What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl With Seven Lives
From the creator of Slumdog Millionaire—the highly-anticipated kaleidoscopic thrill ride through contemporary Delhi where a young woman has to survive her own kidnapping Devi is a fighter. Growing up in the slums of Delhi, she has learnt that survival comes at a cost—and naturally, that means she’s made a few enemies along the way. Now she’s being held captive, her life up for sale in an online auction, where the highest bidder will determine her fate. With her existence hanging in the balance, Devi proceeds to give her captor ‘a confession to beat all confessions’ – as over the course of a single night, Devi unveils the secrets of her seven extraordinary lives. Devi is the ultimate survivor – a girl from the gutters who dares to rewrite her own destiny. But, like Sheherazade in the Arabian Nights, will she survive the longest night of her life?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2024
About the author
Vikas Swarup
20 books475 followersVikas Swarup was born in Allahabad (India) in a family of lawyers.
After his schooling, Vikas attended Allahabad University and studied History, Psychology and Philosophy. He also made his mark as a champion debater, winning National level competitions. After graduating with distinction, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986, motivated by an interest in international relations and a desire to explore different cultures.
In his diplomatic career, Vikas has been posted to various countries such as Turkey (1987-1990), the United States (1993-1997) Ethiopia (1997-2000) and the United Kingdom (2000-2003). Since August 2006 he has been posted in Pretoria as India’s Deputy High Commissioner.
Vikas has participated in the Oxford Literary Festival, the Turin International Book Fair, the Auckland Writers’ Conference, the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the Kitab Festival in New Delhi, the St. Malo International Book & Film Festival in France, the 'Words on Water' Literary Festival at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Apart from reading, Vikas enjoys listening to music and playing cricket, tennis and table tennis.
His wife Aparna is an artist who has held exhibitions in India and abroad. They have two sons Aditya and Varun.
After his schooling, Vikas attended Allahabad University and studied History, Psychology and Philosophy. He also made his mark as a champion debater, winning National level competitions. After graduating with distinction, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986, motivated by an interest in international relations and a desire to explore different cultures.
In his diplomatic career, Vikas has been posted to various countries such as Turkey (1987-1990), the United States (1993-1997) Ethiopia (1997-2000) and the United Kingdom (2000-2003). Since August 2006 he has been posted in Pretoria as India’s Deputy High Commissioner.
Vikas has participated in the Oxford Literary Festival, the Turin International Book Fair, the Auckland Writers’ Conference, the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the Kitab Festival in New Delhi, the St. Malo International Book & Film Festival in France, the 'Words on Water' Literary Festival at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Apart from reading, Vikas enjoys listening to music and playing cricket, tennis and table tennis.
His wife Aparna is an artist who has held exhibitions in India and abroad. They have two sons Aditya and Varun.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
August 31, 2026
How many times can one woman defy the overwhelming odds before her luck finally runs out?
Devi grew up in the slums of Delhi, where survival often comes at someone else’s expense. Now twenty-five, she has been kidnapped by a masked captor and placed before a camera to confess the crimes of her past. Her life is being sold through an online auction, and the highest bidder will determine her fate. Many people want revenge against Devi. But before anyone can claim her, she must recount the seven extraordinary lives that brought her to this basement.
Devi’s childhood home has a roof weighted down with rocks and debris, yet it still floods whenever it rains. For a time, her family of five receives help from a wealthy American couple after Devi’s mother agrees to serve as their surrogate. But the fragile good fortune of the poor can change in a moment, and Devi eventually finds herself alone and homeless.
From there, she scratches her way toward survival, success, and vengeance. She endures physical pain and grief in equal measure while surrounded by people who almost always have an ulterior motive. Nothing is truly free, and very little is offered as an act of genuine goodwill. In Devi’s world, kindness and trust are frequently rewarded with betrayal, injury, or death.
Through each of her stories, we see society from the perspective of an impoverished girl who can only stare in awe at the wealth and waste surrounding her. She encounters a level of moral depravity in which a person’s life holds little value beyond their social standing or usefulness to someone more powerful. If a vulnerable person can be exploited, someone will attempt to strip them of everything they have. Many of the people Devi meets resemble vultures more than humans, whether they inhabit the slums or occupy the highest levels of society.
Devi learns quickly how to survive and occasionally thrive within this dehumanizing system. She is scrappy, daring, resourceful, and increasingly hardened by experience. She is not always morally admirable, but the novel never allows us to forget the circumstances that shaped her choices. I found the seven lives of this complicated character fascinating, even when her experiences were deeply disturbing.
As Devi’s confession unfolds, it becomes clear that these are not the stories of an ordinary life. Luck, coincidence, and happenstance propel her through extraordinary highs and devastating lows. Some readers may view these coincidences as overly convenient plot devices. I chose to see them as the reason Devi’s seven lives are worthy of being recorded in the first place.
Realistic fiction is often criticized when its events stretch credibility, but this novel establishes from the beginning that Devi has lived an incredible life, not an average one. Had she experienced the ordinary fate of many impoverished and exploited children, she might have succumbed to illness, violence, or treachery long before anyone could place her in an online auction. Devi is remarkable precisely because the odds have repeatedly and remarkably been in her favor. Like a cat with nine lives, she has overcome what should have destroyed her. Although I still had minor qualms about how spectacularly unlikely parts of the plot became, the seven-life structure helped me accept each section as another chapter in an intentionally larger-than-life story.
Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar has the perfect voice for Devi’s seven tales. Through her performance, we hear Devi’s transformation from a naive young girl into a guarded woman. She captures both the character’s lingering vulnerability and the sharp instincts she has developed through years of exploitation, grief, and betrayal.
Readers should be aware that this novel contains graphic and potentially distressing material, including animal cruelty, murder, rape, child abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, caste- and class-based violence, and derogatory language. It also includes dehumanizing language and treatment directed toward a gender-nonconforming or trans-coded character. Readers may interpret this language as part of the novel’s depiction of a morally bankrupt society, but its inclusion and presentation may still warrant criticism.
Across her seven lives, Devi becomes many things: an impoverished child, a wealthy woman’s muse, a violated and vengeful prisoner, a cult member, a bookstore manager, an expert forger, a nurse in a crooked hospital, a beautician seeking an honest living, and an online blackmailer. Now she is a captive whose life has been placed on the auction block. Can the street smarts and serendipity that saved her through seven extraordinary lives save her one more time?
The Girl With Seven Lives is a dark, propulsive, and uncomfortable story about survival in a world where nearly every relationship carries a price. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy morally complicated heroines, twist-filled narratives, high-stakes framing devices, and sweeping stories that blend social commentary with events that are intentionally larger than life.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Devi grew up in the slums of Delhi, where survival often comes at someone else’s expense. Now twenty-five, she has been kidnapped by a masked captor and placed before a camera to confess the crimes of her past. Her life is being sold through an online auction, and the highest bidder will determine her fate. Many people want revenge against Devi. But before anyone can claim her, she must recount the seven extraordinary lives that brought her to this basement.
Devi’s childhood home has a roof weighted down with rocks and debris, yet it still floods whenever it rains. For a time, her family of five receives help from a wealthy American couple after Devi’s mother agrees to serve as their surrogate. But the fragile good fortune of the poor can change in a moment, and Devi eventually finds herself alone and homeless.
From there, she scratches her way toward survival, success, and vengeance. She endures physical pain and grief in equal measure while surrounded by people who almost always have an ulterior motive. Nothing is truly free, and very little is offered as an act of genuine goodwill. In Devi’s world, kindness and trust are frequently rewarded with betrayal, injury, or death.
Through each of her stories, we see society from the perspective of an impoverished girl who can only stare in awe at the wealth and waste surrounding her. She encounters a level of moral depravity in which a person’s life holds little value beyond their social standing or usefulness to someone more powerful. If a vulnerable person can be exploited, someone will attempt to strip them of everything they have. Many of the people Devi meets resemble vultures more than humans, whether they inhabit the slums or occupy the highest levels of society.
Devi learns quickly how to survive and occasionally thrive within this dehumanizing system. She is scrappy, daring, resourceful, and increasingly hardened by experience. She is not always morally admirable, but the novel never allows us to forget the circumstances that shaped her choices. I found the seven lives of this complicated character fascinating, even when her experiences were deeply disturbing.
As Devi’s confession unfolds, it becomes clear that these are not the stories of an ordinary life. Luck, coincidence, and happenstance propel her through extraordinary highs and devastating lows. Some readers may view these coincidences as overly convenient plot devices. I chose to see them as the reason Devi’s seven lives are worthy of being recorded in the first place.
Realistic fiction is often criticized when its events stretch credibility, but this novel establishes from the beginning that Devi has lived an incredible life, not an average one. Had she experienced the ordinary fate of many impoverished and exploited children, she might have succumbed to illness, violence, or treachery long before anyone could place her in an online auction. Devi is remarkable precisely because the odds have repeatedly and remarkably been in her favor. Like a cat with nine lives, she has overcome what should have destroyed her. Although I still had minor qualms about how spectacularly unlikely parts of the plot became, the seven-life structure helped me accept each section as another chapter in an intentionally larger-than-life story.
Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar has the perfect voice for Devi’s seven tales. Through her performance, we hear Devi’s transformation from a naive young girl into a guarded woman. She captures both the character’s lingering vulnerability and the sharp instincts she has developed through years of exploitation, grief, and betrayal.
Readers should be aware that this novel contains graphic and potentially distressing material, including animal cruelty, murder, rape, child abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, caste- and class-based violence, and derogatory language. It also includes dehumanizing language and treatment directed toward a gender-nonconforming or trans-coded character. Readers may interpret this language as part of the novel’s depiction of a morally bankrupt society, but its inclusion and presentation may still warrant criticism.
