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Dark Things
'Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack. In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the unspeakable. And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm.
Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting the unthinkable, ready to throw the universe into chaos.
To stop Her, Ardra must find answers to questions she hasn’t dared to ask before. What is the significance of the blood moon? Do Gandharvas and Apsaras exist or are they as much a myth as the sky city of Aakasha? Who is the mysterious Dara and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers?
Combining fantasy with the rich tapestry of folklore, Dark Things is a strange fairytale wrought of intrigue and enchantment, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it.
Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting the unthinkable, ready to throw the universe into chaos.
To stop Her, Ardra must find answers to questions she hasn’t dared to ask before. What is the significance of the blood moon? Do Gandharvas and Apsaras exist or are they as much a myth as the sky city of Aakasha? Who is the mysterious Dara and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers?
Combining fantasy with the rich tapestry of folklore, Dark Things is a strange fairytale wrought of intrigue and enchantment, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it.
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2016
6 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Sukanya Venkatraghavan
2 books84 followersSukanya Venkat is an Indian writer. Her first novel Dark Things was on Amazon India's Most Memorable Books of 2016. She is the editor of Magical Women, a feminist, fantasy anthology.
She started her film journalism career with Filmfare and was also the entertainment editor at Marie Claire. Sukanya has been part of the creative team, including scripting and research, for shows such as Look Who's Talking With Niranjan (ZEE Café), Design HQ Season 2 (Fox Life) and Koffee with Karan (Season 6). Based in Mumbai, she is currently working on her next book.
She started her film journalism career with Filmfare and was also the entertainment editor at Marie Claire. Sukanya has been part of the creative team, including scripting and research, for shows such as Look Who's Talking With Niranjan (ZEE Café), Design HQ Season 2 (Fox Life) and Koffee with Karan (Season 6). Based in Mumbai, she is currently working on her next book.
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December 29, 2016
“A pure heart faces the worst kind of evil in this world. But as it sleeps it's blessed, and it wakes up cleansed and a little bit stronger.”
----Gregor Collins
Sukanya Venkatraghavan, an Indian author, has penned a delectable fantasy story, Dark Things that revolves around an immortal maiden without a heart and a thrust to seduce and steal the darkest secrets from her chosen men thereby killing them, in order to serve the queen of her realm, but when one of her mortal victims survives her power, the queen venges to kill the maiden and so the mortal, but the maiden must get answers before she give up her life blindly and not to mention, when the monster-slayer in on her trail, she must protect herself at any cost.
Synopsis:
Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack. In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the Unspeakable. And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm. Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her chosen victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting to throw the universe into chaos. To stop her, Ardra needs to find answers to questions she hasn't dared to ask before. What power does the blood moon hold? Is the sky city of Aakasha as much a myth as its inhabitants - the ethereal and seductive Gandharvas and Apsaras? Who is Dara, the mysterious monster-slayer, and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers? A heady concoction of fantasy and romance, Dark Things conjures up a unique world wrought of love and sacrifice, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it.
Ardra, a Yakshi (a magical siren) from the realm of Atala has landed upon Prithvi (Earth) to seduce and kill her human prey in order to steal their secrets which she is going to provide to her powerful evil goddess and the queen of Atala, Hera. But Ardra's prey survives mysteriously and she must do something before Hera finds out about it. And that is when things begin to fall apart as the balance between the realms and the Prithvi begins to get disrupted by the chaos began by Hera who wants to gain power and control over the whole universe, and when a powerful queen like Hera embarks upon a path to revenge, enemies like a monster slayer and a simple Yakshi can become a big hurdle for her.
After reading this book, I was left utterly mystified by the intensity of the author's story-telling power and the way the story grasped me and drowned me into its darkness and depth that I lost the sense of time and place. This is a story that is based on age-old Indian mythological tales and folklore that the author modified with some spice and unique world building that has a distinctive charm found rarely in the fantasy books now-a-days. I swear, I've haven't read this good Indian fantasy story ever before. Hats off to the author for pulling off the story so realistically and also in a non-cliched manner!
The author's writing style is exquisite, laced and balanced perfectly with emotions and gripping tension to make the tale intriguing in the eyes of the readers. The narrative style is articulate but at times, I felt like the flow of the story line is bit rushed, especially near the end. Yet right from the beginning, this story had a firm grip onto my mind and soul and did not once let me turn my eyes away from this book. Well actually I could not afford to do so, as the twists kept bugging me to turn the next page and keep unraveling the underlining mystery of this story.
The characters are well defined and well crafted out with honesty and enough sensitivity to make them look humble in the eyes of the readers. The main protagonist, Ardra is unlike any damsel-in-distress kind of character, instead she is bold, brave and beautiful and her curiosity, wisdom and the power to analyse situations make her stand out among the hoards of fantastical and supernatural characters. Her demeanor is clam, controlled, thoughtful and very much real, even though she is a supernatural being, yet her projection is thoroughly human-like. The rest of the supporting cast are also quite interesting enough and holds the power to keep the fire burning till the very end of the story.
The world building is strikingly and flawlessly done by the author. The author's writing about this fictional and mystical universe is detailed and the visual imagery is very evident with the way she has projected the scenes from her book. The backdrop is charming, dark, scary yet enchanting enough to give that magical feel to the readers.
In a nutshell, this is a must read fantasy book book for all Indian contemporary readers, and a gem like Sukanya Venkatraghavan is rarely found in the Indian literature's modern days.
Verdict: Highly engrossing, bewitching and enlightening part-mythological-part-fantasy read!
Courtesy: Thanks to the dear author, Sukanya Venkatraghavan, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
----Gregor Collins
Sukanya Venkatraghavan, an Indian author, has penned a delectable fantasy story, Dark Things that revolves around an immortal maiden without a heart and a thrust to seduce and steal the darkest secrets from her chosen men thereby killing them, in order to serve the queen of her realm, but when one of her mortal victims survives her power, the queen venges to kill the maiden and so the mortal, but the maiden must get answers before she give up her life blindly and not to mention, when the monster-slayer in on her trail, she must protect herself at any cost.
Synopsis:
Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack. In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the Unspeakable. And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm. Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her chosen victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting to throw the universe into chaos. To stop her, Ardra needs to find answers to questions she hasn't dared to ask before. What power does the blood moon hold? Is the sky city of Aakasha as much a myth as its inhabitants - the ethereal and seductive Gandharvas and Apsaras? Who is Dara, the mysterious monster-slayer, and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers? A heady concoction of fantasy and romance, Dark Things conjures up a unique world wrought of love and sacrifice, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it.
Ardra, a Yakshi (a magical siren) from the realm of Atala has landed upon Prithvi (Earth) to seduce and kill her human prey in order to steal their secrets which she is going to provide to her powerful evil goddess and the queen of Atala, Hera. But Ardra's prey survives mysteriously and she must do something before Hera finds out about it. And that is when things begin to fall apart as the balance between the realms and the Prithvi begins to get disrupted by the chaos began by Hera who wants to gain power and control over the whole universe, and when a powerful queen like Hera embarks upon a path to revenge, enemies like a monster slayer and a simple Yakshi can become a big hurdle for her.
After reading this book, I was left utterly mystified by the intensity of the author's story-telling power and the way the story grasped me and drowned me into its darkness and depth that I lost the sense of time and place. This is a story that is based on age-old Indian mythological tales and folklore that the author modified with some spice and unique world building that has a distinctive charm found rarely in the fantasy books now-a-days. I swear, I've haven't read this good Indian fantasy story ever before. Hats off to the author for pulling off the story so realistically and also in a non-cliched manner!
The author's writing style is exquisite, laced and balanced perfectly with emotions and gripping tension to make the tale intriguing in the eyes of the readers. The narrative style is articulate but at times, I felt like the flow of the story line is bit rushed, especially near the end. Yet right from the beginning, this story had a firm grip onto my mind and soul and did not once let me turn my eyes away from this book. Well actually I could not afford to do so, as the twists kept bugging me to turn the next page and keep unraveling the underlining mystery of this story.
The characters are well defined and well crafted out with honesty and enough sensitivity to make them look humble in the eyes of the readers. The main protagonist, Ardra is unlike any damsel-in-distress kind of character, instead she is bold, brave and beautiful and her curiosity, wisdom and the power to analyse situations make her stand out among the hoards of fantastical and supernatural characters. Her demeanor is clam, controlled, thoughtful and very much real, even though she is a supernatural being, yet her projection is thoroughly human-like. The rest of the supporting cast are also quite interesting enough and holds the power to keep the fire burning till the very end of the story.
