Now known to generations of Sikhs as Mai Bhago, the young woman born Bhag Bhari is a teen at a crossroads when the novel opens. Growing up in a traditional Sikh family in Jhabal Kalan near Amritsar, Bhag Bhari resists prescribed feminine tasks like cooking and sewing. Rather than dreaming of settling down and raising a family, she yearns to study martial arts like the men in her family—and displays striking talents when she does so. She also yearns to use her skills to protect her people. When her uncle and cousin are sent to war, she both worries about them and longs to be part of the fight. But Bhag Bhari’s parents urge her to focus more on finding a respectable husband and being a good bride. Kharbanda’s novel is at its strongest when it describes Bhag Bhari’s struggle to push back against the often sexist environment around her. While many parts of this legend’s fictionalized story are fascinating, the pacing feels uneven—often quite slow but too rushed when it comes to the main character’s evolving relationship with Nidhan Singh, her husband. Still, readers will likely be drawn to the rich historical details, and Bhag Bhari’s strong Sikh faith and courage shine throughout.