Across her seven lives, Devi becomes many things: an impoverished child, a wealthy woman’s muse, a violated and vengeful prisoner, a cult member, a bookstore manager, an expert forger, a nurse in a crooked hospital, a beautician seeking an honest living, and an online blackmailer. Now she is a captive whose life has been placed on the auction block. Can the street smarts and serendipity that saved her through seven extraordinary lives save her one more time?
The Girl With Seven Lives is a dark, propulsive, and uncomfortable story about survival in a world where nearly every relationship carries a price. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy morally complicated heroines, twist-filled narratives, high-stakes framing devices, and sweeping stories that blend social commentary with events that are intentionally larger than life.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2026
J’ai absolument adoré ce livre. On se sent vraiment transporté dans l’histoire et en Inde. On suit Devi, le personnage principal, qui raconte sa vie à la personne qui vient de la kidnapper.
À travers son récit, on traverse les bidonvilles, puis on la retrouve dans la maison d’une riche femme, dans un centre pour jeunes filles, dans sa vie de faussaire, puis d’infirmière… c’est souvent un peu rocambolesque, mais j’ai savouré chaque paragraphe.
À travers son récit, on traverse les bidonvilles, puis on la retrouve dans la maison d’une riche femme, dans un centre pour jeunes filles, dans sa vie de faussaire, puis d’infirmière… c’est souvent un peu rocambolesque, mais j’ai savouré chaque paragraphe.
December 6, 2024
Cliched plot and writing, way too many coincidences that move the plot forward, the protagonist is just too extraordinary, too episodic a narrative, credulity stretched thin almost throughout the book. Reminded me of those Bollywood films of yore which had everything falling into place through the sheer force of the protagonist's personality. The ending was...oh so predictable in some ways and oh so difficult to digest in others. Wonder if the book would even have been published by a leading publisher if a new writer had written it!
September 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.75 Stars
Tropes / Themes: 🧩 Multiple lives / layered storytelling • 🔒 Captivity & kidnapping • 💻 Online auction / human exploitation • 🏚️ Poverty & survival • 🇮🇳 Contemporary Delhi setting • 👩🏻 Female resilience • ⚖️ Systemic oppression & inequality • 🕵🏻♀️ Crime & suspense • 🤯 Twists & secrets • ❤️🩹 Trauma & survival • 🌍 Social & cultural commentary
🎧 Narrator: Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar
⏱️ Audiobook Length: 13 hours, 34 minutes had to listen at normal speed since authentic accent was strong.
I really didn’t think The Girl With Seven Lives was necessarily going to be my jam. I normally struggle a little with audiobooks that have stronger accents because I feel like I have to listen harder than I want to. 🤣 But HOLY HELL… This was a good one.
Devi’s story completely sucked me in. The way her seven “lives” slowly unfold while she is literally being held captive and fighting for survival was fascinating, heartbreaking, disturbing, and incredibly eye-opening. There were so many moments where I found myself thinking about how drastically different someone’s everyday reality can be depending on where they are born, their socioeconomic status, gender, and the systems surrounding them.
This honestly ended up being strangely therapeutic for me with all my wonderful past traumas, while also making me stop and think about things I normally wouldn’t encounter in my own day-to-day life. It touches on poverty, exploitation, violence against women, survival, corruption, inequality, and the lengths someone may have to go to simply to stay alive.
I’m actually considering recommending this to some of our homeschool co-op parents for their older teens to read and then do a report/discussion on. There is A LOT here that could open conversations about global inequality, cultural and socioeconomic differences, women’s rights, trafficking/exploitation, and how circumstances that feel unimaginable to us can be everyday realities for someone else. Obviously, I’d recommend parents check the content first and read it themselves to block anything they deem too much, because there are some very mature and disturbing subjects.
And apparently I’m the unpopular opinion here because I was not a fan of Slumdog Millionaire. 😂 So knowing this was from the same creator did absolutely nothing to sway me going in. This book won me over entirely on its own.
The narration by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar was really good. Once my ears adjusted to the accent, I was completely invested, and she brought Devi and her experiences to life beautifully.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia / Recorded Books for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review. 🎧📚
Tropes / Themes: 🧩 Multiple lives / layered storytelling • 🔒 Captivity & kidnapping • 💻 Online auction / human exploitation • 🏚️ Poverty & survival • 🇮🇳 Contemporary Delhi setting • 👩🏻 Female resilience • ⚖️ Systemic oppression & inequality • 🕵🏻♀️ Crime & suspense • 🤯 Twists & secrets • ❤️🩹 Trauma & survival • 🌍 Social & cultural commentary
🎧 Narrator: Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar
⏱️ Audiobook Length: 13 hours, 34 minutes had to listen at normal speed since authentic accent was strong.
I really didn’t think The Girl With Seven Lives was necessarily going to be my jam. I normally struggle a little with audiobooks that have stronger accents because I feel like I have to listen harder than I want to. 🤣 But HOLY HELL… This was a good one.
Devi’s story completely sucked me in. The way her seven “lives” slowly unfold while she is literally being held captive and fighting for survival was fascinating, heartbreaking, disturbing, and incredibly eye-opening. There were so many moments where I found myself thinking about how drastically different someone’s everyday reality can be depending on where they are born, their socioeconomic status, gender, and the systems surrounding them.
This honestly ended up being strangely therapeutic for me with all my wonderful past traumas, while also making me stop and think about things I normally wouldn’t encounter in my own day-to-day life. It touches on poverty, exploitation, violence against women, survival, corruption, inequality, and the lengths someone may have to go to simply to stay alive.
I’m actually considering recommending this to some of our homeschool co-op parents for their older teens to read and then do a report/discussion on. There is A LOT here that could open conversations about global inequality, cultural and socioeconomic differences, women’s rights, trafficking/exploitation, and how circumstances that feel unimaginable to us can be everyday realities for someone else. Obviously, I’d recommend parents check the content first and read it themselves to block anything they deem too much, because there are some very mature and disturbing subjects.
And apparently I’m the unpopular opinion here because I was not a fan of Slumdog Millionaire. 😂 So knowing this was from the same creator did absolutely nothing to sway me going in. This book won me over entirely on its own.
The narration by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar was really good. Once my ears adjusted to the accent, I was completely invested, and she brought Devi and her experiences to life beautifully.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia / Recorded Books for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review. 🎧📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
There were parts of this book that i really liked and other parts that i didnt. I think the story itsself was very interesting and while reading i could picture it as a movie. I think some of the dialogue was very juvenile and underdeveloped. I thought i had guessed the plot twist but it turns out the twist was more underwhelming than anything i could have predicted. I really like the set up snd structure of the story but feel like some potential was lost here.
September 14, 2026
The Girl with Seven Lives is a full-blown masala read and very much in the mold of Vikas Swarup's earlier novels. As usual, he focuses on the darker, uglier side of India, the kind of material that often gets amplified by Western media and seems tailor-made for film adaptations. The plot is highly episodic, driven by a string of coincidences and larger-than-life situations, so realism is not really the point.
What kept me listening was Devi's story. Her journey is engaging, and watching her constantly reinvent herself, playing whatever role is necessary to survive, makes her an easy character to root for. The novel moves at a brisk pace, and despite its implausibility, I wanted to know what would happen next.
The audiobook is elevated by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar's excellent narration. She brings Devi to life and handles the wide range of accents convincingly, adding authenticity to the storytelling and making the listening experience particularly enjoyable.
What kept me listening was Devi's story. Her journey is engaging, and watching her constantly reinvent herself, playing whatever role is necessary to survive, makes her an easy character to root for. The novel moves at a brisk pace, and despite its implausibility, I wanted to know what would happen next.
The audiobook is elevated by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar's excellent narration. She brings Devi to life and handles the wide range of accents convincingly, adding authenticity to the storytelling and making the listening experience particularly enjoyable.
July 22, 2024
°book review°
Vikas Swarup's novel The Girl with Seven Lives is a compelling and thought-provoking look at the complexity of human nature as well as the brutal realities of urban life. The plot revolves around Devi, a young woman who is kidnapped and held captive by a masked shooter. As she faces the threat of death, she is forced to recount her life story and confess to various crimes, and to add to this terror, her life is put up for auction to determine her fate.
I am not sure where to start. Vikas Swarup is brilliant, and he has written a binge-worthy book.
He is known for his descriptive prose and immersive narratives, and he masterfully weaves a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The work delves into issues of survival, resilience, perseverance, and the indifference of a bustling city to individual suffering. Devi's character is morally complex, making her both relatable and captivating as she navigates her dangerous circumstances.
It is definitely taking time for me to comprehend this raw, terrifying, gruesome, and nail-biting story with a touch of realism that we ignore. Devi's seven lives were terrifying and challenging, and to survive, she did and took burns at everything, always starting from scratch. She isn't likeable, but you will come to make peace with what she does and why, making her real to the world around her. Shudders passed through my body reading this work.
We come across different cities in her life, like Punjab, Kerala, Mumbai, Goa, and Delhi, that offer a peek into the wrongdoings, the godmen, the juvenile homes, and how everything is not as it looks.
The book's strength lies in its ability to blend suspense with deep emotional and psychological insights. Swarup's portrayal of the city as a character in itself, brimming with life devoid of humanity, gives a dimension of reality to the story. The pacing is quick, and the plot twists are well executed, ensuring that readers remain engaged throughout.
Overall, it is an intriguing read that combines suspense, drama, and introspection. It is a testament to Swarup's storytelling prowess and his ability to create narratives that resonate on multiple levels. If you enjoy novels that challenge your perceptions and keep you hooked from start to finish, this book is definitely worth picking up.
Vikas Swarup's novel The Girl with Seven Lives is a compelling and thought-provoking look at the complexity of human nature as well as the brutal realities of urban life. The plot revolves around Devi, a young woman who is kidnapped and held captive by a masked shooter. As she faces the threat of death, she is forced to recount her life story and confess to various crimes, and to add to this terror, her life is put up for auction to determine her fate.
I am not sure where to start. Vikas Swarup is brilliant, and he has written a binge-worthy book.
He is known for his descriptive prose and immersive narratives, and he masterfully weaves a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The work delves into issues of survival, resilience, perseverance, and the indifference of a bustling city to individual suffering. Devi's character is morally complex, making her both relatable and captivating as she navigates her dangerous circumstances.
It is definitely taking time for me to comprehend this raw, terrifying, gruesome, and nail-biting story with a touch of realism that we ignore. Devi's seven lives were terrifying and challenging, and to survive, she did and took burns at everything, always starting from scratch. She isn't likeable, but you will come to make peace with what she does and why, making her real to the world around her. Shudders passed through my body reading this work.
We come across different cities in her life, like Punjab, Kerala, Mumbai, Goa, and Delhi, that offer a peek into the wrongdoings, the godmen, the juvenile homes, and how everything is not as it looks.
The book's strength lies in its ability to blend suspense with deep emotional and psychological insights. Swarup's portrayal of the city as a character in itself, brimming with life devoid of humanity, gives a dimension of reality to the story. The pacing is quick, and the plot twists are well executed, ensuring that readers remain engaged throughout.
Overall, it is an intriguing read that combines suspense, drama, and introspection. It is a testament to Swarup's storytelling prowess and his ability to create narratives that resonate on multiple levels. If you enjoy novels that challenge your perceptions and keep you hooked from start to finish, this book is definitely worth picking up.
September 8, 2026
I truly enjoyed this storyline and absolutely loved the main character. She was clever, smart, resourceful, and, above all, a true survivor. She is one of those characters you can’t help but root for, and she completely captured my heart.
I found myself invested in her story and genuinely wanting to know what would happen to her next. There was something very human and endearing about her, which made the story that much more enjoyable.
A wonderful read with a main character I won’t soon forget.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #RBmedia for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
.
I found myself invested in her story and genuinely wanting to know what would happen to her next. There was something very human and endearing about her, which made the story that much more enjoyable.
A wonderful read with a main character I won’t soon forget.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #RBmedia for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
.
April 6, 2026
J'ai vraiment aimé ce livre. Tellement bien écrit. Histoire fascinante.
October 9, 2026
Este libro me dejó con una sensación bastante rara. La idea de contar siete vidas distintas de una misma mujer me parecía interesante, pero conforme avanzaba sentía que estaba leyendo variaciones de la misma historia una y otra vez.
Lo que más me terminó cansando fue lo repetitivo: situaciones que vuelven a aparecer, diálogos que muchas veces no me sonaron naturales y personajes con nombres que, por momentos, hasta parecían sacados de una novela generada automáticamente jajaja.
Y justo eso fue lo curioso de leerlo ahora. Mientras avanzaba, hubo varias cosas que me hicieron pensar en cómo funciona una IA cuando genera textos: repetir estructuras, cambiar algunos elementos pero conservar prácticamente la misma historia y construir diálogos que tienen sentido, pero que no terminan de sonar como algo que una persona realmente diría. No puedo afirmar que se haya utilizado IA para escribirlo, pero la sensación estuvo ahí durante buena parte de la lectura.
También entiendo que el contexto de la historia, en la India, condiciona muchas de las situaciones y que probablemente hay cosas que el autor decidió no desarrollar demasiado. Eso lo puedo entender. El problema es que, incluso teniendo ese contexto en cuenta, la historia simplemente no terminó de convencerme.
No encontré mucho que rescatar, la verdad. La idea era buena, pero para mí se quedó en eso: **una buena idea repetida siete veces no necesariamente se convierte en siete buenas historias.**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2026
Incroyable jusqu'à la moitié du livre, puis très pénible à lire. On dirait un devoir d'écriture créative (or whatever we call ce genre d'exercice, je suis vieille, j'ai oublié) donné à un collégien. Je sais que le titre est "Les sept vies extraordinaires de Devi Kumari", mais il faut doser. Les péripéties et leur enchaînement sont juste TROP extraordinaires, tout comme le personnage principal. Le dénouement est cliché à en être ridicule. L'autre option c'était qu'elle se réveillait d'un rêve quoi. C'est dommage car la 1ère moitié du roman est géniale : palpitante, touchante, CRÉDIBLE. Mais l'auteur n'a pas su quand s'arrêter. Il y a par ailleurs un gros souci de colorisme dans ce livre ! Toutes les belles femmes sont claires de peau et on insiste toujours là-dessus. Très dommage car on sent que l'auteur cherche à dénoncer d'autres oppressions (misogynie, classisme...)
Bref, grosse déception.
Le seul point positif, c'est qu'on voyage beaucoup. Je ne connais pas l'Inde du tout, et j'ai maintenant l'impression de mieux me représenter ses principales régions et leurs caractéristiques. On en apprend aussi pas mal sur les tenues et les plats traditionnels.
Bref, grosse déception.
Le seul point positif, c'est qu'on voyage beaucoup. Je ne connais pas l'Inde du tout, et j'ai maintenant l'impression de mieux me représenter ses principales régions et leurs caractéristiques. On en apprend aussi pas mal sur les tenues et les plats traditionnels.
