This isn't my usual kind of book but it was so beautifully written, taking you on a journey and exploration of family, culture and identity that felt so profound, I'd definitely recommend it 🐘✨

I thank Netgalley for allowing me to review this title.

I have been gravitating around this title for a long time and was finally able to pick it up recently. I loved reading a story about people in India and Zimbabue written by an indian author that also lived in Zimbabue.
I found the story engaging and the characters well developed.
The main character's development is very satisfying in the way she overcomes her weaknesses. I also liked the parallelism between the story in the past and present.
The secrets are quite shocking and satisfying and the aunt is terrible. I liked that because it truly shows how people can be mean sometimes without a great reason, not motivated by race or cast but purely because in their eyes they are protecting themselves. However, this causes hurt to everyone around them and they dimply don't care.
I liked the ending as it was not very definitive and closed up the story and left open other venues that were not part of it, opening the book to a possible sequel? (I know I would read it).
Overall I would highly recommend this book and will definitely keep an eye out from other books by this author.

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the readalong hosted by Tandem Collective UK.

The Secrets of Elephants is a beautiful, tender read about family, friendship, poverty, love, and betrayal.
We follow Nimala, who lives in a loveless and unhappy marriage with a sick son and who suffers hardships every day. I was endeared to Nimala straight away. What a beautiful, selfless, and humble woman. Nimalas aunt and cousins live in a huge mansion across the road from her small home and don't offer so much as a hand to hold during her hardships and Nimala has a daily reminder of this cruelty every day. When Nirmala receives a letter from Zimbabwe address to her late father, she embarks on a quest to find the truth and untangled a Web of lies, family secrets and more that will have life changing consequences for everyone.
I couldn't put this book down, and I lived and breathed every aspect for the whole time I read it. I was endeared not only to Nimala but also to her young son Varun, her cousin Pramod, and Suparna. The tenderness and empathy with which this book is written is just beautiful and I hope we get to see more from these characters (a prequel or sequel) in the future as I'd love to read more of them all.

"The Secret of Elephants" is a heartwarming and enlightening exploration of the majestic world of elephants, beautifully told through the eyes of those who have dedicated their lives to studying and protecting these remarkable creatures.

What sets "The Secret of Elephants" apart is its ability to blend scientific insights with compelling storytelling. Through vivid descriptions and engaging anecdotes, the book paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by elephants in a rapidly changing world. It also sheds light on the conservation efforts being made to safeguard their future.

The narrative is both informative and emotionally resonant, prompting readers to develop a newfound appreciation for these gentle giants. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast or simply curious about the natural world, "The Secret of Elephants" offers a touching and thought-provoking exploration of our coexistence with Earth's largest land mammals. It's a must-read for anyone who cares about the welfare of these incredible creatures and the conservation of our planet's biodiversity.

Set in India, it follows Nirmala and her discovery of long-lost family in Zimbabwe. The overall story is engaging, but some characters lack depth and provoke disgust without much reason. The author's attempt to maintain mystery occasionally hampers connection.

Despite these issues, the book offers a pleasant read, especially once the mystery unfolds. Nirmala is a well-developed character, and the vivid descriptions of Zimbabwe and other settings enhance the experience. Although there are some unbelievable interactions and filler moments, the cultural development is somewhat underwhelming. The ending is satisfying, although the last few sentences are unrealistic. Overall, this flawed yet enjoyable book will make you root for Nirmala and leave you content with the conclusion.

My dad is from India, so I requested this book to read more stories set there. I really enjoyed this one! It’s actually set in the state he is from, and only around 45 minutes from where he grew up. It was so interesting to read what the childhood was like back in that time period. All the details took me back to my visits there, and made me miss it. This would have been a 5 star, but the ending felt a little rushed so I’m giving it a 4.5. I wish we had gotten at least a chapter of her future living in the mansions, and with Sudhir.

Nirmala has a young son and she is struggling. She watches her aunt have a better life and she is living in the mansions that her grandfather had built. She receives a mysterious letter that will soon take her on an emotion and adventurous journey. She is looking for answers, but she finds so much more. Her journey is exciting, riveting and moving. The characters are well written and the plot is beautifully written.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nirmala’s life seemed hopeless until a surprise changes everything. And a family secret is revealed. Really enjoyed this story about multiple generations living in India. Seeing the years of trauma, secrets and struggles throughout the family’s history was interesting.

tailor's novel will definitely appeal to fans of book-club-type of books. it provides avenues for conversation, a compelling story. alas, i found the way things were portrayed to be very a la showtime and melodramatic,.

The book cover is very reminiscent of the Henna artist by Alka Joshi, the main protagonist of Vasundra Tailor’s novel also shares many similarities with Joshi’s story. I liked the main character's resilience, tenacity and the ability to eke out a living for herself and her son. I also enjoyed the intergenerational elements, and the author’s ability to weave in history about Zimbabwe, its history and people, colonisation and Indian migration to the country. I applaud the author - as it is not easy to find historical fiction set in the African context. However, I found the ending of the tale very convenient, in my opinion, I felt the Jasu-foi character could have been made to have more depth, in my opinion she was also a victim of circumstances and an overbearing mother and painting her as an outright villain seemed convenient. In some ways a lot of the characters lacked depth and were stereotypical, the cheating husband, the evil aunt, the good cousins, the overbearing head of the family. More depth could have been added. However, it was a delightful book, and I would recommend it for literature classes for those studying migration, intergenerational relationships, and family ties.

This is a brilliant read from Vasundra Tailor. This book goes on a secret-filled adventure of a heartbroken woman trying to figure out how to move on from a bad relationship. The main character Nirmala receives a letter addressed to her father who has passed on. Within the letter, she finds that she has relatives in Africa. This is where the character takes a leap of faith and leaves with her son to start a new life. This life is soon filled with more secrets and will pull on your emotions. You will never see the ending coming and it's perfect. This book is recommended to all readers because it is a story you will love and want to read more than just once.

This was an easy-to-read historical fiction cum semi-mystery novel by debut writer Vasundra Tailor set in western India and Zimbabwe. In India, Nirmala and her young son are struggling in life. Having married her husband Ajay for reasons revealed later, Nirmala is trapped with no support from her family, despite the fact that her aunt lives across the street in seemingly wealthy fashion. Rewind the clock and we learn bits and pieces about Nirmala’s father’s childhood and his immediate family. But there are undercurrents of unhappiness and occasional oblique mysterious references. Back to present day when Nirmala receives a surprising letter with shocking news. Fast forward and Nirmala and her son are in Zimbabwe to find out more... This was a fast read, which I found pleasant, particularly having just finished a bit of a tome (Nights of Plague), enjoyable though that was. The simple and straightforward writing of this book kept my focus on the storyline and the descriptions of the two countries. The characters, including Nirmala, were fairly one dimensional, and everything seems to fall easily into place - miraculously and unrealistically in my opinion. However, I encourage readers to focus their attention on the very realistic social and cultural environment that Nirmala was faced with and the challenges she had to deal with in forging her path for herself and her son. Reading offers us all a window into cultures from around the world. While our perspectives are shaped by personal experiences and environments, it’s important to keep in mind that social and cultural environments vary around the world. Contextualizing matters. This was a 3.5 read for me, rounded up to 4. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A well written and researched book that held my attention throughout. The book centres around a young mum Nirmala who is in a loveless marriage with no parents to support as they are deceased. Set between India and Zimbabwe, it follows Nirmala as she receives a letter for her deceased father and sees her travel to Zimbabwe to discover a family she never knew existed. Well developed characters and written in south a way that I was able to transport myself to another place, just beautiful albeit an emotional read at times.

The main character Nirmala is trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel husband, her only joy is her young son. Struggling to make ends meet, Nirmala’s pride prevents her from approaching her wealthy, yet mean-spirited, aunt for help.

One day Nirmala receives a letter from a man claiming to be her dead father’s cousin, leading Nirmala to discover an entire branch of her family tree that she knew nothing about. Travelling halfway around the world to investigate further, Nirmala’s determination to uncover her family's truth triggers her own journey of self-discovery.

It's an emotional story, spanning four generations. If you like multi-generational family sagas, I recommend that you read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Secret of Elephants by Vasundra Tailor.

Nirmala could not feel more alone. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she has just learned that her young son has a rare illness, which will cost money that they just don't have. And just next door is Nirmala's wealthy aunt, who will barely give her the time of day, let alone any financial help. She desperately misses her parents and wishes that she had more time to learn about the chilly reception she gets from her aunt.

But Nirmala might actually have that chance after getting a strange letter addressed to her father from someone in Zimbabwe. Is it a hoax? Could they have answers? Shrugging off her awful husband, Nirmala and her son take a trip to Africa to meet a whole new set of people who may have the answers to her family.

This really is just a warm cup of comfort, I love books like this. Even with their sharp edges of disgruntled family members, family finding and enveloping each other, sharing stories and traditions just makes my heart happy. This was written so well and I loved how the author laid out the bones of the family story, and then starting at the "beginning" with Nirmala. It is well paced and well fleshed out, I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union, and Vasundra Tailor for the opportunity to read “The Secret Of Elephants” in exchange for an honest review.

