Not all books have the power to leave a lasting effect on their readers, and without any sort of bias, I can safely say that this one by Jean Sasson has cast a spell on me irrespective of the number of times I re-read it.This grippingly horrific tale takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotions throughout. It narrates the life of Princess Sultana, a direct descendant of the founder of the current Saudi monarchy, who apparently shared her ordeals with Sasson under an oath of secrecy. Her identity cannot be revealed and the reader will understand why, soon enough.

The gulf countries, especially the lives of the royal family are closely guarded. The amount of secrecy maintained in the matters of its women needs no mention. The world is enthralled by their lifestyle- what with unimaginable standards of wealth and grandeur. Yet, the women are caged, albeit in a gilded one.

The lines –

"The history of our women is buried behind the black veil of secrecy. Neither our births nor deaths are made official in any public record. The common emotion expressed at the birth of a female is either sorrow or shame."

leave a lasting impression in our minds since we too can somewhat identify with this emotion.The author intertwines the lives of the supporting characters so seamlessly that every line gives goose bumps. Behind the black veils, lie diverse characters, spirits and stories that are brought to life by the main protagonist. The gut wrenching narrative makes us question the term 'father', 'brother', 'husband' and the likes.

Princess sultana and the other women’s heart wrenching experiences and their rebellion makes us cry and cheer at the same time. While this is a must-read for people with an interest in nonfiction and life stories, I would strongly recommend it to everyone. It stirs the soul so much that one cannot help but be moved by the stories of these women. 

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