I was given an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Bookouture, Renita D'Silvas publisher. This is something I'm more than happy to do.

This is the first book I've read of Renita's and now I've got to go back and read all her others. This was such a beautiful read with characters that you can't help rooting for. The story is set between the 1920's and the present day and is told from the viewpoint of four very different women - Lucy, Gawri, Kavya and Sue. Each from different backgrounds and upbringings, each with a reason to want to escape to another life. Each thought they had it all before life puts them on a different path.

I particularly loved reading about India, a country that is on the top of my must visit places. So many different cultures and traditions played out across the pages, some uplifting and vibrant like the beautiful silks and sari's and some dark and tragic - I found it very moving and humbling to read about Gowri in particular.

This was more than just a good read for me, the words Renita wrote painted a picture so vivid I literally flew through the pages, a very thought provoking, emotional read. I sat for a long while after finishing the book just contemplating how very different peoples lives can be - we all have hopes and dreams of living happy lives and sometimes the tiniest thing can shatter them. A Daughter's Courage is a wake-up call, nothing should ever be taken for granted because in the blink of an eye it can all change.

I highly recommend A Daughter's Courage on so many levels, family, friendship, love, hope, tragedy, travel and characters who have the greatest grit and determination - a must read.

This book used the type of narrative that I really enjoy, there were several different viewpoints, that at first glance were only linked tenuously, I kept wondering how two women from the 1920’s and two other women from present day would all fit together?! D’Silva weaved these threads together in a breathtaking manner and crafted four amazing characters that I couldn’t help but root for.

The writing style was gorgeous and lyrical, D’Silva paints such a stunning picture using vivid, rich imagery. I could clearly envision the landscape of India; the bright colors, the scent of exotic spices, the women swathed in bold saris, it was a very immersive read.

Along with a superbly crafted setting, the characterization was outstanding as well. The four women depicted had distinct issues and troubles, but they were all strong, courageous and inspiring. I especially felt a connection to Gowri, she was a young teenager who was a devadasi, which means she had to dedicate her entire life to worshiping and servicing a temple and goddess statue called Yellamma. This was so interesting to learn about the traditions and cultural customs practiced in India back in the 20’s. It was also heartbreaking and disturbing reading her story of sacrifice, but her resilience was amazing.

I was mesmerized by this book and I experienced a wide variety of emotions from deep sadness and compassion to gentle smiles through my tears. It was really touching and poignant, just a really beautifully told story that left an impact on me. This was my first D’Silva book but it most definitely will not be my last.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. enjoyed this booked based in separate time periods with it's own characters How could life be so different for each one but their struggles to live a happy and fulfilled life the same. . Loved it

WoW.....What a beautiful Book! A Daughter's Courage by Renita D'Silva.

So turn your phone off, find a comfy chair and open this wonderful book set in the late 1920's in India and the UK. You can smell the aroma's, drink in the atmosphere and your see your surrounding's by the way Renita describes them, in all her books especially A Daughter's Courage. This is a touching and an incredible read that will make you smile and cry in places, so make sure you have some tissues handy. This story will sweep you away and before you know it you have finished the book and you will want more.
I feel Renita's books get better and better and looking forward to the next one....

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for letting me read this wonderful book for an honest review.
This is on Good reads and Amazon UK.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1995709953?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Renita D’Silva has done it again. After reading A Mother’s Secret last year, I thought nothing could impact on me like that again. I even went into this book feeling confident that I know this author’s writing style. I know what to expect and I know this book will make me cry. Yet, even though I knew all those things and tried to prepare myself for what was to come, including having a packet of tissues near me at all times, I am still sat here completely heart broken and in tears over what this truly sensational story has put me through emotionally over the last few days.

A Daughter’s Courage is stunning, in that it is both remarkable and overwhelming. How a story can be so beautiful yet harrowing at the same time, shows the true talent of this author. Renita’s words are like liquid gold, trickling down the pages, enriching them with precious prose.

