Niyogi Books Spellcasters: A novel

by Rajat Chaudhuri

Brand New

320 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

Rajat Chaudhuri has published and edited a variety of works including novels, short story collections, anthologies and translations. His published works include Butterfly Effect, Calcutta Nights (translation), The Great Bengali Poetry Underground (translation, poetry) Hotel Calcutta, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction (ed), Calculus (fiction, Bengali) and Amber Dusk. He is the Charles Wallace Creative Writing Fellow (2014) at the University of Chichester, United Kingdom, Hawthornden Castle Fellow (2015) and a Korean Arts Council Fellow (2013) at Toji Cultural Centre, South Korea. Chaudhuri is a past Fellow of the Sangam House International Writers Residency. Chaudhuri's fiction has appeared in Eclectica, Underground Voices, Notes from the Underground, The Statesman, L'Allure des Mots and other snakepits of the international literary underground. He is also a critic and has reviewed fiction for Sahitya Akademi's (India's National academy of Letters) Indian Literature journal, The Asian Review of Books, Outlook, The Telegraph and elsewhere. One of his short stories was the winning entry of the Wordweavers Fiction Contest, 2011. Before turning to writing full-time, Chaudhuri has been a consumer rights activist, an economic and political affairs officer with a Japanese Mission and a climate change advocate at the United Nations, New York. Chaudhuri has also published non-fiction work in the area of water rights and misleading environmental claims in advertising.

Hotel Calcutta reviewed:

`A persuasive artist' -- Asian Review of Books http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/new...

`Sheer power of storytelling' -- The Telegraph http://telegraphindia.com/1130329/jsp...

`Astounding’ … `Not to be missed.’ -- Indian Literature journal, Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters)
http://bit.ly/18DeozO

Amber Dusk reviewed:

`A heady mix of experiences' -- The Telegraph

`A memorable novel of East-West encounter' -- Amitava Roy

`Another type of writing emerging within Indian English writing' -- Indian Literature, Sahitya Akademi (JSTOR)

Reviews

[Sneha Pathak (reader_girl_reader)]

Rajat Chaudhuri's Spellcasters is a book that can be clubbed in the broad genre of science fiction, but the fact is that it could also very well be placed in fantasy and/or thriller. Because it talks about a lot of things and uses features from all these genres to tell its story.

And the story? Suffice to say that this is a story where very little can be said without giving spoilers, but this is a quest like many others. A quest where there's a lot at stake, where too much is happening at once. And Chaudhary believes in situating the reader smack in the middle of the action and making her feel her way through the plot as his characters do in the smog-filled city. Sorry, but you'll have to read more to find out!

[Book_withquotes · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Amidst the barren expanse of a remote desert town, Chanchal Mitra awakens to find herself in an unexpected and perilous situation. Sharing cramped quarters with the enigmatic Mr. Kapoor, she soon discovers his audacious plan to abduct a billionaire tycoon, whom he claims is an imposter. Drawn unwittingly into Kapoor’s scheme, Chanchal’s world spirals further into chaos with the arrival of the mysterious Sujata, her gaze harbouring secrets darker than the night, and a weathered ex-sailor wielding a deadly weapon. Meanwhile, in the haze-choked capital city of Aukatabad, a tragic death raises suspicions, while a chocolate factory falls victim to contamination. As danger lurks at every turn and lives hang in the balance, Chanchal finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger that threatens to consume them all.

This novel is an incredible flow of visions, dreams and desires. This climatic fiction is packaged as part thriller, part fantasy. It is about modern Indian cities full of growing consumerism and conflicting values. Although the beginning may take some getting used to, the story progresses smoothly, providing suspense, unexpected twists and a pace that keeps readers engaged.

The book mixes the theme of rapid economic development with the sustainability that has served you. side of mythology. Chaudhuri’s writing is neither didactic nor hectoring, but full of verve and spontaneity and wonderful acrobatics of imagination. Recommended for those who enjoy speculative fiction, and thrillers or who enjoy reading climate change books!

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this captivating story, Chanchal Mitra wakes up in a far-off desert town, unintentionally pulled into a plan to kidnap a billionaire orchestrated by the flamboyant Mr. Kapoor. As the plot develops, mysterious characters like the enigmatic Sujata and a crutch-clutching ex-sailor join in, adding complexity to the unfolding mystery.

Skillfully blending elements of thriller and fantasy, this climate fiction delves into the shared concerns of modern Indian cities, struggling with the impact of rising consumerism and conflicting values.

While the beginning may require a moment to settle into, the narrative smoothly progresses, offering suspense, unexpected twists, and a pace that keeps readers engrossed.

This thoughtful tale intertwines the challenges of accumulating wealth with the environmental consequences. It's a recommended read for those who enjoy books exploring the intricacies of our lives and their influence on the Earth.