August 30, 2026
I grabbed this audiobook based on the author's previous book, Slumdog Mullionaire. I saw the movie and love it and was intrigued by this book.
Devi is kidnapped and is forced to recant her "lives" and who she has wronged in her young 25 years of life. Each of the "lives" and retrospective and starts at a young life when she becomes an orphan. Between each story, you see a little bit of interaction with her kidnapper.
I enjoyed each of the lives and how she was so resilient and resourceful to survive in difficult situations. I think you have to suspend in belief in some of her earlier lives. The story really exposes how different class of people could be treated.
The twists was something I didn't see coming and I was glad the story ended with hope.
Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar was an excellent narrator. Her use of Indian words sounded spot on. She really brought Devi to life.
Thank you @recordedbooks for the audiobook.
Devi is kidnapped and is forced to recant her "lives" and who she has wronged in her young 25 years of life. Each of the "lives" and retrospective and starts at a young life when she becomes an orphan. Between each story, you see a little bit of interaction with her kidnapper.
I enjoyed each of the lives and how she was so resilient and resourceful to survive in difficult situations. I think you have to suspend in belief in some of her earlier lives. The story really exposes how different class of people could be treated.
The twists was something I didn't see coming and I was glad the story ended with hope.
Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar was an excellent narrator. Her use of Indian words sounded spot on. She really brought Devi to life.
Thank you @recordedbooks for the audiobook.
December 9, 2025
A gorgeous, atmospheric, bittersweet and morally complex read that I did not expect to enjoy from the first page. But love it right away I did. I could not help rooting for Devi all the way through, and I was thoroughly captivated by her many lives and adventures. Her multidimensionality reminded me of that possessed by Amanda Jayatissa’s gritty female protagonists. Devi definitely won me over with her spiritedness, occasional swank and brazenness, courage, empathy and integrity. And Seven Lives was a heartstopper of a psychological thriller indeed. A thought-provoking one at that.
September 23, 2026
This is a fantastic novel, with a compelling and original story and a wonderful heroine that you keep rooting for as she goes from "life" to "life", trying to survive against all odds. Coming from the very bottom of the social scale and without any means, power or status, she manages to push through terrible hardships and even get back at her tormentors along the way. What a ride!
I loved this book, enjoying every minute of it and was even satisfied with the ending, a rare treat these days.
Thank you, sir, may we have another?
I loved this book, enjoying every minute of it and was even satisfied with the ending, a rare treat these days.
Thank you, sir, may we have another?
September 19, 2026
The Girl with the Seven Lives started off with a strong sense of curiosity — the premise itself was enough to pull me in. I kept reading to see how everything would unfold, but somewhere along the way, it began to feel too unrealistic for my taste. The concept is imaginative, no doubt, but it lacked the grounding that would have made it more impactful. It’s one of those books that keeps you interested, yet leaves you slightly unconvinced.
August 28, 2026
L’héroïne est capturée par un tortionnaire anonyme et forcée de raconter son existence absolument rocambolesque. Ses aveux, diffusés en direct, permettent aux gens à qui elle a nuit de miser sur sa tête dans une enchère. Je ne bouderai pas mon plaisir. Même si ça paraît invraisemblable qu’une seule femme ait vécu autant d’aventures, c’est vraiment bien écrit et ça se lit tout seul!
March 24, 2026
Excellent ! J'ai bien aimé ce récit - toute une vie mouvementée pour cette jeune fille !
May 18, 2026
Je crois bien avoir trouvé mon livre préféré!!!!!
June 7, 2026
J'ai bien aimé, les péripéties sont dignes d'un Bollywood par contre je suis un peu déçue par la fin, je trouve le dénouement un peu facile
July 10, 2026
A pesar de que el final arruinó la novela, sigo dándole cinco estrellas.
August 26, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
May 17, 2025
Absolutely loved reading this! Each chapter covered a different identity that Munni had - Whether she's forging degrees or faking her job. And in each chapter, we understand her motive - She did it to survive. She took matters into her own hands, did what she felt was the right thing to do, but the cost of her life? The chapters were long but kept me hooked from the very first page. Easiest 5/5!
June 17, 2026
La mejor novela que he leído este 2026
August 22, 2026
The audiobook narrator did a really good job with the story. It was entertaining and enjoyable. However, I did find it hard to stay engaged with the story as I found the anecdotes and plot lines meandering and long. It made it hard to connect with the main character at times. The overall story was almost fantastical in everything the main character goes through. I did enjoy seeing the struggle Devi went through and how she overcame it.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.
August 10, 2026
Really enjoyed this sweeping tale across India and all the crazy plot twists and situations Devi/Deepa/Deeba/Dasmeet/Deepthi/Diana/Dolly finds herself in!. My only complaint was it went on a little bit towards the end. Also quite harrowing at times but I think that’s to be expected from the author of Slumdog Millionaire. It felt a lot like that story and definitely made me want to go and read it.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an early copy for review.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an early copy for review.
