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The Sadhana Trilogy #1
The Tigress and the Yogi
A talking tigress. A wandering yogi. A young woman’s journey through an ancient land where chaos threatens gods and mortals alike.
A tigress speaks to the outcaste girl Mala, and she flees in terror only to collide with an old yogi. She offers him shelter, and in return he spins wondrous tales and awakens her hunger for forbidden spiritual knowledge.
Thus begins her quest for freedom. On her journey she meets gods and goddesses, outlaws and kings, and the young prince prophesied to become the Buddha, but when she loses everything she loves, her quest goes terribly wrong. She descends into madness, worshipping a dark goddess and mastering occult powers. Yoga’s path could lead her back to the light, but inner demons guard the way, and she must summon the courage to face them or wander in darkness forever.
A tigress speaks to the outcaste girl Mala, and she flees in terror only to collide with an old yogi. She offers him shelter, and in return he spins wondrous tales and awakens her hunger for forbidden spiritual knowledge.
Thus begins her quest for freedom. On her journey she meets gods and goddesses, outlaws and kings, and the young prince prophesied to become the Buddha, but when she loses everything she loves, her quest goes terribly wrong. She descends into madness, worshipping a dark goddess and mastering occult powers. Yoga’s path could lead her back to the light, but inner demons guard the way, and she must summon the courage to face them or wander in darkness forever.
384 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2016
About the author
Shelley Schanfield
2 books33 followersWhile pursuing a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Shelley Schanfield became fascinated with the Buddhist roots of the martial arts. By profession a librarian, she dove into the time, place, and spiritual traditions, including yoga, that 2500 years ago produced Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha. The stories of the Buddha’s first women followers inspired her to write The Tigress and the Yogi, the first novel in a trilogy focusing on women’s spiritual struggles and journeys.
Shelley hung up her black belt to practice Iyengar yoga. Both disciplines have enriched her world and the world of her novels.
Shelley hung up her black belt to practice Iyengar yoga. Both disciplines have enriched her world and the world of her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 22, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Despite a fascinating premise and a strong start, I quickly lost interest in The Tigress and the Yogi. I rarely DNF books but I found the pace so agonizingly slow that I was unable to finish it. Perhaps others will have more luck.
July 3, 2016
The cover is completely wrong for this book. I picked it up thinking I would be reading a fantasy book. More high fantasy than urban.
Instead, it's a very well written literary fiction that is somewhat historical. It's the first book in a trilogy and the story begins with the lead up to Prince Siddhartha's transformation into the Buddha.
It's near lyrical at points as we follow the life path of a little casteless girl named Mala. Her family is at the bottom of the caste system as the unofficial 5th caste, the casteless. And among them, the very worst jobs that increase the severity of their "untouchable status" are tanners and chandlers. Mala's father is a tanner.
Mala is different. It's not very obvious at first til one day she meets a white tiger cub in the forest. She realizes her danger as the mother must be nearby and sure enough, she shows up sending Mala into a deep fright that her death is immediately coming.
Instead, there's a voice in her mind. It's the mother tiger! Mala will not be harmed and can go home safely.
She runs but then comes across a dirty traveler who asks if she has food. It is the duty of a good Hindu to honor such requests so Mala invites the traveler back to her home even though her family has barely enough food for themselves.
He turns out to be a yogi named Asita. As the story progresses, we learn that Asita is one of the genuine wise yogi. They are the ones who have mastered many of the enlightenment aspects of Hinduism, and do not abuse them for their own purposes.
This is the beginning of what makes this story a solid 5 stars for me. We begin learning alongside of Mala via Asita, the higher aspects of Hinduism. About how the gods are various aspects of Devi, their god. The mythology between the aspects and how they came to be.
Soon after that, Mala is returning home from the forest when a different voice speaks in her head. A voice cautioning her to stay a moment as she's about to step clear of the forest. She pauses, and finds herself witnessing the murder of her parents. As she is hidden, the wicked men leave, satisfied that they've achieved their main goal. It's not a random assault.
Her childhood is now ended and she must find a way to survive.
And thus begins the real story.
If you are unfamiliar with Hinduism as I was, through Mala and later others, you will learn a great deal about it.
The author takes great literary license with the back story of the birth of Buddhism and weaves an engaging story. But is it fantasy? Or magical realism? Or are the seemingly supernatural aspects experienced by the characters a real thing?
Returning to my opener, the cover is simply wrong. It promises a very different kind of book and I feel it does an injustice as this book must be given more care in reading to truly immerse the reader.
I highly recommend this book to all readers. If a reader is not disposed to thinking of Hinduism as a real religion, it will still be a good story.
