“Brilliant full-color illustrations by Johansson, which render the fantasy world in all its fearsome beauty, accompany the text. Sheth places particular importance on the female characters in her account, imbuing them with strength and pathos… An impressive recounting of an ancient South Asian legend.”
– KIRKUS REVIEWS
“A heartbreakingly beautiful re-telling of Valmiki’s Ramayana, one of the classic tales from ancient India. True to the original, yet written from a deeply personal perspective, ‘Shadows’ is a book for all people and all times. Ten stars!!! Read it as soon as possible!!! Ps. The original illustrations by Anna Johansson, Vrinda’s mother, are the icing on the cake.”
– JAI UTTAL, kirtan pioneer, Grammy nominee, and Rama-lover
“ ‘Shadows of the Sun Dynasty’ is a fictionalized novel adaptation of the story of Lord Rama and his eternally beloved Sita. Vrinda’s thrilling devotional narration and her mother Anna’s spellbinding illustrations exhilarate our hearts with wisdom and grace and stir the awakening of our souls true love.”
– RADHANATH SWAMI, author of “The Journey Home” and the New York Times Best-seller “The Journey Within.”
“My dear friend, the multi-talented Vrinda Sheth, wife of Visvambhar Sheth, has written the best modern rendition of the Ramayana (the story of Rama and Sita) and she has written it from the perspectives of the women. This adventure packed tale is also filled with sublime illustrations done by Vrinda’s mother, Anna Johansson.”
– SHARON GANNON, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga, author of “Yoga and Vegetarianism.”
“Vrinda Sheth is an extraordinarily gifted storyteller who with her mother’s exquisite illustration is bringing the universal epic of the Ramayana alive for all ages. It illuminates the timeless human dilemmas, particularly for women, to inspire us all to rise to our destiny.”
– SHIVA REA, Global Yoga Teacher, Sacred Activist, author of “Tending the Heart Fire”
“Vrinda Sheth’s brand new retelling of the Ramayana brings the great epic vividly to life. She weaves an insightful story around the original narrative, plunging us deeply into the drama filled lives of its many fascinating characters. A highly entertaining read that never loses sight of the profound spiritual themes that run through the revered classic. Moving and uplifting. I can hardly wait for the next two volumes.”
– KRISHNA DHARMA, author of “The Ramayana: India’s Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom.”
“What especially stands out in this edition of the Ramayana is the celebration of the feminine voice: the female characters who would normally be overshadowed by their male counterparts are now invested with agency and power. The extraordinary positive contributions from such female personalities leaves the reader with a fresh view of this amazing tale.”
– GRAHAM M. SCHWEIG, PHD, author of “Bhagavad Gītā: The Beloved Lord’s Secret Love Song.”
“Reader, be prepared for a treat. Vrinda Sheth’s Ramayana is far beyond routine story-telling. Her telling is full of the kind of personal detail and insight that comes from knowing her subjects at a heart level.”
– RANCHOR PRIME, Author of “Ramayana: A Tale of Gods and Demons.”
“The intrigue and mystery starts with the opening line—never have I been pulled so quickly into a book through a few simple yet tantalizing words. The art and magic unfold page after page through story and image alike.”
– BRAJA SORENSEN, Author of “Lost & Found in India.”
“What an excellent retelling of the Ramayana! If sheer artistry, imagination, storytelling technique, and descriptive writing were not enough, Vrinda Sheth accurately conveys the emotion and underlying philosophical content of the story as well.”
— STEVEN J. ROSEN, author of “The Hidden Glory of India,” and “Black Lotus: the Spiritual Journey of an Urban Mystic.”
