The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

For three and a half centuries, the Taj Mahal has haunted our imaginations. It is a tomb built by a grieving king of the Mughal Empire (1526-1858) in India in memory of his beloved wife.
But it was this woman's aunt, an empress in her own right, who was the most powerful queen of that dynasty. The Twentieth Wife is the story of this Empress Nur Jahan.

She is one of India's most controversial empresses. Her brilliance and determination trumped myriad obstacles and helped shape the course of the Mughal Empire.

Although a work of fiction, The Twentieth Wife is rooted in historical fact and detail culled from accounts of seventeenth-century travelers to Emperor Jahangir's court and the memoirs of the Mughal kings.

The sequel, titled The Feast of Roses (Atria Books, May 2003) tells the story of Mehrunnisa's life as Empress. She rules in Jahangir's name for the next seventeen years, and in doing so, shapes the destiny of the empire. In a time when women were never seen and rarely heard, Mehrunnisa has coins minted in her name, owns ships that ply the Arabian sea routes, and commissions many of the gardens and tombs that still stand in India today.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. It is written beautifully and absolutely transports you. I was craving some saag paneer and naan for weeks afterward! I loved that she was a strong individual and yet still obedient to the confines of her culture, a balance I am always trying to find. I have not read the sequel yet but will post when I do.