While part way through this book I ended up crying proper ugly tears. My few minutes in the shower each morning is my quiet relaxation time before my day of work begins. But a couple of days ago I spent that time crying my eyes out, my tears washed away by the water from the shower, only to be replaced with more, as my heart broke for one of the characters in this book. I desperately wanted to save her and take away her loneliness. My soul wanted to travel to India and bring her back here. How can a fictional character feel so real, and cause such strong emotions within me?

This book even took over my dreams. My mind was completely mesmerised by the cottage, temple and its enchanting surroundings. The vivid dreams on the first night of reading this book were both magical yet unnervingly haunting. I woke up the following morning feeling strange, like I had really been in India all night instead of sleeping in my bed. In hindsight, it was as if my subconscious was warning me of things to come. Allowing me to be enticed by the magic of the Indian location, but at the same time warning me I was about to give my heart and soul to this place, and will not escape until the end of the book. I felt trapped, like a bird that has had its wings clipped, unable to fly away to a safe place.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It gripped me emotionally and psychologically. My heart physically ached at the sadness and loss that was experienced by these wonderfully strong and determined characters. However, through it all is perhaps the one emotion that has kept the human race going, and that is one of hope. No matter what happens to you, always hold on to hope, because you never know where destiny may take you.

Alternating between the 1920's and today . A breath taking journey through India . All the descriptions of India, the people and their customs are new to me. I haven't read about this country and it's people before. From the lush coffee plantations with the heavy foliage in the fields and the silk fabrics of the clothing and heavy scents of spices. India also has a great diversity in terms of weaves, fibers, colours and material of clothing. Colour codes are followed in clothing based on the religion and ritual concerned. Some of the book features very strong,courageous women and parts of the book are absolutely heartbreaking. This really opened my eyes to a different cultural way of life. Very interesting!
Pub Date 31 May 2017.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW!! There are some books you read that stay with you for days or even weeks after you read them - this is one of those books. I feel like I've walked along paths avoiding snakes, climbed a treehouse to avoid a tiger and experienced the sights and smells of an Indian market. The detail and description was extraordinary All 4 women we hear from show us how to love and how to be strong even through the toughest of times. I was absolutely blown away by this book and couldn't put it down. I'm going straight to Amazon to buy another book by Renita D'Silva - I need more! Just incredible - thank you so much for the chance to review this.

Heartrending... beautiful... a dream...

Oh my! Having just finished reading this fabulous book, my emotions are all over the place and I fear that no combination of words can express exactly my thoughts and feelings, how much I enjoyed being immersed in this story. I did not just love this book, I actually LIVED it. 'A Daughter's Courage' is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.

This book is set mostly in India with a few chapters set in the UK. The main characters are four women unknowingly bound together across time and continents.

How much hurt and suffering can a person endure?

Everything starts with the discovery of an old temple in ruins, having lain hidden by overgrown vegetation in a jungle and forgotten for many decades. A child's bones are discovered on site too. Whose bones are they? For how long have they been there? What secrets lay hidden within the temple's crumbling walls?

1920s. India. Gowri is a teenage girl whose dreams of becoming a teacher are shattered for ever when her younger brother falls seriously ill. After much prayer, the brother heals, but in exchange, following an old tradition, it is agreed that Gowri becomes a 'devadasi'. She's 'dedicated' and offered to the goddess Yellamma. A temple and a cottage are built by the landlord in honour of the goddess in a field and Gowri is practically imprisoned in this cottage alone to worship the goddess, take care of the temple, but also to serve the lecherous landlord and his friends for the rest of her life.

1920s. England. After almost bringing disgrace upon her family, Lucy is forced by her parents to marry a respectable coffee plantation owner, in order to safeguard the family's name. She leaves England to join her new husband in India starting a new life with a man she doesn't love.

Present day. India. Gavya is returning back home to her family, leaving behind her a flourishing acting career in Mumbai's Bollywood. Why is she renouncing her dream career, the most important thing in her life? What happened to her?

Present day. England. Sue is a journalist who's just lost her beloved husband. She's living in limbo at home, not knowing what to do with herself and the news she's just received.

Four different women, four different lives racked with suffering and loss, almost a century and half a world apart. Nothing seemingly common between them. And yet, through her strikingly beautiful, colourful, evocative prose, Renita D'Silva weaves a heartrending, touching story, bringing past and present together as one and mingling the lives and stories of these women together.