The world building is strikingly and flawlessly done by the author. The author's writing about this fictional and mystical universe is detailed and the visual imagery is very evident with the way she has projected the scenes from her book. The backdrop is charming, dark, scary yet enchanting enough to give that magical feel to the readers.
In a nutshell, this is a must read fantasy book book for all Indian contemporary readers, and a gem like Sukanya Venkatraghavan is rarely found in the Indian literature's modern days.
Verdict: Highly engrossing, bewitching and enlightening part-mythological-part-fantasy read!
Courtesy: Thanks to the dear author, Sukanya Venkatraghavan, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 5, 2019
BLURB
Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack.
In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the unspeakable.
And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm.
Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her chosen victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting to throw the universe into chaos.
To stop her, Ardra needs to find answers to questions she hasn’t dared to ask before. What power does the blood moon hold? Is the sky city of Aakasha as much a myth as its inhabitants – the ethereal and seductive Gandharvas and Apsaras? Who is Dara, the mysterious monster-slayer, and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers?
CHARACTERS
I liked Ardra. She was a well rounded character and highly relatable. She knows her capabilities and weaknesses. She isn't Miss.Perfect and she never pretends to be one either. She makes for a really good protagonist. At times she reminded me of Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series.
I preferred Dara to Dwai. To me, Dara seemed more realistic somehow. But both characters add a well crafted dimension to the story.
I even liked Hera. (Allow me to explain!) I liked her because she was written so well that I hated her. (Does that make sense to you?)
All the other characters from Mantri to Vina were perfect. Each character in the book is there for a reason. Their being there adds to the plot and makes it all the more interesting.
I love the concept to Yakshis, Apsaras and Ghandharvas. I like the shadow creatures and the various other creatures the author talks about in the book. I love the creatures within the mirrors(One of my favourite concepts; reading about mirrors as actual living characters.). Overall I am in awe of the world building of Atala and Aakasha.
PLOT
Can we talk about the twists? In the middle of the story I thought i'd figure it all out. I thought I knew what had happened. But let me tell you I've never been more wrong! When the questions are answered and the doubts were cleared, I believe I looked something like this...
and
Like trust me, the truth is unbelievable.
The plot was like nothing I've ever read before and it was pretty awesome :)
WRITING
The author creates quite powerful imagery. As I read I could see Atala in my mind. I could imagine exactly how Vishara looked like. The writing is descriptive but not an overkill. Though at times the shift in timeline through me off guard but I quickly got used to it and after that the writing was pretty fluid.
There were certain quotes I really loved, more so when their meanings become more clear as the story progresses.
"Like the difference between a dream and its memory"
For some reason, It's one of my favourites.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The freaking awesome and unique plot
- The fact that Indian mythology has been used with a modern twist
- The characters
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-Hmmm, the shifts in the timeline maybe?
CONCLUSION
If you haven't picked up the book, please do so as soon as possible. It is unique with compelling characters and great twists. On the back cover it says, "A heady concoction of fantasy and romance, Dark Things conjures up a unique world wrought of love and sacrifice, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it."
And that is exactly what Dark Things is.
Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack.
In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the unspeakable.
And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm.
Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her chosen victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting to throw the universe into chaos.
To stop her, Ardra needs to find answers to questions she hasn’t dared to ask before. What power does the blood moon hold? Is the sky city of Aakasha as much a myth as its inhabitants – the ethereal and seductive Gandharvas and Apsaras? Who is Dara, the mysterious monster-slayer, and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers?
CHARACTERS
I liked Ardra. She was a well rounded character and highly relatable. She knows her capabilities and weaknesses. She isn't Miss.Perfect and she never pretends to be one either. She makes for a really good protagonist. At times she reminded me of Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series.
I preferred Dara to Dwai. To me, Dara seemed more realistic somehow. But both characters add a well crafted dimension to the story.
I even liked Hera. (Allow me to explain!) I liked her because she was written so well that I hated her. (Does that make sense to you?)
All the other characters from Mantri to Vina were perfect. Each character in the book is there for a reason. Their being there adds to the plot and makes it all the more interesting.
I love the concept to Yakshis, Apsaras and Ghandharvas. I like the shadow creatures and the various other creatures the author talks about in the book. I love the creatures within the mirrors(One of my favourite concepts; reading about mirrors as actual living characters.). Overall I am in awe of the world building of Atala and Aakasha.
PLOT
Can we talk about the twists? In the middle of the story I thought i'd figure it all out. I thought I knew what had happened. But let me tell you I've never been more wrong! When the questions are answered and the doubts were cleared, I believe I looked something like this...
and
Like trust me, the truth is unbelievable.
The plot was like nothing I've ever read before and it was pretty awesome :)
WRITING
The author creates quite powerful imagery. As I read I could see Atala in my mind. I could imagine exactly how Vishara looked like. The writing is descriptive but not an overkill. Though at times the shift in timeline through me off guard but I quickly got used to it and after that the writing was pretty fluid.
There were certain quotes I really loved, more so when their meanings become more clear as the story progresses.
"Like the difference between a dream and its memory"
For some reason, It's one of my favourites.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The freaking awesome and unique plot
- The fact that Indian mythology has been used with a modern twist
- The characters
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-Hmmm, the shifts in the timeline maybe?
CONCLUSION
If you haven't picked up the book, please do so as soon as possible. It is unique with compelling characters and great twists. On the back cover it says, "A heady concoction of fantasy and romance, Dark Things conjures up a unique world wrought of love and sacrifice, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it."
And that is exactly what Dark Things is.
June 23, 2016
Dark things. What can I say? Not at all what I was expecting. Most dark fantasy novels I’ve read or looked up seem to have the same kind of story or setting or characters. To be honest, I could do without werewolves and vampires for a while, I’d appreciate a fresh approach to these tired tropes. And then Dark Things came along.
It’s been a long time since I read about an evil goddess and have yet to delve into anything with Indian mythology in it. This was the kind of fresh I was looking for. An intriguing synopsis from an author I didn’t know about until my dear friend Vicky from Books & Strips told me about her. Sukanya Venkatraghavan, thank you for the signed copy!
Alright on to the review.
I enjoyed how the story was told. Really clever and I noticed it much later in the book, that the perspective changes depending on the people in the chapter. When following Ardra, it’s told from her perspective (third person) but when Dara or Dwai are all in the scene together, it’s not linked to one person’s perspective; I changes to we, me to they. Clever! Oh, and mysterious brooding Dara doesn’t have his own perspective because… that wouldn’t be mysterious now would it?
In overall, the novel was a great read and actually had a plot. Ardra who seduces and steals secrets from human men (I’m a man! Gasp!) doesn’t succeed at her task for the first time. It begins a long twisting tale of self-discovery and the power behind what makes her a Yakshi, reveals a shocking history of the surviving human Dwai, and an even more twisted revelation about the monster slayer Dara – and of course the evil that is Hera who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Nothing.
The setting is spread across a number of different places some dark, some beautiful, some really creepy but all oh so magical.
The characters are unique and well crafted. From Ardra who begins to ask some pertinent questions about herself. I love how her shape-shifting isn’t anything glamorous. Her struggle with her own evil in light of Hera’s goal made me sympathetic with her… even though she’s a secret-stealing killer Yakshi. Dwai is such a a softie. And mysterious Dara who refuses to reveal his past even at the sake of stopping evil – I was annoyed with him for most of the novel. And then the end… ah man I almost cried. And then a smattering of other characters each with their own unique personalities, from a famous India actor who is more than she seems, and a mountain beast guarding a secret to a mystical world and rainbowhued entity who just added more confusion than anything!
In overall it was a great book and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Sukanya Venkatraghavan: I did not see those plot twists. I always see plot twists. Not this time. Well played!
It’s been a long time since I read about an evil goddess and have yet to delve into anything with Indian mythology in it. This was the kind of fresh I was looking for. An intriguing synopsis from an author I didn’t know about until my dear friend Vicky from Books & Strips told me about her. Sukanya Venkatraghavan, thank you for the signed copy!
Alright on to the review.
