his beloved son Khurram a.k.a. Shah Jahan. In another scenario, she caused one of Jahangir’s friends from England, Sir Thomas Roe, to leave the fortress, by poisoning his meals with rotten meat, for days and days, till he was too sick to stay in this country any longer.

She didn’t want anything to come between her and Jahangir as that’d be a threat to her exponentiating power. Jahangir’s thralldom to opium and compounding asthma only supported Nur Jahan’s goals more and more. She was the first ever empress to have coins minted on her name. She was, in fact, the real power behind the throne, while Jahangir was merely a medium.

Upon Jahangir’s sudden demise in Lahore, Nur Jahan sensed Shah Jahan as a threat and immediately plotted to spade him away from her way. However, when defeated by him, Nur Jahan tricked even Shah Jahan, thereby, saving herself and instead, surrendering her son-in-law Shahriyar, as guilty in her place.

Albeit, Nur Jahan was sequestered by Shah Jahan, into seclusion in a small fort in Lahore, and blocked from the rest of the world.

In the present day, sitting right next to Jahangir’s tomb in Lahore, there lies Nur Jahan’s tomb, the epitaph of which, ironically, reads,

"On the grave of this poor stranger, let there be neither lamp nor rose. Let neither butterfly's wing burn nor nightingale sing."

[Note: This review essay is written in accordance with the storyline presented in the novel and the characters are depicted according to the point of view of the novel’s fiction, and therefore, it does not guarantee the factualness of real history.]

http://www.nehasnotebook.com/

[Sishya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire of the Moghul is a fantastic series for anyone interested in learning more about the great Moghuls. I feel like I have lived a life along with each of the emperors after reading these books.

From Babur's life long struggle as a King without a land, my personal favorite Humayun's classic come back, the greatest of 'em all Akbar's liberal views and shortcomings as a father, Jahangir's frustration as a son and failure as an emperor, to Shah Jahan's love for Mumtaz and ascendance to throne, this series offers action, adventure, romance, family drama and much more. You'll get to see the strengths and more importantly the weaknesses of the moghuls which makes them that much more fascinating.

It's great for even a non history buff.

[Debmalya Mukherjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best in the series of Mughals so far. You have a weak king, a remarkably cunning but strong queen, an ambitious but loyal son and a weak son that queen desperately wants to promote. Blend these well and you are in for a perfect treat. The early life of Khurram (Shah-Jahan) is well portrayed and ends with how he takes charge of the kingdom. However, this book is not so about the king or his son... its about the queen, and she has achieved what very few women could do in those times. Noor-Jahan, for all her cunningness and shrewd mind...take a bow !

[Sunitha Prabhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Moghul series – The Tainted Throne is the story of Salim (Jahangir) and his reign.

Salim, Akbar’s eldest son grows up surrounded by mistrust. He had many flaws – he was addicted to drinking, was heavily into opium, had no limit to his lusts, his short temper, his impatience, his unforgiving hatred and hunger for vengeance against who he thought mistreated him. However, he had the ability to redeem his faults when he became the ruler. Until he was married to Mehar-un-nissa (Nurjahan) and lost control of everything he acquired.

[Vedant Comar]

This book, like the previous two, fails to cater to my expectations. The story of Babur, i.e. , the first one enthralled me the most and thus gave me a reason to expect high from rest of them. The story has been stretched just to make the book look thick, and knowledge is the only reason I'm reading this book ! It isn't as good as page turner I expected it to be. It should be having strategy, thrill, adventure in it, but all what it has is a queen .

[Harika · Rating 4 out of 5]

the author should consider writing about shah jahan's reign and another moghul king I am interested besides Akbar is Aurangazeb, he is said to be last of moghul kings? worth-a-read book!

[Bobby D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the series written by Diana and Michael Preston. The series is now six books long and each book follows a new Emperor and their various fights for a larger empire and the succession to the throne. Most of the conflict in each book is generated within the royal family by birth or marriage and the desire to expand territory. THE TAINTED THRONE IS one of the more exciting and interesting fast reads so far in the series. It follows Akbar’s son Jahangir who took power in 1606. Jahangir proves to be one of the weakest of the Emperors which leads to his confusion about who is and is not loyal as his sons fight for power and Jahangir allows his wife Mehrumissa to take up power as she encourages Jahangir to indulge his addiction to wine and opium. The Mehrumissa character is the heart of this book in the series and events spiral off her ambition.
I know I have mentioned in prior reviews of the series that readers are going to question why read a fictional book about the Moghul Empire. My reply is to just pretend the story is a fantasy Game of Thrones type story line… but in this case the stories are largely accurate to history. The Preston’s at the end of each book have historical notes on each chapter and an overall review of the events depicted in the book.
It is quite a bit of a surprise that I have found these books to be so interesting, entertaining, and full of adventure. I wish they would offer a bit more input into the life of ordinary people of the times and why such times were dominated by violence and conquest. But there is little doubt that the Moghul’s have provided the Preston’s with a grand passion project.

[Just Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth installment in the Empire of the Moghul series, The Tainted Throne, takes readers deeper into the turbulent history of the Mughal dynasty — this time focusing on the complex and often brutal reign of Empress Nur Jahan and the inner workings of Jahangir's court. Compared to its predecessor, I found this one more engaging and emotionally resonant, with stronger character development and a more gripping narrative.

Alex Rutherford continues to bring Mughal India to life with rich historical detail, political intrigue, and family drama. The Tainted Throne does a solid job of exploring the power dynamics between Nur Jahan and the men who surround her, presenting her as a formidable force in a male-dominated empire.

However, the book still suffers from a recurring flaw in the series: abrupt and often jarring time skips. While these jumps help to cover the vast and complex historical timeline, they sometimes rob the reader of crucial emotional or narrative buildup. I often found myself wanting to know more about what transpired in the gaps — particularly as relationships evolved or major events shifted the story. These skipped moments could have added greater depth and continuity to an otherwise strong story.

Despite that, this entry felt more focused and satisfying than the previous volumes. It manages to balance historical fact with narrative flair in a way that kept me invested. If you're already on the journey through the Empire of the Moghul series, The Tainted Throne is definitely worth reading — and might just rekindle your interest if the previous book left you unsure.

[Shaik Wasef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best read in the series but definitely better than the ruler of the world (the previous book). The story narration style was very similar to the previously published novels in the series. I guess Jahangir's life as a king was not very impressive or challenging. Unlike Humayun and Babur he did not have to really fight for the kingdom and counters little resistance in the beginning of the novel from his eldest son Khusrau for the throne. In fact, the story takes a monotonous turn once Mehrunissa (Jahangir's wife) takes the charge whilst Jhaangir gets addicted to opium and wine. The book is majorly based on the character of Mehrunissa (aka Noor Jahan ) and her rise to power in a patriarchal royal setting. Mehrunissa has a great character introduction and works appropriately to set the tone of the novel after the first quarter. Though there has been a sincere effort to portray Mehrunissa as a shrewd woman with a great thirst for power, the intention to do so falls flat as you skip through the chapters as there is not enough description of the thoughts and feelings of the character. In fact, it is left to the judgment of the readers to draw conclusions regarding the behavior of the character through various tasks that Mehrunissa undertakes to gain control over the kingdom.
Go for this if you are generally interested in Mughal history. You might have to make some effort to finish this one.
-Shaik Wasef

[Shihab Azhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankly, at this point, I think I am just reading these novels so I can finish the series. The major issue I have is that increasingly all the characters in the series are becoming one-dimensional - their entire motivation is driven either by one of the following: love, ambition, greed or desire. There are very good stories hidden here - Nur Jahan and her attempts to usurp power, unheard of in this era, for example. However, the story portrays her as some sort of superwoman who can fight, shoot and scheme, without exploring how she was able to break through the restrictions of the haram. Jahangir, who in the previous book was a one-dimensional insecure character, comes off as a one-dimensional drunkard. Khusrau inexplicably keeps fomenting revolution, without a discussion on why and how he was able to find supporters.

Perhaps I am spoiled by Game of Thrones and House of Cards, but there are a lot of stories in the history of the Mughals of intrigue and mystery that the series continues to skip lightly over.

[Avinash Veeraraghav · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 'father versus son' conflict that began in the last book continues in this one, where the main character, Nuruddin Muhammad Salim a.k.a Jahangir, ends up at odds with his son, Shahbuddin Muhammad Khurram. Unlike in the other books, I would note that Jahangir ends up not really being the sole main character as that role instead goes to the triumvirate of him, Mehrunissa (Noor Jahan), and Khurram. Jahangir becomes hopelessly beholden the Queen and makes one poor decision after another, pitting his new wife against his son for the latter half of the book. 'Taktya Takhta' takes hold, first when Khusrau challenges his father to the throne, and then when Shahriyar and Khurram come to an epic battle. As we know, Khurram of course wins, but his victory will haunt him. As a reader, I ended up not really caring for Jahangir too much, but became fascinated with Khurram. I feel that the latter was the true protagonist of this book, while Jahangir takes more of a role as an antihero. Noor Jahan is clearly the novel's principal antagonist, alluding to what is to come in the next book.

[Ananya Mandal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth in the Empire series dealing with the reign of Jahangir - a deeply flawed, insecure and weak Emperor. The book like Rutherford's others is an easy read and like the ones before deals half and half with Jahangir and the heir Khurram or Shah Jahan. Before this imperial women were relegated to the harram and had no role in governance. This dealt with Jahangir's 20th and last wife Mehrunnisa who was the actual ruler of the kingdom in lieu of the wine and opium sodden Emperor.
It was hastily done, the book and characters seemed very 2D to me. Jahangir's character was well developed in the 3rd book but here he seemed like a background character in his own book.
3 stars 🌟 from me.

[Zainy Hassan Ziya · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Tainted Throne, Alex Rutherford delves into the turbulent reign of Jahangir, Akbar's son. The novel explores Jahangir's internal battles with addiction and his external struggles against rebellion and political intrigue. Rutherford skillfully weaves a story of personal weaknesses and royal power, showcasing Jahangir's complex personality and the challenges he faced in maintaining the Moghul legacy. The vivid descriptions of court life, the poignant depiction of Jahangir's relationships, and the portrayal of his artistic patronage make this installment a fascinating read. It's a story of fragility and strength, highlighting the human side of an emperor.

[Shifad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Face it..we all know how the story ends. But still, the recital kept me at tenderhooks yearning for more. Unlike the other books, this book explores the female counterpart of the mughal empire. This book brings my perception to a whole new light. Mehrunissa aka Nur Jahan was wily, crafty, ambitious, ruthless and a loving wife. It is very difficult to combine all these in a single character and make the reader accept the same. The author does exactly that!
The Mughal saga has been well captured so far, gonna continue with the series.!