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The Burnings
As inexplicable fires rage across the country, Shalini receives a frantic call from her first love, Akshar – a man she hasn’t seen in years. She rushes to his side, only to find him a shadow of his former self, broken, tormented by regret and wasting away in the decaying grandeur of his ancestral mansion in the hills.
Soon after Shalini steps through its doors, she senses that something isn’t right. The lonely mansion’s older residents linger in eerie ways, harbouring secrets as oppressive as the smoke in the air, and the few living souls who cross her path – Akshar’s beautiful but peculiar childhood sweetheart, the occasional visitors and even some of the locals – are steeped in menace. A locked room beckons Shalini, while something haunts the corridors at night, as if listening to her every move.
Shalini must confront the mansion’s malevolent legacy and her own dark past – but doing so could come at an unthinkable price. Will she break free, or become another ghost in this house of horrors?
Soon after Shalini steps through its doors, she senses that something isn’t right. The lonely mansion’s older residents linger in eerie ways, harbouring secrets as oppressive as the smoke in the air, and the few living souls who cross her path – Akshar’s beautiful but peculiar childhood sweetheart, the occasional visitors and even some of the locals – are steeped in menace. A locked room beckons Shalini, while something haunts the corridors at night, as if listening to her every move.
Shalini must confront the mansion’s malevolent legacy and her own dark past – but doing so could come at an unthinkable price. Will she break free, or become another ghost in this house of horrors?
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2025
36 people want to read
About the author
Himanjali Sankar
13 books7 followersHimanjali’s children’s and YA books include THE STUPENDOUS TIMETELLING SUPERDOG and TALKING OF MUSKAAN, which were shortlisted for the Crossword Book Award. MRS C REMEMBERS, her first novel for adults, won her the FICCI Publishing Award for Upcoming Author of the Year in 2018. Her YA novel, THE LIES WE TELL, was shortlisted for The Neev Book Award in 2020. She is secretly proud that her latest novel for adults, THE BURNINGS, has made family and friends worry about what lives inside her head.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 19, 2025
A couple of years ago I realised how much I actually enjoy reading horror fiction. It started off with Julia Armfield's Our Wives Under the Sea and then Motherthing but my constant hunt for the perfect Indian horror fiction was still on. That is, until I stumbled upon The Burnings by @himanjalisankar . Written from the POVs of three women tied by a singular thing that is considered to be both cleansing and fearful, the fire. The backdrop of the novel is perfect for the story. A big and daunting mansion set in the hills, almost on the verge of dilapidation. The walls carry secrets, lies and stories of betrayal. And it is in this eerie mansion that the story unfolds and the three women jump to the depths of their past, to understand their future.
I loved how female centric this novel truly was. Although the men carry a sense of power, it is the women who truly have the innate ability to set things into motion. To set fires, to wrap them around themselves and to forgo everything to the point of simply and calmly perishing in the burning and raging fires. We follow a few love stories, each of them carrying different protagonists , each of them tragic and mournful. We see a young and impossible child grow up into a woman still being haunted by her first love. We see an old woman prone to dementia, fitfully thinking about her ex husband and lovers, about her sons; one ignored and one loved. And the final woman is the mother of the impossible child, still fearful of her grown up daughter even after years.
The storyline jumps between the past and present, an act that feels so effortlessly done. It makes you uncomfortable, almost like witnessing an event so tragic that you always knew it'd happen. But amidst everything else, this novel is about love that always seems out of reach, of loss and of living with a feeling that's both dark and all consuming.
Thanks a ton for sending me this copy @panmacmillanindia 🤍
I loved how female centric this novel truly was. Although the men carry a sense of power, it is the women who truly have the innate ability to set things into motion. To set fires, to wrap them around themselves and to forgo everything to the point of simply and calmly perishing in the burning and raging fires. We follow a few love stories, each of them carrying different protagonists , each of them tragic and mournful. We see a young and impossible child grow up into a woman still being haunted by her first love. We see an old woman prone to dementia, fitfully thinking about her ex husband and lovers, about her sons; one ignored and one loved. And the final woman is the mother of the impossible child, still fearful of her grown up daughter even after years.
The storyline jumps between the past and present, an act that feels so effortlessly done. It makes you uncomfortable, almost like witnessing an event so tragic that you always knew it'd happen. But amidst everything else, this novel is about love that always seems out of reach, of loss and of living with a feeling that's both dark and all consuming.