I enjoyed how the story was told. Really clever and I noticed it much later in the book, that the perspective changes depending on the people in the chapter. When following Ardra, it’s told from her perspective (third person) but when Dara or Dwai are all in the scene together, it’s not linked to one person’s perspective; I changes to we, me to they. Clever! Oh, and mysterious brooding Dara doesn’t have his own perspective because… that wouldn’t be mysterious now would it?
In overall, the novel was a great read and actually had a plot. Ardra who seduces and steals secrets from human men (I’m a man! Gasp!) doesn’t succeed at her task for the first time. It begins a long twisting tale of self-discovery and the power behind what makes her a Yakshi, reveals a shocking history of the surviving human Dwai, and an even more twisted revelation about the monster slayer Dara – and of course the evil that is Hera who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Nothing.
The setting is spread across a number of different places some dark, some beautiful, some really creepy but all oh so magical.
The characters are unique and well crafted. From Ardra who begins to ask some pertinent questions about herself. I love how her shape-shifting isn’t anything glamorous. Her struggle with her own evil in light of Hera’s goal made me sympathetic with her… even though she’s a secret-stealing killer Yakshi. Dwai is such a a softie. And mysterious Dara who refuses to reveal his past even at the sake of stopping evil – I was annoyed with him for most of the novel. And then the end… ah man I almost cried. And then a smattering of other characters each with their own unique personalities, from a famous India actor who is more than she seems, and a mountain beast guarding a secret to a mystical world and rainbowhued entity who just added more confusion than anything!
In overall it was a great book and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Sukanya Venkatraghavan: I did not see those plot twists. I always see plot twists. Not this time. Well played!
February 6, 2016
I absolutely loved Dark Things.
It's wonderfully familiar and yet delightfully weird.
A secret-stealing Yakshi fails to use her magic on the night of a blood moon and her world tumbles into chaos. After the first few pages, you will find yourself so deeply entrenched in the story that you won't be able to put it down.
I'm totally on board for a sequel. I think we can read more about Akasha and the evil queen Hera. I hope the author is listening. ;)
It's wonderfully familiar and yet delightfully weird.
A secret-stealing Yakshi fails to use her magic on the night of a blood moon and her world tumbles into chaos. After the first few pages, you will find yourself so deeply entrenched in the story that you won't be able to put it down.
I'm totally on board for a sequel. I think we can read more about Akasha and the evil queen Hera. I hope the author is listening. ;)
February 12, 2016
This was a magical read!! Yakshis are mythical sirens who seduce and kill. Being familiar with the legends arounnd yakshis and 'knowing' that they are not real, does not did=scount the reality in this book.
One is transported to a magical world through this portal- Sukanya's book!
One is transported to a magical world through this portal- Sukanya's book!
February 7, 2017
Ardra is a yakshi from the realm of Atala. She seduces men and steals their secrets. Later she hands them over to her leader, Hera, who thrives on the secrets that the yakshis bring her from Prithvi (Earth). Hera is the evil one, creator of yakshis, her dark things. She dreams of being more powerful by becoming the Blood Queen.
Meanwhile monsters seem to be chasing Dwai, a human, who is in possession of a stone that protects him. Then there is the monster slayer Dara who is a banished heavenly being. Ardra tries to find out why Dwai was unhurt when she tried to harm him, what 500-years-old secrets are buried in Dara’s heart and in the process questions her existence.
The writing is fast paced and entertaining and there are twists throught the novel. The story takes place in three main realms in the book, Prithvi (Earth), Atala (Hera’s realm where yakshis and shadow creatures dwell) and Aakasha (sky where Gandharvas and Apsaras dwell).
I had a few minor hiccups with the book. But I look forward to a sequel, if there will be one. You can read my full review on http://www.thebooksatchel.com/dark-th...
Much thanks to Hachette India for a copy of the book.
Meanwhile monsters seem to be chasing Dwai, a human, who is in possession of a stone that protects him. Then there is the monster slayer Dara who is a banished heavenly being. Ardra tries to find out why Dwai was unhurt when she tried to harm him, what 500-years-old secrets are buried in Dara’s heart and in the process questions her existence.
The writing is fast paced and entertaining and there are twists throught the novel. The story takes place in three main realms in the book, Prithvi (Earth), Atala (Hera’s realm where yakshis and shadow creatures dwell) and Aakasha (sky where Gandharvas and Apsaras dwell).
I had a few minor hiccups with the book. But I look forward to a sequel, if there will be one. You can read my full review on http://www.thebooksatchel.com/dark-th...
Much thanks to Hachette India for a copy of the book.
May 22, 2016
Twitter can be the unexpected giver of delightful gifts and random connections. A fortnight ago I saw a photo shared by Laini Taylor of a parcel she’d received containing a copy of Dark Things by urban fantasy writer Sukanya Venkatraghavan. I read the back cover of the photo and thought ‘Gosh, that sounds like my cup of tea.’
Oh how little I knew what I was about to discover:
"Somewhere on Prithvi, a mortal survives a supernatural attack. In the dark realm of Atala, an evil goddess prepares to do the unspeakable. And a Yakshi finds herself at the heart of an other-worldly storm.
Ardra has only known life as a Yakshi, designed to seduce and kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera, queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. Then, on one strange blood moon night, her victim, Dwai, survives, and her world spins out of control. Now Ardra must escape the wrath of Hera, who is plotting the unthinkable, ready to throw the universe into chaos.
To stop Her, Ardra must find answers to questions she hasn’t dared to ask before. What is the significance of the blood moon? Do Gandharvas and Apsaras exist or are they as much a myth as the sky city of Aakasha? Who is the mysterious Dara and what makes Dwai impervious to her powers?"
Combining fantasy with the rich tapestry of folklore, Dark Things is a strange fairytale wrought of intrigue and enchantment, of shadows and secrets, of evil and those who battle it.
For starters I know surprisingly little about Indian mythology and this book ties in a lot of different myth tales. My ignorance of the root stories added to my intense enjoyment of the reading. As you all know myths and folk tales are my passion so to be able to be drawn into something so new was a continuous source of wonder.
I’ve started talking (argh fan girling) Sukanya on Twitter who much to my delight has become my spirit guide of book recommendations and an advice giver on where to start wading into the rich and varied world of Indian folklore. Its opening up new worlds and ideas for me which my story teller heart is feeding off like a Yakshi on a secret (see what I did there).
Alright, back to Dark Things.
Those of us who read a lot of paranormal fiction know there is an ocean of succubus books out there. To set the record straight this story is on a whole different level. It’s not simply a book about a succubus who rebels against her maker, or falls in love with a human, or fights to stop a terrible tyrant. It’s a story thats focal point is stories and the power of secrets.
A concept that really spoke to me in the story is that of the Untellable Secret- something that if spoken the hearer and the teller are never the same again. As someone who has carried the burden of such a thing I know the gravity of the secret that binds Ardra, Dara, Hera and other characters together. Some secrets leave a stain, they shape who and what we are and what we become. Once told they are like a drop in the ocean and you can’t stop the ripple effect they have. It is also a story of memories of things lost but not forgotten. I’ve got strong memories linked to frangipani flowers so this symbol within the story also really spoke to me and helped set the scene.
As I read Sukanya’s words I felt like someone with a kindred spirit was telling me a story over tea (black, strong and floral). “Listen up Know it All,” Sukanya says to me,”I’m going to tell you something that you’ve never heard before so be quiet, pay attention and try and keep up.” It’s presumptuous of me, I know, but all I could think was; Finally, here is someone who really gets it, who believes in the power of storytelling and the old tales, who will understand what I’m trying really hard to do…we want to write the new myths. The kind of stories that tease the back of your imagination because they feel like they are a story you once knew and have forgotten. They aren’t the kind of stories where everyone gets out alive, where the lovers are always triumphant or the heroes don’t pay a massive price for being a hero.
There is a deep melancholy sense of loss in Dark Things…all the characters feel it on some level. They don’t want to be the heroes but they are the only ones that can be.
After I finished reading it I knew I was going to suffer from the worst book hangover. I cleaned the house as cleaning is when I work out the messy problems in my brain. I’m melancholy. I’m undone. I’m hardcore in love with a Gandharva. I fear for the next book I pick up because I know that whatever it is I’m going to be disappointed. It’s not it’s fault.
I don’t think I’m writing this review very well because I know I haven’t finished processing. I know there are things I’ve missed and I’m going to have to re-read it again in a few months time so I can appreciate the finer flourishes. It’s hard to find an urban fantasy book with such complex storytelling.