August 9, 2024
“The Girl with the Seven Lives” is the latest from the pen of Indian diplomat-author Vikas Swarup. It is the story of a little girl Devi from the slums of Delhi who goes through a series of adventures- seven to be precise- so that by the time she enters her twenties she has experienced more in life than most of us can imagine. The book moves at a frenetic pace and is hard to put down. Each episode is more gripping than the previous one, keeping the reader riveted. Through the protagonist’s “lives”, Swarup provides a kaleidoscopic view of this unique country called India. Grinding poverty, extreme affluence, dishonest cops, godmen, women’s homes, transsexuals, hospitals- all are captured vividly and portrayed accurately. The story takes us across various regions of India- north, south, and west, and the descriptions conjure up life-like images of each.
All these stories are narrated in a single night by Devi. Her resilience and courage are remarkable. Her moral standards may not match what many readers would expect from a heroine- she is strangely desensitized to her suffering and totally comfortable with using revenge as a tool. Yet, as one peels the layers of her persona, it is evident that in the cruel world of deceit and exploitation that she inhabits, every choice for her is one of life and death. Life has dealt her a bad hand- to survive she has to resort to unconventional and at times violent methods.
Vikas Swarup has an amazing imagination and a wonderful ability to weave a good tale. He writes in the first person about a young girl from the poorest section of society who lives a life far removed from the elite circle of Indian Foreign Service which he was and is part of. This skill was also evident in his first and most famous novel “Q and A” which was made into the Academy Award-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”. I was particularly impressed by the accurate descriptions of hospitals and what goes on inside them. The author has obviously done extensive research.
I will be surprised if we don’t see an OTT/ television series soon. Vikas Swarup is truly a master storyteller.
All these stories are narrated in a single night by Devi. Her resilience and courage are remarkable. Her moral standards may not match what many readers would expect from a heroine- she is strangely desensitized to her suffering and totally comfortable with using revenge as a tool. Yet, as one peels the layers of her persona, it is evident that in the cruel world of deceit and exploitation that she inhabits, every choice for her is one of life and death. Life has dealt her a bad hand- to survive she has to resort to unconventional and at times violent methods.
Vikas Swarup has an amazing imagination and a wonderful ability to weave a good tale. He writes in the first person about a young girl from the poorest section of society who lives a life far removed from the elite circle of Indian Foreign Service which he was and is part of. This skill was also evident in his first and most famous novel “Q and A” which was made into the Academy Award-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”. I was particularly impressed by the accurate descriptions of hospitals and what goes on inside them. The author has obviously done extensive research.
I will be surprised if we don’t see an OTT/ television series soon. Vikas Swarup is truly a master storyteller.
July 17, 2026
3.5 stars. I was immediately drawn into this book with its exciting opening and concept. I felt for the main character and was propulsed by all of the chapters and lives she has lead. All of the settings and places as unique as the names she gave herself.
I felt like the ending was a little too rushed and would have liked to see that part fleshed out more.
Overall though a quick and exciting read!
I felt like the ending was a little too rushed and would have liked to see that part fleshed out more.
Overall though a quick and exciting read!
August 12, 2024
‘The Girl with the Seven Lives’ is an exhilarating thriller that hooks you from the first page. The story follows Devi, who after being kidnapped and forced to confess crimes on camera, embarks on a perilous journey across India. Adopting various identities to survive, Devi’s transformations—from Devi to Deepa, Deeba to Dasmeet, Deepthi to Diana Fernandes, Devi Kumari to Dolly highlight her resilience amid relentless adversity. Swarup’s vivid writing brings to life the darker sides of society, touching on corruption, demonetization and the COVID-19 pandemic. With its relentless twists and cinematic quality, the novel is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts and seems destined for a screen adaptation.
July 27, 2024
Amateurish writing, trashy dialogues, no attempt at all at character building. Not expected this.
September 1, 2026
This story that will break your heart and fuel a need for vengeance. In this world where the poor are expected to fall in line and behave, Devi has forged her own path through the chaos and learned the necessary lessons for survival. Her adaptation and all the ways that she has been used and abused are capped off when she is kidnapped and forced to recount her sins before her jailor will auction off her fate. It is a revenge fueled narrative that was sharp, insightful and harrowing.
As she recounts the chapters of her life, Devi will be painted in all shades of grey. This is a dark often uncomfortable confessional of a woman who is neither good, nor bad, simply a survivor in a complicated world. It was gritty and addictive, capturing the full spectrum of human behaviour in this land of blatant inequity and greed. While this sweeping saga centered on one person, its commentary on societal issues had wide reach with recognizable organizations and schemes. It openly said all the things that society wishes to be brushed under the rug and hidden behind closed doors.
It starts with the system that promotes inequity from corrupt policemen and greedy doctors that see the life of slum dwellers as less than human, not worth notice and certainly not worth help. What is a life worth when so few choose to care?
Then there is the wealthy would be author who wishes to mine trauma as she could never understand suffering in her perfect life as a wealthy bank owner with a loving husband and a cherished daughter. She is condescending with her generosity and her kindness comes with a cost. She seems no harm in turning a real person into a character if they can both benefit from the arrangement. After all, the poor are a commodity to be traded and used when necessary, but not treasured.
