“Sundaresan has composed an epic tale of a coveted jewel and its place in India’s rich history.” —Booklist
“I read the book in just about one sitting as I found it hard to put down… A truly fascinating book presenting a rich history from a unique perspective. It sparkled like a diamond.”
—Brokentepee.com
“…touching and vividly descriptive…The convoluted history of India and its various regions…comes alive in these pages, along with deftly characterized people: the heroes, the villains and the victims in this saga.” —The Seattle Times
“Sundaresan’s panoply of characters such as…are well chosen and she shapes them with empathy and skill. ” —India Today
“Indu Sundaresan is able to animate historical figures and enliven facts to take the narrative forward. She has an eye for interesting detail.” —The Hindu, Chennai, India
“[The Mountain of Light] is Indu Sundaresan’s sparkling new novel about [the] Kohinoor, the 186 carat diamond fought over, stolen, and prized above all else for generations in the Indian and Punjab empires… Sundaresan takes historical events and people and recreates the emotions of both to give facts life… The Mountain of Light is the story of a gem of almost incalculable value but it is the individual stories that make the novel so readable.” —Gilmoreguidetobooks.com
“Whether you read the book for its beautiful descriptions of the settings, or for the etching of the characters in detail or for the thrill of knowing about the Koh-i-Noor, I bet this book will give you insights into the history of India like none other. —Indianmomsconnect.com
“Indu Sundaresan uses beautiful imagery to show a glimpse of the life led by the kings in Punjab and the beauty of the Koh-i-Noor. The amount of research that must have gone into writing this beautiful book is truly mind boggling.” —Bookwormreadsblog.wordpress.com
“Throughout the novel, Sundaresan offers superb descriptions of the culture and life of those who ruled in India… The Mountain of Light is full of sharply drawn characters whose strengths and weaknesses unfold through dramatic scenes complemented by seamlessly woven backstory. —Awriterofhistory.com
“[The Mountain of Light] is an insightful and enlightening look at historical change and how one of the world’s largest diamonds came to take its place in the British crown jewels, a status that’s still contentious today.” —Readingthepast.blogspot.com
“In this fantastically dazzling light, author Indu Sundaresan has glorified the stone’s journey as it gets relayed among owners and rulers in Persia, Afghanistan and India, before shining bright among the jewels in England… The background imagery rekindles the lost era of 1900s (and earlier), and deep research spines up this beautiful fiction that I’ll remember for a long time to come.” —Indiannerve.com
“The book is a feast of imagery… [Sundaresan’s] words bring to life the richness and the power play of Indian courts, the lavish lifestyles that the royals lived…. The book is a beautifully balanced portrayal of the times. —Anyexcusetoread.wordpress.com
“The prose is rich and elegant, evoking sights and smells of the land and era while bringing to life many of the famous personages of the times.” —Historyandwomen.com
“Through Shuja, Ranjit Singh and Dalip, Sundaresan constructs engrossing and vivid worlds…” —Kirkus Reviews
“Through her gripping narrative, Sundaresan is able to question the volatile and ever changing aspect of all things in the world. She makes it very easy for the reader to get into the world of the novel and blows your mind with a detailed description of shocking events. This book is not just a must read for every history enthusiast but for all those who want to be acquainted with India’s magnificent past.” —Betweenthelines.in
“[Sundaresan] has drawn out the characters, differentiating one from the other very clearly… [The Mountain of Light] is a remarkable combination of history and fiction.” —Lokvani.com
“…Sundaresan transports you far back in time…[her] writing gives you the feel of watching an epic movie, so visual is its quality… This book is a splendid work of art, a grave tale told with much romance and subtle meaning.” —zehranaqvi.blogspot.com
“Whether you read The Mountain of Light for its dramatic story, its lush setting, or its vivid characters, this novel will give you insights into history that will change you.” —Janet Lee Carey, Award-Winning Author of Medieval Fantasy
