REVIEWS – Beneath a Marble Sky
“(Beneath a Marble Sky) easily made it into my top ten favorites.
Why? Perhaps because the prose reads like poetry, or perhaps because
this is a work of art, where the story engages you, the characters
come alive, and what happens next will surprise you. Here is a story
crafted to stay with you a lifetime. I find it incredible to find
that this is John Shors’ first novel. It’s so well written, that
you’re going to want to keep it on your shelves for a second read,
and then maybe a third.”
– CompulsiveReader.com
“(A) spirited debut novel… With infectious enthusiasm and just
enough careful attention to detail, Shors gives a real sense of
the times, bringing the world of imperial Hindustan and its royal
inhabitants to vivid life.”
– Publishers Weekly
“Jahanara is a beguiling heroine whom readers will come to love;
none of today’s chick-lit heroines can match her dignity, fortitude
and cunning. Elegant, often lyrical, writing distinguishes this
literary fiction from the genre known as historical romance. It
is truly a work of art, rare in a debut novel.”
– The Des Moines Register
“Agreeably colorful … (with) lively period detail and a surfeit
of villains.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“Beneath a Marble Sky is a story which literally speaks to you.
In his first novel, John Shors brilliantly recounts one of the world’s
greatest love stories, narrated against a backdrop of hatred and
violence.”
– India Post
“Highly recommended…. (Beneath a Marble Sky) is a thrilling tale
of the interaction of characters recognizable for their loyalty,
duplicity, and passion and will appeal to a wide audience.”
– Library Journal
“Beneath a Marble Sky is a passionate, lush, and dramatic novel,
rich with a sense of place. John Shors is an author of sweeping
imaginative force.”
– Sandra Gulland, author of The Josephine B.
Trilogy
“Shors…creates a vivid and striking world that feels as close as
a plane ride. Most important, he manages to convey universal feelings
in a tangible and intimate way. Shah Jahan’s grief isn’t just that
of a man who lived centuries ago; it’s a well of emotion felt long
before Mumatz Mahal ever lived, and is still felt today. Shors’s
ability to tap into that well, and make it so alive, renders the
novel as luminous a jewel as any that adorn the Taj Mahal’s walls.”
– ForeWord Magazine
“(A) story of romance and passion. (Beneath a Marble Sky) is
a wonderful book if you want to escape to a foreign land while relaxing
in your porch swing.”
– St. Petersburg Times
“A majestic novel that irresistibly draws the reader within its
saga of human struggles, failings, alliances and betrayals.”
– Midwest Book Review
“(Beneath a Marble Sky) is an absorbing novel about the extremes
of passion – with much relevance for our own time.”
– Denver Rocky Mountain News
“Beneath a Marble Sky definitely qualifies as a good read.”
– The Boulder Daily Camera
“It is difficult to effectively bring the 21st-century
reader into a 17th-century world. Shors accomplishes this nicely,
taking the armchair traveler into some of the intricacies involved
in creating a monument that remains one of the architectural and
artistic wonders of the world.”
– The Denver Post
“Evocative of the fantastical stories
and sensual descriptions of One Thousand and One Nights, Beneath
a Marble Sky is the story of Jahanara, the daughter of the 17th
century Mughal emperor who built India’s Taj Mahal. What sets this
novel apart is its description of Muslim-Hindu politics, which continue
to plague the subcontinent today.”
– National Geographic Traveler
“This sweeping love story takes place in 17th-century Hindustan
during the building of the Taj Mahal. Princess Jahanara, the emperor’s
daughter, tells her parents’ saga and shares her own story of forbidden
love with the architect of the legendary building.”
– St. Paul Pioneer Press
“A sumptuous feast of emotional imagery awaits the reader of
Beneath a Marble Sky, an unabashedly romantic novel set in 17th
century Hindustan, inside the warm sandstone of its Mughal palaces.”