All characters in this book are very realistic and with the exception of one (who I wanted to murder with my bare hands) I loved them ALL. Of the four women, Gowri's is by far the most heart-wrenching story. How could someone do that to another human being? I wished I could hold her and ease her pain somehow, and believe me when I say that I suffered and cried and could almost feel her anguish.

Colours, smells and sounds burst out of each page of this book. The past and present, landscapes and people are brought to life in vivid colours and splendour. Through her flawless writing, this author always gives wings to my imagination, taking me back in time across decades and continents. India is a beautiful exotic country full of colours, magnificent landscapes, glorious food, sacred sites and rituals and honestly thanks to Ms. D'Silva's magical prose, I felt as if I were there, enjoying all this. I could clearly visualise Mumbai's crazy, busy, buzzing streets full of cars and pedestrians. And closing my eyes I could almost see and hear the market place heaving with life, the vendors of fruit, vegetables, spices and flowers along the sides of the roads shouting their wares, women clad in colourful saris, cows passing languidly by, the chaotic crush of humanity in the streets. I could almost feel the oppressive heat that sticks clothes to bodies and then the relief and freshness brought by the monsoon rains.

Nature, family, food, love, passion, colours but also heartache, loss, sorrow, regrets and shattered dreams are the pillars of this fantastic read. All strong elements exquisitely portrayed by the author through her beautiful prose. My favourite quotes:

"Silence spreads through the gathered crowd like waves pushing outward from a stone rippling a still pond."

"In the distance dusk gently kisses the horizon, wrapping it in a rosy caress, a shawl of twilight the shade of romance, the blush on a maiden's cheek."

"Blue dress to match eyes the undulating turquoise of the lake reflecting the sky in its depths. Skin the rose-tinted cream of dawn."

'A Daughter's Courage' is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story that made me dream with my eyes open and experience all sorts of emotions. I really loved and enjoyed it and I'm sure Gowri and the other characters will stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommended!

With thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read and review this book through NetGalley.

An engaging story where well developed characters navigated challenging decisions, as suspense built with the narrative shifting from past to present, culminating meaningfully.

I confess that before I had read Renita's work I was always a little put off. I don't know why but the synopsis always seemed a little too 'not my thing'. However, after reading the first book by her I was smitten. I always love it when an author and their book surprises me. Since then I have goine on to read and loved her tales, because that what they are. Cleverly woven stories which literally take you on a journey. When I saw she has a new book out I have to admit I was apprehensive. When you fall in love with an author and their work, I always get a little bit scared that their following books won't live up to my expectations. Thankfully I was wrong and this book swept me away as much as her others have, if not more.

I confess when the synopsis indicated we would be reading about Lucy and Gowri in the 1920's my heart sunk a little. I have never been big on historical settings however by the time I had finished the book I was literally blown away. This story is tragic, emotional and so compelling I literally didn't want to put it down, something I never thought I would say when it comes to historical stories.

Lucy lives in England and Gowri in India. Their lives could not be further apart and their stories end up being completely interweaved in a tale that swept me away to tyhe wilds of India. Gowri is a young woman who was given as a Devadasi when she was a young girl. Upon finishing this book I googled and read a lot more about this sad and sorry tradition where young girls become a servant of God and essentially nothing more than a mans toy. My heart wept for Gowri but the story was told with such passion and heart that I didn't just imagine this story, but felt like I was right there with her. On the opposite side of the world Lucy is an entitled young British woman who seems to have it all. Her story takes a turn when she makes a huge mistake in her life which leads her into the arms of James, a young eligible Bachelor who owns a plantation in India.

In addition to Lusy and Gowri we meet Kavya who is living in the present day and who has had to make the decision to return to her village after failings in her personal life. We also briefly meet Sue, a widow who is working through the grief of lsoing her husband whilst recently discovering she was pregnant. Although Gowri and Lucy stole the show for me, both Kavya and Sue were pivotal to the story towards the end. The book started a little slower than her usual books but with perfectly good reason. The background is all important as these girls lives are laid out before us.