It belongs among the "best books of 2016", and will certainly go on that shelf for me. I'm adding Shelley Schanfield to my list of authors to watch. I hope the next book will not be a long wait!
Thank you Shelley for providing a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You've found a new fan!
Instead, it's a very well written literary fiction that is somewhat historical. It's the first book in a trilogy and the story begins with the lead up to Prince Siddhartha's transformation into the Buddha.
It's near lyrical at points as we follow the life path of a little casteless girl named Mala. Her family is at the bottom of the caste system as the unofficial 5th caste, the casteless. And among them, the very worst jobs that increase the severity of their "untouchable status" are tanners and chandlers. Mala's father is a tanner.
Mala is different. It's not very obvious at first til one day she meets a white tiger cub in the forest. She realizes her danger as the mother must be nearby and sure enough, she shows up sending Mala into a deep fright that her death is immediately coming.
Instead, there's a voice in her mind. It's the mother tiger! Mala will not be harmed and can go home safely.
She runs but then comes across a dirty traveler who asks if she has food. It is the duty of a good Hindu to honor such requests so Mala invites the traveler back to her home even though her family has barely enough food for themselves.
He turns out to be a yogi named Asita. As the story progresses, we learn that Asita is one of the genuine wise yogi. They are the ones who have mastered many of the enlightenment aspects of Hinduism, and do not abuse them for their own purposes.
This is the beginning of what makes this story a solid 5 stars for me. We begin learning alongside of Mala via Asita, the higher aspects of Hinduism. About how the gods are various aspects of Devi, their god. The mythology between the aspects and how they came to be.
Soon after that, Mala is returning home from the forest when a different voice speaks in her head. A voice cautioning her to stay a moment as she's about to step clear of the forest. She pauses, and finds herself witnessing the murder of her parents. As she is hidden, the wicked men leave, satisfied that they've achieved their main goal. It's not a random assault.
Her childhood is now ended and she must find a way to survive.
And thus begins the real story.
If you are unfamiliar with Hinduism as I was, through Mala and later others, you will learn a great deal about it.
The author takes great literary license with the back story of the birth of Buddhism and weaves an engaging story. But is it fantasy? Or magical realism? Or are the seemingly supernatural aspects experienced by the characters a real thing?
Returning to my opener, the cover is simply wrong. It promises a very different kind of book and I feel it does an injustice as this book must be given more care in reading to truly immerse the reader.
I highly recommend this book to all readers. If a reader is not disposed to thinking of Hinduism as a real religion, it will still be a good story.
It belongs among the "best books of 2016", and will certainly go on that shelf for me. I'm adding Shelley Schanfield to my list of authors to watch. I hope the next book will not be a long wait!
Thank you Shelley for providing a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You've found a new fan!
June 17, 2018
The first in a trilogy. Can hardly wait for the next one!
August 22, 2021
A fascinating story. It is Historical Fantasy, and is set in India around 500BC.
It is the story of Mala, an Untouchable girl. She is orphaned early on, and becomes a slave. After her escape from slavery, she finds love, and gives birth to a daughter.
The lives of Mala and her daughter, Kirsa, are told through this book. They are separated early on, and Mala has a burning desire to find her daughter, that consumes her and leads her to terrible things.
Ms Schanfield has set the scene brilliantly. We can see the forest, the river, the funeral pyres. We feel the monsoon rains dripping through thatched roofs, until Mala fixes them.
There is some philosophy here, too.
It is a well written book, with characters who are believable. Flawed people, all, but who hasn't got flaws? This is what makes them realistic.
I am definitely going to read Book 2 in this trilogy. I'm anxious to know if Mala can achieve enlightenment.
And how her daughter, Kirsa's relationship with Sidhartha Gautama (who became The Buddha) develops.
Well worth a read.
It is the story of Mala, an Untouchable girl. She is orphaned early on, and becomes a slave. After her escape from slavery, she finds love, and gives birth to a daughter.
The lives of Mala and her daughter, Kirsa, are told through this book. They are separated early on, and Mala has a burning desire to find her daughter, that consumes her and leads her to terrible things.
Ms Schanfield has set the scene brilliantly. We can see the forest, the river, the funeral pyres. We feel the monsoon rains dripping through thatched roofs, until Mala fixes them.
There is some philosophy here, too.
It is a well written book, with characters who are believable. Flawed people, all, but who hasn't got flaws? This is what makes them realistic.
I am definitely going to read Book 2 in this trilogy. I'm anxious to know if Mala can achieve enlightenment.
And how her daughter, Kirsa's relationship with Sidhartha Gautama (who became The Buddha) develops.
Well worth a read.
March 28, 2018
This is a gripping story of a young woman who overcomes adversity only to face it again and again. Mala is presented as young, innocent and sympathetic, and then, over the course of her life's journey, we see her harden and begin to take revenge on the world that has attacked her. The characters are well drawn and the plot is very compelling. You also learn a lot about the time period and the cultural background of Buddhism.
I literally couldn't put this book down! I recommend it highly!
I literally couldn't put this book down! I recommend it highly!
February 3, 2017
I thought this book was well-written, very smooth, and easy to read story that took me to a magical place. The synopsis grabbed me even though the cover loses me. This story starts out great; pulling you in at the beginning and making you want to keep turning those pages for more. However, it did slow down a bit here and there for me which made me feel like I had to trudge slowly through the muddy boring slow parts. I did like that beginning story was more a contextual premise for the actual story; when Mala has to find a way to survive. This was a bit out of my comfort zone, a very different read for me.
To read my full review, go to:
http://bookjunkiemom.blogspot.com/201...
To read my full review, go to:
http://bookjunkiemom.blogspot.com/201...
Read
April 20, 2016Normally I don't like books with talking animals in them but will make an exception for T&Y. It's quite the epic tale beginning with a young girl who is as pure as the tigress makes her out to be. Her journey into becoming one of the most feared warriors in the land is quite a memorable and believable one, as is her journey to become possibly the world's greatest yogi. I was not particularly interested in delving into the great depths of the Hindu culture, but found it helped the story rather than dragged it down nor did I feel the author was preaching to her readers. I'll leave off a star because I wanted more, but is that necessarily a bad thing....
Read
May 29, 2016Love it!
It has been awhile since I've been very engrossed in a story. This one mixes Buddhism, Indian's Mythology and you eagerly turn the pages to know what will happen next.
I've really enjoyed Mala's tale even if her path is not an easy one. She has overcome a lot of pain and suffering, tried a lot of roads to be able to let go of her anger and revenche desire.
As for Kirsa, I can't wait to learn what the author has for her in store. I'm sure I will have to keep the kleenex nearby!
Well written and entertaining, I've really spent a great time with this book.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
It has been awhile since I've been very engrossed in a story. This one mixes Buddhism, Indian's Mythology and you eagerly turn the pages to know what will happen next.
I've really enjoyed Mala's tale even if her path is not an easy one. She has overcome a lot of pain and suffering, tried a lot of roads to be able to let go of her anger and revenche desire.
As for Kirsa, I can't wait to learn what the author has for her in store. I'm sure I will have to keep the kleenex nearby!
Well written and entertaining, I've really spent a great time with this book.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
August 6, 2016
Mala is the daughter of a tanner – an outcaste girl who knows she is less-than. However, she also has a secret – the gods have spoken to her. In fact, they kept her safe as her father was killed, then when her mother was raped and murdered. As life does, hers follows a twisty path, from the young girl who was too afraid to name her mother’s killer, to a brutal killer herself…and then beyond. Woven throughout the story of Mara is that of Siddhartha, the Sakyan prince who would one day become the Buddha.
Read more: http://vampirebookclub.net/review-the...
Read more: http://vampirebookclub.net/review-the...
April 26, 2016
I was blessed enough to be able to download a free ebook copy of this book from NetGally in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
The imagery of the book is what first pulled me into the story. I personally got a bit lost and confused with a few plot points in the story and for me the main characters got lost a few times in my shock over a few of the extreme scenes. Overall I personally rate this book a 5/10.
The imagery of the book is what first pulled me into the story. I personally got a bit lost and confused with a few plot points in the story and for me the main characters got lost a few times in my shock over a few of the extreme scenes. Overall I personally rate this book a 5/10.
October 11, 2016
I wasn't really sure how much I would like this book because I don't know anything about the Buddhist culture. I actually ended up likeing it quite a bit. It really pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you are there with the characters. I had a hard time finding a good spot to put it down, so I just kept reading. I will definatly be looking for more books by this author!
April 21, 2016
I was truly fascinated by this story about a peasant girl named Mala who eventually grows up to be a bloodthirsty warrior queen. But through forgiveness and right action she learns how to transform herself back. Charming!
December 6, 2016
Beautifully written. Definitely transports you into the time. However, to be honest, at times I had found myself a bit mired down and had to push through, while still appreciating both the story and the talent of the author.
August 2, 2016
Great characters. Looking forward to the next book to see what's in store for Mala.
December 15, 2016
Very good read. Took me to a magical place where I got lost in the book. Excellent!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews