The Henna Artist is set in the pink city of Jaipur, India, and follows Lakshmi, a namesake of the goddess of wealth. Lakshmi has abandoned her husband, Hari, and now works in Jaipur applying dizzying henna designs to the city's most elite women. Lakshmi is also a skilled herbalist, and she creates delicious Indian treats to ease her clients' ailments and issues, as well as tea sachets that serve as birth control. She learned all of these skills from her mother-in-law, a kind and talented woman.

Lakshmi's business is booming. She's even planning to meet the maharani at the palace. But Lakshmi's world is turned on its head when her sister, Radha, shows up with Hari. Radha, called "Bad Luck Girl" by her small town's gossip-eaters, didn't know Lakshmi existed until she realized her mother was burning letters as soon as they arrived. Lakshmi didn't know Radha existed either until she saw her sister in the flesh. Their green-blue eyes match perfectly. 

Lakshmi dutifully takes Radha under her wing, but her spirited little sister wants to explore her new city and all its delights, and soon several missteps lead to all hell breaking loose.

Rich in detail and bright with tastes and textures, The Henna Artist is a fabulous glimpse into Indian culture in the 1950s. You'll notice certain remnants of British colonization, and you'll see how Western culture permeates Jaipur. Throughout her first novel, Alka Joshi explores the complex relationships of women in India, offering an introduction into the caste system that separates and defines people, and comments on the often invisible yet deeply important labor that's deemed "women's work." 

Joshi's prose is rhythmic and alluring, and her characters are multidimensional and alive. This is a novel of hope, ambition and healing.

DEBUT In the mid-1950s, India is transitioning from British rule to independence, and the caste system is firmly in place. Lakshmi has escaped an abusive marriage in her small hometown and built a successful henna business in Jaipur, serving many of the city's wealthiest women. Although she is well-liked and her intricate designs are sought after by the elite, she is careful not to overstep class boundaries. When she is suddenly made responsible for her 13-year-old sister—whom she only recently learned existed—Lakshmi's carefully ordered world is turned upside down. Impulsive, impractical, and innocent, Radha is Lakshmi's opposite in nearly every way, but the sisters must learn to trust each other or they could lose everything. Joshi's story of a country and people in transition is filled with memorable characters, some kind, some cruel. VERDICT An uplifting tale that highlights the power of family. For fans of Shobha Rao's Girls Burn Brighter and the novels of Kristin Hannah. [See Prepub Alert, 9/16/19.]—Portia Kapraun, Delphi P.L., IN

Joshi's eloquent debut follows a sought-after henna practitioner in postindependence Jaipur, India. Lakshmi Shastri survives a harsh childhood in rural Ajar by running away from an abusive, arranged teenage marriage. Determined to make something of herself, Lakshmi parlays her talent for original henna designs and herbal remedies into a successful business, offering henna to high-caste women and discreetly selling contraceptive tea to men with mistresses, including a man named Samir. After her estranged husband tracks her down years later, in 1955, with Lakshmi's just-orphaned, 13-year-old sister, Radha, Lakshmi is surprised to learn she has a sister and devastated by the death of their parents, who were shamed after her departure. Lakshmi had saved to bring them to Jaipur, hoping to earn back their respect. Instead, Lakshmi takes in Radha, whose carefree interest in boys threatens to damage Lakshmi's reputation and years-long struggle for independence. When faced with Samir's vengeful wife, Lakshmi must come to terms with the effect of her actions on others. And after Radha becomes pregnant, Lakshmi gains an opportunity to put her family first. Joshi's evocative descriptions capture India's sensory ambience (horse-drawn tongas, pungent cooking fires and incense, and colorful saris), drawing readers deep into her moving story. Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love. (Mar.)