Queen of the Elements

Closely based on the Valmiki version of the Ramayana, written thousands of years ago, this fully illustrated retelling brings the ancient masterpiece into the present and expands upon the details found in the original text. Told largely from the perspective of Rama with a unique focus on the hearts and minds of the beloved, classic characters, this rendition of the Ramayana takes readers deep into the surprisingly human hearts and minds of the divine heroes—and sometimes villains—of this enduring epic. Exiled to the mystical forest after an unthinkable betrayal, Rama, Sita, and Lakshman journey into the unknown after being cast out of Ayodhya. The threesome meets a motley cast of personalities, including the vulture king Jatayu and the demoness Surpanahka, as they travel through the forest battling blood-drinking demons and sheltering with divine sages and munis. The second part in a three-volume adaptation of the Ramayana, this deluxe presentation of the ancient epic pairs stunning, divinely inspired watercolor and pen illustrations with modern storytelling.