The Elephant Keeper's Daughter

By: Julia Drosten, Deborah Langton - translator

Narrated by: Deepa Samuel

From the bestselling author of The Lioness of Morocco comes the beguiling novel of a young woman trapped between the expectations of her family and the desire to live free.

Ceylon, 1803. In the royal city of Kandy, a daughter is born to the king’s elephant keeper - an esteemed position in the court reserved only for males. To ensure the line of succession, Phera’s parents raise her as a boy.

As she bonds with her elephant companion, Siddhi, Phera grows into a confident, fiercely independent woman torn between the expectations of her family and her desire to live life on her own terms. Only when British colonists invade is she allowed to live her true identity, but when the conquerors commit unspeakable violence against her people, Phera must add survival to the list of freedoms for which she’s willing to fight.

Possessed by thoughts of revenge yet drawn into an unexpected romance with a kindly British physician, the elephant keeper’s daughter faces a choice: Love or hatred? Forgiveness or retribution?

©2018 Julia Peczynsky and Horst Drosten (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2018 by Deborah Langton

Breathtaking In Every Way!

This was a story I didn’t know I needed to shake the mental & soul cobwebs clear…not only was the story VERY well written, but the narration…literal living art!! I was in Sri Lanka when I was younger, and everything combined took me back there. Even with the my heart, breaking at my feet for a lot of the story, rightttttttttt until the end….I still feel so motivated and inspired, and even humble/grateful for all that I have been blessed with - ESPECIALLY people I hold dearest in my heart

Nice story, annoying narration

Good story, somewhat predictable, but kept a good pace. The narration was very distracting especially the male English accent.

Outstanding!

I listened to The Elephant Keepers Daughter through Audible and was completely engaged from the first chapter. I highly recommend this book!

a strong womans story

i am liking the books i read about history more and more. this one is intriquing and riveting at the same time. loved it

Narration failed at times

I enjoyed the story and stuck with it despite the British accent which was just cringe worthy.

What a wonderful book/audible listen

This book is one of my best lived of the year. I know nithi g of the history of the land that us now SriLanka... Thus story, is based on the events that took place under the cruel officer in charge of a small area during the early 1800s as a British colony.

While a few of the scenes and events were difficult to read, with the story focused on Peea, the youngest daughter of the chief elephant keeper...a position that put the family In The court of the soon to be deposed king. Thus child lived as a boy for the first 12 years of her life, and trained to work with the former kings herd and especially with the elephant calf that shared her birth day and was given to the family by the king.

Memories of this book and the people who live through it will remain with me for a long time.

Thrre were sections where the narration was brilliant and others that were faltering and just didn't work..... And while that wasn't perfect. It wasn't enough to bring the story down

A Wonderful Discovery

I'm so glad I fell into this book! I set out to read a book about Sri Lanka and Elephant Keeper's Daughter popped up. I learned so much while love/hating the people and love/hating the story. The narrator was great with a wonderful rhythm to her voice. I'm off to find more books by this author.

Just not for me

I'm sure some liked the story but it wasn't for me. Wish to return and receive credit