Okay, I’m going, but I’m going to leave you with my favourite paragraph of the book, from an enchanted Forest of Fireflies:
“A story is only as true as you believe it to be,” said Dara. “A myth is only as wondrous as the imagination of the people who pass it down through the ages. I don’t know if the story of the sun, moon and stars is true. I don’t know if the stars were once cold, in a time before time was even born; I don’t know if the Sun pines for the Old Moon, my mother. But I know this – the universe is full of strange,beautiful stories, some untellable, some forgotten, and some written in a language that nobody can read, not even the Gods. These stories exist because the universe does, and the universe blazes on because these stories keep it alive. You and me, are the stories. We live and so does the universe. One does not exist without the other.”
June 26, 2016
Dark Things is a fairytale, written for adults
I am not the kind of reader who just randomly picks a book at the bookstore. Generally I would follow a set process involving Goodreads ratings & reviews, prices and friend recommendations if any. But this time I made an exception, standing at the World Book Fair, I just saw this book sitting there, and maybe I was feeling a bit adventurous, but I felt the the cover of the book drawing me towards it, and I just knew that I had to buy it. YES, the first great thing I felt about this book was it's exceptionally well drawn cover (which in retrospect is even better seeing as how it captures the feel of the world so well). And then unfortunately for various reasons the book kind of sat in my shelf for many months before I chanced to pick it up a few days back, and it has really been a good ride, if a bit bumpy at times.
So, starting with the actual review, there are a lot of great things in this book. The world is magnificent. I really want to see Akasha (Heaven), Atala (A hell like dark dimension), the river Tarini (The place where souls go after death to travel to the afterlife), and whatever strange other world Miss Venkatraghavan might imagine! The worlds seem so beautiful in my mind, and more than that, their portrayal is so refreshingly unorthodox. A heaven where the sky is dark purple, but has trees made of clouds, or Atala, with it's unmoving perpetually eclipsed Sun, these depictions are so picturesque, if I didn't know how dark things could be (yes, the stupid pun was intended), I would almost wish to travel there. But beyond just their beauty, the world building is good because of the way these places and their mythologies fit together, and because of the way these were revealed to us.
Another surprise for me, was the writing. The book was not printed in some beautiful flowing calligraphic font, but the way it often seemed to tease the boundary between prose and poetry, it might just as well have. Granted it became too flowery to appear real sometimes, but with this being kind of a fairytale, with all it's dreamy qualities, it felt appropriate, especially when we heard Ardra's voice.
The mythology and the main cast of characters were another shining star. The mythology loosely borrows many elements from the Indian mythology, and creates a realm of Gandharvas, Apsaras, Witches, Rakshass', Yakshis etc, and makes quite a few interesting additions of it's own. There are a lot of creative and twisted innovations too, but I will leave mentioning them here as it's better to experience them firsthand while reading.
The protagonist Ardra who is a "monster" of a kind is relatable in her insecurities about her identity and being accepted despite of who she is. When we see her first she is quite a melancholic figure, who was while shown as scraping by fine for herself, fulfilling the mandate set for her kind, also radiated a sense of loss and detachment. The male leads are good characters too though their development is somewhat stilted by the plot.
Yes, the plot is the true villain of the book. While it did start out interesting, it becomes too standard and cliched soon enough and while it would have been fine for a regular sized fairytale, in a story of this length you do need to move the plot better. Most of the plot development hinged around keeping a certain thing secret from Ardra, something which most other characters knew but never talked about, and in the end all that secrecy in face of grave danger seemed idiotic. One of the male leads Dara starts out very interesting as this possibly good guy with darkness in his past who is shrouded in mystery, but the mystery gets built up for so long that at some point it starts getting stale, and eventually when you learn what it was all about you would have had figured out half the stuff already. There are other oddball characters whose actions and motivations are conflicted and unclear and sometimes don't even make any sense. And, in the end, when the mystery is unveiled, during the final showdown the heroes are saved by a deus ex machina, and for a book whose world building I appreciate so much, it failed to really explain how such crucial plot device worked, or at least how the main character figured it out!
Anyways, let not my blasting over the plot make you feel I disliked the book. In fact, I would be interested in any future stories set in this world or maybe some other new thing the author writes. Because while the plot did leave a lot to be desired, the book does something so many other fantasy stories fail to do, it sparked up my imagination, it makes me look at my world a bit differently, it makes me wonder about our world, and other worlds, impossible worlds, and it reminds me of a dream, that is so much like a memory.
I am not the kind of reader who just randomly picks a book at the bookstore. Generally I would follow a set process involving Goodreads ratings & reviews, prices and friend recommendations if any. But this time I made an exception, standing at the World Book Fair, I just saw this book sitting there, and maybe I was feeling a bit adventurous, but I felt the the cover of the book drawing me towards it, and I just knew that I had to buy it. YES, the first great thing I felt about this book was it's exceptionally well drawn cover (which in retrospect is even better seeing as how it captures the feel of the world so well). And then unfortunately for various reasons the book kind of sat in my shelf for many months before I chanced to pick it up a few days back, and it has really been a good ride, if a bit bumpy at times.
So, starting with the actual review, there are a lot of great things in this book. The world is magnificent. I really want to see Akasha (Heaven), Atala (A hell like dark dimension), the river Tarini (The place where souls go after death to travel to the afterlife), and whatever strange other world Miss Venkatraghavan might imagine! The worlds seem so beautiful in my mind, and more than that, their portrayal is so refreshingly unorthodox. A heaven where the sky is dark purple, but has trees made of clouds, or Atala, with it's unmoving perpetually eclipsed Sun, these depictions are so picturesque, if I didn't know how dark things could be (yes, the stupid pun was intended), I would almost wish to travel there. But beyond just their beauty, the world building is good because of the way these places and their mythologies fit together, and because of the way these were revealed to us.
Another surprise for me, was the writing. The book was not printed in some beautiful flowing calligraphic font, but the way it often seemed to tease the boundary between prose and poetry, it might just as well have. Granted it became too flowery to appear real sometimes, but with this being kind of a fairytale, with all it's dreamy qualities, it felt appropriate, especially when we heard Ardra's voice.
The mythology and the main cast of characters were another shining star. The mythology loosely borrows many elements from the Indian mythology, and creates a realm of Gandharvas, Apsaras, Witches, Rakshass', Yakshis etc, and makes quite a few interesting additions of it's own. There are a lot of creative and twisted innovations too, but I will leave mentioning them here as it's better to experience them firsthand while reading.
The protagonist Ardra who is a "monster" of a kind is relatable in her insecurities about her identity and being accepted despite of who she is. When we see her first she is quite a melancholic figure, who was while shown as scraping by fine for herself, fulfilling the mandate set for her kind, also radiated a sense of loss and detachment. The male leads are good characters too though their development is somewhat stilted by the plot.
Yes, the plot is the true villain of the book. While it did start out interesting, it becomes too standard and cliched soon enough and while it would have been fine for a regular sized fairytale, in a story of this length you do need to move the plot better. Most of the plot development hinged around keeping a certain thing secret from Ardra, something which most other characters knew but never talked about, and in the end all that secrecy in face of grave danger seemed idiotic. One of the male leads Dara starts out very interesting as this possibly good guy with darkness in his past who is shrouded in mystery, but the mystery gets built up for so long that at some point it starts getting stale, and eventually when you learn what it was all about you would have had figured out half the stuff already. There are other oddball characters whose actions and motivations are conflicted and unclear and sometimes don't even make any sense. And, in the end, when the mystery is unveiled, during the final showdown the heroes are saved by a deus ex machina, and for a book whose world building I appreciate so much, it failed to really explain how such crucial plot device worked, or at least how the main character figured it out!
Anyways, let not my blasting over the plot make you feel I disliked the book. In fact, I would be interested in any future stories set in this world or maybe some other new thing the author writes. Because while the plot did leave a lot to be desired, the book does something so many other fantasy stories fail to do, it sparked up my imagination, it makes me look at my world a bit differently, it makes me wonder about our world, and other worlds, impossible worlds, and it reminds me of a dream, that is so much like a memory.
July 31, 2017
A nicely and wonderfully written fantasy fiction. The environment that develops as you read it tends to draw you in. Successfully managing three different realms while all of them are tied together by the universe is just so beautiful. The lights and warmth of AKASHA, the darkness and secrets of ATALA and the confusion of the Prithvi. All of them are so nicely woven together you are forced to fall in love with this book.
