ARC Review: The Color of our Sky ♥ by Amita Trasi

The Color of our Sky
Amita Trasi

Publisher: Bloomhill Books; (June 30, 2015)

• ISBN-13: 978-0986155604

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | Audible | Book Depository

Source: Review Copy was sent free of charge via Bloomhill Books.
Synopsis: A sweeping, emotional journey of two childhood friends—one struggling to survive the human slave trade and the other on a mission to save her—two girls whose lives converge 
only to change one fateful night in 1993. India, 1986: Mukta, a ten-year-old girl from
 the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes has come of age to fulfill her destiny
 of becoming a temple prostitute. In an attempt to escape this legacy that binds her, Mukta is 
transported to a foster family in Bombay. There she discovers a friend in the high spirited eight-year-old Tara,
 the tomboyish daughter of the family, who helps her recover from the wounds of her past. Tara introduces
 Mukta to a different world—ice cream and sweets, poems and stories, and a friendship the likes of which
 she has never experienced before. In 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s room. Eleven years later,
 Tara who blames herself for what happened, embarks on an emotional journey to search
 for the kidnapped Mukta only to uncover long buried secrets in her own family. 

• The Color of our Sky is about two childhood friends and their journey that relates to each other. In 1986, Mukta is a ten year old child who is from the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes. She has come to her age to fulfill her prophecy on becoming a temple prostitute. However, she does not want this, she is just a child so she is transported to a foster family in Bombay, India. She finds a friend in eight year old Tara, the daughter of the family. Tara helps her recover her wounds and seek for the better. On one fateful night Mukta is kidnapped from Tara's room - there is no trace left of where she and how she is. Eleven years later, Tara still cannot forget Mukta and comes back to India to search the the kidnapped Mukta, but in doing so she also discovers dangerous secrets about her own family.

• Well.. this was a beautiful, and insight novel to read about - the author has written a wonderful novel on her first attempt, this is her debut novel - hence the almost five stars. I'm not as easily impressed, and this book has certainly wowed me. I love reading about cross cultural novels, I have heard about high rates of child trafficking and prostitution in India but never have I heard about "temple prostitutes." I'm surprised that's even a lifestyle, those two words temple and prostitute sure do contradict each other. It reminded me a bit of the concept of the assassins who are nuns in the His Fair Assassin series, although their two different books. Temple prostitutes or "religious" prostitution is a sexual ritual consisting of sexual acts in religious worship. I don't support any form of prostitution, I feel it is completely wrong, although I can understand if someone does it for survival or if they're forced such as, human trafficking. It bothers me when people sell their body for external goods.. It really hurts me and saddens me, so this book did hit a weak spot. Overall, I feel this book is fantastic and everyone at one point should read it. Let's not forget that gorgeous cover. It's actually stunning with the night sky.

• Mukta and Tara are two different characters.. yet they're both intriguing to read about. Mukta's story won my heart though, I wonder how she must have been feeling born into prostitution and ordered to become a temple prostitute, The female friendship aspect was intriguing to read about - I can love a book if it has more strong females who value other women than slut-shamers. There's not much romance in this novel but you do get a glimpse here and there, but it's mainly a moving story about family, drama, and friendships.

• The novel is told from alternating perspectives: Mukta's and Tara's. You do see Mukta's childhood and Tara's present. I found the perspectives fascinating, although it would have helped if the chapter said the person's name. The two women and their friendship is strong and beautiful. I figured out what were the buried secrets by the third chapter, mainly because the story had foreshadowing. I didn't mind at all that I figured out the plot twist, and it was still interesting to read about. The strong friendship reminded me of The Kite Runner as well, a childhood friendship that was never forgotten over the years even though. This is a compelling, and really dark adult novel so be cautious of what you're writing. The details aren't as graphic, but they're enough to spook the reader. The author does a wonderful job of balancing a moving story and actually informing the readers through subtle hints that child, actually rather human trafficking is wrong and it must be put to a stop. I think I just might join the cause now because of this book.

Recommended for fans of The Kite Runner, and The Space Between Us.

Thank you for reading this! Have an amazing month of June - Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & drop by :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures..

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron 

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