Such a heartbreaking read that is a reflection from the realities in the world where women were extorted, abused and murdered due to the sake of patriarchal beliefs and extreme hatred on one religion.

The word Honor in here was highlighted so many times it reflected the difference of meaning to every person. How the word itself brings so much meaning but is interpreted differently to different people.

Honor in defending your religion ? Yes. - But at what cost?

Honor in defending your family's name? Yes. - But at what cost?

Honor in defending your identity ? Yes. - But at what cost?

The cost of the word HONOR when taken literally can not only cost harm to the wellbeings of people but showed how it can be misused. Its both a positive word but a bad word when extremists took it to their understanding. It can be a source of joy and utmost pain. Such irony to such a word with a grand meaning and it had reflected deeply with this book.

Taken loosely from the perspective of the author whilst she was working as a journalist herself, is the story of Smita who came to India on an assignment to cover her friend who got injured - to cover a story of a girl whose husband got burned by her brothers. Whilst Smita is an American but India calls back to her roots, the place where she was born. A story of self identity , love, privilege , extremists and mostly of honor and the price it paid to keep it upright in a community where its taken to its meaning in literal.

The cover of the book literally made so much sense once we finished the story . I literally BAWLED towards the end. The heartbreak of seeing such horror in a supposedly modern society is astonishing. Firstly, this is my first book from Umrigar and I have to say her writing is spot on , clear and very straightforward. Its def a page turner and the story was done immaculately well. The overall plot of the book made me want to hurl things at someone - in how its a reflection of the realities in the real world - which made some scenes very hard to read.

The story is set in India and the author had brought us to the different parts of India, where your religion and your own sexual identity can cost you your life. One thing I liked about the author is how she highlighted that the horrifying things that is imposed to women in the community, was not only seen in India, but basically everywhere around the world where she had worked to cover some stories. It showed that these things can not just happen in one specific country, but can be seen by even countries that were considered 'modern'. It can happen anywhere, to anyone and its such a horrifying thought that the cost of pertaining certain traditions is taken from the lives of aspiring women who only deserved love , care and protection.

Whilst the hard parts of the book made it suffocating to read - on sexual abuse, extreme religion Fascism, murder and the broken justice system that costs the lives of people - another theme that the author wrote is on Privilege . I liked that the author had portrayed a set of characters in the book , where two people who appears to be the same on the surface is treated so differently in society. Since India heavily applies the system of castes in their community - especially in rural villages - its important to see what is a norm to you is a privilege to another person. I feel that Mohan has the biggest character development in this book - where he got very defensive for his country , due to his status and casts, but was slapped hard with realities with the things he had encountered during his journey with Smita. It showed that sometimes, even the best people can turn blind to another's misery if it doesn't imply directly to their lives ; and that is the harsh truth of the society nowadays.

The author had brought forward various topics where it can be very sensitive, but also made such an eye opening read. It made me reflect on a lot of things, and how Identity is important in shaping a person. The visceral urge of immigrants who grew up in another country and their needs to identify being a person of one country to another is evident in the story and it showed the struggles of children of immigrants in paving some parts of their lives when returned to the country that they loved but scarred them for life.

Its a story that I will recommend to everyone to read at least once in their lives. It might be painful but there are voices in the world that needs to be heard and through this book - it gives the platform for these voices to be seen.

Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟
(this book would be perfect it not for the romance plot that came out of nowhere? it seemed too abrupt. understandable and still aww but too sudden it gave me whiplash, hence the ratings)

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this copy! I truly appreciate it.