The Bandit Queens

2.75 (rounded up) - Full disclosure, I have no knowledge of the real-life aspects of this story portrayed in this book. I think if it was something I was well-versed in I might have enjoyed it a bit more. The things I didn't like about the book are a total preference thing as opposed to the book itself.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into but I was drawn to the cover and the summary given had me hooked. While the book lived up to it, I just had a really difficult time getting into it. It's a more aggressive plot than I like, which again, is something I might have realized if I'd known the origins of the story. It was definitely interesting. I'd be curious to look into the history more before looking through a fictional lens.

Aside from the plot, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. The dialogue flowed nicely, however, the amount of italicized words became a major distraction for me. The emphasis ended up getting lost. I didn't mind it so much when explaining new words and culture but in the regular flow of things, it became irksome.

I'm glad I gave it a go. I can see it becoming a popular book upon its release. I certainly learned something and was able to immerse myself in another culture for a little while which is always enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books/Random House for providing me with a free ARC copy to read and review.