My view on this book is somewhat unique being that I have never read the Mahabharatha. I can't compare Draupadi's view point with the original, I don't know all the little changes Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni decided to make. What I can say is that this book has reminded me of how much I love Hindu literature! I remember reading (a very abridged) version of the Ramayana in a high school mythology class. Out of the entire class it was my favorite story and for the same reasons I loved reading The Palace of Illusions. I love the rounded characters, the way the stories force your perspective to change and view things from a different angle. I love all the philosophy woven throughout these great epics. I love that the gods interact and even live amongst humans (which was something that stood out in a mythology class that was mostly framed around Greek mythology.) But most of all I love the magic elements and the contrast it creates with the otherwise realistic plot. It creates such a magical atmosphere. So while I can't say much about the historical accuracy of this retelling, I can tell you that I very much enjoyed reading it. It has reignited my love of Hindu literature and I can't wait to explore the genre more!