– India West
“The Taj Mahal is one of the great achievements of the world. Its
beauty and its demonstration of love to a deceased wife, mother
and queen are moving examples of the desire and ability of people
to overcome the constraints of cruel nature through their own creativity,
determination and self-sacrifice. And yet few people in the west
know much about its creation, the woman who inspired it or the people
in whose city it continues to radiate beauty and grace. This new
novel by John Shors aims to tell that story and does so with considerable
expertise. (A) most entertaining read and recommended to all readers
who enjoy historical fiction… (An) enjoyable and exciting novel.”
– BookIdeas.com
“This novel skillfully delves into Eastern aristocracy, culture
and religion. The story is told in Titanic fashion by Jahanara,
the eldest daughter of the emperor who built the Taj Mahal… Shors
enthralls with his first novel, based on age-old Asian love story.
Those familiar with Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth will find
strong correlations between the novels. This is a page-turner.”
– Romantic Times
“A sumptuous feast of emotional imagery awaits the reader of
Beneath a Marble Sky, an unabashedly romantic novel set in 17th
century Hindustan, inside the warm sandstone of its Mughal palaces.”
– India West
“This novel skillfully delves into Eastern aristocracy, culture
and religion. The story is told in Titanic fashion by Jahanara,
the eldest daughter of the emperor who built the Taj Mahal… Shors
enthralls with his first novel, based on age-old Asian love story.
Those familiar with Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth will find
strong correlations between the novels. This is a page-turner.”
– Romantic Times
“The Taj Mahal is one of the great achievements of the world. Its
beauty and its demonstration of love to a deceased wife, mother
and queen are moving examples of the desire and ability of people
to overcome the constraints of cruel nature through their own creativity,
determination and self-sacrifice. And yet few people in the west
know much about its creation, the woman who inspired it or the people
in whose city it continues to radiate beauty and grace. This new
novel by John Shors aims to tell that story and does so with considerable
expertise. (A) most entertaining read and recommended to all readers
who enjoy historical fiction… (An) enjoyable and exciting novel.”
– BookIdeas.com
“The ornate prose of John Shors introduc(es) us to a different world
– a world filled with romance and intrigue, cruelty and love.”
– BookReporter.com
“John Shors has written a beautiful story of the lives of those
most involved in the creation and building of the Taj Mahal. The
story … made me want to check out the area personally!”
– Bookloons.com
“The author has obviously done in-depth research of the Taj Mahal
and its history. In addition to his fascinating storyline, he weaves
in many details about the planning and building of this unique architectural
masterpiece. From the exquisite white marble brought in from the
quarries of Makrana to the gold and precious gemstones decorating
it, Shors enables his readers to visualize the profound wonder of
it all. He also depicts the political climate in a clear and concise
manner so that readers can better understand the Mogul empire that
reigned supreme during this period of India’s history. I can highly
recommend this novel, a real page-turner throughout.”
– Historical Novels Review
“Beneath a Marble Sky brims with action and intrigue befitting an
epic era when, alongside continuous war, architecture and its attendant
arts reached a pinnacle of perfection.”
– NewPages.com
“Beneath a Marble Sky is a fantastic historical tale that may be
the best the genre offered in 2004.... The story line vividly describes
the Indian subcontinent in the seventeenth century where love, intrigue,
and betrayal are key elements. Mr. Shors has transported readers
to a different time and place as he paints quite a picture to illuminate
the events surrounding the construction of the Taj Mahal.”
– BookReview.com
“Author John Shors writes like a veteran in Beneath a Marble Sky,
his gorgeous, wily first novel.”
– ReviewersChoice.com
“(T)his is a fascinating novel of historical fiction and I highly
recommend it.”
– MostlyFiction.com
“Filled with the harsh beauty of the desert and the inimitable
Taj Mahal, Shors guides the reader through the Scheherazade-like
mysteries of the Middle East: the luxuries of the harem, the clashing
swords of war and the ties of love that cannot be broken.”
– CurledUp.com
“(T)his is a fascinating novel of historical fiction and I highly
recommend it.”
– MostlyFiction.com