Thanks a ton for sending me this copy @panmacmillanindia 🤍
January 19, 2025
3.5 stars
I think I'm a little haunted by this book. The book splendidly executes this perfectly eerie atmosphere muddled with a constant sense of confusion and brain fog for the reader. While reading this book, I felt as if I was filled with a constant sense of urgency and anxiety, increasing with each page, and I wanted to close the book yet I couldn’t get enough. Not all thriller or horror books do that to you and that’s what makes The Burnings such a good and quick read.
At the heart of this book are three women, each existing in their time and telling their stories which slowly start to entwine. Most of the events of this novel are set inside a decaying, bizarre mansion, creating a strange and gothic environment throughout the novel. There are twists in this story you cannot anticipate and I think, as the book progresses, the author gets better at exactly showing the readers the vivid images hidden behind her words, and I really really enjoyed that. I don’t know if it’s too soon to say this but this book could be made into such a good movie (starring Vidya Balan, please).
While mainly being described as horror, The Burnings also wonderfully encapsulates the idea of female rage, responsibility and grief. As you navigate the life stories of the three women, the ideas of love, acceptance, jealousy, being outcasted, infidelity, insanity, among others, become clear and consequential. Besides giving me the chills from time to time, this book also made me reflect on so many aspects of life and what morality is.
Still, I do have my qualms about this book. The book begins with telling the reader about the rising fires throughout the world, sending countries into curfews and lockdowns. While not related to Covid-19, the idea of an unforeseeable lockdown just made me deeply uncomfortable. I just don’t think I’m ready to read books about Covid-19 or lockdowns so that’s on me. At the same time, the reason behind the fires is never revealed which left me a little unfulfilled as a reader. I do think it was a conscious choice by the author but I still really want to know.
Overall, I think The Burnings is a book capable of leaving chills down your spine and an ever-increasing fear of fire. It’s a little haunting and will make you ruminate, and hate Akshar (he’s so… I need to rant about it). If you’re in a slump, this is the perfect book to get you out of it!
I think I'm a little haunted by this book. The book splendidly executes this perfectly eerie atmosphere muddled with a constant sense of confusion and brain fog for the reader. While reading this book, I felt as if I was filled with a constant sense of urgency and anxiety, increasing with each page, and I wanted to close the book yet I couldn’t get enough. Not all thriller or horror books do that to you and that’s what makes The Burnings such a good and quick read.
At the heart of this book are three women, each existing in their time and telling their stories which slowly start to entwine. Most of the events of this novel are set inside a decaying, bizarre mansion, creating a strange and gothic environment throughout the novel. There are twists in this story you cannot anticipate and I think, as the book progresses, the author gets better at exactly showing the readers the vivid images hidden behind her words, and I really really enjoyed that. I don’t know if it’s too soon to say this but this book could be made into such a good movie (starring Vidya Balan, please).
While mainly being described as horror, The Burnings also wonderfully encapsulates the idea of female rage, responsibility and grief. As you navigate the life stories of the three women, the ideas of love, acceptance, jealousy, being outcasted, infidelity, insanity, among others, become clear and consequential. Besides giving me the chills from time to time, this book also made me reflect on so many aspects of life and what morality is.
Still, I do have my qualms about this book. The book begins with telling the reader about the rising fires throughout the world, sending countries into curfews and lockdowns. While not related to Covid-19, the idea of an unforeseeable lockdown just made me deeply uncomfortable. I just don’t think I’m ready to read books about Covid-19 or lockdowns so that’s on me. At the same time, the reason behind the fires is never revealed which left me a little unfulfilled as a reader. I do think it was a conscious choice by the author but I still really want to know.
Overall, I think The Burnings is a book capable of leaving chills down your spine and an ever-increasing fear of fire. It’s a little haunting and will make you ruminate, and hate Akshar (he’s so… I need to rant about it). If you’re in a slump, this is the perfect book to get you out of it!
February 13, 2025
There are mysterious fires breaking out around the whole world. Is it a climate crisis or something more sinister? As people get inexplicably drawn to these fires, smiling as they step into it, dying in a horrific way, the governments across the globe take the extreme measure to impose a lockdown.
Shalini, our protagonist, gets a call from her first and former lover, Akshar, asking her to come to his mansion in the hills, due to exigent circumstances.
You know what Shalini should’ve done? Said no and moved on with her life with her current boyfriend but the story would’ve ended up there and we wouldn’t have met a cast of peculiar characters who frequent the halls of Akshar’s dilapidated mansion, which might’ve been glorious once, a metaphorical state of the 3 women, whose PoV we follow.
The story is rife with secrets and tragedies, affairs and mental health matters, as the reader is beckoned deeper into the eerie past of these 3 women, who are connected with the type of relationships they’ve had with their children and past lovers, and their sacrifices which mothers so often have to make.
For me, it was an unputdownable novel as I turned the pages frantically, lying on the sofa, my only source of light being the glow from the fairy lights hanging above and a stream of an LED coming from the kitchen. I was eager to peel off the layers, trying to get down to the bottom of the multiple mysteries running parallelly, waiting for them to meet at a point. No doubt, it was a deeply atmospheric novel but left something to be desired in terms of the unanswered questions and the whys as the onus fell on the readers to decipher from what they read & understood. Reminded me of Mika Flanagan’s world on Netflix.
Shalini, our protagonist, gets a call from her first and former lover, Akshar, asking her to come to his mansion in the hills, due to exigent circumstances.
You know what Shalini should’ve done? Said no and moved on with her life with her current boyfriend but the story would’ve ended up there and we wouldn’t have met a cast of peculiar characters who frequent the halls of Akshar’s dilapidated mansion, which might’ve been glorious once, a metaphorical state of the 3 women, whose PoV we follow.
The story is rife with secrets and tragedies, affairs and mental health matters, as the reader is beckoned deeper into the eerie past of these 3 women, who are connected with the type of relationships they’ve had with their children and past lovers, and their sacrifices which mothers so often have to make.
For me, it was an unputdownable novel as I turned the pages frantically, lying on the sofa, my only source of light being the glow from the fairy lights hanging above and a stream of an LED coming from the kitchen. I was eager to peel off the layers, trying to get down to the bottom of the multiple mysteries running parallelly, waiting for them to meet at a point. No doubt, it was a deeply atmospheric novel but left something to be desired in terms of the unanswered questions and the whys as the onus fell on the readers to decipher from what they read & understood. Reminded me of Mika Flanagan’s world on Netflix.
January 20, 2025
✨ the burnings by himanjali sankar ✨
Genre : Gothic horror
My 💭:
[20/1/25 8.33 PM]
I just finished reading this book and this is my face currently : 😰
This is the first time that I'm reading a gothic horror book written by an Indian author. I had been anticipating reading this book since the past month because of this and finally, FINALLY, I'm feeling sated. Author @hima, you've got a new fan today 🖤
Before going into the plot, I will first declare this : the one thing I loved the most about this book is the setting - the haunting and foreboding and eerie world of this old mansion hidden in the hills, that will make you constantly look over your shoulder. Idk if I'm able to explain it correctly. It's the feeling that overcomes you just before you get goosebumps. Like, when you know there's something horrific waiting for you but you can't look back and start anticipating it. A horror lover as I am, I absolutely LOVED living in this feeling thanks to this book today. 🙌
The story is told from the pov of 3 women, seemingly unrelated but each equally battling life's cruelties in their own. And at the center of them is a man, obviously. He has a deep impact in all of their lives, yet his existence is defined by something and someone else entirely. When his secrets and twists come out, in such a casual manner, I was left shell shocked. Like what? How blind can love be? I'm telling you guys, the more I read the more I am confused about love. I'm still kind of in a daze by all that happened in the end. And I'm buzzing with unanswered questions, like did Shalini do what I think she did? But why??
As for the random fires and burnings, they form the horror part of the story. These fires are the cause of so much death and heartbreak and separation - they kind of took me back to the black covid era of 2020. And they also connected the 3 women in some horrifying ways. Mannn, human emotions can get REALLY dark 😨.
Lastly, I loved that despite the men being so self centred and controlling and misogynistic, it's the women who held the power to create and destroy. As a woman, I could not agree more 🔥.
Genre : Gothic horror
My 💭:
[20/1/25 8.33 PM]
I just finished reading this book and this is my face currently : 😰
This is the first time that I'm reading a gothic horror book written by an Indian author. I had been anticipating reading this book since the past month because of this and finally, FINALLY, I'm feeling sated. Author @hima, you've got a new fan today 🖤
Before going into the plot, I will first declare this : the one thing I loved the most about this book is the setting - the haunting and foreboding and eerie world of this old mansion hidden in the hills, that will make you constantly look over your shoulder. Idk if I'm able to explain it correctly. It's the feeling that overcomes you just before you get goosebumps. Like, when you know there's something horrific waiting for you but you can't look back and start anticipating it. A horror lover as I am, I absolutely LOVED living in this feeling thanks to this book today. 🙌
The story is told from the pov of 3 women, seemingly unrelated but each equally battling life's cruelties in their own. And at the center of them is a man, obviously. He has a deep impact in all of their lives, yet his existence is defined by something and someone else entirely. When his secrets and twists come out, in such a casual manner, I was left shell shocked. Like what? How blind can love be? I'm telling you guys, the more I read the more I am confused about love. I'm still kind of in a daze by all that happened in the end. And I'm buzzing with unanswered questions, like did Shalini do what I think she did? But why??
