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Ferdowsnama
In sixteenth-century India, warrior Amar Singh, tracker Jingu, artist Qamaruz Zaman and fire-scarred scholar Ferdows travel through a land teeming with clans, languages and deities, stealthily rigging the emperor’s dominion over man, beast and demon.
The unlikely quartet prove adept at engineering spectacles reflecting the Great Moghul’s divine right to rule. Qamaruz Zaman and Jingu’s acting abilities are as sublime as their sketching and tracking; Amar Singh excels at violence; and Ferdows is a skilled linguist and healer. In a series of disguises, they intercept a rogue elephant attacking a riverside caravanserai, face a liger in a subterranean complex under a desert kingdom, and confront a demon in an animistic community in a remote mountain valley. The Great Moghul takes credit for each hunt, and this strategy of empire expansion seems to be working.
But there are challenges. Qamaruz Zaman is frail, hedonistic and allergic to fur. Jingu has dreams of transcending his caste but fears they will only ever be dreams. Ferdows is on a hunt but doesn’t like hurting things. And Amar Singh is a narcissist who cares only about honour and reclaiming lost glory. By the time the quartet reaches the harem city of Zikri to investigate a mysterious death during a symposium on metaphysics, the differences of temperament, belief and ambition between them are causing issues.
In Zikri, Jingu and Qamaruz Zaman are sidelined, Amar Singh learns there is an imperial hunter other than the Great Moghul, and Ferdows the storyteller becomes the story.
The unlikely quartet prove adept at engineering spectacles reflecting the Great Moghul’s divine right to rule. Qamaruz Zaman and Jingu’s acting abilities are as sublime as their sketching and tracking; Amar Singh excels at violence; and Ferdows is a skilled linguist and healer. In a series of disguises, they intercept a rogue elephant attacking a riverside caravanserai, face a liger in a subterranean complex under a desert kingdom, and confront a demon in an animistic community in a remote mountain valley. The Great Moghul takes credit for each hunt, and this strategy of empire expansion seems to be working.
But there are challenges. Qamaruz Zaman is frail, hedonistic and allergic to fur. Jingu has dreams of transcending his caste but fears they will only ever be dreams. Ferdows is on a hunt but doesn’t like hurting things. And Amar Singh is a narcissist who cares only about honour and reclaiming lost glory. By the time the quartet reaches the harem city of Zikri to investigate a mysterious death during a symposium on metaphysics, the differences of temperament, belief and ambition between them are causing issues.
In Zikri, Jingu and Qamaruz Zaman are sidelined, Amar Singh learns there is an imperial hunter other than the Great Moghul, and Ferdows the storyteller becomes the story.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2025
Shandana is an auto-buy writer for me. And I would have bought this if it had been available in my country. It was a gift in every way imaginable. What great pace; such narrative dexterity; mastery over language and the story! This book was a joy from start to finish.
March 21, 2025
A poetic rendition of adventures
Ferdowsnama, authored by Shandana Minhas published by Penguin Random House, is a poetic rendition of adventures. The story is filled with intrigue and challenges. It is about a series of episodes that involve four key characters - a warrior, a tracker, an artist, and a scholar.
At the heart of the story is Ferdows, the scholar and the only woman in the group, who documents their journey. The tale is narrated through her perspective, blending history, adventure, and poetic storytelling.
They are travelling across lands overcoming obstacles and solving mysteries to help the Great Moghul in establishing his reign. While they do all the hard work dedicatedly, the Great Moghul takes all the credit, using their efforts as a strategy for expanding his empire.
They encounter a rogue elephant, face mythical creatures like a liger, battle hidden demons, and even solve a murder mystery. However, their personal conflicts and differing ambitions threaten to derail their mission.
This is Shandana Minhas’ fifth book, but my first read of hers. I found her writing style poetic, but at a few spots I could not understand the narrative. In the beginning, it was a bit difficult to connect with the characters, as there isn’t much background provided on these four individuals. That said, the book has its charms, and the cover is absolutely stunning!
Overall, Ferdowsnama is a unique blend of adventure, mystery, and poetic storytelling.
Ferdowsnama, authored by Shandana Minhas published by Penguin Random House, is a poetic rendition of adventures. The story is filled with intrigue and challenges. It is about a series of episodes that involve four key characters - a warrior, a tracker, an artist, and a scholar.
At the heart of the story is Ferdows, the scholar and the only woman in the group, who documents their journey. The tale is narrated through her perspective, blending history, adventure, and poetic storytelling.
They are travelling across lands overcoming obstacles and solving mysteries to help the Great Moghul in establishing his reign. While they do all the hard work dedicatedly, the Great Moghul takes all the credit, using their efforts as a strategy for expanding his empire.
They encounter a rogue elephant, face mythical creatures like a liger, battle hidden demons, and even solve a murder mystery. However, their personal conflicts and differing ambitions threaten to derail their mission.
This is Shandana Minhas’ fifth book, but my first read of hers. I found her writing style poetic, but at a few spots I could not understand the narrative. In the beginning, it was a bit difficult to connect with the characters, as there isn’t much background provided on these four individuals. That said, the book has its charms, and the cover is absolutely stunning!
Overall, Ferdowsnama is a unique blend of adventure, mystery, and poetic storytelling.
March 12, 2025
What's not to love when you read a gripping plot with vivid and suspenseful elements! Ferdowsnama by Shandana Minhas is one such fab read.
Four equipped travellers, namely the tracker Jingu, Qamaruz Zaman- the artist, Amar Singh- the warrior and Ferdows, the scholar who narrates this tale traverse through the subcontinent doing their best to spread the Great Moghul's reputation as a generous and righteous ruler.
The long journey is nothing short of an adventure with thrill, danger and rewards in equal measure.
Encounters with the locals, acquainting oneself with their ways and leaving a mark about the emperor's glory. There are occasional rifts between the four which bring this book to life, unveiling their character, intent along with their loyalty to the Great Moghul.
Ferdowsnama, is seamlessly narrated, the reader lives the book rather than merely reading it. The brilliance in crafting the characters to track, discover, manipulate and record the era of the ruler in short and breezy chapters is impressive. There's a pervading suspense until the very end (which I loved the most!)
Do read this refreshing historical fiction. It's entertaining with a glimpse of the era gone by.
Four equipped travellers, namely the tracker Jingu, Qamaruz Zaman- the artist, Amar Singh- the warrior and Ferdows, the scholar who narrates this tale traverse through the subcontinent doing their best to spread the Great Moghul's reputation as a generous and righteous ruler.
The long journey is nothing short of an adventure with thrill, danger and rewards in equal measure.
Encounters with the locals, acquainting oneself with their ways and leaving a mark about the emperor's glory. There are occasional rifts between the four which bring this book to life, unveiling their character, intent along with their loyalty to the Great Moghul.
Ferdowsnama, is seamlessly narrated, the reader lives the book rather than merely reading it. The brilliance in crafting the characters to track, discover, manipulate and record the era of the ruler in short and breezy chapters is impressive. There's a pervading suspense until the very end (which I loved the most!)
Do read this refreshing historical fiction. It's entertaining with a glimpse of the era gone by.
March 24, 2025
We have been so shaped by our history and times that we expect scholars and writers to be men only because men rule. Isn't it so? Do admit it! Ferdowsnama breaks through a lot of perceived notions and patriarchal mindsets through invisible means.
My observation is that the story can be a little tricky to grasp in between but if you see the whole picture - it touches upon real people but with a carefully and deliberately shown 'dismissal' of everyone. Tirkot, Zikri and the places mentioned make it a travelogue along with a narrative framework. One question pops up - Wasn't 'The Light of the World' - Nur Jahan? If you place history beside this book you will realise that Nur Jahan as Jehangir's wife was referred to in the book though the Great Mughal's gender always hinted at it being a man.
Overall, the social fabric, the lives of people, the cultural enmeshing, everything gets women with politics and warfare into this unusual telling of tales in Mughal Era.
My observation is that the story can be a little tricky to grasp in between but if you see the whole picture - it touches upon real people but with a carefully and deliberately shown 'dismissal' of everyone. Tirkot, Zikri and the places mentioned make it a travelogue along with a narrative framework. One question pops up - Wasn't 'The Light of the World' - Nur Jahan? If you place history beside this book you will realise that Nur Jahan as Jehangir's wife was referred to in the book though the Great Mughal's gender always hinted at it being a man.
Overall, the social fabric, the lives of people, the cultural enmeshing, everything gets women with politics and warfare into this unusual telling of tales in Mughal Era.
May 4, 2025
Truly a treat. Wonderful read. It's the kind of book that will give you a whole different story everytime you read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews