I really liked the storyline and concept of a dystopian India in the 1960s, if they had not gained their independence from the British. It had some impactful threads on fighting for freedom, taking life-threatening risks, benefits and consequences of violence vs non-violence, etc. I also really loved the friendships and loyalty the women had, and that they stood up despite so much against them. That they were selfless in fighting for each other and their people even to their own detriment, but understood the importance of *being* better than their oppressors if they wanted a better world, rather than matched retaliation and justification. 

What I struggled a little with was the writing style. It was very narrative-based with arguably most of the book being Kalki’s contemplation, flashback memories and rumination. I didn’t feel invited into their struggle or fight so much as looking at it from the outside, removed from the story. It was hard to be invested in what was going on consistently outside of *wanting* to be invested because of the value of the story. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.