As for the random fires and burnings, they form the horror part of the story. These fires are the cause of so much death and heartbreak and separation - they kind of took me back to the black covid era of 2020. And they also connected the 3 women in some horrifying ways. Mannn, human emotions can get REALLY dark 😨.
Lastly, I loved that despite the men being so self centred and controlling and misogynistic, it's the women who held the power to create and destroy. As a woman, I could not agree more 🔥.
January 26, 2025
Gothic horror fiction? Count me in!!!
I have always been a fan of horror genre, especially the ones that make your skin crawl and leave you in a dizzy state, the ones that stay with you in a permanent haunting state. The Burnings written by the ever talented @himanjalisankar is one of those brain-fog gothic fiction that leaves you feeling an eerieness that cannot be let go.
There are random fires arising across the world and people around those fires are getting drawn towards it. No one can figure out the reason behind those burnings but a nation-wide curfew has been announced (quite similar to the pandemic) which restricts cross-border movement. Right before this pandemic started, Shalini travels to the hills from Delhi responding to her childhood friend/crush Akshar's dying wish. While she travels towards the hills worrying about Akshar and anxious over the fire incidents, what meets her in the destination is a strange setting. The house, where Shalini reaches to meet Akshar, is the main character of this book. The dying, dilapidated house is a symbol of the perishing state of its inhabitants. The house leaves the readers feel claustrophobic and the life in the hills are moving in a slow haze. The other two female characters in the book are equally broken in nature: Disha who is suffering from dementia, laments about her life gone, the lovers she had and the broken marriage she endured and Vasundhara who sacrificed the major part of her life and happiness for her slightly disturbed and unhinged daughter. Fire plays such a strong role in each of their lives and this story.
I honestly don't want to say anything more in the fear of giving away spoilers. But I can definitely vouch for the amazing writing, the chilling setting, the engrossing plot and the wonder that this book is. If you are a Shirley Jackson fan or enjoy books with surprise and horror element, go for this book. It is a quick and interesting read that will not disappoint.
I have always been a fan of horror genre, especially the ones that make your skin crawl and leave you in a dizzy state, the ones that stay with you in a permanent haunting state. The Burnings written by the ever talented @himanjalisankar is one of those brain-fog gothic fiction that leaves you feeling an eerieness that cannot be let go.
There are random fires arising across the world and people around those fires are getting drawn towards it. No one can figure out the reason behind those burnings but a nation-wide curfew has been announced (quite similar to the pandemic) which restricts cross-border movement. Right before this pandemic started, Shalini travels to the hills from Delhi responding to her childhood friend/crush Akshar's dying wish. While she travels towards the hills worrying about Akshar and anxious over the fire incidents, what meets her in the destination is a strange setting. The house, where Shalini reaches to meet Akshar, is the main character of this book. The dying, dilapidated house is a symbol of the perishing state of its inhabitants. The house leaves the readers feel claustrophobic and the life in the hills are moving in a slow haze. The other two female characters in the book are equally broken in nature: Disha who is suffering from dementia, laments about her life gone, the lovers she had and the broken marriage she endured and Vasundhara who sacrificed the major part of her life and happiness for her slightly disturbed and unhinged daughter. Fire plays such a strong role in each of their lives and this story.
I honestly don't want to say anything more in the fear of giving away spoilers. But I can definitely vouch for the amazing writing, the chilling setting, the engrossing plot and the wonder that this book is. If you are a Shirley Jackson fan or enjoy books with surprise and horror element, go for this book. It is a quick and interesting read that will not disappoint.
January 18, 2025
Neglect doesn’t scream. It settles, quiet and cruel, carving holes in your heart where love should have been. You tell yourself it doesn’t matter, but the ache grows roots, and the silence becomes unbearable.
And then you find one who feels like a kindred soul. You mould yourself to the person's likes. Your fervent prayer is they will stick and that you won't have to be alone again. Obsession creeps in, promising meaning, making you cling too hard, love too fiercely, until you’re bleeding from holding on to what was never yours.
