Sometimes books not only provide the chance to reminisce and be nostalgic, stories also have the power to allow us readers to take a deeper look at our emotions and our situations. Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden is a book that took me down such a memory lane and reminded me of my homeland. Set in Mughal India, the story of a trans woman who was the crown prince of Nizam.
Content Notes: Transphobia, Violence, Death in Conflict.
Stealing Thunder is set in the 1200s. It is the story of Razia Khan who gave up her right to the throne of Nizam when she left her home and embraced her identity as a trans woman in the city of Bikampur. Hijras, as trans women were called in South Asia (and still are in modern India), live in deeras and entertain for money. Razia though has other talents. She is also a trained thief who steals valuable things from the rich families of the city. It takes a lot of money to bring up, teach and give a comfortable life to trans women (who have run away from their families and are lacking support systems) and Ammi, the head of the deera, uses the money from selling the items to give the girls a safe life. In a society that shames sex work, trying to make a living through dancing and using their bodies to make money isn’t the easiest of lifestyles. When Razia meets Prince Arjun and he catches a fancy to her, she sees hope that she will not have to steal forever and one day, will have a self-sufficient life.
My Thoughts on Stealing Thunder
This book reminded me how magical India is. It honestly does not take a lot to feel magic in a place that is so rich in culture, colors and history of kings, queens and wars. As I walked with Razia on the streets of Bikampur, it was like being back home. I remembered the narrow alleys, the street markets, the sounds of the busy city… I was home. For once, I knew every reference being made and every food item and drink mentioned. That is what made me savour this world and want to stay in it forever. If you plan to read the book, I would highly recommend referring to the glossary at the back and maybe even google images of the items. It will absolutely enhance your experience.
What is the fantastical element in this book, you might ask? The answer is zahhaks. They are like dragons but smaller, probably horse size. The royalty in this world is trained to ride zahhaks and every region has its speciality. While Razia’s family had thunder zahhaks (yes, they can summon thunder), Prince Arjun rode fire zahhaks and another Prince had acid zahhaks. These creatures are an important part of military strategy and the story focuses on the human relationships with them as well as their use in war. Razia might be a woman but she grew up a man, learning to ride a zahhak, and receiving strategic training that honed her tactical mind that would be helpful to the lords of Bikampur and their allies.
I really enjoyed Razia as a protagonist. It was easy to follow along her point of view and feel a kinship to her. The story did a great job of highlighting not only the struggles of being a hijra as well as the reasons why she decided to give up her inheritance to embody who she really is. I have read stories about who we really are and roles imposed by society a couple times since I started book blogging but this one offered a perspective I did not have yet – the story of a trans woman.
Overall, Stealing Thunder is engaging and straightforward. I was immersed and lost in it from Page 1 and it felt like home. The author, not being from South Asia, still did an amazing job portraying my home country and giving me that feel of authenticity. However, there was one point and that leads us to the next part of this post.
My Reading Experience as a Indian
I loved this book and for a long time I did not want to put it down. But at one point in my reading experience, I felt pushed out of my feeling of home. This was a really minor detail and you might think I over-reacted, but my reaction is my reaction and I found there are deeper reasons for this reaction. What follows is a bit of an introspection of my experiences in the last few weeks. I have realized lately that due to COVID, I will probably not visit my home in India for a long time and when I find a story that reminds me of home, the moment that pulls me out of that feeling is devastating.
In India, we don’t talk in a hundred thousands. We use lakhs and crores. One lakh equals one hundred thousand. It wasn’t until I moved to Canada in 2014 that I adopted this style of expressing numbers. And sadly it was the mention of two lakh being equivalent to two hundred thousand that became a defining moment in my reading.
I read those words and I laughed.
I was instantly aware that this was knowledge I had gained in the West which Razia could not know without that influence. After all the South Asian foods and drinks going unexplained, this conversion stood out to me and led me down a path that I never expected a book would. I disconnected from the world and could no longer perceive it as home again.
In the last couple weeks, I have subconsciously sought out Indian stories. I was never one to talk about Mythology but I have discussed the Mahabharat with at least two of my friends and finding A Spark of White Fire, a Science Fiction retelling of the Mahabharat has been one of the most exciting discoveries this year. In a time when I can’t go back and see my family, anything that feels like home is an added comfort and through Stealing Thunder, I mourn the loss of the connection I was feeling with that world through the story and Razia up until that point.
I am sharing this because that little incident has been an important part of my reading experience, admittedly a sad one that still has me raw and hurting. Will every Indian have that? I can’t speak for them. We might share roots but we are all not the same people.
Do I regret reading this book? No. Stealing Thunder is a well-researched book and an example of a story done well about a different culture. There is, however, always going to be unspoken cultural nuances that will not be able to be represented if the author is not writing within their own culture, no matter how much research is conducted, and this book is a reminder of that.
I do not blame this on anybody. Who could have predicted that such a detail would cause so many tears? Even I did not know how deep my longing for home is and I am still shocked by how hurt I feel.
Stories are powerful, sometimes in unpredictable ways, and that is a lesson that Stealing Thunder taught me.
** Stealing Thunder is now out in stores. **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
I want to thank all my friends who have talked to me and helped me with understanding my reaction these past few days and I am honored to have them as my support system. Also, a special thank you to you, reader, for joining me today in this very personal take on the book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cover image: Photo by Debashis Biswas on Unsplash
Dear Kriti, thank you for this powerful review, and the reminder of fiction’s capacity to cause pain as well as to bring joy. I feel for you, not being able to visit India, and hope that you find some solace in future reading. My mother recently discovered Abir Mukherjee’s historical crime novels set in India and loved them. Sending you strength and hope, Angela
Thank you so much, Angela! I’ll check out Abir Mukherjee’s books! I am glad your mom loved them. Hope you and your family are keeping safe!
Thank you for this powerful and REAL review. I had something similar happen when reading, Turtles All the Way Down. It triggered something from my childhood and I was angry for days. I think it’s so important when we realize this has something to do with us and does not come from the story itself. I love reading your reviews!
Camilla, you reading my reviews and commenting on the ones that resonate with you keep me going and sharing my thoughts. Thank you so much!