Lucknow, 1857. The last Nawab of Awadh has been exiled by the British to Calcutta along with his courtiers and his coterie. Only his beautiful queen, Hazrat Mahal, stays back with young prince Birjis Ali. Hazrat vows to fight the British and win back her beloved Awadh for her people and the crown for her son. She builds a rebel army and high drama ensues as they besiege the Residency, the walled British cantonment, for five months. A fictional saga based on actual events, this book takes you within the walls of the Residency where love and passion rage alongside the battle, and into the world of Begum Hazrat and her loyal band. Will the rebel army storm the British bastion before their relief forces arrive? Or will the tide turn in a wave of loss and grief, crushing Hazrat Mahal?s dream for Awadh and her son?