Book Review: Queen of Earth by Devika Rangachari

First of all, let it be said that this is a children's book, and I am reading it as an adult. To that extent, the review should be taken with a pinch of salt. 

The book is an easy breezy interesting read. I did not feel like picking up the phone even once during this book. 

While the writing style is fluent and easy, the story itself, not so much. There are many things that leave one wondering. Also, the historical note is, sadly, inadequate. 

Devika Rangachari's series on lesser known queens of India is definitely a favourite series. The Queen of Ice, about Queen Didda of Kashmir, was awe-inspiring. But this is the story of a queen who barely ruled, and then left the kingdom for reasons entirely unknown. We get some glimpse into her thoughts and how they work, but their quick contradiction is hard to understand. As is the idea that she had no idea of the conspiracy being hatched by her father. 

Intrigued, I researched the queen and came upon this information: 

The next queen to ascend the Bhaumakara throne was Prithvimahadevi who assumed the title of Tribhuvanamahadevi II. Her reign must have been very short since it was disputed by her nephews. She ruled in her own right, although in most other dynasties the throne would have gone to her husband’s nephews. 

A somewhat singular occurrence recorded in copper plate in Baud says that she gave grants to a common woman who petitioned that she wanted to build two temples in her father’s memory. It is noteworthy that such instances are usually not given much prominence in history books but to me it shows the queen had agency to take decisions, and the one that she took here was to help another woman, a commoner at that.

Source: https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2021/04/bhaumakara-queens-of-odisha.html

This book is ideal for history fans, but not for people who need an in-depth exploration.

Its an easy breezy read that could also be perfect for teen book clubs.