The Palace of Illusions By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Mahabharata as you've never heard it before — through the voice of a queen.

In The Palace of Illusions, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni reimagines the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, from the perspective of its most enigmatic and misunderstood character — Draupadi.

Born from fire and destined for greatness, Draupadi steps out of the shadows of myth and into her own story — bold, flawed, brilliant, and deeply human. From her mysterious birth and fiery marriage to her role in the epic Kurukshetra war, Draupadi challenges tradition, questions fate, and seeks her own truth in a world ruled by men and gods.

This lyrical and gripping novel explores:

• Power and patriarchy in ancient India

• Love, duty, betrayal, and vengeance

• The voice of a woman silenced by history

• Spiritual depth woven into a story of personal rebellion

A tale of myth, magic, and memory — The Palace of Illusions is a feminist retelling of an epic that’s both timeless and urgently relevant.