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Dev/Asur - Book 1: War in Heaven
Frank Miller's 300 meets George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones meets Indian Mythology in this Indian epic fantasy novel.
The gods have abandoned the universe. Only the armies of heaven stand between freedom and annihilation — and something ancient is moving the pieces.
In the vast celestial empire of Indra, three warrior companions carry the weight of an unravelling world.
Tejas — a Gandharva Major whose faith has curdled into fury, haunted by a guilt he cannot name and a past he cannot outrun.
Shreya — an Apsara Captain who has clawed every inch of her rank from a command structure determined to keep her beneath it, fighting a war on two fronts — against her enemies, and against her own army's prejudice.
Balveer — a Yaksha warrior of devastating strength, carrying a grief decades old and a debt of vengeance that no amnesty has settled.
Against them: the fanatical Danava hordes of the dark wizard Chatur Jagan, the genocidal ambitions of the Asura emperor Ahiravan, and something far older and far worse than either — a being that predates the gods themselves, who has been watching, waiting, and arranging every conflict like moves on a board only it can see.
Dev/Asur — War of the Heavens is an epic military fantasy rooted in the mythology of ancient India — a world of divine weapons, celestial politics, demonic armies, and soldiers who are heartbreakingly, defiantly human.
Perfect for fans of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen — with its vast cosmology, brutal warfare, and soldiers who matter as much as gods. Readers of Conn Iggulden's battlefield intensity and Brandon Sanderson's intricate mythological world-building will find themselves immediately at home.
This is Indian mythology reimagined as military epic. Gods who fail their people. Empires built on the bodies of the loyal. A conspiracy that spans dimensions. And three soldiers who refused to stop fighting even when the heavens went silent.
The great game has begun. The gods are not coming. The stormfront is.
The gods have abandoned the universe. Only the armies of heaven stand between freedom and annihilation — and something ancient is moving the pieces.
In the vast celestial empire of Indra, three warrior companions carry the weight of an unravelling world.
Tejas — a Gandharva Major whose faith has curdled into fury, haunted by a guilt he cannot name and a past he cannot outrun.
Shreya — an Apsara Captain who has clawed every inch of her rank from a command structure determined to keep her beneath it, fighting a war on two fronts — against her enemies, and against her own army's prejudice.
Balveer — a Yaksha warrior of devastating strength, carrying a grief decades old and a debt of vengeance that no amnesty has settled.
Against them: the fanatical Danava hordes of the dark wizard Chatur Jagan, the genocidal ambitions of the Asura emperor Ahiravan, and something far older and far worse than either — a being that predates the gods themselves, who has been watching, waiting, and arranging every conflict like moves on a board only it can see.
Dev/Asur — War of the Heavens is an epic military fantasy rooted in the mythology of ancient India — a world of divine weapons, celestial politics, demonic armies, and soldiers who are heartbreakingly, defiantly human.
Perfect for fans of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen — with its vast cosmology, brutal warfare, and soldiers who matter as much as gods. Readers of Conn Iggulden's battlefield intensity and Brandon Sanderson's intricate mythological world-building will find themselves immediately at home.
This is Indian mythology reimagined as military epic. Gods who fail their people. Empires built on the bodies of the loyal. A conspiracy that spans dimensions. And three soldiers who refused to stop fighting even when the heavens went silent.
The great game has begun. The gods are not coming. The stormfront is.
184 pages, ebook
Published April 1, 2026
About the author
Nikesh Murali
7 books2 followersNikesh Murali is a Commonwealth Short Story Prize and DWL prize winning writer and a bestselling novelist, widely recognized as one of India’s best horror authors. As the host of the country’s most critically acclaimed, chart-topping Indian horror podcast, Nikesh brings bone-chilling Indian creepypastas to life through immersive audio.
He has been featured in featured in Harper’s Bazaar, India Today, CBC, The Hindu, Times of India, New Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, The Week, The Telegraph, Femina, Economic times, Mid-Day, The News Minute, The Quint, India Times, ABC Radio, Mashable, Reader's Digest, Men's World, Grazia, Your Story.
He has been featured in featured in Harper’s Bazaar, India Today, CBC, The Hindu, Times of India, New Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, The Week, The Telegraph, Femina, Economic times, Mid-Day, The News Minute, The Quint, India Times, ABC Radio, Mashable, Reader's Digest, Men's World, Grazia, Your Story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 29, 2026
Dev/Asur: War of the Heavens is the kind of epic fantasy that feels enormous in scope without ever losing sight of the people trapped inside the machinery of war. Blending military fantasy with reimagined Indian mythology, the novel delivers brutal battles, layered politics, divine conspiracies, and emotionally scarred soldiers trying to survive in a universe where even the gods have gone silent.