The buried pain festers, turning into a darkness you can’t escape. It crawls through your soul, spilling out in tears, rage, and desperate hunger for someone—anyone—to see you. But no one comes.
You’re left alone with the darkness, wondering if it was always your fault, if you were ever meant to be whole. And as the world watches in indifference, you drown, quietly forgotten.
When Shalini receives a frantic call from her childhood love, Akshar she rushes to be by his side as the world goes into a lockdown due to inexplicable fires springing up and consuming lives across the world.
Akshar's palatial house in the hills, now falling into decay, has the mad woman in the attic and hides dark secrets like the grand Meanderly. It's not only the walls of the house but its inhabitants too.
With every minute Shalini spends in the house, she is forced to confront her past while secrets around her unravel; coming apart layer by layer. The women in the book have borne neglect and been broken until a shadow of their former self. They carry a torch that burns bright until it consumes all, and that's what the burings are about - glowing coal of injustice.
It's a short book that packs so much that you'll be left staring into the void long after you're done. You'll be fanning the embers that you carry with you, not dousing the flames.
Thank you @panmacmillanindia for sending this my way
And then you find one who feels like a kindred soul. You mould yourself to the person's likes. Your fervent prayer is they will stick and that you won't have to be alone again. Obsession creeps in, promising meaning, making you cling too hard, love too fiercely, until you’re bleeding from holding on to what was never yours.
The buried pain festers, turning into a darkness you can’t escape. It crawls through your soul, spilling out in tears, rage, and desperate hunger for someone—anyone—to see you. But no one comes.
You’re left alone with the darkness, wondering if it was always your fault, if you were ever meant to be whole. And as the world watches in indifference, you drown, quietly forgotten.
When Shalini receives a frantic call from her childhood love, Akshar she rushes to be by his side as the world goes into a lockdown due to inexplicable fires springing up and consuming lives across the world.
Akshar's palatial house in the hills, now falling into decay, has the mad woman in the attic and hides dark secrets like the grand Meanderly. It's not only the walls of the house but its inhabitants too.
With every minute Shalini spends in the house, she is forced to confront her past while secrets around her unravel; coming apart layer by layer. The women in the book have borne neglect and been broken until a shadow of their former self. They carry a torch that burns bright until it consumes all, and that's what the burings are about - glowing coal of injustice.
It's a short book that packs so much that you'll be left staring into the void long after you're done. You'll be fanning the embers that you carry with you, not dousing the flames.
Thank you @panmacmillanindia for sending this my way
May 27, 2025
Rating : 4.5/5
This book is a compelling work of gothic horror that intricately weaves together the narratives of three distinct women across different generations, all connected by a mysterious ancestral mansion in the Himalayas and the unsettling phenomenon of unexplained fires erupting across the country.
Author masterfully creates a palpable sense of dread and unease from the very beginning. The decaying mansion, with its eerie inhabitants and oppressive secrets, becomes a character in itself, contributing significantly to the gothic atmosphere. The unexplained fires add a layer of apocalyptic tension to the backdrop.😨
The story unfolds through the eyes of three women: Shalini, a graphic consultant visiting her ailing ex-lover; a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s within the mansion; and a woman from a past generation who left the house. The novel delves into profound themes such as the weight of being a woman in a patriarchal society, the trials and complexities of motherhood, unrequited love, infidelity, the burden of troubled pasts, and the inability to let go. I loved how it related upon the confusion and helplessness that we all went through during COVID-19 pandemic but here its the unexplained fires that haunt you. Each of the three women are portrayed with depth and nuance, their individual struggles and perspectives adding richness to the narrative. Author avoids simplistic portrayals of “good” or “bad” characters, instead presenting their human complexities and emotions.
I loved how unique and unsettling this book was🔥.
Author has a beautiful skill to bring the suspense and human stories into a chilling narrative. It successfully blends the eerie and the human, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Do Give this a read if you want to dive into Indian Gothic horror , it was such a unique experience for me and loved every bit of it. 😍
This book is a compelling work of gothic horror that intricately weaves together the narratives of three distinct women across different generations, all connected by a mysterious ancestral mansion in the Himalayas and the unsettling phenomenon of unexplained fires erupting across the country.
Author masterfully creates a palpable sense of dread and unease from the very beginning. The decaying mansion, with its eerie inhabitants and oppressive secrets, becomes a character in itself, contributing significantly to the gothic atmosphere. The unexplained fires add a layer of apocalyptic tension to the backdrop.😨
The story unfolds through the eyes of three women: Shalini, a graphic consultant visiting her ailing ex-lover; a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s within the mansion; and a woman from a past generation who left the house. The novel delves into profound themes such as the weight of being a woman in a patriarchal society, the trials and complexities of motherhood, unrequited love, infidelity, the burden of troubled pasts, and the inability to let go. I loved how it related upon the confusion and helplessness that we all went through during COVID-19 pandemic but here its the unexplained fires that haunt you. Each of the three women are portrayed with depth and nuance, their individual struggles and perspectives adding richness to the narrative. Author avoids simplistic portrayals of “good” or “bad” characters, instead presenting their human complexities and emotions.
I loved how unique and unsettling this book was🔥.
Author has a beautiful skill to bring the suspense and human stories into a chilling narrative. It successfully blends the eerie and the human, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Do Give this a read if you want to dive into Indian Gothic horror , it was such a unique experience for me and loved every bit of it. 😍
January 17, 2025
I finished reading Himanjali Sankar's The Burnings in two days and I was absolutely hooked! This gothic horror had my mind reeling and kept me on the edge.
This book is written in three POVs. Three women, from 3 different generations, interconnected through ominous fate, narrate the harrowing experiences of their lives. It all starts when Shalini gets a message from her childhood love Akshar that he's dying. He invites her to his ancestral mansion in the hills and Shalini leaves her life behind in Delhi to meet her first love for four days. But 'the burnings' (sudden bursts of fires that is claiming lives all around the world) are becoming rampant. These fires have no logic, no reason.
As Shalini moves to Akshar's mansion, she is surrounded by the strangeness of the hills, it's people and especially the mansion and it's occupants. Shalini also meets Akshar's first love— Aahana. Soon Shalini becomes entrapped in Akshar's life and his family history that still haunts the mansion. The past and the present gets entangled and the fires have started to claim more lives.
The atmospheric and the eerie writing has all my heart. The characters are a story in itself. Shalini and the other strange women made up for the equally strange ending. I think this is one of those book which needed more pages to flesh out the plot and it's endings.
Nevertheless, it was was a different kind of experience (in a good way) reading this book at 1 AM while keeping an eye on the door.
This book is written in three POVs. Three women, from 3 different generations, interconnected through ominous fate, narrate the harrowing experiences of their lives. It all starts when Shalini gets a message from her childhood love Akshar that he's dying. He invites her to his ancestral mansion in the hills and Shalini leaves her life behind in Delhi to meet her first love for four days. But 'the burnings' (sudden bursts of fires that is claiming lives all around the world) are becoming rampant. These fires have no logic, no reason.
As Shalini moves to Akshar's mansion, she is surrounded by the strangeness of the hills, it's people and especially the mansion and it's occupants. Shalini also meets Akshar's first love— Aahana. Soon Shalini becomes entrapped in Akshar's life and his family history that still haunts the mansion. The past and the present gets entangled and the fires have started to claim more lives.
The atmospheric and the eerie writing has all my heart. The characters are a story in itself. Shalini and the other strange women made up for the equally strange ending. I think this is one of those book which needed more pages to flesh out the plot and it's endings.
Nevertheless, it was was a different kind of experience (in a good way) reading this book at 1 AM while keeping an eye on the door.
March 7, 2025
Himanjali Sankar’s The Burnings is a compelling addition to contemporary Indian horror fiction, weaving together the narratives of three women across different generations. Though seemingly unconnected, their lives intersect in ways that create an eerie, immersive experience. The novel delves into themes of trauma, memory, and the supernatural, employing a layered storytelling approach that keeps the reader engaged.
Structurally, The Burnings is reminiscent of Julia Armfield’s Private Rites, particularly in its exploration of spectral hauntings and the psychological burdens carried by women. However, what sets it apart is its deeply rooted cultural context, offering a uniquely Indian perspective on fear, power, and the consequences of silence. Sankar’s portrayal of her female protagonists is compelling, with each character possessing a distinct voice and narrative function. In contrast, the male characters feel comparatively underdeveloped, though this does not detract from the novel’s overall impact.
One of the novel’s most intriguing elements is the mysterious fire that recurs throughout the story. Its significance remains somewhat ambiguous, raising questions about its symbolic meaning and the fate of the girl who appears impervious to its destruction. The brief connection drawn between Sahil and Shalini also leaves room for interpretation, adding to the novel’s haunting, unresolved nature.
The Burnings succeeds in crafting an unsettling and thought-provoking reading experience. By leaving certain threads deliberately (?) open-ended, Sankar ensures that the novel lingers in the reader’s mind long after its conclusion, making it a noteworthy contribution to Indian horror literature.
Structurally, The Burnings is reminiscent of Julia Armfield’s Private Rites, particularly in its exploration of spectral hauntings and the psychological burdens carried by women. However, what sets it apart is its deeply rooted cultural context, offering a uniquely Indian perspective on fear, power, and the consequences of silence. Sankar’s portrayal of her female protagonists is compelling, with each character possessing a distinct voice and narrative function. In contrast, the male characters feel comparatively underdeveloped, though this does not detract from the novel’s overall impact.
One of the novel’s most intriguing elements is the mysterious fire that recurs throughout the story. Its significance remains somewhat ambiguous, raising questions about its symbolic meaning and the fate of the girl who appears impervious to its destruction. The brief connection drawn between Sahil and Shalini also leaves room for interpretation, adding to the novel’s haunting, unresolved nature.
The Burnings succeeds in crafting an unsettling and thought-provoking reading experience. By leaving certain threads deliberately (?) open-ended, Sankar ensures that the novel lingers in the reader’s mind long after its conclusion, making it a noteworthy contribution to Indian horror literature.
February 4, 2025
‘The Burnings’ is a captivating gothic horror novel that weaves a chilling tale of love, loss and the enduring power of the past. Set against the backdrop of a world consumed by inexplicable fires, the story follows Shalini, a graphic designer as she journeys to the decaying ancestral home of her childhood sweetheart, Akshar.
The isolated mansion, nestled deep within the hills becomes a character in itself which is steeped in a history of secrets and sorrow. The narrative masterfully shifts between past and present, revealing the interconnected fates of three generations of women who have borne the weight of neglect and heartbreak. Each woman carries a torch of suppressed emotions, a flame that threatens to consume them, mirroring the devastating fires that rage across the world.
The author’s writing is evocative and atmospheric creating a sense of dread and unease that lingers long after the final page. The pacing is swift and gripping, drawing one inexorably into the chilling world of the mansion and its inhabitants.The Burnings’ masterfully blends the gothic horror genre with a uniquely Indian setting, creating a chilling and atmospheric atmosphere.
The isolated mansion, nestled deep within the hills becomes a character in itself which is steeped in a history of secrets and sorrow. The narrative masterfully shifts between past and present, revealing the interconnected fates of three generations of women who have borne the weight of neglect and heartbreak. Each woman carries a torch of suppressed emotions, a flame that threatens to consume them, mirroring the devastating fires that rage across the world.
The author’s writing is evocative and atmospheric creating a sense of dread and unease that lingers long after the final page. The pacing is swift and gripping, drawing one inexorably into the chilling world of the mansion and its inhabitants.The Burnings’ masterfully blends the gothic horror genre with a uniquely Indian setting, creating a chilling and atmospheric atmosphere.
January 22, 2025
I haven't read much gothic horror in Indian writing. And for the ones I have, this one surpassed them all. It's eerie, atmospheric and a love story. The book set in the perspective of three women (where casing makes a huge impact) though the focus is that of Shalini who goes looking for closure from her ex, Akshar, in a mansion in the hills. If that's not the setting of horror, then what is? There are footsteps in the dark, spontaneous fires, skeletons in closets, and the cold cold nights.
For Sankar's first step into the world of horror, it's excellent. Her writing paints vivid images and her language is relatable yet lofty. One should expect much more from her.
For Sankar's first step into the world of horror, it's excellent. Her writing paints vivid images and her language is relatable yet lofty. One should expect much more from her.
February 20, 2025
This feminist Gothic-horror was a pleasant surprise within Indian writing in English but it wasn't the right one for me. For more details, read my review on The New Indian Express- https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...
January 16, 2025
One of a kind, this book. I have so many questions, so many thoughts. Loved the writing and the narration. Definitely gonna be thinking about it for a while.
January 30, 2025
Had to give this five stars because my mother wrote it. Trying not to take the horrific depictions of motherhood too personally.
May 12, 2025
3 and a half stars , just coz the description of Covid lockdown was too realistic, lest we forget
August 31, 2025
Love a good Indian gothic tale heavy on atmosphere.
August 6, 2025
Horror isn’t a genre I prefer but this book had me hooked. I was invested in the characters, quite intrigued by the three women and the way the novel was structured, and wanted to know what the hell was happening in this dystopian world where fires just ignited and pulled people in like some sort of trance. Just the book I needed to get out of my recent slump!
June 27, 2025
There’s something unsettling that lingers after finishing The Burnings. It’s not just the story , it’s the atmosphere, the mood, the almost claustrophobic haze the author manages to pull you into.
At its core, this is a story driven by three women, each from different timelines, each carrying their own burdens, secrets, and truths. Their narratives gradually converge, stitched together against the backdrop of a decrepit, almost otherworldly mansion that oozes decay and mystery.
The gothic ambiance is thick and ever-present, and as the plot unfolds, it grows increasingly vivid and immersive. The plot twists hit you without warning, and as the story progresses, the author becomes even more adept at painting hauntingly precise images with her prose. I could see the scenes playing out in my mind. Although it’s labeled as horror, this novel digs much deeper.
It wrestles with themes of feminine rage, loss, accountability, and the emotional complexity of womanhood. As the protagonists navigate betrayal, exclusion, mental instability, longing, and grief, you begin to realize that the real horror lies not only in the supernatural, but in the emotional and societal forces that shape them.
Additionally, by the end of the story, several questions remain unanswered especially about the fires and certain character arcs. But strangely, I didn’t mind. It felt intentional, as if the author wanted the ambiguity to linger. Those unresolved threads aren’t a flaw they’re part of the novel’s eerie, haunting charm. The lack of closure doesn’t frustrate, instead, it deepens the impact, ensuring the book stays with you long after it ends.
At its core, this is a story driven by three women, each from different timelines, each carrying their own burdens, secrets, and truths. Their narratives gradually converge, stitched together against the backdrop of a decrepit, almost otherworldly mansion that oozes decay and mystery.
The gothic ambiance is thick and ever-present, and as the plot unfolds, it grows increasingly vivid and immersive. The plot twists hit you without warning, and as the story progresses, the author becomes even more adept at painting hauntingly precise images with her prose. I could see the scenes playing out in my mind. Although it’s labeled as horror, this novel digs much deeper.
It wrestles with themes of feminine rage, loss, accountability, and the emotional complexity of womanhood. As the protagonists navigate betrayal, exclusion, mental instability, longing, and grief, you begin to realize that the real horror lies not only in the supernatural, but in the emotional and societal forces that shape them.
Additionally, by the end of the story, several questions remain unanswered especially about the fires and certain character arcs. But strangely, I didn’t mind. It felt intentional, as if the author wanted the ambiguity to linger. Those unresolved threads aren’t a flaw they’re part of the novel’s eerie, haunting charm. The lack of closure doesn’t frustrate, instead, it deepens the impact, ensuring the book stays with you long after it ends.
April 12, 2025
As soon as I saw that this was an Indian gothic horror novel, I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint. Now, I seriously need more books like this, so if you have any Indian horror recommendations, please send them my way.
The story unfolds as mysterious fires begin appearing across the globe, luring people into them without explanation. At the heart of this eerie phenomenon are three women whose lives gradually intertwine—a woman battling dementia, another reflecting on her strained relationship with her daughter, and a third who, after a desperate call for help from her first love, returns to his ancestral mansion situated in the hills. As their past and present collide, we see how these women are connected to the fire.
The atmosphere in this novel is masterfully crafted, thick with foreboding and an unsettling sense of dread. At times, the story felt like a fever dream- haunting, surreal, and utterly immersive.
A brilliant five star read for me.
The story unfolds as mysterious fires begin appearing across the globe, luring people into them without explanation. At the heart of this eerie phenomenon are three women whose lives gradually intertwine—a woman battling dementia, another reflecting on her strained relationship with her daughter, and a third who, after a desperate call for help from her first love, returns to his ancestral mansion situated in the hills. As their past and present collide, we see how these women are connected to the fire.
The atmosphere in this novel is masterfully crafted, thick with foreboding and an unsettling sense of dread. At times, the story felt like a fever dream- haunting, surreal, and utterly immersive.
A brilliant five star read for me.
June 7, 2025
If you've ever walked alone in a dark alley, then you'd be familiar with the lingering thought of not wanting to look behind you in the fear that something might have started trailing you when you took that last turn and stepped away from the rest of humanity. That you'll turn around and see some invisible monster you've conjured up in your head for years standing behind you, or worse... just the pitch blackness in which your past and future could collide and turn into nothingness. This book carries that same sense of foreboding throughout. If you liked 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher', you're going to like this one too.
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