“The author examines issues of race and class prejudice, the politics of Indian royalty, the nationalist movement just before independence, and the clash between old ways and new…the storyline kept me guessing as to what would happen next…An absorbing read about a period and society I previously knew little about.” —historicalnovelsociety.org
“…this novel is filled with well-built characters, explosive events, and undeniable intrigue…Sundaresan’s characters are as developed and mature in their miscalculations and trespasses as they are in their successes and victories…a kaleidoscope of characters who radiate life from all points of the societal spectrum and who build upon interwoven subplots that shock, surprise, and entertain.” —India Currents
“Sundaresan unfolds her bittersweet story in flashbacks that are full of sharply drawn details and adroit dialogue. It’s a riveting read.” —The Seattle Times
“The Splendor of Silence is a lush, poetic and exquisitely crafted novel…[Sundaresan] treats all of her characters, however flawed, with respect, and their decisions and sacrifices are surprising but believable…The magical and detailed descriptions of local Indian culture and landscape contrast with the artificial, rigid order of the British administration. Despite, or perhaps because of, the historical realism, Sundaresan’s story is absorbing and romantic, and a pure pleasure to read. Indu Sundaresan’s previous two novels were international bestsellers, and readers would be wise to pick up a copy of The Splendor of Silence and figure out why.” —bestsellers.about.com
“Indian-American writer Sundaresan (The Twentieth Wife, A Feast of Roses) sets her latest historical novel in the China-India-Burma theater during World War II…Sundaresan seamlessly blends disparate stories of forbidden love, secret wartime missions, and a daring prison escape into an exotic adventure. It’s enough to make you forget the chill in the air.” —Military.com
“Sundaresan (A Feast of Roses) returns to her native India for a sprawling story of forbidden love set against the backdrop of WWII and the struggle for Indian independence…Sundaresan renders Rudrakot vividly and the sympathetic (if doomed) characters generate enough friction to keep the pot boiling.” —Publishers Weekly
“Sundaresan’s (The Feast of Roses) latest book is about interconnectivity, with the protagonists all seemingly linked to one another…Sundaresan’s descriptive writing style makes for a colorful, engrossing read.” —Library Journal
“[Sundaresan] has…brilliantly captured the dynamics of India in those days. The caste system, the racial discrimination between the British and the Indians, the manner in which Indians remained less than equal.” —anyexcusetoread.wordpress.com
“The Splendor of Silence is a lush, poetic and exquisitely crafted novel that should appeal to anyone…a satisfying, poignant and highly recommended read.” —boldsky.com
“With her third novel, Indu Sundaresan continues to display her talents as a great novelist of historical fiction. Finely researched and full of evocative details, this sweeping tale of intrigue brings to life a fascinating era with richly drawn characters and a story that is engrossing, deep, and surprising. Sundaresan will certainly please her many enduring fans as well as drawing in a wave of new ones.” —Samina Ali, author of Madras on Rainy Days