The characters develop themselves through the journey they take on. Each one of them holding their own story and their own point of view to the situation in hand.
What starts as the game of seduction ends as a war for love.
A must read!!
The characters develop themselves through the journey they take on. Each one of them holding their own story and their own point of view to the situation in hand.
What starts as the game of seduction ends as a war for love.
A must read!!
February 17, 2017
Ardra is a Yakshi who serves Queen Hera. As a Yakshi, it is her job to find out the deepest and darkest secrets of men and then kill them. She performs this ritual habitually and passes on these secrets to her Queen. That is the life that Ardra knows till one blood moon her supposed victim survives her bewitchment. As if a mortal surviving her bewitchment was not a mystery enough… Dara, a monster slayer, spares her life for some unknown reason. Slowly questions build up in Ardra’s and everything seemed to be connected to the Queen she served and the monster locked away in a tower.
Wow! That was the word on my mind when I finally finished reading this book. First off, the characters are really well done. Ardra is a character who grows on you slowly. She is never painted as this larger than life, always right and ‘I-know-best’ protagonist. Instead she comes off as a character whose world is suddenly turned upside down and yet she emerges strong from it. While there are moments of self-doubt and insecurities, she never comes off as an pansy-irritating character that depends on others to solve her problems. Slowly but steadily she takes on everything that is thrown at her, asks the right questions and eventually does the right thing. On the other hand Queen Hera, in many ways, pushes Ardra to be her best. That is a sign of a well-drawn up antagonist because a protagonist can only be as good as the antagonist. A weak antagonist will never lead to the creation of a great protagonist. Then there is Dara, a character with a past that is hinted at but not clearly spelled out to keep an air of mystery around him. And that certainly worked – who doesn’t like a man of mystery?
Sukanya Venkatraghavan can sure weave a good tale. The book gets you hooked from the very beginning and before you know it you will be turning the last page! Her narrative is spot on in every aspect. She kept up the pace of the plot while building the world and its characters. She has provided just enough background information on each character and revealed secrets at the right moment to have the maximum impact. Even I did not see one of the twists coming! The world building has been done well enough. If I absolutely had to crib about one thing in the book, it would be the world building. I am a girl who loves details and while the world building would seem sufficient enough to most people, I want more. I always want more when I like something.
It is not often enough that I love a fantasy book written by an Indian author so much. Exceptions have been there, but the only other fantasy book that I have liked more than this is Shatrujeet Nath’s Vikramaditya Veergatha Series. Though these books are not comparable to each other for many reasons, the common thread between the two is the fantasy genre and the care taken to build the worlds with enigmatic characters. Dark Things is now my second favourite fantasy book written by an Indian Author and I would recommend it to all fantasy lovers.
Wow! That was the word on my mind when I finally finished reading this book. First off, the characters are really well done. Ardra is a character who grows on you slowly. She is never painted as this larger than life, always right and ‘I-know-best’ protagonist. Instead she comes off as a character whose world is suddenly turned upside down and yet she emerges strong from it. While there are moments of self-doubt and insecurities, she never comes off as an pansy-irritating character that depends on others to solve her problems. Slowly but steadily she takes on everything that is thrown at her, asks the right questions and eventually does the right thing. On the other hand Queen Hera, in many ways, pushes Ardra to be her best. That is a sign of a well-drawn up antagonist because a protagonist can only be as good as the antagonist. A weak antagonist will never lead to the creation of a great protagonist. Then there is Dara, a character with a past that is hinted at but not clearly spelled out to keep an air of mystery around him. And that certainly worked – who doesn’t like a man of mystery?
Sukanya Venkatraghavan can sure weave a good tale. The book gets you hooked from the very beginning and before you know it you will be turning the last page! Her narrative is spot on in every aspect. She kept up the pace of the plot while building the world and its characters. She has provided just enough background information on each character and revealed secrets at the right moment to have the maximum impact. Even I did not see one of the twists coming! The world building has been done well enough. If I absolutely had to crib about one thing in the book, it would be the world building. I am a girl who loves details and while the world building would seem sufficient enough to most people, I want more. I always want more when I like something.
It is not often enough that I love a fantasy book written by an Indian author so much. Exceptions have been there, but the only other fantasy book that I have liked more than this is Shatrujeet Nath’s Vikramaditya Veergatha Series. Though these books are not comparable to each other for many reasons, the common thread between the two is the fantasy genre and the care taken to build the worlds with enigmatic characters. Dark Things is now my second favourite fantasy book written by an Indian Author and I would recommend it to all fantasy lovers.
April 1, 2016
A book I did not want to put down.
Dark Things is everything I've ever wanted in a book but didn't know whom to ask.
Ardra is a Yakshi - a mythical, shape-shifting creature, slave to a mysterious Queen of Desires. Ardra seduces and bewitches, extracts the deepest, darkest secrets of humans, leaving them dead. The secrets she takes to her mistress - a task she's been at for 500 years. Our story begins on a night when Ardra tries to take secrets from a human called Dwai and fails. Dwai is left alive, Ardra races back to the dark underworld of Atala to the sight of a terrible blood moon.
The book races forward at an exciting pace and left me wanting to know more and more and more. I cannot tell you my favorite parts of the novel without giving away too much. But let's just say the mix of folk tales, magical creatures and raw emotion is heady. Sukanya's novel weaves through beautiful places in our world and others and I can safely say that I traveled far as I read.
Another note. I am a romance-nerd, in many ways. And though the cover and synopsis do not always give you that, I think the book is quite strong on delivering the tingles.
This is one novel that I'll keep coming back to.
Dark Things is everything I've ever wanted in a book but didn't know whom to ask.
Ardra is a Yakshi - a mythical, shape-shifting creature, slave to a mysterious Queen of Desires. Ardra seduces and bewitches, extracts the deepest, darkest secrets of humans, leaving them dead. The secrets she takes to her mistress - a task she's been at for 500 years. Our story begins on a night when Ardra tries to take secrets from a human called Dwai and fails. Dwai is left alive, Ardra races back to the dark underworld of Atala to the sight of a terrible blood moon.
The book races forward at an exciting pace and left me wanting to know more and more and more. I cannot tell you my favorite parts of the novel without giving away too much. But let's just say the mix of folk tales, magical creatures and raw emotion is heady. Sukanya's novel weaves through beautiful places in our world and others and I can safely say that I traveled far as I read.
Another note. I am a romance-nerd, in many ways. And though the cover and synopsis do not always give you that, I think the book is quite strong on delivering the tingles.
This is one novel that I'll keep coming back to.
May 3, 2021
One of my favorite reads of last year was Magical Women, a collection of fantasy tales by Indian women. And one of my favorites of the collection - The Rakshasi's rose garden is written by the same author. This was the only reason why I picked up
Dark Things
.
The novel is a quick fun read about a Yakshi flogged by memory demons, uncurling old secrets, finding new allies and discovering legacies that have been long since buried. Borrowing narratives from Indian mythology, the author narrates an engaging story about identity and the connections we make, no matter who we are; humans or monsters.
A great weekend read, indeed.
The novel is a quick fun read about a Yakshi flogged by memory demons, uncurling old secrets, finding new allies and discovering legacies that have been long since buried. Borrowing narratives from Indian mythology, the author narrates an engaging story about identity and the connections we make, no matter who we are; humans or monsters.
A great weekend read, indeed.
June 8, 2017
A very well-written novel by an author who draws on elements of Hindu mythology and manages to subsume it in an elaborately constructed fantasy world. It is wonderful to read a contemporary author who has created an engaging world where werewolves or vampires are not the main characters. And it is a nice game to trace Hindu mythological elements throughout the story. Enjoyed this book a lot and hoping for a sequel soon.
April 4, 2016
If you took the magic and hope out of Harry Potter, mixed it with the mystery and allure of Hindu Mythology and the fantasy of parallel worlds from Neil Gaiman books...then you would get Dark Things. From the 1st page, Sukanya Venkatraghavan, takes you on a magical journey into a world of Yakshis, Gandarvas and Apsaras. Yet in even in this world of magic and supernatural power and magic the characters struggle with the same issues of love, jealousy, loyalty and betrayal. Ardra's search of her true identity and the secrets of her past draw you into the story and you will not want to put the book down, till you find the answers with her.
May 24, 2017
Ardra, a yakshi, is in the service of Hera, the evil queen of Atala. A shape-shifter, she steals secrets from human men and leaves them dead. When one of her marks, Dwai, survives, a Pandora’s box opens. Secrets must be hunted down and questions answered before heaven and earth descend into evil. Accompanying Ardra and Dwai on their dark and dangerous quest is the monster slayer, Dara. Other than the trio the cast of characters also features legendary apsaras, wood nymphs, gandharvas, werewolves, assorted creatures from hell and a Huldra.
What I truly love about this book is that it has managed to extricate mythology from the grasp of religion, making this a book that truly crosses boundaries. Another thing to love is the female characters. They display a range of personalities and are multidimensional. There are enough twists and turns to keep even the ficklest of readers interested and at just 353 pages long, is a quick read.
The relatively short length of the book is however what led to my few, minor annoyances with this book. Too many questions I had were left unanswered at the end, or if they were addressed, they were not detailed enough. Also, because so many characters occupy so less a space, I did not get to see enough of some of the characters I really liked.
However, these complaints do not take anything away from the enjoyment of the book, and is easily solved by a sequel. Dark Things is certainly a book that stands apart from its peers in the genre and a must-read for those looking for good fantasy fiction.
Full review at: http://bit.ly/DrkThngs
What I truly love about this book is that it has managed to extricate mythology from the grasp of religion, making this a book that truly crosses boundaries. Another thing to love is the female characters. They display a range of personalities and are multidimensional. There are enough twists and turns to keep even the ficklest of readers interested and at just 353 pages long, is a quick read.
The relatively short length of the book is however what led to my few, minor annoyances with this book. Too many questions I had were left unanswered at the end, or if they were addressed, they were not detailed enough. Also, because so many characters occupy so less a space, I did not get to see enough of some of the characters I really liked.
However, these complaints do not take anything away from the enjoyment of the book, and is easily solved by a sequel. Dark Things is certainly a book that stands apart from its peers in the genre and a must-read for those looking for good fantasy fiction.
Full review at: http://bit.ly/DrkThngs
December 8, 2019
"Dark Things" portrays the age old Indian magic of yakshis and gandharvas in a very new and exciting way, once you start you just have to go on till the last word, wishing it had more to read!
But the essence of the book is a heart touching story of Ardra, the representation of every girl who got her heart crushed when she fell in love for the first time with a wrong guy. Without a heart Ardra is a monster, until she meets Dwai, her "true love"/ "soulmate"/ "the one"/just a guy she could not manipulate?
I am able to write a review almost 2 years after I read the book, because i can still feel every single character living within me and influencing my thoughts in some way.
I love my journey with "Dark Things"
But the essence of the book is a heart touching story of Ardra, the representation of every girl who got her heart crushed when she fell in love for the first time with a wrong guy. Without a heart Ardra is a monster, until she meets Dwai, her "true love"/ "soulmate"/ "the one"/just a guy she could not manipulate?
I am able to write a review almost 2 years after I read the book, because i can still feel every single character living within me and influencing my thoughts in some way.
I love my journey with "Dark Things"
October 8, 2019
I had read Magical Women earlier this year, that was edited by Sukanya Venkatraghavan, in which one of my favorite stories was written by her too. So when I spotted this in Crossword, I knew I had to buy it. I mean, look at the cover, it was almost as if I had been bewitched by that beautiful and dark Yakshi myself!
In short, the story revolves around four major characters - Hera, the evil queen of Atara, Ardra, the Yakshi who is central to the storyline, Dara, the unbelievably handsome monster slayer who has secrets of his own, and Dwai, the human, who is immune to Yakshi magic and is looking for answers of his own.
I was drawn into the story from the first page, and luckily, had a holiday in between so I could immerse myself completely in the story and finish it within a day! It is really good, the way the author wraps up all the different twists, the way she tantalizes us readers with little snippets of secrets, but never gives us the whole story, until towards the end of the book. I felt like a Yakshi myself, reading this book, because I was lusting for more secrets, my desire to know what was the past and the future of these characters had been tremendous! I loved the author's writing style, so simple and yet beautiful and elegant at the same time.
I'm not sure if there are any sequels planned for this book, but the amount of world building that is necessary for one book, is there in this. Beautiful descriptions of Aakasha, and eerie descriptions of the passage on the river of death and Atala, made me want to see illustrations of them!
I was impressed with how the author has twisted stereotype roles - by changing the heroine to the hero, by drawing a thin line between monsters and Gods. This was a story where the monster is the hero and that was such a refreshing concept for me. My favorite character were the shadow creature and Morana! haha You'll know who they were if you read the book. But I would've liked to know a little more about Dwai's past and a bit more about his character as well, since he isn't given a lot of space towards the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a single book fantasy story that will hold their attention, a story inspired by Indian mythology and mythological figures :)
In short, the story revolves around four major characters - Hera, the evil queen of Atara, Ardra, the Yakshi who is central to the storyline, Dara, the unbelievably handsome monster slayer who has secrets of his own, and Dwai, the human, who is immune to Yakshi magic and is looking for answers of his own.
I was drawn into the story from the first page, and luckily, had a holiday in between so I could immerse myself completely in the story and finish it within a day! It is really good, the way the author wraps up all the different twists, the way she tantalizes us readers with little snippets of secrets, but never gives us the whole story, until towards the end of the book. I felt like a Yakshi myself, reading this book, because I was lusting for more secrets, my desire to know what was the past and the future of these characters had been tremendous! I loved the author's writing style, so simple and yet beautiful and elegant at the same time.
I'm not sure if there are any sequels planned for this book, but the amount of world building that is necessary for one book, is there in this. Beautiful descriptions of Aakasha, and eerie descriptions of the passage on the river of death and Atala, made me want to see illustrations of them!
I was impressed with how the author has twisted stereotype roles - by changing the heroine to the hero, by drawing a thin line between monsters and Gods. This was a story where the monster is the hero and that was such a refreshing concept for me. My favorite character were the shadow creature and Morana! haha You'll know who they were if you read the book. But I would've liked to know a little more about Dwai's past and a bit more about his character as well, since he isn't given a lot of space towards the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a single book fantasy story that will hold their attention, a story inspired by Indian mythology and mythological figures :)
November 30, 2019
The story was all about unspeakable love, betrayal, forgotten and magic. I loved how it was build up. The end was unexpected though without any action or battle. Also what happened to Hera and why it happened after her Jwala stone was thrown into red moon is unexplained. Dwai and Ardra's chemistry seemed to be kept on hold since the start and it kind of disappointed me. He didn't remember her and yet she wanted to live on Prithvi with him is difficult to hold on to. And atleast once Dara and Ardra would have talked after the revealation on their pasts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2017
I was super intrigued when I read the summary of Dark Things by Sukanya Venkatraghavan. I am not always interested in fantasy fiction by Indian authors but Dark Things definitely caught my eye. That is why when I got an opportunity to read and review it I jumped on it. I'll just come out and say this, I genuinely enjoyed Dark Things. It was something different, especially for the Indian market.
So basically Dark Things is the story of Ardra. She is a succubus also known as a Yakshi who are designed to seduce and kill men all the while stealing their secrets. That is what they live for. Ardra was a complex heroine. She considered herself to be a dark thing but we always got the glimpses of humanity and kindness from her. I loved being inside Ardra's head and seeing her thought processes. She was a heroine who definitely had her faults but it made her easy to relate to.
Ardra lives with the other Yakshis in the realm of Atala where Hera is the queen and ruler of them all. As Ardra stumbles upon things she shouldn't she finds herself with more questions than answers. I loved how the author slowly unravelled Ardra's past. We get to be with Ardra while she tries to figure out what's going on. The past is by no means simple and it seems like everyone has a connection and a secret motive behind their actions.
I also really enjoyed Dwai's character. He was a great guy. I loved how he was protective of Ardra. He was always by her side. Then we have Dara who is the master of mixed signals. But we do find the reasons behind his behaviour by the end of the book. The author does a great job of fleshing out each and every single character in the book no matter how small their role, which I really appreciated. No one is one dimensional.
Dark Things takes you into several realms. Sukanya Vankatraghavan describes all the realms and settings with great detail connecting everything back to the characters. I loved all the intricacies and the world building was amazing. Dark Things is a well balanced combination of fantasy and action with a dash of romance. I liked it more than I thought I would so I will definitely be on the look out for more by this author.
*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.
Find more of my reviews at The Readdicts- http://thereaddicts.blogspot.in/
So basically Dark Things is the story of Ardra. She is a succubus also known as a Yakshi who are designed to seduce and kill men all the while stealing their secrets. That is what they live for. Ardra was a complex heroine. She considered herself to be a dark thing but we always got the glimpses of humanity and kindness from her. I loved being inside Ardra's head and seeing her thought processes. She was a heroine who definitely had her faults but it made her easy to relate to.
Ardra lives with the other Yakshis in the realm of Atala where Hera is the queen and ruler of them all. As Ardra stumbles upon things she shouldn't she finds herself with more questions than answers. I loved how the author slowly unravelled Ardra's past. We get to be with Ardra while she tries to figure out what's going on. The past is by no means simple and it seems like everyone has a connection and a secret motive behind their actions.
I also really enjoyed Dwai's character. He was a great guy. I loved how he was protective of Ardra. He was always by her side. Then we have Dara who is the master of mixed signals. But we do find the reasons behind his behaviour by the end of the book. The author does a great job of fleshing out each and every single character in the book no matter how small their role, which I really appreciated. No one is one dimensional.
Dark Things takes you into several realms. Sukanya Vankatraghavan describes all the realms and settings with great detail connecting everything back to the characters. I loved all the intricacies and the world building was amazing. Dark Things is a well balanced combination of fantasy and action with a dash of romance. I liked it more than I thought I would so I will definitely be on the look out for more by this author.
*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.
Find more of my reviews at The Readdicts- http://thereaddicts.blogspot.in/
March 30, 2018
Ardra is the one character that I really can't take away from my mind. Read for a number of times and everytime it's so fresh and new for me.I never felt bore while reading it. Those melancholic words and the voice of Ardra couldn't vanish from my mind. I love this book to the core and it's definitely a masterpiece of Sukanya's imagination world. :P
July 12, 2016
"A story is only as true as you believe it to be.”
“What if the maiden was the monster?” the tagline jumps out at you; if that isn’t intriguing enough, Sukanya Venkatraghavan catapults you into a whirlpool where you end up gasping, as you land in the midst of a world populated by Yakshis, Gandharvas, Huldras and Apsaras. 'Dark Things' published by Hatchette India starts off on the premise that “...monsters exist. They roam the earth. They scope the sky. They haunt the underworld.”
The novel revolves around Ardra, the Yakshi, “a beautiful unreal creature with invisible wings and bits of storm in her hair.” Her journey begins as she strives to go back into her memories, which have been rudely torn apart by Hera, the Empress of Atala and the evil Queen of Secrets, an overpowering figure who has a terribly devious plan that threatens to upset the balance of the world, and rip its fabric apart.
A number of memorable characters strut across the stage – Dara, the Slayer with “deep, soul-crushing heartbreak” in his jewel-blue eyes who has been hunting monsters for centuries, the handsome Dwai who has a secret in his past that makes him uniquely himself, the winsome Menaka, the bent Dakini (shades of Manthara?) and a Minotaur-like creature in the Tower under Hera’s control.
Who is Ardra and why is she different from her fellow Yakshis? “What the Yakshis didn’t have was freedom. What they lacked was destiny.” However, Ardra proves this statement wrong, as she survives catastrophes, more often than not, unwittingly. The novel starts off like an orchestra, instrument by solitary instrument, and plays on till it reaches a crescendo as strong forces face one another in the New War that is fought, till wrongs are made right and memories restored.
What takes this book beyond the realm of mere fantasy is the beauty of the language employed by the author. A few examples go thus:
“The music was her, her eyes were full of the strange creatures in the sea, green like new magic from the skies” and secrets that glowed “faintly in forgotten corners, in mysterious mind-nooks, in lost memory maps.” Such exquisite usages, the concept of the sun blooms and the description of the Enchanted Forest of the Fireflies make this book a work of literary art.
Sukanya seems to take parallels from Greek literature when she talks of Tarini, the River of Death, and its boatman, and Hera who is strangely Medusa-like.
The book also mirrors the concerns of the journalist within the author as Ardra says, “The stories I heard on Prithvi about what humans did to one another were sometimes so unsettling that it felt as though the lines between our worlds were blurring.” This was echoed by Dwai later when he remarked, “Sometimes there is no difference between humans and monsters; the lines are blurring.”
And as you put the book away, your mind still bustling with the vivid imagery, the fragrance of the winsome Yakshi with “the frangipani-shaped magical tattoo on the inside of her wrist,” remains with you.
“What if the maiden was the monster?” the tagline jumps out at you; if that isn’t intriguing enough, Sukanya Venkatraghavan catapults you into a whirlpool where you end up gasping, as you land in the midst of a world populated by Yakshis, Gandharvas, Huldras and Apsaras. 'Dark Things' published by Hatchette India starts off on the premise that “...monsters exist. They roam the earth. They scope the sky. They haunt the underworld.”
The novel revolves around Ardra, the Yakshi, “a beautiful unreal creature with invisible wings and bits of storm in her hair.” Her journey begins as she strives to go back into her memories, which have been rudely torn apart by Hera, the Empress of Atala and the evil Queen of Secrets, an overpowering figure who has a terribly devious plan that threatens to upset the balance of the world, and rip its fabric apart.
A number of memorable characters strut across the stage – Dara, the Slayer with “deep, soul-crushing heartbreak” in his jewel-blue eyes who has been hunting monsters for centuries, the handsome Dwai who has a secret in his past that makes him uniquely himself, the winsome Menaka, the bent Dakini (shades of Manthara?) and a Minotaur-like creature in the Tower under Hera’s control.
Who is Ardra and why is she different from her fellow Yakshis? “What the Yakshis didn’t have was freedom. What they lacked was destiny.” However, Ardra proves this statement wrong, as she survives catastrophes, more often than not, unwittingly. The novel starts off like an orchestra, instrument by solitary instrument, and plays on till it reaches a crescendo as strong forces face one another in the New War that is fought, till wrongs are made right and memories restored.
What takes this book beyond the realm of mere fantasy is the beauty of the language employed by the author. A few examples go thus:
“The music was her, her eyes were full of the strange creatures in the sea, green like new magic from the skies” and secrets that glowed “faintly in forgotten corners, in mysterious mind-nooks, in lost memory maps.” Such exquisite usages, the concept of the sun blooms and the description of the Enchanted Forest of the Fireflies make this book a work of literary art.
Sukanya seems to take parallels from Greek literature when she talks of Tarini, the River of Death, and its boatman, and Hera who is strangely Medusa-like.
The book also mirrors the concerns of the journalist within the author as Ardra says, “The stories I heard on Prithvi about what humans did to one another were sometimes so unsettling that it felt as though the lines between our worlds were blurring.” This was echoed by Dwai later when he remarked, “Sometimes there is no difference between humans and monsters; the lines are blurring.”
And as you put the book away, your mind still bustling with the vivid imagery, the fragrance of the winsome Yakshi with “the frangipani-shaped magical tattoo on the inside of her wrist,” remains with you.
February 24, 2017
I wish this was a magnum opus, filled with innumerable volumes like Sandman which seemed to never end. This book did open up new dimensions in my reading. I have never read indian fantasy with such awe. I wanted to keep it going but then "thud" like every story has to end, this ended too. Ardra, Dwai, Dara the characters are absolutely amazing. It was a bit of a slow start for me but then it picked up and I now regret why didn't I finish it earlier. I really hope the author is listening and giving us a a sequel at least if not a trilogy.
February 9, 2016
A great book will fuel your imagination, consume your being, and the characters will live in your head, long after you’ve put the book down. Dark Things is a special book for many reasons. Firstly, it draws inspiration from a Keralan temple folklore/legend and upgrades the otherwise caricature of a character into a badass 21st-century version—the Yakshi (Ardra) here, ditches the setu mundu (traditional Kerala sari) for a bustier and vettilayum chunnambum (paan) for a cocktail. Being a Malayalee and born to a dancer of a mother, Apsaras, Gandharvas and Yakshis were the main protagonists in most of the bedtime stories of my childhood. So, for me, it also brought back those nights where my grandma read tales from the Aithihyamala (a collection of century-old legends from Kerala).
