If any of you have been involved in a sustained discussion in any of the clubs (as opposed to a Cafe blathering), then it is probable that you have come across @Cursedmouth. Her contributions are always detailed, serious and thought provoking, regardless of the topic. However, she comes into her own in the historical fiction threads and this is what makes her an interesting person to follow.
@Cursedmouth acts as a balance to all those quasi-medieval eurotrash romances that litter the historical fiction listings. I've nothing against these, I'm a sucker for more adventurous versions of the same, but a diet composed wholly of the same thing is not good for anyone. Literary induced scurvy is likely to be the outcome. Something else is required. @Cursedmouth often provides that through her knowledgeable comments on Indian history and mythology. This is an area on which I am wholly ignorant but delighted to find out more. When @Cursedmouth acts as my guide, I feel enlightened, and for that I am grateful.
Which brings me to The Burning Lotus. This is a dazzling retelling of a remarkable event from Indian history. It's a classic tale of lust and tragedy, a retelling of something that is part-myth and part historical event. The Sultan of Delhi, told of a woman so beautiful that she is the Jewel of India, pursues Padmini, the Maharani of Rajput and wife of Ratan Singh, The two rulers armies clash and the only way for the war to end is for Ratan to win, which is unlikely since the odds are stacked against him, or for Padmini to dishonour herself. Will she, won't she? Will tragedy descend upon the beseiged city or will the defenders resist? It's a great tale bubbling with traditional themes that have lost a lot of their power in Europe but still resonate across the world.
On Wattpad it is so hard to stand out from the herd and have people read your work. Quite frankly, most readers aren't looking for stories like the Burning Lotus. All too often, many readers are looking for something familiar and easy to read.I think they are missing out. The Burning Lotus takes European and American historical fiction fans out of their comfort zones. There are familiar themes, such as dynastic power politics, but there are also delightful descriptions of India too.
The Burning Lotus is the sort of story that a Hollywood producer in the 1960's might have picked out as the next big swords and sandals epic (though Charlton Heston would probably have been horribly miscast as the Sultan). It's epic stuff and that is my only issue with it.
It is naturally an epic, and it feels like it should have the epic treatment – a cast of thousands crammed into a thousand pages, a la James Clavell. At the moment, @Cursedmouth has produced an efficient retelling, concentrating on the main players, in 14 chapters of about 2000 words each. It has plenty of room to be expanded upon. Whether she ever goes down that road is up to her but I would buy it.
And so should you.
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SonstigesWho is a good writer on Wattpad? Well there are hundreds, depending on what you want to read. The following pages will highlight some of those who are definitely worth looking out for. This will be an ongoing series. Expect this to be updated reg...
