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A talking tigress. A wandering yogi. A young woman’s journey through an ancient land where chaos threatens gods and mortals alike.When a tigress speaks to the outcaste girl Mala,  she flees in terror, only to collide with an old yogi. She offers him shelter, and in return, he spins wondrous tales and awakens her hunger for forbidden spiritual knowledge.Thus begins her quest for freedom, on which she meets gods and goddesses, outlaws and kings, and the young prince prophesied to become the Buddha. At first, her journey leads to happiness, but when she loses everything she loves, her quest goes terribly wrong. She descends into darkness, worshipping a dark goddess and mastering occult powers. Yoga’s path could lead her back to the light, but inner demons guard the way, and she must summon the courage to face them.“…fascinating reading for anyone remotely interested in Eastern religion and culture…With a strong and graceful writing style, Schanfield combines spirituality and action in a way that’s consistently compelling…an impressive debut…”  Blue Ink Reviews“With its violent, pulsating, and raw sensuality, this story of a heroine from the edges of Buddhist traditions appeals to the senses.… Schanfield’s portrayal of the feminine aspects of the divine is highly potent…” Patty Comeau, five stars, Foreword Clarion Reviews.