Review: The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Rating: ★★★☆☆

After nearly three months, I finally finished The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, and I’d give it a solid three stars. It's an interesting read with a unique premise, but it didn't quite captivate me all through.

While actively reading it, I found the story engaging and the writing easy to follow. The plot centers around a woman navigating her life in a small Indian village, with themes of empowerment and justice woven throughout. Shroff's storytelling is vivid, and the cultural insights are fascinating.

However, whenever I took a break from the book, I found it hard to muster the enthusiasm to pick it back up. It wasn’t that the book was bad, but it just didn’t have that “can’t-put-it-down” factor for me.

The ending, in particular, left me scratching my head. It felt really odd and came out of nowhere, almost like it belonged to a different story. It was unbelievable and didn't quite match the tone or direction of the rest of the book.

Overall, The Bandit Queens has its moments and offers a glimpse into a different world, but it didn't entirely work for me. If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind a bit of a disjointed ending, give it a try.