This run on the other side ends with a betrayal, arrest and relocation to a detention centre for girls. A hopeful place of second chances where kindness has not been forgotten that soon turns into the worst of nightmares. Abuse on every level where girls are meant to be seen and not heard and liberties are taken wherever and whenever they are wanted becomes a new reality the girls will need to learn to fight against.
Escape begins in an enterprising cult masquerading as a religious following of an earthy god. With a following from the learned, the famous, and the poor alike, money, favours and sense are exchanged for ‘godly’ advice. This chapter is an expose of mania and religious fervour with the most convincing of actors. It felt all too familiar to real life organisations and though claiming themselves as gurus.
When it becomes necessary to escape her latest foray, Devi lands in a foreign province working in a bookshop. This idyllic job leads to another far more lucrative and exciting one as a forger. Unfortunately, love gets in the way of clarity and the ring is busted.
This leads to a shift from forging documents to forging a profession as a nurse in Goan hospital home to seedy figures and dishonest ethics. Though she lacks the education, the work is a balm for the soul until a costly mistake has a cascading effect that requires a rapid exodus to another city.
Here Devi tries on some honesty and begins as a beautician. It is hard work and certainly not flashy or profitable as her previous professions, but she enjoys living within the lines. When the pandemic strikes and Devi becomes desperate she turns to internet cons, but deposes any moral quandaries given the ethics of her targets.
After a lifetime of being exploited and exploiting in term, it seems Devi’s karma has come full circle. With each new phase of her life, the character only becomes more compelling with her moral ambiguous choices finding resonance. It is impossible not to be captivated by the immersive prose and the engrossing plot.
Thank you to RB Media for this ALC. Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar gave this story roots with a series of Indian accents that suited each of the characters really well. She created tension and a range of emotions from vulnerability to vengeful anger that gave this story even more personality and gravitas. I was wrapped up in this world and the story of Devi’s life and the production hit all the right notes to make it even more evocative.
As she recounts the chapters of her life, Devi will be painted in all shades of grey. This is a dark often uncomfortable confessional of a woman who is neither good, nor bad, simply a survivor in a complicated world. It was gritty and addictive, capturing the full spectrum of human behaviour in this land of blatant inequity and greed. While this sweeping saga centered on one person, its commentary on societal issues had wide reach with recognizable organizations and schemes. It openly said all the things that society wishes to be brushed under the rug and hidden behind closed doors.
It starts with the system that promotes inequity from corrupt policemen and greedy doctors that see the life of slum dwellers as less than human, not worth notice and certainly not worth help. What is a life worth when so few choose to care?
Then there is the wealthy would be author who wishes to mine trauma as she could never understand suffering in her perfect life as a wealthy bank owner with a loving husband and a cherished daughter. She is condescending with her generosity and her kindness comes with a cost. She seems no harm in turning a real person into a character if they can both benefit from the arrangement. After all, the poor are a commodity to be traded and used when necessary, but not treasured.
This run on the other side ends with a betrayal, arrest and relocation to a detention centre for girls. A hopeful place of second chances where kindness has not been forgotten that soon turns into the worst of nightmares. Abuse on every level where girls are meant to be seen and not heard and liberties are taken wherever and whenever they are wanted becomes a new reality the girls will need to learn to fight against.
Escape begins in an enterprising cult masquerading as a religious following of an earthy god. With a following from the learned, the famous, and the poor alike, money, favours and sense are exchanged for ‘godly’ advice. This chapter is an expose of mania and religious fervour with the most convincing of actors. It felt all too familiar to real life organisations and though claiming themselves as gurus.
When it becomes necessary to escape her latest foray, Devi lands in a foreign province working in a bookshop. This idyllic job leads to another far more lucrative and exciting one as a forger. Unfortunately, love gets in the way of clarity and the ring is busted.
This leads to a shift from forging documents to forging a profession as a nurse in Goan hospital home to seedy figures and dishonest ethics. Though she lacks the education, the work is a balm for the soul until a costly mistake has a cascading effect that requires a rapid exodus to another city.
Here Devi tries on some honesty and begins as a beautician. It is hard work and certainly not flashy or profitable as her previous professions, but she enjoys living within the lines. When the pandemic strikes and Devi becomes desperate she turns to internet cons, but deposes any moral quandaries given the ethics of her targets.
After a lifetime of being exploited and exploiting in term, it seems Devi’s karma has come full circle. With each new phase of her life, the character only becomes more compelling with her moral ambiguous choices finding resonance. It is impossible not to be captivated by the immersive prose and the engrossing plot.
Thank you to RB Media for this ALC. Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar gave this story roots with a series of Indian accents that suited each of the characters really well. She created tension and a range of emotions from vulnerability to vengeful anger that gave this story even more personality and gravitas. I was wrapped up in this world and the story of Devi’s life and the production hit all the right notes to make it even more evocative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews