The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a retelling of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, from the perspective of Sita, one of its central characters. This novel focuses on Sita’s voice and her experiences, giving readers a more intimate understanding of her emotions, choices, and struggles as a woman in a patriarchal society.

Divakaruni’s novel not only portrays Sita’s strength, resilience, and compassion but also explores the stories of other women in the Ramayana, such as Kaikeyi, Mandodari, and Surpanakha. The book reimagines these female characters with depth, highlighting their complexity and agency in a tale traditionally centered around men.