Sister of My Heart (Indonesian title: Saudara Sehati) is the prequel to The Vine of Desire, also written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. While The Vine of Desire looks at the struggles of adulthood, Sister of My Heart focuses on the formative years of the two protagonists, Anju and Sudha.
The Vine of Desire (Indonesian title: Jalinan Jiwa, literally "The Interweaving of Souls") is the sequel to Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Mistress of Spices (which you previously inquired about) [1.1.2]. While the first book focuses on Tilo's mystical role, this sequel delves deeper into the complex, real-world relationships of the characters she influenced.
The story thrives on the tension between the characters as they navigate their fake dynamic, often realizing that the person they are "arranged" with is actually someone they are beginning to care for deeply.
The story continues the journey of Anand, a young boy who was tasked with returning a magical conch—a powerful artifact—to its rightful home in the mystical Himalayan valley of Shikarpuri. In this sequel, Anand has returned to his life in Kolkata, but his connection to the magical world is far from over. He discovers that the evil sorcerer Surabhanu has not been defeated; he has found a …