Readers of “The Temple Dancer” will likely enjoy “Tiger Claws,” John Speed’s second book in a planned trilogy. Chronicling the latter years of Mogul emperor Shah Jahan’s reign and the power struggles that emerge as he declines,Speed paints a picture of 17th century Indian life that is both intriguing and, at times, horrifying. Through the eyes of a high ranking eunuch named Basant we glimpse the realities of life inside Jahan’s palace: from Basant’s vivid childhood memories of being made into a eunuch, to Princess Roshanara’s clandestine affair with ambassador Shaista Khan, to the emperor’s obsession with twin sister concubines. As Shah Jahan withdraws into an opium infused world his sons begin to vie for control of his empire - especially Dara, the pampered court favorite, and Aurangzeb, the dangerous Viceroy of the Deccan. While drawing you into this story Speed simultaneously introduces you to Shivaji, a disinherited Hindu chieftain who begins retaking his rightful territory with the help of longtime friends and sinister allies.

There is a lot going on in this novel and though the storyline is engaging the characters are almost exclusively male. Princess Roshanara plays a prominent role in the first third of the book, while the temple dancer Maya appears when the story moves outside the palace. Since “The Temple Dancer” focused mainly on two female figures I was surprised by this seeming reversal -neither Roshanara nor Maya progress beyond the two-dimensional sphere, though if you’ve read “The Temple Dancer” you’ll be able to add much more personality to Maya than is present in the story. Nevertheless, the end of the novel makes it clear that Maya’s time with Shivaji is just the beginning of another adventure, and in this sense the riveting dialogue, political maneuvering and action in the male driven story adds an exciting chapter to her life. In truth, had I not read “The Temple Dancer” and been so eager to learn more about Maya I probably wouldn’t have missed her playing a larger role in the novel.

Fans of historical fiction will devour the detail in this story. Speed’s profound knowledge illuminates the novel, drawing you into a world rich with Indian culture, religion and tradition. Though the ending is somewhat abrupt it seems that Speed is setting the stage for the final book in his trilogy. I can’t wait to finish this adventure with him.