The three central characters are easily the strongest aspect of the novel.
Tejas is fascinating because his conflict feels deeply internal. He is not simply fighting enemies; he is fighting disillusionment itself. His crisis of faith, mixed with guilt and fury, gives the story much of its emotional weight. Every decision he makes feels driven by wounds he barely understands himself.
Shreya’s arc is equally powerful. Her struggle against institutional prejudice inside her own command structure adds another layer to the war narrative. She is not only battling external enemies but constantly proving her worth to allies who underestimate her. Her resilience and discipline make her one of the most memorable characters in the book.
Balveer brings a quieter kind of tragedy. Beneath his immense strength is grief that has never healed, and the restraint he shows often says more than rage ever could. His storyline carries some of the novel’s most emotional moments.
The antagonists are also impressively written. The Asuras and Danavas are not portrayed as simplistic evil forces. They possess ideology, ritual, military intelligence, and purpose. That complexity makes the conflict feel far more meaningful than a standard good-versus-evil fantasy war.
One of the book’s greatest achievements is how naturally it escalates its stakes. The progression from battlefield assaults and trench warfare to metaphysical horror feels smooth rather than overwhelming. The sequences in Ur Naraka are especially unforgettable. Turning psychological wounds into literal weapons is a brilliant concept, and those sections deepen the emotional and philosophical themes of the story without sacrificing momentum.
Overall, This book is a confident, emotionally heavy military fantasy written by Author Nikesh that successfully combines theology, tragedy, warfare, and myth into something distinctive.
The three central characters are easily the strongest aspect of the novel.
Tejas is fascinating because his conflict feels deeply internal. He is not simply fighting enemies; he is fighting disillusionment itself. His crisis of faith, mixed with guilt and fury, gives the story much of its emotional weight. Every decision he makes feels driven by wounds he barely understands himself.
Shreya’s arc is equally powerful. Her struggle against institutional prejudice inside her own command structure adds another layer to the war narrative. She is not only battling external enemies but constantly proving her worth to allies who underestimate her. Her resilience and discipline make her one of the most memorable characters in the book.
Balveer brings a quieter kind of tragedy. Beneath his immense strength is grief that has never healed, and the restraint he shows often says more than rage ever could. His storyline carries some of the novel’s most emotional moments.
The antagonists are also impressively written. The Asuras and Danavas are not portrayed as simplistic evil forces. They possess ideology, ritual, military intelligence, and purpose. That complexity makes the conflict feel far more meaningful than a standard good-versus-evil fantasy war.
One of the book’s greatest achievements is how naturally it escalates its stakes. The progression from battlefield assaults and trench warfare to metaphysical horror feels smooth rather than overwhelming. The sequences in Ur Naraka are especially unforgettable. Turning psychological wounds into literal weapons is a brilliant concept, and those sections deepen the emotional and philosophical themes of the story without sacrificing momentum.
Overall, This book is a confident, emotionally heavy military fantasy written by Author Nikesh that successfully combines theology, tragedy, warfare, and myth into something distinctive.
May 29, 2026
A high-velocity mythic sci‑fantasy where Devas, Asuras, and Danavas wage interstellar war while gods are absent, faith falters, and command decisions cut deep. Think military SF scale with Puranic DNA.
What stands out:
Big-canvas battles that feel tactical, not blurry: shield walls, aerial dogfights, siege engines, and magical “Marathaka” elements used like battlefield assets.
Characters you track in the chaos: Tejas (stoic commander with a burden), Shreya (razor-sharp Apsara captain pushing against a biased hierarchy), Balveer (Yaksha bruiser with a bruised heart), and Indrasena (royal general whose capture pivots the story).
The twisty politics: uneasy alliances, quiet betrayals, and a sorcerer (Chatur Jagan) playing a longer, darker game.
How it's set: Cinematic set-pieces, short sharp paragraphs in combat, and clean, visual prose. The military briefings and formations feel convincing without bogging you down.
It’s graphic and grim in places (battlefield gore, ritual cruelty).
The glossary isn’t on the page terms come contextually. Most readers will catch on quickly, but it asks you to keep up.
Conclusion: If you like myth reimagined as boots-on-the-ground space war with moral cost, competent tactics, and a villain who plans three moves ahead this delivers. It’s both brutal and grand.
