How strange to read Book 1 of a trilogy that was written AFTER Book 2. That makes it a prequel, I guess. The book, though quite plainly written, does explain much about Hinduism in an easy manner as the story progresses. It took me at least a hundred pages before starting to truly feel one of the character's heart. Earlier we got interesting snippets of lives as years would pass as quickly as my pages turned. The saga started coming together, changing my mind overall about the book. When Sara entered it rose above three stars. But, alas, then it jumped around again conveniently killing off characters and leaving Sara languishing behind. I knew I would finish the book because Book Two, set in Burma, is waiting by my chair to be read. Oh dear. Now I'm wondering if historical fiction is not my genre.