This book was a sheer joy to read and I am putting myself out on a limb by saying this is the best book I have read in this genre this year. Please do not make assukmptions like I once did by either teh synopsis, or cover not being the style you would read. This is true storytelling at it's best and transporting you to another time and another world. One that had me absorbed to the end. A truly outstanding book that I hugely reccomend to everybody. This is by far the best work Renita D'Silva has written and a book that I absolutely LOVED!

Another stunning story from Renita D'Silva. Set in the late 1920's and today in both India and the UK. The vivid descriptions of India make you feel you are there. You can sense the surroundings, colours and aroma's and picture the scenes clearly as it is so beautifully written. I loved finding out the connection between a variety of strong women coming together as the story continues. A strong theme of loss, heartbreak and love throughout the generations. Truly wonderful characters - I particularly loved Market Boy! An educational read also about a set of society I never knew about worshiping Goddesses and the religion and how it can break a family. A wonderful read. Thank you NetGalley for my review copy.

I enjoyed this booked based in separate time periods with it's own characters How could life be so different for each one but their struggles to live a happy and fulfilled life the same.

I have loved every single novel by Renita I have had the opportunity to read and this was no exception. She weaves a magical tale of another world and culture which is as fascinating as it is moving and the focus of this particular novel will certainly necessitate the reader to have on hand a hefty supply of tissues.
The story focuses on two time frames, each with two key characters, all women who have experienced great sadness in their lives. Renita puts across their emotions with depth of feeling. We have Lucy, rich and spolit who has been cast out from her family and Gowra, also cast out for very different reasons into a horrific lie as a devadasi serving the village landlord. I was shocked to hear of this prostitution of young girls and found the accounts of her lonely existence heartbreaking.
Moving to present day we meet Sue, recently widowed and pregnant and Kayva, reeling from a broken relationship. A stampeding herd of elephants uncovers an old temple and cottage with a child's remains and slowly we peace together characters and events linking through time and space. UNforgettable reading.

The locations might be fictional but boy are they exotic and evocative - There's a line which says that the soundtrack to India is the chickens in the street and the rickshaws weaving in and out of the tourists -and having been in this novel, I quite agree.

A story of hope and redemption in many ways - the threads of several women's stories woven together delicately like ribbons on a sari. I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this story - the elephant rampage, the role and cultural identity of the Devadasis, the pride of the family's ancestral home, the plantation...ah the plantation was the backdrop to the biggest mystery of them all and I felt the mood and story envelop me. The characters were well formed and the quotes from the Goddess added another layer of magic.

(i will post nearer review time - booktrail on may 30th and GR before then)

Renita D’Silva takes the popular parallel-narratives format to a new level with her engrossing saga intertwining four women’s stories. They all center on a secret temple in south India, but the points where they meet, and how, aren’t easy to predict.

In 1924, Gowri is only fourteen when her parents dedicate her to the service of the goddess Yellamma in hopes of saving her younger brother’s life. She yearns to continue her education but, as a devadasi, instead she’s installed in a newly built temple, made to live alone at the jungle’s edge, and forced to sleep with the local landlord. Her pain and confusion are poignantly expressed in letters she writes to the goddess, questioning why she was sacrificed, and wondering why Yellamma doesn’t intervene on her behalf.

In another strand, a privileged Londoner named Lucy decides to marry a man she barely knows, an heir to a coffee plantation in India, in the wake of a scandalous love affair. Left to follow the trail of their secrets in the modern day is Kavya, who returns to her Madras home after major heartbreak. While there, she faces pressure from her overbearing mother to get married and learns about her ajji’s (grandmother, in Kannada) connection to a newly discovered temple that’s been attracting national attention. Introduced later on is the viewpoint of Sue, a recent war widow, whose link to the others is less obvious but critical.

This novel bursts with rich, sensual descriptions of southern India, though the word choices are sometimes odd (“the navy autumn scent of smoke”). All the women are fully rounded characters with well-developed personal histories, and the narrative skips briskly along as it ensnares readers in a story designed to keep them up far too late. The emphasis on women’s resilience and agency is subtle yet unmistakable.

(From the May 2017 issue of the Historical Novels Review)