I loved the first book so very much I was really excited to read this one. Sadly it left me disappointed. In the end I didn't feel a lot of emotion for any of the characters that I had come to love in the first book. Perhaps the author was trying to put too much into this book but it felt rushed at times and the characters didn't come to life for me like they did in her first book. Still she is a gifted author and I would pick another of her books based on what I have read to this point. ( )

Here's what I wrote about this read in 2008: "Sequel to The Twentieth Wife; story of Empress Nur Jahan (Mehrunnia) continues. 'How ironic that the Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Jahangir's son Khurram in memory of his deceased wife, has become the symbol of this period, surpassing the memory of the Empress Nur Jahan. Truly a "Light of the World", Mehrunnia is an extraordinary role model, a woman of great achievement, centuries before her time. Luan Gaines/ 2003.' " ( )

Her nerve! But holy shit, is the power worth all the deadly drama? Not necessarily specific to Mehrunnisa, nor to the Mughal Empire... ( )

This second novel in the Taj trilogy tells the story of Empress Nur Jahan - Mehrunnisa in her humbler past - after her wedding to Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Based on available historical documents, and also on stories and myths passed on from the Mughal era mixed with the author's imagination, this one is a fine blend of history and fiction. The author has beautifully captured Jahangir's almost fatal surrender to the love - and whatever else - of the shrewd Mehrunnisa, to the exclusion of everyone else in his world, that shaped the empire's destiny.
On the downside, this novel is long-drawn at many places, which makes it an effort to keep reading it. Also, the episode of the Portugese has been left hazy, which is disappointing.
Overall, The Feast of Roses is a nice build up on the fascinating story of Mehrunnisa - The Twentieth Wife. ( )

Such a rich story of India in the 16th century . A novel filled with details on the life and lavish lifestyle of Emperor Jahangir and his beloved wife Mehrunnisa. It is also their love story and a story of power behind the throne. ( )