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Winds of Fire #1
Duty and Desire
How Can Happiness Survive When Duty Clashes With Desire?
Sheetal Prasad has it all: youth, beauty, wealth and education. But when this modern Indian woman surrenders love for honor and marries into India’s most glamorous ‘royal family’, these very advantages turn against her and she is stripped of her freedom.
Meet the Dhanrajs — a powerful family bound together by a web of lies where infidelity, greed, secrets and hidden identities lurk beneath the lush tapestry. The Dhanrajs have plenty to hide and will do what it takes to mask the truth from the world.
As Sheetal peels back the layers of deceit, she confronts a haunting reality and is threatened by the blazes of passion she ignites.
Sheetal Prasad has it all: youth, beauty, wealth and education. But when this modern Indian woman surrenders love for honor and marries into India’s most glamorous ‘royal family’, these very advantages turn against her and she is stripped of her freedom.
Meet the Dhanrajs — a powerful family bound together by a web of lies where infidelity, greed, secrets and hidden identities lurk beneath the lush tapestry. The Dhanrajs have plenty to hide and will do what it takes to mask the truth from the world.
As Sheetal peels back the layers of deceit, she confronts a haunting reality and is threatened by the blazes of passion she ignites.
- GenresRomanceContemporaryAdult
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2011
15 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Anju Gattani
4 books57 followersMulti award-winning fiction author, blogger, and former international journalist Anju Gattani was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong. She has also lived and been published in Singapore, India, Australia, and finally grounded in Georgia, USA. Anju’s Winds of Fire Series was reviewed “Downton Abbey-style saga but set in India!”
Book 1, DYNASTIES, is the proud recipient of a 2023 Georgia Author Of The Year nomination and a finalist, National Indie Excellence Award and Best Book Award. Book 2, ONCE AND FOR ALL, is a double-winner and five-times finalist 2025 Independent Author Award, finalist International Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards and was shortlisted for the 2025 Hawthorne Prize. Anju hopes her books Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers.
Anju hopes her books Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers.
Social Media:
Website: www.anjugattani.com
Facebook: Anju Gattani Books
Instagram: @Anju_Gattani27
Bookbub: @Anju_Gattani
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 8, 2020
A beautiful woman on the eve of her wedding to a wealthy and handsome man, it all sounds like a dream. In truth, she is about to live a life she does not want, one that is chosen for her. In Anju Gattani's book “Duty & Desire” the exotic world of India with traditions and family duty comes to life.
Choices are needed to be made, how will this young woman chose the course her life will follow? She has a man who loves her, she is duty bound to marry another. Is family traditions the most important thing to this girl or is true love going to win her heart? She can go with her heart’s desire but that means living a spartan life. She can go with duty, which means marrying wealthy and having comforts she is used to.
Gattani's does a remarkable job of vividly detailing India and it’s rich culture in every page. This story enraptures the reader and you can nearly taste the spices and smell the incense through the words Gattani's creatively puts down on paper! Her heroine’s plight captures your attention as the tale has been wonderfully created by Gattani's’s knowledge and talent.
Choices are needed to be made, how will this young woman chose the course her life will follow? She has a man who loves her, she is duty bound to marry another. Is family traditions the most important thing to this girl or is true love going to win her heart? She can go with her heart’s desire but that means living a spartan life. She can go with duty, which means marrying wealthy and having comforts she is used to.
Gattani's does a remarkable job of vividly detailing India and it’s rich culture in every page. This story enraptures the reader and you can nearly taste the spices and smell the incense through the words Gattani's creatively puts down on paper! Her heroine’s plight captures your attention as the tale has been wonderfully created by Gattani's’s knowledge and talent.
May 25, 2020
Duty and Desire kept me captivated from the first sentence to the very end. An enticing Downton abbey-style saga, but set in India! I simply adored it and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
July 4, 2020
I want MORE! I became deeply immersed in this book and having the opportunity to have a glimpse in the India’s culture, I have found myself fascinated with it. I would love to visit there. I immensely enjoyed this book, and India’s traditions and culture has really intrigued me so much that just from reading Anju Gattani’s book Duty and Desire, I not only witnessed through her 19 year storyline, i t wasn’t just a book, but a deeply felt experience filled with knowledge. This book was truly amazing and it was heartbreaking, showed strength, hope and full of determination, inside India’s culture and the pull between tradition and modern culture. This is a well worthy book to read, and I look forward to reading the other book of the series. This is a book you don’t want to pass up. Share with a friend too.
June 2, 2020
Set in modern day India, where old customs still hold sway, this book is an immersive read.
Sheetal, the spoiled only child of nouveau riche parents, is about to be married to the appropriately named Rakesh, the city of Raigun’s “most eligible bachelor.”
At least, according to him. Sheetal has never met the man, and is in love with someone else. But her parents, particularly her mother, guilt-trip her into the arranged marriage. By turns abusive and sexy, Rakesh surprises Sheetal, keeping her on her guard at all times. Meanwhile her manipulative, greedy mother-in-law makes life very difficult.
Gattani’s gorgeous descriptions of color, fabric, jewelry, and lifestyles made me feel I was right there in the fictional Raigun. A page turner.
Sheetal, the spoiled only child of nouveau riche parents, is about to be married to the appropriately named Rakesh, the city of Raigun’s “most eligible bachelor.”
At least, according to him. Sheetal has never met the man, and is in love with someone else. But her parents, particularly her mother, guilt-trip her into the arranged marriage. By turns abusive and sexy, Rakesh surprises Sheetal, keeping her on her guard at all times. Meanwhile her manipulative, greedy mother-in-law makes life very difficult.
Gattani’s gorgeous descriptions of color, fabric, jewelry, and lifestyles made me feel I was right there in the fictional Raigun. A page turner.
June 16, 2020
I was captivated by this book from the first chapter. We get to meet Sheetal who is emotionally blackmailed into an arranged marriage to Rakesh, although her heart belongs to someone else.
This tale is a passionate novel of life experiences that resonated with me. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Be ready to be swept away to a faraway land of mystery and intrigue!
Must read new author!!
This tale is a passionate novel of life experiences that resonated with me. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Be ready to be swept away to a faraway land of mystery and intrigue!
Must read new author!!
June 24, 2018
25/6 - Ugh! Dreadful book!! Highly not recommended. Only one redeeming character, unfortunately she wasn't the main so we didn't spend nearly enough time with her. Pretty much every other character was reprehensible. There were a few servants who were fine and Arvind, Sheetal's first 'love', who was not fleshed out at all so we don't really know who he is except that he's not 'rich' and Sheetal would have had to live in poverty if she had stayed with him instead of marrying the mega rich Sanjeet. Sheetal's idea of poverty is a living room that is *gasp* only 15 feet/4 metres in width and whose ceilings are *shudder* only 5 feet above their heads.
Sanjeet is physically and emotionally abusive to Sheetal, but she decides to stay because Sanjeet's got a ton of money and she figures that her baby will be happier brought up in a house of violence rather than one where the ceilings aren't twenty feet high and his crib isn't made of 24 carat gold. Sheetal is perhaps the most materialistic, money and possession-obsessed character I've ever read. I think Gattani was attempting to turn her into a princess - showered with only the best in life - but when that princess gets paranoid about being infected by street children's dirt and poverty through their touch or breathing in their air then all that 'princess' lustre is destroyed and she's revealed as the grasping character she really is. I couldn't empathise with any of the main characters, in fact I was hoping to see Sanjeet, Sheetal, and Pushpa get their just desserts through public humiliation (they didn't, I was disappointed).
From about page twenty onward all I kept thinking was "Is this a true representation of Indian people and society?". Except that I would only want to inflict this on an enemy, I wish I knew someone familiar with Indian heritage so that I could coerce them into reading this and get them to give me their opinions on the way India and its society is portrayed.
Would a woman like Pushpa really discard a whole wardrobe full of new and expensive saris just so that she can choose her new daughter-in-law's clothing herself? The extravagance and waste in this book was quite obscene and made mad for most of the book and if I wasn't mad because someone (usually Pushpa or Sheetal) was tossing out perfectly good articles of clothing or furniture, then the constant name dropping was filling in the gap. I really don't care that the Dhanraj's own a white Fulton White sofa, I especially don't care when you repeat the name 10 times over in under 300 pages. Surely Gattani could just have called them 'the sofas'? It's not like there were any other sofas in the whole house mentioned (despite how huge the house is described as being), so we weren't going to get confused with which room she was talking about.
The final death knell and reason for this getting that magical one star rating was the numerous typos and passages of mauve-tinted prose. It really was the final straw and I think I've expended enough effort reading and reviewing it, so if you want examples of the prose and typos check my updates. I received a paperback arc of this book from the author (I am sorry it's taken me five years to finally read this) in return for an honest review, that has not compromised my ability to rate and review this honestly. I no longer consider that I own this (it's come off the relevant shelf and everything) and I truly look forward to donating this to the local charity bookstore tomorrow (along with my last read, which was also a bust), but I do kind of pity whoever is finally lured into buying it (the charity part assuages 99% of my guilt).
Sanjeet is physically and emotionally abusive to Sheetal, but she decides to stay because Sanjeet's got a ton of money and she figures that her baby will be happier brought up in a house of violence rather than one where the ceilings aren't twenty feet high and his crib isn't made of 24 carat gold. Sheetal is perhaps the most materialistic, money and possession-obsessed character I've ever read. I think Gattani was attempting to turn her into a princess - showered with only the best in life - but when that princess gets paranoid about being infected by street children's dirt and poverty through their touch or breathing in their air then all that 'princess' lustre is destroyed and she's revealed as the grasping character she really is. I couldn't empathise with any of the main characters, in fact I was hoping to see Sanjeet, Sheetal, and Pushpa get their just desserts through public humiliation (they didn't, I was disappointed).
From about page twenty onward all I kept thinking was "Is this a true representation of Indian people and society?". Except that I would only want to inflict this on an enemy, I wish I knew someone familiar with Indian heritage so that I could coerce them into reading this and get them to give me their opinions on the way India and its society is portrayed.
Would a woman like Pushpa really discard a whole wardrobe full of new and expensive saris just so that she can choose her new daughter-in-law's clothing herself? The extravagance and waste in this book was quite obscene and made mad for most of the book and if I wasn't mad because someone (usually Pushpa or Sheetal) was tossing out perfectly good articles of clothing or furniture, then the constant name dropping was filling in the gap. I really don't care that the Dhanraj's own a white Fulton White sofa, I especially don't care when you repeat the name 10 times over in under 300 pages. Surely Gattani could just have called them 'the sofas'? It's not like there were any other sofas in the whole house mentioned (despite how huge the house is described as being), so we weren't going to get confused with which room she was talking about.
The final death knell and reason for this getting that magical one star rating was the numerous typos and passages of mauve-tinted prose. It really was the final straw and I think I've expended enough effort reading and reviewing it, so if you want examples of the prose and typos check my updates. I received a paperback arc of this book from the author (I am sorry it's taken me five years to finally read this) in return for an honest review, that has not compromised my ability to rate and review this honestly. I no longer consider that I own this (it's come off the relevant shelf and everything) and I truly look forward to donating this to the local charity bookstore tomorrow (along with my last read, which was also a bust), but I do kind of pity whoever is finally lured into buying it (the charity part assuages 99% of my guilt).
June 6, 2020
Masterful storytelling that transports you to a vivid world full of drama and intrigue. A gripping must read from cover to cover - I could not put it down! I'm hooked and can't wait to read the sequel!
June 19, 2020
I don't want to be unkind and discourage authors but I'm not sure what to say about this book.
There is lots of detail about the wedding preparations and the customs of the ceremony which is interesting to someone who is not of that culture.
The story is a bit of a mess.
Before anything I will point out it doesn't really have an end. Is it continuing? Was that it? There is no information and if that was the end I don't get it.
All the characters are obsessed with wealth, brands of shoes the Heroine wearing, how much all the jewelry is worth even the heroine.
At first I found her shallow but the author I think was trying to convey the alternative to marrying wealthy was to be poor with issues with water etc which was an interesting concept but I didn't think the way it was written worked.
There may be possible triggers of rape, not huge detail of intimacy but some.
There is lots of detail about the wedding preparations and the customs of the ceremony which is interesting to someone who is not of that culture.
The story is a bit of a mess.
Before anything I will point out it doesn't really have an end. Is it continuing? Was that it? There is no information and if that was the end I don't get it.
All the characters are obsessed with wealth, brands of shoes the Heroine wearing, how much all the jewelry is worth even the heroine.
At first I found her shallow but the author I think was trying to convey the alternative to marrying wealthy was to be poor with issues with water etc which was an interesting concept but I didn't think the way it was written worked.
There may be possible triggers of rape, not huge detail of intimacy but some.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2020
A modern love story constrained by an ancient culture
Anju Gattani's novel of a modern Indian woman dealing with the weight of traditional expectations is both is both a love story and a plea for understanding. Sheetal, a well-off, well-educated aspiring artist, must choose between Arvind, a lower-caste young man who loves her, and Rakesh, a famous, rich, and socially prominent tycoon. Her parents hate Arvind, and push her to marry Rakesh. She is an Indian woman, obedient to family and societal expectations, and so she rejects a love match and marries as her parents desire. But Rakesh is not a loyal loving spouse. He' a workaholic and a cheater, and his family is dysfunctionally bound by lies and secrets rather than love and respect. Oddly enough, Rakesh does develop positive feelings and an attraction to Sheetal, but old habits, poor impulse control, and traditional attitudes toward women lead him to self-sabotage. Sheetal's sense of outrage, her desire for respect and personal autonomy, her driving artistic talent, and her rocky relationship with her mother-in-law war constantly with her desire to make a go of her marriage. That relationship is deeply flawed, and readers will be hard pressed to think of how Sheetal and Rakesh can possibly find peace and happiness. Gattani's unhappy couple are well and truly trapped - and readers will by turns sympathize with their troubles, and grow frustrated with their inability to change. It's a fascinating story, with an open ending that allows for a sequel - which I will definitely be reading. This has been a voluntary ARC review.
Anju Gattani's novel of a modern Indian woman dealing with the weight of traditional expectations is both is both a love story and a plea for understanding. Sheetal, a well-off, well-educated aspiring artist, must choose between Arvind, a lower-caste young man who loves her, and Rakesh, a famous, rich, and socially prominent tycoon. Her parents hate Arvind, and push her to marry Rakesh. She is an Indian woman, obedient to family and societal expectations, and so she rejects a love match and marries as her parents desire. But Rakesh is not a loyal loving spouse. He' a workaholic and a cheater, and his family is dysfunctionally bound by lies and secrets rather than love and respect. Oddly enough, Rakesh does develop positive feelings and an attraction to Sheetal, but old habits, poor impulse control, and traditional attitudes toward women lead him to self-sabotage. Sheetal's sense of outrage, her desire for respect and personal autonomy, her driving artistic talent, and her rocky relationship with her mother-in-law war constantly with her desire to make a go of her marriage. That relationship is deeply flawed, and readers will be hard pressed to think of how Sheetal and Rakesh can possibly find peace and happiness. Gattani's unhappy couple are well and truly trapped - and readers will by turns sympathize with their troubles, and grow frustrated with their inability to change. It's a fascinating story, with an open ending that allows for a sequel - which I will definitely be reading. This has been a voluntary ARC review.
July 5, 2020
Though the main character, Sheetal, loves another, a look at how her life might be with the one she loves (she's a bit spoiled) and a sense of duty leads her to abandon that thought and go through with an arranged marriage. The union and Sheetal's life with her in-laws is a maze of dysfunction and Gattani pulls the reader into the gaslighting by both Sheetal's husband and mother-in-law right along with Sheetal. Steeped in the backdrop of Indian culture and rich detail, I enjoyed the push and pull between old tradition and new hopes and desires of India's current generation.
September 2, 2020
The one thing that hits you the most is the explosion of color on the page in the author's vivid descriptions. Even more poignant is the clash of culture and duty, as Sheetal sees the options that could have happened, both good and bad, if she had made different decisions in life. Highly recommend.
June 19, 2020
I don't want to be unkind and discourage authors but I'm not sure what to say about this book.
There is lots of detail about the wedding preparations and the customs of the ceremony which is interesting to someone who is not of that culture.
The story is a bit of a mess.
Before anything I will point out it doesn't really have an end. Is it continuing? Was that it? There is no information and if that was the end I don't get it.
All the characters are obsessed with wealth, brands of shoes the Heroine wearing, how much all the jewelry is worth even the heroine.
At first I found her shallow but the author I think was trying to convey the alternative to marrying wealthy was to be poor with issues with water etc which was an interesting concept but I didn't think the way it was written worked.
There may be possible triggers of rape, not huge detail of intimacy but some.
There is lots of detail about the wedding preparations and the customs of the ceremony which is interesting to someone who is not of that culture.
The story is a bit of a mess.
Before anything I will point out it doesn't really have an end. Is it continuing? Was that it? There is no information and if that was the end I don't get it.
All the characters are obsessed with wealth, brands of shoes the Heroine wearing, how much all the jewelry is worth even the heroine.
At first I found her shallow but the author I think was trying to convey the alternative to marrying wealthy was to be poor with issues with water etc which was an interesting concept but I didn't think the way it was written worked.
There may be possible triggers of rape, not huge detail of intimacy but some.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2020
This is my first time reading something by this author. This was an entertaining and enjoyable read. The story was well-written and flowed nicely. The plot was interesting and had some plot twists and turns that made this an interesting and intriguing story. The characters were strong and well-developed. Ms. Gattani did a nice job of bringing this story to life with her vivid descriptions and well-developed scenes. It's a very enticing and interesting look into to the Indian culture. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2020
A Powerful Eye Opener!
“Duty and Desire” is an emotional look at arranged marriages. Through the main character Sheetal, the reader joins Sheetal on her journey from the emotional blackmail used by her family, and her life experiences as she complies regardless of her needs and wants. The scenes are vivid, lush, and frightening. This well-written tale by Anju Gattani takes the reader into another world for a peek at the lives and restrictions placed on women in India’s society. This is an exceptional tale that should be on everyone’s TBR list. I highly recommend this read.
“Duty and Desire” is an emotional look at arranged marriages. Through the main character Sheetal, the reader joins Sheetal on her journey from the emotional blackmail used by her family, and her life experiences as she complies regardless of her needs and wants. The scenes are vivid, lush, and frightening. This well-written tale by Anju Gattani takes the reader into another world for a peek at the lives and restrictions placed on women in India’s society. This is an exceptional tale that should be on everyone’s TBR list. I highly recommend this read.
July 11, 2020
Part of a series - this is book 1
Sheetal is a educated, rich, somewhat spoiled artist who loves a lower class man, much to the horror of her parents. Using emotional blackmail they force Sheetal to marry Rakesh, who was scheming to get his hands on Sheetal's fathers fortune. Rakesh does horrible things to her through out the marriage, starting with their wedding night when he forces him self on her. He continues to cheat on her, disrespecting her while his dysfunctional family lies, manipulates, conspire and treats her horribly. She eventually had enough and leaves with her son going back to her parents, Rakesh offers her a fresh start or a divorce, her choice and she decides that in the best interest of her son nothing else matters but a normal life for him.
The author did an amazing job with the story line, supplying background of traditions and customs to non Indian readers. The characters are well developed with depth and growth through out the book. I will be reading book 2 when it comes out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sheetal is a educated, rich, somewhat spoiled artist who loves a lower class man, much to the horror of her parents. Using emotional blackmail they force Sheetal to marry Rakesh, who was scheming to get his hands on Sheetal's fathers fortune. Rakesh does horrible things to her through out the marriage, starting with their wedding night when he forces him self on her. He continues to cheat on her, disrespecting her while his dysfunctional family lies, manipulates, conspire and treats her horribly. She eventually had enough and leaves with her son going back to her parents, Rakesh offers her a fresh start or a divorce, her choice and she decides that in the best interest of her son nothing else matters but a normal life for him.
The author did an amazing job with the story line, supplying background of traditions and customs to non Indian readers. The characters are well developed with depth and growth through out the book. I will be reading book 2 when it comes out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 12, 2020
Duty and Desire is the first book in the Winds of Fire series and is the first book I have read by this author.
I really enjoyed this book and the in-depth look at the culture and traditions in India. The characters are well developed and interesting. The storyline is well written and flows nicely from start to finish with an arranged marriage, traditions, beautiful descriptions, secrets, lies, and a dangerous family.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
I really enjoyed this book and the in-depth look at the culture and traditions in India. The characters are well developed and interesting. The storyline is well written and flows nicely from start to finish with an arranged marriage, traditions, beautiful descriptions, secrets, lies, and a dangerous family.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
July 18, 2025
I am not even giving this 1 star .. I think 0.5 will be good. I had expectation from this but it was too long for me ..over detailed I must say. I think details make a book better but overdoing it just bore stuff up.. plus I am just gonna see the summary of the book .. I read 170 something pages but it just bored me up and if i continue it more I am going to be in a reading slump which I don't want to be in.
April 20, 2021
DUTY AND DESIRE is CRAZY RICH ASIANS set in India with a feminist bent. The backdrop is exotic amid the ultra-rich, dripping in jewels, gorgeous saris, fast cars, and imposing estates. Inside one such estate, though, we find a crazy cruel family with vile secrets. And in the culture in general, women are confined by metaphorical chains.
The life of Sheetal, a young woman forced by her family to marry rich Rakesh, reflects the elite culture in microcosm. She already loves Arvind, a poor but kind man who adores her, but goes along with her family out of duty.
What happens after her wedding will make any free woman gasp. The author draws us in with sumptuous descriptions and an addictive storyline that breaks the heart. Once that first page is turned, we MUST know what happens to Sheetal.
Already optioned for film, DUTY AND DESIRE is book one in the Winds of Fire trilogy. Readers will want to devour the whole series, hooked by Sheetal’s story and praying she can make a new free life. Highly recommended!
Thanks to Anju Gattani and Scarsdale Publishing for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
The life of Sheetal, a young woman forced by her family to marry rich Rakesh, reflects the elite culture in microcosm. She already loves Arvind, a poor but kind man who adores her, but goes along with her family out of duty.
What happens after her wedding will make any free woman gasp. The author draws us in with sumptuous descriptions and an addictive storyline that breaks the heart. Once that first page is turned, we MUST know what happens to Sheetal.
Already optioned for film, DUTY AND DESIRE is book one in the Winds of Fire trilogy. Readers will want to devour the whole series, hooked by Sheetal’s story and praying she can make a new free life. Highly recommended!
Thanks to Anju Gattani and Scarsdale Publishing for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 8, 2021
Duty and Desire is filled with the illusions of a family whose wealth is beyond measure.
Sheetal Prasad marries per her family's wishes and walks away from the only man she has ever loved because she feels she has no choice. She is a good daughter and follows the customs of her culture, finding herself forced to make allowances for her new family, meanwhile questioning her own loving parents for forcing her into this nearly intolerable situation.
And she tries. But it is a path where men do no wrong and women have no choices. And this is a difficult path to follow.
Duty and Desire will lead you down a cultural path rich with imagery and beauty that will take your breath away; I applaud the author for her accurate portrayal of this culture. How else will a reader get an accurate picture of what Sheetal Prasad, her protagonist, faces?
This book will stay with you long after the rich imagery disappears.
Sheetal Prasad marries per her family's wishes and walks away from the only man she has ever loved because she feels she has no choice. She is a good daughter and follows the customs of her culture, finding herself forced to make allowances for her new family, meanwhile questioning her own loving parents for forcing her into this nearly intolerable situation.
And she tries. But it is a path where men do no wrong and women have no choices. And this is a difficult path to follow.
Duty and Desire will lead you down a cultural path rich with imagery and beauty that will take your breath away; I applaud the author for her accurate portrayal of this culture. How else will a reader get an accurate picture of what Sheetal Prasad, her protagonist, faces?
This book will stay with you long after the rich imagery disappears.
September 1, 2020
A well-written but offputting (to this reader) mash-up of Indian melodrama and Old Skool alpha-hole gothic romance—except the male lead doesn't . 22-year-old Sheetal, whose once poor family is now wealthy, says goodbye to Arvind, a college friend, because her family has arranged a marriage with the über-wealthy Dhanraji family (Gattani doesn't mention either family's caste, which I was surprised by; did she think Americans wouldn't get it?). The first 1/4 of the novel focuses on the details of the wedding prep and wedding, the material details of which Gattani recounts in clear, compelling prose. But even when Arvind arrives during the wedding to urge her to steal away, Sheetal is too worried about making her family look bad, and possibly having to live in poverty if she runs away with him, and so she refuses.
The rest of the novel recounts Sheetal's first year and a half with the Dhanraja family, a not very pleasant bunch. Mammyji, the step-mother, rules the home via passive-aggression and guilt. Rakesh, Sheetal's husband, , then spends most of his time out of the house, doing what Sheetal never really knows (and even though we get several scenes from Rakesh's POV, we never really know, either). Middle sister Naina keeps to her bedroom most of the time, but emerges every now and then to scream at fellow family members, especially Sheetal. Only Megda, the youngest sister, is at all sympathetic, but she plays only a very small role in the story, or in Sheetal's life.
Gattani focuses so much on narrative (in the form of description and plot), and doesn't spend much time on crafting characters. The above-mentioned Dhanrajas are pretty one-dimensional, while Sheetal herself, from whose pov the bulk of the story is told, comes across as passive and wishy-washy, feeling outraged at her treatment and bewildered by her family's refusal to champion her but unwilling to do anything herself to try to fix or change things in her new life. One would have thought that a young woman raised in a family that values arranged marriage would have known a little more what might be in store; instead, it often seems that Sheetal is experiencing the whole thing through the lens of a more Western, liberal audience's often outraged eyes.
Despite the above-mentioned spoiler (which happens again on another occasion when Rakesh tries a little bit to woo Sheetal with a weekend away, but who grows angry when she won't "change for hime like he's changed for her"), Sheetal tries to create a relationship with her distant husband. And finds herself attracted to him, and even enjoying sex with him. Which, given the gothic Old Skool romance tradition, leads an American romance reader to expect that he's holding secrets that will explain why he's being such a jerk, and which, once revealed, will show that he's really a nice guy underneath it all. But instead we get plot drama (secret mistresses, illegitimate children, mental health problems), and more jerky behavior from Rakesh (and even, at times, from Sheetal). Even when he's trying to be nice to Sheetal, Rakesh just ends up hurting her feelings or making her angry, because he treats her like an object rather than a fellow human being throughout the book.
The worst is the end of the story, when Sheetal . Ugh!
There is a sequel featuring the same couple, but even if Rakesh is finally reformed in that one, I won't be reading it.
Beautiful, beautiful cover, though...
The rest of the novel recounts Sheetal's first year and a half with the Dhanraja family, a not very pleasant bunch. Mammyji, the step-mother, rules the home via passive-aggression and guilt. Rakesh, Sheetal's husband, , then spends most of his time out of the house, doing what Sheetal never really knows (and even though we get several scenes from Rakesh's POV, we never really know, either). Middle sister Naina keeps to her bedroom most of the time, but emerges every now and then to scream at fellow family members, especially Sheetal. Only Megda, the youngest sister, is at all sympathetic, but she plays only a very small role in the story, or in Sheetal's life.
Gattani focuses so much on narrative (in the form of description and plot), and doesn't spend much time on crafting characters. The above-mentioned Dhanrajas are pretty one-dimensional, while Sheetal herself, from whose pov the bulk of the story is told, comes across as passive and wishy-washy, feeling outraged at her treatment and bewildered by her family's refusal to champion her but unwilling to do anything herself to try to fix or change things in her new life. One would have thought that a young woman raised in a family that values arranged marriage would have known a little more what might be in store; instead, it often seems that Sheetal is experiencing the whole thing through the lens of a more Western, liberal audience's often outraged eyes.
Despite the above-mentioned spoiler (which happens again on another occasion when Rakesh tries a little bit to woo Sheetal with a weekend away, but who grows angry when she won't "change for hime like he's changed for her"), Sheetal tries to create a relationship with her distant husband. And finds herself attracted to him, and even enjoying sex with him. Which, given the gothic Old Skool romance tradition, leads an American romance reader to expect that he's holding secrets that will explain why he's being such a jerk, and which, once revealed, will show that he's really a nice guy underneath it all. But instead we get plot drama (secret mistresses, illegitimate children, mental health problems), and more jerky behavior from Rakesh (and even, at times, from Sheetal). Even when he's trying to be nice to Sheetal, Rakesh just ends up hurting her feelings or making her angry, because he treats her like an object rather than a fellow human being throughout the book.
The worst is the end of the story, when Sheetal . Ugh!
There is a sequel featuring the same couple, but even if Rakesh is finally reformed in that one, I won't be reading it.
Beautiful, beautiful cover, though...
September 27, 2012
Review originally featured on Bookluvrs Haven
A friend of mine is really into Bollywood movies. She made me sit down for one once, and I was hooked. How can you not be? They are full of happy music, awesome dancing, amazing colorful costumes, and of course, a ridiculously tragic story of forbidden love. So occasionally, I will watch the odd Bollywood movie here and there, with a full bowl of popcorn, and a box of kleenex in near proximity.
I can't say that I have picked up similar novels, but this one sounded very interesting to me. Besides, I love reading about different times, and different cultures. And this novel did not disappoint at painting a very vivid picture of the culture.
Set in modern India, Sheetal is desperately in love. But when Arvind asks her to marry him, it is the most bittersweet moment of her life. Because Arvind is of poor means, and a match that her father would never approve of. She is initially torn between love and duty, but duty prevails. In an attempt to bring honor to her family and in obedience to her father, she agrees to the arranged marriage to Sanjeet Dhanraj. The Dhanrajs are a most prominent family, and her family is thrilled with the marriage. Not so the case with Sheetal and Sanjeet. Sheetal and Sanjeet reluctantly begin their lives together as man and wife.
The characters in this novel were very complex, and at times... confusing. They all ran hot and cold, from one moment to the other. Sanjeet seemed to be two completely different men - adoring and loving in one moment, trying to win the heart of his bride, and utterly cold and indifferent the next, at times without provocation that I could see.
Sheetal too seemed to have moments of serious indecision, where she would respond to her husband, to other times run from him in anger and despair when he was at his most loving.
Sanjeet's stepmother was a whole other creature. I just couldn't figure this woman out, she was so out there. Yet, I was utterly intrigued with this novel. Was it the constant drama? Oh hell yes! It was like reading about a new show called the Housewives of Bollywood. Constant ridiculous dramatics, love tug of wars, female hysterics, and male indifference? Absolutely! Bring it on!
Even though I am personally not very content with the way it ended, it was definitely an entertaining novel from beginning to end. A worthwhile read.
**I received a eBook copy of this book for free to review from the author; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.**
A friend of mine is really into Bollywood movies. She made me sit down for one once, and I was hooked. How can you not be? They are full of happy music, awesome dancing, amazing colorful costumes, and of course, a ridiculously tragic story of forbidden love. So occasionally, I will watch the odd Bollywood movie here and there, with a full bowl of popcorn, and a box of kleenex in near proximity.
I can't say that I have picked up similar novels, but this one sounded very interesting to me. Besides, I love reading about different times, and different cultures. And this novel did not disappoint at painting a very vivid picture of the culture.
Set in modern India, Sheetal is desperately in love. But when Arvind asks her to marry him, it is the most bittersweet moment of her life. Because Arvind is of poor means, and a match that her father would never approve of. She is initially torn between love and duty, but duty prevails. In an attempt to bring honor to her family and in obedience to her father, she agrees to the arranged marriage to Sanjeet Dhanraj. The Dhanrajs are a most prominent family, and her family is thrilled with the marriage. Not so the case with Sheetal and Sanjeet. Sheetal and Sanjeet reluctantly begin their lives together as man and wife.
The characters in this novel were very complex, and at times... confusing. They all ran hot and cold, from one moment to the other. Sanjeet seemed to be two completely different men - adoring and loving in one moment, trying to win the heart of his bride, and utterly cold and indifferent the next, at times without provocation that I could see.
Sheetal too seemed to have moments of serious indecision, where she would respond to her husband, to other times run from him in anger and despair when he was at his most loving.
Sanjeet's stepmother was a whole other creature. I just couldn't figure this woman out, she was so out there. Yet, I was utterly intrigued with this novel. Was it the constant drama? Oh hell yes! It was like reading about a new show called the Housewives of Bollywood. Constant ridiculous dramatics, love tug of wars, female hysterics, and male indifference? Absolutely! Bring it on!
Even though I am personally not very content with the way it ended, it was definitely an entertaining novel from beginning to end. A worthwhile read.
**I received a eBook copy of this book for free to review from the author; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.**
March 23, 2012
First, I have to confess that I'm easily distracted by typos, and, sadly, this edition had many. Despite that, I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about Indian traditions and holidays in the course of the story, shared by an author familiar with that culture. The author's knowledge is broad and her details integrated into the stream of the story without jarring. The result is a presentation of a culture that's memorable for its extremes: of poverty and wealth, of modernity and adherence to tradition, of appearances versus reality.
While the ending of the novel is wonderfully told and satisfing on one level, I didn't feel that the events leading up to that ending fully supported the conclusions. If the reader had seen a more definite, more defined evolution in Sheetal's understanding and maturation--where she learned from specific experiences and then applied what she learned to each new challenge--I'd have been more satisfied as a reader. As it was, she seemed to repeat similar mistakes and for similar reasons.
As a reader, I attribute many of the weaknesses in Duty and Desire to a failure of the publisher to adequately support this book and author. While authors are expected to edit their manuscripts to the best of their ability, it's ultimately the publisher's role to catch the mistakes the author did not or could not see. This being Gattani's debut novel, editorial support would have been especially helpful. The number of typos alone indicates that editorial support for the author was lacking. For that reason, I'm interested in following the career of this author. There were enough gems within this novel to suggest a talent that will shine diamond-bright with even a little polishing. Here's hoping that Gattani finds a publisher who has a buff cloth and is willing to use it. I think that small publisher investment will result in very large dividends through the course of this writer's career.
While the ending of the novel is wonderfully told and satisfing on one level, I didn't feel that the events leading up to that ending fully supported the conclusions. If the reader had seen a more definite, more defined evolution in Sheetal's understanding and maturation--where she learned from specific experiences and then applied what she learned to each new challenge--I'd have been more satisfied as a reader. As it was, she seemed to repeat similar mistakes and for similar reasons.
As a reader, I attribute many of the weaknesses in Duty and Desire to a failure of the publisher to adequately support this book and author. While authors are expected to edit their manuscripts to the best of their ability, it's ultimately the publisher's role to catch the mistakes the author did not or could not see. This being Gattani's debut novel, editorial support would have been especially helpful. The number of typos alone indicates that editorial support for the author was lacking. For that reason, I'm interested in following the career of this author. There were enough gems within this novel to suggest a talent that will shine diamond-bright with even a little polishing. Here's hoping that Gattani finds a publisher who has a buff cloth and is willing to use it. I think that small publisher investment will result in very large dividends through the course of this writer's career.
June 27, 2021
This book tells the story of Sheetal Prasad, the daughter of a prominent Indian businessman. Sheetal is forced to marry the heir of one of India’s wealthiest families, and to put her family’s interest above her own. Now she has to accept a life she didn’t want, while pretending to be happy and even grateful for her place in society in front of everyone else. Sheetal life with her new husband and family is far from the fairy tale, glamour and glitz people imagine it to be.
This book gave me an interesting insight into the practice of arranged marriage in modern times, and the sacrifices made in the name of protecting family honor. The storytelling is enthralling, and the description of both people and places is rich and vivid, which made it easier for me to connect with Sheetal and to see the story through her eyes. I found myself truly vested in her story, feeling her sadness and anger, and strongly disliking her adversaries. The book discusses honor and tradition, while addressing the painful reality of domestic abuse. I was fascinated by this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book gave me an interesting insight into the practice of arranged marriage in modern times, and the sacrifices made in the name of protecting family honor. The storytelling is enthralling, and the description of both people and places is rich and vivid, which made it easier for me to connect with Sheetal and to see the story through her eyes. I found myself truly vested in her story, feeling her sadness and anger, and strongly disliking her adversaries. The book discusses honor and tradition, while addressing the painful reality of domestic abuse. I was fascinated by this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 19, 2021
Duty and Desire allows readers to peek behind the cultural curtain and gawk at the glitz, glamour, and grand details of elite society and arranged marriages in modern day India.
Gattani's descriptive prose paints a breathtaking portrait of the stunning beauty that is par for the course at high society Indian weddings, from the intricate couture, to the extensive decorations, exquisite jewelry, banquet tables laden with scrumptious food, and grand pageantry of such a highly anticipated event.
As the main character struggles to make peace with leaving her home and family, and is forced to turn her back on true love in order to fulfill familial expectations, readers will feel her anguish as her dreams come crashing down, and root for her happiness as she struggles to break free and gain control of her destiny.
Gattani's descriptive prose paints a breathtaking portrait of the stunning beauty that is par for the course at high society Indian weddings, from the intricate couture, to the extensive decorations, exquisite jewelry, banquet tables laden with scrumptious food, and grand pageantry of such a highly anticipated event.
As the main character struggles to make peace with leaving her home and family, and is forced to turn her back on true love in order to fulfill familial expectations, readers will feel her anguish as her dreams come crashing down, and root for her happiness as she struggles to break free and gain control of her destiny.
February 9, 2021
Duty and Desire is a vibrant story of the beautiful Sheetal Prasad, forced to forsake the man she loves and marry another. While the arranged marriage seems that it should be blessed with nothing but good fortune, it is anything but. Your eyes will dance across the magnificent descriptions of wealth and grandeur set against the backdrop of India. Your heart will break for Sheetal. You won't be able to put it down. You will love this book!
March 1, 2012
The writing was very well done and the imagery and description were amazing.
My problem was that the book was all over the place IMO. I never knew when the characters were going to behave positively or negatively to each other and I left the book without a clear understanding of what it was the author was trying to accomplish or convey.