[Melina Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Spellcaster" is a really cool fantasy book by Rajat Chaudhuri that I couldn't put down. What got me hooked was how the story flowed so smoothly and kept surprising me. Right from the blurb, I knew it was going to be different. It mixes in real-life stuff we deal with every day, which makes it stand out.

Chaudhuri writes in a way that makes the story exciting but also makes you think about important stuff, like climate change and greed. I liked how he weaved these big issues into the story without making it boring. It made the plot more interesting and got me thinking.

Even though it deals with serious topics, "Spellcaster" is still a fun read. I finished it in one day because I was so into it. Chaudhuri knows how to keep you interested and always wants to know what happens next. The pace is just right, with lots of action and suspense.

What I really liked was how Chaudhuri created a world that felt both dystopian and real. The characters are well-written, and you can understand why they do what they do. Even the bad guys have depth, which makes the story more interesting.

Overall, "Spellcaster" is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world. It's exciting and feels real at the same time. Whether you like fantasy, sci-fi, or just good stories, you should definitely give it a read. Chaudhuri's writing is awesome, and "Spellcaster" is a journey you won't regret taking.


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Rated 9.5/10
Melina L.

[Prerna Shambhavee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Spellcasters" by Rajat Chaudhuri is a gripping and mysterious tale that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the desolate desert town and smog-swathed capital city of Aukatabad. The story follows protagonist Chanchal Mitra, who finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue and danger when she wakes up in a dingy hotel room with the flamboyant Mr. Kapoor, who has plans to abduct a billionaire tycoon.

As the plot unfolds, Chanchal is unwittingly drawn into Kapoor's scheme, accompanied by the enigmatic Sujata and a crutch-clutching ex-sailor. Together, they navigate a world filled with murder, deception, and mystery.

Author masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. From the suspicious death of an organic chemist to the contamination of a chocolate factory by salmonella, the novel is filled with suspense and intrigue at every turn.

The characters in "Spellcasters" are richly developed and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets. From the charismatic Mr. Kapoor to the mysterious Sujata, Author's characters leap off the page and into the imagination of readers.

At its core, "Spellcasters" is a story about power, greed, and the lengths people will go to achieve their desires. It explores themes of morality, manipulation, and the consequences of one's actions in a world where nothing is as it seems.

All-in-all, "Spellcasters" is a captivating and atmospheric read that will keep readers guessing until the very end. With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and evocative setting, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they've turned the final page.

[Siddhant Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellcasters has been set in the fictional cities of Aukatabad, Anantapur and Bhaskarnagar. The book explores multiple angles where we see three genres-psychological thriller, climate adventure & occult- cross paths. While there is chaos in the first part of the book, the second part of the book is equally sorted and once the threads come together the storytelling keeps you hooked. As the story moves progresses, events start making sense and the discrete events weave into a cohesive plot that keeps you hooked in the rest of the story. The book blends the question of rapid economic development with a question on its sustainability which is served to you with a side of mythology. Another thing that works for this book is the fact that the things are revealed in parts and while you guess about one aspect of the story, something happens which will make you change your mind. The storytelling is quite engaging and Rajat keeps the reader glued into the book and guessing about the next events. The climax of the book is very well executed and the little surprise in the end is something I really hope gets solved sometime in the future.

The characters in the book are quite interesting. Chanchal Mitra’s character and his quirks are explored in detail. I loved how his past has been explored in detail which forms the basis of the storyline. I also liked the character arc of JRK and how his life gets entangled with that of Chanchal Mitra. Sujata’s character was also a surprise as to how her character turns out, specially towards the end. There is a surprise character which appears a few times, but is a pivotal one.

[Sulagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventure, a grim dystopian world, a climate that envelopes the country in its own horrors, a cult, a billionaire whose greed knows no bounds, a mysterious woman, psychedelic drugs and a reporter who is being chased across the country— author Rajat Chaudhuri encapsulates these in a 300-paged urban fantasy that tells you tales about the climate and how it is its own character in this book.

Not only was this book a bleak reminder of the climate crisis we are in, it also delves into the psyche of humans and churns out a story that will take you on a wild ride. And when I tell you 'wild,' it actually means WILD. Wild as in Murakami-esque wild.

The first 100 or so pages may take time for you to settle in the story and after that there's an easy progress as everything falls into the place. There's suspense and a huge plot twist that will make you go 'OH' and then it picks up pace, making you want to keep reading the book until the end. There's a myriad of characters— some simple caricatures of everyday people we come across in our lives, and some complex ones that add all the spice to the book. Also, the fictional cities/towns in the book are based on our very own popular cities in India and it's fun to make out which is which.

A fun, thrilling ride this was. Recommended to the ones who are into speculative fiction, thrillers or would like to read books with climate change as a character!