I'll begin by saying that this is a debut novel worthy of attention. If you love multi-generational family sagas, and are drawn to books set in vibrant India, you will enjoy it.

The main character is Nirmala - a young mother trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel husband who berates her daily, and treats their young son with derision. Living in the modest home she inherited from her parents, they live in the shadow of their much wealthier relatives whose grand home overlooks their much smaller one. Nirmala struggles to make ends meet, her pride preventing her from approaching her mean-spirited aunt for help.

One day, a letter from Zimbabwe arrives in the mail addressed to her dead father. To her surprise, the letter is from a gentleman claiming he is her father's cousin. After some initial investigation, Nirmala learns that there is an entire branch of her family she knows nothing about living halfway across the world. Determined to unravel the mystery, she leaves for Zimbabwe with her son Varun only to discover a shocking truth that upends the lives of every single member of her family.

It's an emotional story, spanning four generations of Dayal family members. I'm not usually a fan of shifting timelines, but the author used this storytelling device absolutely seamlessly here. I enjoyed Part 1 and Part 3 of this book the most. Part 2 took place in Zimbabwe, and while it was a necessary part of the story, I felt that too much time was devoted to describing Zimbabwe's scenery and sights - none of that was central to the plot. Some minor editing of this section of the book would have kept the story on track. At this point, there are also enough clues that the reader begins to guess at the family secret so the reveal is naturally a little anti-climactic.

The parts of the book set in Navsari were riveting in comparison. Vasundra Tailor captured the sights, sounds and smells of the city so well, and the pacing in those chapters felt just right. The beaten-down, weary Nirmala we meet at the start of the book is a victim of unfortunate circumstances, but her determination to uncover her family's truth triggers her own journey of self-discovery, and I was rooting for her all the way through.

My final rating is 3.5 rounded up to 4. I would definitely read more of this author's work. Her writing is beautiful. Congratulations to her on a successful debut.

This book was interesting and very well-written. I would likely want to read more from this author and will recommend this to friends.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a simple and easy read fyll of vivid descriptions and rich imagery and I loved reading about the culture. I really liked the wriritng style and the character developement was kfantastic. A great read,

Wow!!

Such Treachery!

This review cannot begin to do this book justice; however, I will give a brief synopsis. This is a MUST-read.

Tailor tells what happens to a family when secrets from generations are kept so long that an entire familial line is wiped from existence.

Here the author will tell you about that tragedy.

Nirmala receives a letter one day addressed to her deceased father from Zimbabwe, informing her that she has relatives in Africa. And the mansion her horrible aunt lives in does not belong to her.

With Nirmala’s husband being cruel to their son and him being unfaithful, a welcoming letter asks her to come to Zimbabwe.

So, Nirmala does what anyone in her circumstances would do. “She takes a leap of faith.”

With Varun and herself, nothing else begins their journey to their new life.

A new life filled with discovery, uncovering of secrets kept secrets of the past.

Here is a story that will pull on your heartstrings as long as you have an ounce of human emotions.

As Nirmala uncovers the secret of why her father’s family had always shunned her, she will soon discover what secrets they were genuinely trying to keep.

Nirmala uncovers a generation of secrets, selfishness, revenge, deception, and pure and unadulterated greed.

The once downtrodden girl who held her head down when spoken to will be no more, for Nirmala will have found her strength and voice once more.

Through the sins of her ancestors, the deceit stops with Nirmala and Varun.

Tailor has woven a “BRILLIANT” and “CAPTIVATING” story about what happens to a family when secrets are kept.

I was dying to know what could be so traumatic in the past that Jasmuti would shun Nirmala and her sick child.

Tailor’s word building is ambitious, and the descriptive flare to the sights and sounds of Zimbabwe are alluring, almost hypnotic.

Although the ending was perfectly done, I wanted it to be different. I wanted so much more for Nirmala, maybe 100 pages to fully solidify her life. A book two would be excellent!

I also never saw that ending coming in a million years. Whoa!

Overall, this book was amazingly done; it kept me wanting more as a book should.

I read this in one sitting because I just had to know I was “SHOCKED.”

“OUTSTANDINGLY DONE”

Shock factor, “PERFECTED.”

Tailor “Nailed” it!

Thank you, NetGalley/Vasundra Tailor/Amazon Publishing UK.Lake Union Publishing/ For this amazing eARC for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.

Beautifully written family saga with excellent location descriptions and deep character development. Despite angst and torment in the story, we learn that good things can happen for those who are honest and true.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this delightful ARC.