My problem was that the book was all over the place IMO. I never knew when the characters were going to behave positively or negatively to each other and I left the book without a clear understanding of what it was the author was trying to accomplish or convey.
November 2, 2022
Anju Gatani treats the reader to a view of India not often seen in novels – the glitz and glamour of India’s modern-day elite society. Weaving in the old traditions of arranged marriages, the modern story is filled with lies and secrets, which always make a good story.
April 19, 2021
I so enjoyed this book! The characters could be loved and hated at times. I couldn’t stop reading until I finished.
September 12, 2012
I received an eBook copy of this book from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Let me start with saying that I had also purchased this book, prior to it coming up as a potential book for me to review. I have a varied list of purchased books, and Amazon with its recommendations popped this one into my list as I have a few other books by Indian authors that center around women and their relationships.
Part of the joy of reading, for me, is the ability to gain perspective on another’s beliefs, traditions and see the differences and commonalities that we all share. In this story, the author has clearly detailed the struggle of a modern woman existing with traditional values that have been in existence for hundreds of years. In addition, her own guilt tends to allow her to behave in less than logical ways: a rather begrudging acceptance of her parent’s choice for marriage turned sideways in a rather Stockholm-syndrome like reaction to the man she has married – against her will, and with his disdain for the custom.
The story does jump about quite a bit: rich with imagery and information it takes a bit to fix all of the strangeness to the western reader to complete the picture. And the author has provided a glossary of terms that are frequently used throughout – my suggestion is that you look at those before starting in on the book; it does help to eliminate some of the strangeness. What I found is that the characters of both Sheetal and Sanjeet are developed with care and a completeness that depicts, better than expected, the inherent conflicted feelings they both have with the situation. What I don’t have experience with, is the overtly traditional and paternalistic society in which she is expected to live: where some of her reactions feel overblown or excessive to me – they do seem to fit with both the story and her character. So the tug of the modern against the expected and traditional is a core component of her psyche and her actions. Sanjeet, on the other hand, is a spoiled brat of a man child – who will bully, batter and berate to get the submissive and compliant reaction he wishes to have, while all the while wanting a ‘western style’ woman who flouts the conservative norms of their society. And he can’t express love or caring in words – it is done with grand public gestures rather than softly spoken words. His behaviour and mood swings deepen the conflict within Sheetal: because there is a ‘one she left behind’ that she sees as the behavioral polar opposite from her husband.
The whole story reads very much like a fly on the wall that is privy to all of the secrets that you don’t share outside your own family, and as such tends to jump about a bit. But the overwhelming sense I got from this story is that it felt ‘real’. I could easily imagine the conflicts and the struggle that Sheetal experiences in coming to claim her place as the wife, and the constant intrusions of a modern sensibility meeting the traditional expectations. It was not an ‘easy breezey’ read, at times it was certainly uncomfortable: but still and all quite a good book that left me with a better understanding of the tradition of arranged marriages and the pitfalls that can arrive with them. It’s an interesting peek into the world of the privileged and wealthy in Indian society, where everyone seems to have some conflict with traditional expectations and the modern wants. I’d gladly read more from this author, and am happy to recommend this book.
Let me start with saying that I had also purchased this book, prior to it coming up as a potential book for me to review. I have a varied list of purchased books, and Amazon with its recommendations popped this one into my list as I have a few other books by Indian authors that center around women and their relationships.
Part of the joy of reading, for me, is the ability to gain perspective on another’s beliefs, traditions and see the differences and commonalities that we all share. In this story, the author has clearly detailed the struggle of a modern woman existing with traditional values that have been in existence for hundreds of years. In addition, her own guilt tends to allow her to behave in less than logical ways: a rather begrudging acceptance of her parent’s choice for marriage turned sideways in a rather Stockholm-syndrome like reaction to the man she has married – against her will, and with his disdain for the custom.
The story does jump about quite a bit: rich with imagery and information it takes a bit to fix all of the strangeness to the western reader to complete the picture. And the author has provided a glossary of terms that are frequently used throughout – my suggestion is that you look at those before starting in on the book; it does help to eliminate some of the strangeness. What I found is that the characters of both Sheetal and Sanjeet are developed with care and a completeness that depicts, better than expected, the inherent conflicted feelings they both have with the situation. What I don’t have experience with, is the overtly traditional and paternalistic society in which she is expected to live: where some of her reactions feel overblown or excessive to me – they do seem to fit with both the story and her character. So the tug of the modern against the expected and traditional is a core component of her psyche and her actions. Sanjeet, on the other hand, is a spoiled brat of a man child – who will bully, batter and berate to get the submissive and compliant reaction he wishes to have, while all the while wanting a ‘western style’ woman who flouts the conservative norms of their society. And he can’t express love or caring in words – it is done with grand public gestures rather than softly spoken words. His behaviour and mood swings deepen the conflict within Sheetal: because there is a ‘one she left behind’ that she sees as the behavioral polar opposite from her husband.
The whole story reads very much like a fly on the wall that is privy to all of the secrets that you don’t share outside your own family, and as such tends to jump about a bit. But the overwhelming sense I got from this story is that it felt ‘real’. I could easily imagine the conflicts and the struggle that Sheetal experiences in coming to claim her place as the wife, and the constant intrusions of a modern sensibility meeting the traditional expectations. It was not an ‘easy breezey’ read, at times it was certainly uncomfortable: but still and all quite a good book that left me with a better understanding of the tradition of arranged marriages and the pitfalls that can arrive with them. It’s an interesting peek into the world of the privileged and wealthy in Indian society, where everyone seems to have some conflict with traditional expectations and the modern wants. I’d gladly read more from this author, and am happy to recommend this book.
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