What stands out:
Big-canvas battles that feel tactical, not blurry: shield walls, aerial dogfights, siege engines, and magical “Marathaka” elements used like battlefield assets.
Characters you track in the chaos: Tejas (stoic commander with a burden), Shreya (razor-sharp Apsara captain pushing against a biased hierarchy), Balveer (Yaksha bruiser with a bruised heart), and Indrasena (royal general whose capture pivots the story).
The twisty politics: uneasy alliances, quiet betrayals, and a sorcerer (Chatur Jagan) playing a longer, darker game.
How it's set: Cinematic set-pieces, short sharp paragraphs in combat, and clean, visual prose. The military briefings and formations feel convincing without bogging you down.
It’s graphic and grim in places (battlefield gore, ritual cruelty).
The glossary isn’t on the page terms come contextually. Most readers will catch on quickly, but it asks you to keep up.
Conclusion: If you like myth reimagined as boots-on-the-ground space war with moral cost, competent tactics, and a villain who plans three moves ahead this delivers. It’s both brutal and grand.
May 16, 2026
What would happen if there is no God & the responsibility to safeguard the good from evil falls in the hands of the first line of defence .
Three warriors are guarding the Devlok ,Tejas — a Gandharva Major, Shreya — an Apsara Captain & Balveer — a Yaksha warrior of devastating strength
against a relentless onslaught Asurs: Yakshis,Danavs,Rakchas ,Rakchasi’s
The war is intense with each side trying to claim victory for their people..Some to retain what’s theirs,others to reclaim what once was there’s..
And just when all thought the war has reached the end,a sphere emerged engulfing those present within it..It all vanished..Only the Danava dead remained in the abandoned battlefield..
While a heavy silence falls over the capital city of Indrapuri, the peace is an illusion. A game was in play..the pawns were already in place to stir the solemn stillness of Indrapuri..
The final chapters makes one wonder,Is this the story of the beginning or the end of a civilisation..making one want more from the story..
This is Modern day adaptation of Dev Asur Sangram or rather to put it more precisely,This is India’s history reimagined as a military mythology..
Three warriors are guarding the Devlok ,Tejas — a Gandharva Major, Shreya — an Apsara Captain & Balveer — a Yaksha warrior of devastating strength
against a relentless onslaught Asurs: Yakshis,Danavs,Rakchas ,Rakchasi’s
The war is intense with each side trying to claim victory for their people..Some to retain what’s theirs,others to reclaim what once was there’s..
And just when all thought the war has reached the end,a sphere emerged engulfing those present within it..It all vanished..Only the Danava dead remained in the abandoned battlefield..
While a heavy silence falls over the capital city of Indrapuri, the peace is an illusion. A game was in play..the pawns were already in place to stir the solemn stillness of Indrapuri..
The final chapters makes one wonder,Is this the story of the beginning or the end of a civilisation..making one want more from the story..
This is Modern day adaptation of Dev Asur Sangram or rather to put it more precisely,This is India’s history reimagined as a military mythology..
July 15, 2026
The scale of this book is incredible. There are gods, demons, celestial kingdoms, ancient secrets, and massive battles, yet the emotional core never gets lost. Shreya ended up being my favorite because of everything she had to fight against, both on and off the battlefield. The writing creates a vivid picture of the world, and I could easily imagine every scene. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
July 15, 2026
I really enjoyed how different this felt from most fantasy books I've read so far🤩
Using Indian mythology as the foundation for a military fantasy is such an interesting idea👌
The story doesn't rush at all, but builds a world filled with conflict, betrayal and difficult choices🤞
The characters haven't been written as some perfect beings, which made them feel believable🤌
Overall... a very raw and real mythology written🙌
Using Indian mythology as the foundation for a military fantasy is such an interesting idea👌
The story doesn't rush at all, but builds a world filled with conflict, betrayal and difficult choices🤞
The characters haven't been written as some perfect beings, which made them feel believable🤌
Overall... a very raw and real mythology written🙌
July 22, 2026
The first thing that caught my attention was the premise, but the characters are what made me stay. These aren't heroes who have everything figured out. They are flawed, angry, grieving, and still trying to do what they believe is right. I enjoyed the friendships between the three main characters and how each of them had their own battles to fight. The story feels like the beginning of something much bigger.
