Review: The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

4/5 Stars

The Last Queen tells of the life of Jindan, final reigning queen of the Sikh empire in India. The book description reads: “Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, Jindan was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she was elevated to royalty, becoming his youngest and last queen--and his favorite. And when her son, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son's birthright from the encroaching British Empire. Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil, and conducted state business in public, inspiring her subjects in two wars. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, but nothing crushed her indomitable will.” Well then. Sign me up.

There was so much I loved about this book! Firstly, I loved the vivid, descriptive style. I felt like I was immersed in Jindan’s world, from commoner, to royal, to exile. You could almost smell the mango lassi and hear the whisper of silks as she walked through courtyards and beautiful rooms we could only imagine. The way it was all painted gave the best backdrops to the novels twists and turns. When she was in her hometown, it felt small and provincial. The wonder of the palace and later disillusionment. The different landscapes of her exile. All were stunningly written. Best of all, however, was Jindan’s development. The book is divvied into three: Girl, Bride, Rebel, and I feel as if each part of her life and development truly feels authentic. The way she matures from the young, provincial village girl to the naïve queen, to a real political power, feels true to life. We can hear her voice becoming more sure, more confident, more adult. But best of all, she’s human. The author doesn’t shy away from her flaws: she can be naïve throughout, she can be impulsive, she falls for the maharaja in the way only a young girl can. I loved watching as she became more embroiled in the politics and intrigues of court, learning to maneuver and scheme like the rest. Naivete doesn't get you far at court. The other characters were mostly well-developed, though I would have liked to see a bit more depth to the oldest queen, who came off a little flat as the stereotypical mean wife lording it over the others. For the most part, however, I loved them. They all had their own agendas, motivations, and personalities, in what was probably a realistic portrayal of the political landscape changing by the hour in those times.

My only qualms came twofold. One that the ending felt a little flat to me- but that may just be my own opinion. Certainly, the writing style is beautiful. Perhaps I was getting an early start on a book hangover and was just sad it was about to end. The other is I felt that the later years of her queenship weren’t explored in the detail they could have been. I’m used to reading politics that change at breakneck speed. (Who isn’t, in 2025?) But I found I would have liked it to be explored in more depth, giving a greater understanding to the politics. Or it may have been a creative choice to give us a view of how chaotic it was. Either way, for that reason, I’m giving it four stars.

After reading the life of this fascinating woman in fiction, I did do some digging. As such, I realised the book was fairly historically accurate. Which is, of course, a pleasant surprise! I will personally be exploring her life in more depth, as she seems like a fascinating character.

And for the tldr: Moving, vividly painted, well researched, and definitely worth a read!