Secondly, the book bewitches you (pretty much like the Yakshi in it) from the word go. You can’t break-free from the enchanting word play—you can only put it down once you’re through! Fantasy-fiction is one of my favourite genres, and it’s a delight to see an Indian author pull it off with gusto. She doesn’t falter or disappoint anywhere. It keeps you guessing; there is never a dull moment. And, you will never see the twist in the end coming! Layered with magic (both good and bad), stardust, love and hate; Dark Things takes you to a place where it’s hard to say goodbye to the characters that take flight from its pages into your imagination.
Finally, despite all its nail-biting encounters, at the end of if all, Dark Things is a love story or rather love stories that will tug at your heart strings. Mortal or immortal, love seems to be the only thing that can bring joy and destruction in equal measure depending on the lightness or darkness within you. The writer blurs the lines between memories and dreams, evil and good, effortlessly. The book also emphasises on the fact that humanity, can sometimes be, found even in the darkest of places and souls.
I’d recommend Dark Things to anyone who loves fantasy or simply enjoys a great story, told beautifully.
Secondly, the book bewitches you (pretty much like the Yakshi in it) from the word go. You can’t break-free from the enchanting word play—you can only put it down once you’re through! Fantasy-fiction is one of my favourite genres, and it’s a delight to see an Indian author pull it off with gusto. She doesn’t falter or disappoint anywhere. It keeps you guessing; there is never a dull moment. And, you will never see the twist in the end coming! Layered with magic (both good and bad), stardust, love and hate; Dark Things takes you to a place where it’s hard to say goodbye to the characters that take flight from its pages into your imagination.
Finally, despite all its nail-biting encounters, at the end of if all, Dark Things is a love story or rather love stories that will tug at your heart strings. Mortal or immortal, love seems to be the only thing that can bring joy and destruction in equal measure depending on the lightness or darkness within you. The writer blurs the lines between memories and dreams, evil and good, effortlessly. The book also emphasises on the fact that humanity, can sometimes be, found even in the darkest of places and souls.
I’d recommend Dark Things to anyone who loves fantasy or simply enjoys a great story, told beautifully.
January 7, 2017
I haven’t read a book for pleasure in forever, and that’s saying a lot since I pretty much haven’t been without a book in my hands since I was two. So, Indian science fiction, for one as imaginative as I am, never thought of it, granted I was busy living life and dodging huge obstacles but still one would think that my creative side would have conceived of it. Umm nope. When I say I adore all things sci fi and fantasy, tis true. I mean incarnations of immortality, the delicious wickedness of Lasher and Taltos (don’t even get me started), Xanth, Tamora Pierce, Kim Harrison, you got the Piers Anthony references and Anne Rice right? I used to eat, sleep, breath fantasy. I became a co-manager in a Waldenbooks just to rub up on the cases of books
I digress.
This book was magnificent. It grabbed and transported me away for almost 12 or so hours. Never slept that night which was perfectly delightful because I was in THAT world, which is written about in such passionate descriptives, one truly feels as though they are a part of that world, watching the scenes unfold, just far enough away not to be able to reach out and touch a character. Wow. Took me away from HERE, and I thought of nothing else for a remarkable night, a night free of thinking. And, isn’t that one of the reasons we read? To travel, fly and live lives other than our own?? Middle earth was my home in my adolescence and I find it hard pressed to ever become that integrated in the terrain of someone else’s fertile imagination again, but this was a book that left me SORELY hungover. I am still seeking far and wide for another book to again stir my passion and envelop me into its world. Bravo.. thank you. Hope you are NOT reading this review because you are WRITING the sequel. HUMPH!!
I digress.
This book was magnificent. It grabbed and transported me away for almost 12 or so hours. Never slept that night which was perfectly delightful because I was in THAT world, which is written about in such passionate descriptives, one truly feels as though they are a part of that world, watching the scenes unfold, just far enough away not to be able to reach out and touch a character. Wow. Took me away from HERE, and I thought of nothing else for a remarkable night, a night free of thinking. And, isn’t that one of the reasons we read? To travel, fly and live lives other than our own?? Middle earth was my home in my adolescence and I find it hard pressed to ever become that integrated in the terrain of someone else’s fertile imagination again, but this was a book that left me SORELY hungover. I am still seeking far and wide for another book to again stir my passion and envelop me into its world. Bravo.. thank you. Hope you are NOT reading this review because you are WRITING the sequel. HUMPH!!
May 22, 2016
Really loved reading Dark Things. I wouldn't call myself a fantasy fiction fan however the blurb of Dark Things was so alluring that I was rather keen to read it. And that has totally paid off. The varied realms that Sukanya Venkatraghavan spins and the layered characters in each of them leave you spell bound (even after finishing the book).
Sheer magic in the writing is what leaves you invested in the characters irrespective of the shades they show. Many times, it the evil ones who leave you asking for more. Then again, when you read this book, you will question what is good and what is evil. While there is so much happening throughout the book, the loops are tied nicely in the end with a roller coaster final act, which only leaves you wondering what next and how soon the author will pen it for you. Go for it!
Sheer magic in the writing is what leaves you invested in the characters irrespective of the shades they show. Many times, it the evil ones who leave you asking for more. Then again, when you read this book, you will question what is good and what is evil. While there is so much happening throughout the book, the loops are tied nicely in the end with a roller coaster final act, which only leaves you wondering what next and how soon the author will pen it for you. Go for it!
August 29, 2016
A dark, gorgeous world, full of myth and wonder. This is exactly the sort of book I've been waiting for from an Indian fantasy author and Sukanya Venkatraghavan delivers beautifully.
Ardra is a yakshi, a self-described monster who kills men and steals their secrets with a kiss. Things go awry when one of her targets, Dwai, survives and Ardra is pulled inexplicably into an ancient battle between Atala, where she was born and Akasha, the heavenly abode of celestial dieties (apsaras and gandharvas).
The modern Indian setting contrasting with ancient myth was especially well done. I especially loved the description of Atala, with its bloodsucking frangipani and dark, shadowy creatures. There was a twist at the end that I didn't expect, which was also great!
Highly recommended for lovers of Indian fantasy.
Ardra is a yakshi, a self-described monster who kills men and steals their secrets with a kiss. Things go awry when one of her targets, Dwai, survives and Ardra is pulled inexplicably into an ancient battle between Atala, where she was born and Akasha, the heavenly abode of celestial dieties (apsaras and gandharvas).
The modern Indian setting contrasting with ancient myth was especially well done. I especially loved the description of Atala, with its bloodsucking frangipani and dark, shadowy creatures. There was a twist at the end that I didn't expect, which was also great!
Highly recommended for lovers of Indian fantasy.
August 18, 2016
Started with moderate expectations, since it came highly recommended. And the expectations rose several notches higher on reading the first few pages, for the narrative as well as the plot held bewitching promises. But that didn't sustain itself. Loose writing is the book's undoing. The story is replete with so many extraneous details, it seems that it's written with many sequels in mind. It could be a good ploy, but for me, those bits were just distractions from the actual plot. Which takes just so much time to unravel itself, that by the time you reach the end, it's almost anticlimactic.
I would have loved the book in two scenarios - same story, edited better; or a much longer narrative, almost epic style, with much more depth. This book just left me disappointed.
I would have loved the book in two scenarios - same story, edited better; or a much longer narrative, almost epic style, with much more depth. This book just left me disappointed.
March 19, 2016
Dark Things by Sukanya Venkatraghavan is a rollercoaster ride composed of melancholy filled lows and amorous highs. I am not much of a reader but this book has made me want to read more. The book talks about identity, love, regret, redemption, greed, ambition and many more themes that will touch your soul. It is a fantasy novel yet we can relate to it so much. Maybe it is because deep inside we are all monsters that live in the countless realms of our minds. It is a great read that contains imagery painted onto the pages with delicate strokes. It is a work of art that everyone needs to lay their brains on.
December 3, 2016
I've read enough Indian and foreign fantasy fiction to safely say, for a first attempt, this is quite impressive. With interesting names and a plot that is full of surprises, my only complaints would be that Ardra's reactions were always consistent and predictable, unlike human nature. Additionally, the last climactic section could have been a lot more detailed out and interesting. There was almost no buildup to it.
February 17, 2016
A fantastic read. The author weaves magic with her words and draws you into a world populated by yakshis and gandharvas. Ardra, Dwai and Dara are characters who will stay with you for a long, long time after you've finished reading "Dark Things".
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