July 22, 2026
There is something really exciting about seeing Indian mythology explored through a dark military fantasy setting. This book has everything from ancient powers to large-scale wars and personal revenge. I especially enjoyed the sense that there is a much bigger mystery unfolding in the background. Some parts felt heavy with information, but the overall story kept me curious. A great read for anyone looking for something different in fantasy.
July 23, 2026
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. Indian mythology mixed with military fantasy is not something I come across often, and this was such an interesting combination. The world is huge and there is a lot to explore, but I loved slowly getting familiar with it. The three main characters each have their own struggles, and I was curious to see how their stories would unfold. Definitely an interesting start to an epic fantasy journey.
July 23, 2026
This book has a little bit of everything I enjoy in fantasy. Wars, powerful kingdoms, complicated characters, ancient secrets, and a villain who feels genuinely dangerous. I liked that the story showed the human side of war instead of focusing only on the grand mythology. Some parts were intense, some emotional, and some made me want to know what was really going on behind the scenes. A fascinating read overall.
July 23, 2026
I think the strongest part of this book is its world. There is so much happening between the gods, armies, empires, and different races that it feels like there is a whole history behind every conflict. I also liked how flawed the main characters were.
They carry their own pain and baggage, which makes them feel more relatable despite the fantastical setting.
The story definitely feels like the beginning of a much larger war.
They carry their own pain and baggage, which makes them feel more relatable despite the fantastical setting.
The story definitely feels like the beginning of a much larger war.
June 2, 2026
Dev/Asur – War of the Heavens delivers a massive mythological war story filled with emotion, betrayal, and unforgettable battles. The mix of Indian mythology with military fantasy feels fresh and powerful. Tejas, Shreya, and Balveer are deeply human characters who carry the emotional weight of the story brilliantly. The plot detailing can be improved in upcoming books of author.
June 2, 2026
A bold and ambitious fantasy novel that combines divine warfare, ancient conspiracies, and emotionally layered characters. The writing creates a vivid celestial world where gods fail and soldiers rise. Perfect for readers who enjoy complex fantasy with heart, scale, and mythology-inspired storytelling.
July 15, 2026
This isn't a light mythology retelling. It's gritty, emotional, and surprisingly human. I loved how the story focused on soldiers instead of just gods and legends. The war scenes were intense, but the quieter moments between the characters stayed with me even more. There are plenty of twists, and the mystery behind the ancient force kept me hooked throughout. A very ambitious and refreshing read.
July 21, 2026
I went into this book mainly because of the Indian mythology angle, and I wasn't disappointed. The world is massive and there is clearly a lot more happening beneath the surface. I liked that the story wasn't only about gods and powerful beings, but also about ordinary soldiers dealing with war, loss, loyalty, and anger.
July 21, 2026
This was a very ambitious fantasy read. The world-building is detailed, and I enjoyed discovering the different races, armies, and celestial powers. There were times when I had to slow down and take everything in, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a slow build, but the payoff is worth it.
July 23, 2026
A dark and ambitious take on Indian mythology. I loved the idea of gods going silent while soldiers are left to fight a war they barely understand. The mystery surrounding the ancient being was probably my favorite part because it made me constantly wonder what was really happening. Writing is superb. I have become a fan of this author now.
May 16, 2026
Dev/Asur is epic fantasy with ambition, scale, and real swagger. Myth, war, politics, and cosmic drama all rolled into one, unmistakably Indian in spirit while going full interstellar. A strong start to a series I'd definitely keep following.
June 4, 2026
This book feels cinematic from beginning to end. The world-building is rich, the battles are intense, and the political intrigue keeps the tension alive throughout. Fans of epic fantasy will love how Indian mythology is transformed into a dark and gripping war saga.
July 14, 2026
I picked this up expecting mythology, but what I got was a full-scale military fantasy with battles, politics, and characters who actually felt real. Tejas, Shreya, and Balveer all had their own struggles, and I found myself caring about each of them for different reasons. Liked it very much.
July 14, 2026
The world is huge, so it takes a little patience in the beginning, but once everything starts coming together, it's hard to stop reading. If you enjoy dark fantasy with Indian mythology at its core, this is definitely worth trying.
July 21, 2026
The battles are intense, but the characters are what really kept me reading. Shreya's journey especially stood out to me. There is a lot of politics, revenge, betrayal, and mystery packed into the story. The ending definitely left me wanting to know what happens next.
July 22, 2026
The story has a darker tone, and the idea of gods abandoning their people made the whole conflict even more interesting. Definitely a unique take on Indian mythology.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews