'Dazzling... Plot-packed, emotionally extravagant, dramatically intense... The writing, moreover, soars... Such is the unique power and enchantment of this novel that seems destined to be a future classic.' Guardian

'The Fertile Earth made me think about so many things, from family and love to politics and violence. The scope of this brilliant novel is vast. Absolutely captivating.’ Luan Goldie, author of Nightingale Point

'The Fertile Earth is an unforgettable novel. It's beautifully written, immersive, clear-eyed in its depiction of caste and oppression, yet tender in its portrayal of heartbreak and hope.’ Deepa Anappara, author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line and The Last of Earth

'Dealing with class struggle and the motivations for insurgency as well as sibling rivalry and forbidden love, it’s an epic social novel that movingly weaves the political and personal.' Daily Mail

'Lush and beautiful from beginning to end... Rao's prose is undeniably captivating.' Debutiful

'A heart-wrenching tale of forbidden love.' The Washington Post

'What a marvelous writer Ruthvika is... The Fertile Earth is a compulsively readable novel.' Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field

'Lush, bold, haunting and heartbreaking. The story of a forbidden love against the violent backdrop of post-independent India, The Fertile Earth had me gripped. Rao’s gorgeous prose leaps off the page in this impressive and unforgettable debut novel.’ Alba Arikha, author of Two Hours

'Held me spellbound... Ruthvika Rao is a fearless writer, and her debut is nothing short of dazzling.' Tania James, author of Loot

'An astonishing, intelligent epic set during the early decades of post-Independence India... A novel you will not be able to forget.' Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House

'This is an inspired, gorgeous book, and Ruthvika Rao's storytelling has a confident, compassionate intelligence?I'd follow her bright voice anywhere.' Natalie Bakopoulos, author of Scorpionfish

'Bold, sensual, and captivating, The Fertile Earth pits love against memory, love against class, love against politics, love against time, love against all. Read it, and find out which one wins.' Shobha Rao, author of Girls Burn Brighter

'An achingly beautiful book... A spellbinding epic of land, class, and family in post-independence India. Vijaya, Krishna, Ranga, and Sree are formidable characters whose choices never fail to upend expectations, hurtling towards a future of earth-shattering emotional reverberations.' Aube Rey Lescure, author of River East, River West

‘Phenomenal… It would be simplistic to describe this brilliant novel as “rich girl meets poor boy,” yet that is the essence that takes deep root and blossoms in assured and breathtaking ways... Precisely etched characters, vivid descriptions, and a taut story line meld to deliver a masterpiece.’ Booklist

'A gorgeous story of star-crossed lovers across the class divide in volatile 1960s India... In the shocking climax, the children's subjective experience is revisited through Sree's childlike point of view in an absolutely brilliant way.' Historical Novel Society

'The relationship between the four characters is the heart of the book, but the village of Irumi, its inhabitants and the tensions between them are also important in this epic, ambitious debut.' The Times

'A masterful debut by Ruthvika Rao, weaving a compelling tale of forbidden love against the tumultuous political backdrop of 1960s India... Captivates readers with its rich tapestry of characters, intense emotions, and a storyline that delves deep into the social divide and political unrest of post-independence India.' Asian Lite