Pishacha

by Neil D'Silva

On the outside, he is a Pishacha – a terrifying demon compelled to eat human flesh to survive. Yet, inside, he has a tender heart that still pines for the lover of his previous human birth.

More than a century later, when he discovers that his lover has been reborn in a rich Mumbai household, and is now a beautiful woman, his heart begins to beat again with a happy rhythm.

There are monumental obstacles in his path though, the least of which is the fact that she loves another man. But, the biggest challenge is that she is human and he is demon.

To make her his, he will have to become human again; and to accomplish that, he will have to fight holy men and witch-mothers and giants, and challenge the gods themselves.

From the best-selling author of Maya’s New Husband, comes a tragic tale of forbidden love — Pishacha.

Genres: Horror

249 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2016

About the author

With 12 books to his credit, Neil D’Silva is a known name in the Indian literary world. His unique stories have struck a chord with a wide range of readers, eliciting praise from various quarters. He is published with leading publishers such as Penguin Random House, Rupa Publications, and Hachette among others, and has won screen adaptation deals on four of his books.

He has been named as one of the Top 7 Indian horror writers to be read by UK’s DESIblitz magazine. Considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary Indian horror literature, he has been covered by several leading publications and is invited to speak at prominent litfests around the country.

He was a winner at the Delhi Literature Festival Short Story Competition of 2015. His book Maya’s New Husband won the title of Entertainer of the Year at the Literary Awards 2015 that was co-hosted by Authors’ Ink Publications and Inside Stories.

Reviews

[Devika Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read horror books often, but I saw snippets and sneak peeks of this novel on Facebook, so I thought I'd give it a go. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. While I had a hard time really liking or relating to the character Pishacha, I found the story thought-provoking and intriguing, and it left a lasting impression. In fact, it reminded me of the quote "love makes monsters of us all". And beneath the horror, it threw up a lot of questions about moral values and personal development.

[Rubina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have taken a long time to review this book. To be truthful, I didn't know whether I liked this character of Pishacha or not. But as days passed, this character stayed with me and that itself shows that it has found a home in a reader's heart. Neil has this unique way of creating characters - Maya's New Husband, I can't forget Bhaskar Sadachari and in this case - Pishacha. All horror lovers know who a Pishacha is but this Indian depiction of a zombie? (I am not sure if that is the right word) has a heart which falls in love too. But that kind of love is something most girls can do without.

I loved the way Pishacha's emotions left me hating him or feeling sorry for him. But whatever you do, - you can't ignore him. I like the way the characters are portrayed. When the milkman and the maid incident happened - I was all set to hate the character. Later I was not so sure. Layered. And this is what makes this book a page-turner. You will have to form your own opinion about this book for every reader will be left with different emotions. Powerful novel.

[Anmol Rawat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pishacha is an absolute page turner penned down by Neil D'Silva. The USP of the book is a fabulous narration that keeps you engrossed in the story. I loved how Neil has developed the character of Pishacha from being totally sinister to just a heart vying to be united with his love. Also loved the twists and turns in the story that made it an absolute entertainer. Would definitely like to read more of his works in future.

[T.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book written on a very fascinating premise - a person's ghast or pishacha waiting for its dead lover to be reborn and to claim her. The language is very good and the story flows very smoothly. The book can easily be finished in one sitting. And towards the end just when you are feeling the story is winding down to a predictable finish, the author has some more aces to pull up from his sleeve. For those who love twists in the tale, the ending of the story will have you all writhing like a Lebanese belly dancer.

For all who are fans of the authors earlier book "Maya's new husband", don't be taken by the author's claims of this being a young adult novel. The plot may be a bit more simplistic but the story has good measure of gore and eros that are fast becoming Neil's trademark.

[Galina Trefil · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best-selling author of "Maya's New Husband" has once again taken the world of the damned and made it dance. D'Silva's "Pishacha" takes the reader through a journey of personal--and paranormal--growth which will leave horror fans both sated and pious at the same time. The plot, while initially promising to be a yet another fun-but-been-there-done-that Beauty and the Beast cliche, begins unexpectedly and mournfully twisting like a hungry python until it the reader is sucked in with absolutely no idea how the extremely unique story will end. Beautifully visual, well-structured, nauseating in all the right ways, but also quite touching, once opened, "Pishacha" is not a book to be closed until the glued-to-seat audience drinks the very last bloody word.

[Kavya Janani U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spellbinding horror tale from the 'King of Horror' in India.

I loved this book to bits. Compellingly narrated tale. Powerful storytelling. Deep characters. And what not?

Strongly recommended for all horror thriller lovers out there. Thank you, Neil D'Silva, for making me believe that horror stories can also be unconventional and the tropes of a good horror tale can be twisted in any possible creative way.

[Avishek Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is the most powerful force that binds us. Even the most bitter person in the world will have a fraction of love living in one corner of their heart. And love, has the power to win over any other emotion in your heart, be it anger or hatred.

However, love can be meaningful only when it is reciprocated. It is utmost painful when the person you love does not love you back, what more, they might not be aware of your existence, of your feelings, and may even loathe you. And when that happens, it's the best to let it go. Because, even if you are the most powerful force in the world, you can never win over unrequited love.

The basic premise of Pishacha, the novel, is built around this philosophy. It narrates a tale that is deeply poignant and chilling scary at the same time. The first part of the book, titled Descent, has multiple scenes which spooked the wit out of me. On one occasion, I actually took my eyes off the book and looked around my room to win my courage back. The author has used such powerful imagery and colorful description that you will instantly be transferred into the world of Neetika, Dev and their nemesis, the Pishacha.

After the initial horror and chills, the story introduces the concepts of Krodh Pishacha, Rakshasa, Kalinis and Daayans, and it's fascinating to get into this supernatural journey. The spiritual purpose of each of these evil forces is beautifully sketched in the story.

While reading, I actually saw the whole book in my mind's eye, just like a movie. For example, the very illustrious fight scene between Pishacha and Rakshasa upon a snow-clapped mountain top, a major highlight in the story, I saw this scene from multiple angles -
1) A shot from the top, you know, the likes captured by a drone camera: This allowed me a glimpse of the whole mountain peak, the towering frame of the two giants, and a shaking, minuscule Munirayyan.
2) Close-ups of the two giants gritting their teeth and fighting hard.
3) A low angle shot, from the height of Munirayyan's eyes, allowing what the fight would look like to mere mortals.

I was so hooked on at this point, that I finished the next three parts of the book, Ascent, Past and Present in practically three days. Also, for some reason, I put a face to the protagonist Neetika's character in the story. I visualized her to be identical to Sasha Chhetri, the Airtel girl!

I really felt sympathetic towards Neetika. To be in a position like her, when instead of finding solace, you are spooked and disgusted by a person who claims to love you, is so painful and unfortunate. Pishacha's ordeal is painful too, and there are scenes in the story where you will feel bad for him, but nothing justifies unnecessary violence and killing of innocent people. So, no, Mr. Pishacha, you don't win my vote!

Putting on my critical hat, well firstly, I felt that Nakul and Malini's sub-plot could perhaps be done away with. But then, they bring in some sort of a relief and add spice to the narrative, so it's acceptable. Next, I felt that although Munirayyan was portrayed as a feeble character in the story, people akin to him should actually have more mental strength and spiritual power. But then, it's a fresh new take on someone "blessed by God", so I will take it.

I would conclude by saying that Pishacha is not just a horror story, but a story imbued with deep realizations of life, and I am glad that I picked it up. Five stars from my side and waiting to read more from the author.

[Cheshta Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a story where a person's ghast or pishacha waiting for its dead lover to be reborn and to claim her.
About the Author:
Editor at Pen Paper Coffee
Former Studying at Children's Academy
Studied Schooling and Matriculation at Children's Academy, Malad, Mumbai
Studied at Alliance Française de Bombay
Went to Shri M V and L U College of Science and Commerce
Lives in Mumbai, India
Married to Anita Dsilv

So, I met this wonderful author through my facebook profile. He is a humble man with lots of horror stories in his collection. Personally speaking, I just love horror stories. I love talking about ghost, and listening to the real life experience of people regarding ghosts.

So, I saw Pishacha by Neil D'Silva post at my facebook news feed, and I cant stop myself reaching to this author and talk. He is sweet to talk with and have many ideas to share. When I ask him about this novel, he told me many wonderful things from A to Z that make me crazy to read that more.

In few days, I got this novel at my address.

And I was all ready to read this horror story :)

My review:

1. It is a story where a person's ghast or pishacha waiting for its dead lover to be reborn and to claim her.

2. .The plot, while initially promising to be a yet another fun-but-been-there-done-that Beauty and the Beast cliche.

3. This novel will also help you to understand bhoot, preta, pishacha, dayan and kalini clearly.

4. The story revolve around a monstrous creature in love with a pretty girl.

5. This one’s the best part, I loved the language so much! It was easy going and the words were so in sync, they absolutely settled in with the narration

6. The cover of the novel is amazing.

7. The name of the novel is 5/5

8. The kindly edition is FREE to download!!!

9. Be CAUTION- DONT READ THIS NOVEL AT NIGHT!

FROM ME ITS 5/5

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession: I had to wait till I was at my parents house to read this because I live alone and have a grossly overactive imagination that really does not need any assistance to imagine monsters in the dark.

Now that that's out of the way - Pishacha is a story of a demon, condemned to an eternal life of consuming human flesh. However, beyond just being a demon, he is a heartbroken spirit, who has pined for centuries at the loss of his one eternal love. Now that she has been reborn into a Mumbai household, he finds her again, and will stop at nothing to bring her back.

This book is intense: terrifying and gripping. But more than that, it's really nice to not have it be a straightforward good vs. evil story. All the characters have shades of grey - there are no characters that are totally good or totally bad. The Pishacha is someone whom we feel conflicted about: on the one hand he is this terrifying monster, but on the other, he is so tormented that we want him to win. He does not deserve the pain he feels, and we want to see that ease. He has the strongest character arc as well.

I enjoyed the historical element of the story, and how D'Silva sets up various pieces of the plot, and weaves them together skilfully, as the narrative progresses. You start to see how everything ties into everything else, and make your own connections.

The story is a page turner, and I definitely felt myself wincing on more than one occasion. It is a fast read too, so keep aside some uninterrupted time, lest like me, you'll get cranky with other humans trying to interrupt your reading time. I have not yet read Maya's New Husband, but it is definitely on my list.

This is a great book for horror and non horror fans alike: the story has elements that would appeal to a large and varied audience. Enjoy and happy reading!

[Dhriya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed.

I really disliked the FMC. She was vapid and her “independence” transferred across as snobbery on the pages. And spare me the special & beautiful snowflake BS.

The MMC is just a cardboard cutout of a Prince Charming - waxing poetic with no real substance.

The ghost was such a powerful being throughout the book but just became washed out in the the last few pages for the sake of the climax.

The other 2 characters were downright dumb sometimes and just sex fiends the other times.

The writing majorly ruined it for me. Everytime I would get immersed in the story, a character would use a jarring slang and just pull me out of it. Indian characters talking like Americans is as cringy in the book as it is in real life. It’s not cool or contemporary, it’s just plain unbearable.

Pointers for the plot & concept: fast-paced and action-packed. There were some loose ends that were sloppily tied off.

The climax was hastily done and just disappointing tbh. There didn’t feel like a real resolution.

What was the point of using the punarjanam and chasing love through centuries concepts as plot devices if the FMC just doesn’t care about it all? What was the point of all those flashbacks and the long drawn out story when the FMC could have driven the ghost away by just saying she doesn’t care about him in this life? There was no remorse, not even a slight guilty conscience on her part.

And with the whole justice and forgiveness theme going on… why did Veer become the Pishacha but Neetika was reborn to be with her love again?

I was actually rooting for the Pishacha/Veer to win in this one by the end of it. I honestly wanted him to kill off Neetika and live the life he was robbed of because she was an insecure and insensitive woman.

It’s rare for any book to frustrate me so much as I’m usually able to lean into most stories. But this just wasn’t it.

[Krish Gangadharan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking for Neil D'Silva's books specifically and picked this before Maya's new husband. As shallow as it may sound, I was intrigued by the cover.

To get some of the well known things out of the way, of course D'Silva writes very well, his characterisations stick on in the mind and the visuals are breathtaking. Horror readers know that D'Silva is the top draw in indigenous Indian horror, so no point in preaching to the converted. Where else would you find Pishacha, Chudail, Rakshasa, and other forms of beings in the same book fighting and conniving alongside humans and also dealing with their emotions?

For those who are his fans and have read Maya, the style of visualisation here is on a grander scale but not as "rawly" shocking as Maya. The standout sequence is the battle of the Pishacha with the Rakshasa who is supported by a sage or so most people would say....But as good as that sequence is, the standout visualisation in my view is when Pishacha considers attacking a certain someone sitting under the tree and what transpires after (I can't reveal more and spoil it for you), if that scene does not give you goosebumps nothing will. And that scene, the author uses like Shakespeare's third act and within a few minutes you realise that your loyalties have changed. The author plays with your mind, Vonnegutesque.

But I would actually recommend romance genre lovers to give this book a go, because for me this book was as good a romance as any, and I won't reveal whose romance as there is more than one.
The sad thing is that I have seen this ripped off by movie/serial makers without acknowledging the author, and to make things worse they did not even rip it well adding their inanities.

[Ace Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pishachas, which can be loosely translated to Ghoul, are flesh-eating demons in Indian mythology. One such Pishacha is the protagonist of the story.
The story deals with reincarnations, eternal love and such supernatural stuff.
Now, I'm not a great fan of horror. I haven't read a Stephen King yet and rarely watch horror movies. This happens to be the first supernatural horror novel I ever read....And I'm tempted to read more.
What I really liked about this book was that it is not written in the style of those plentiful of ghost stories on the internet which are more or less the same. You can see that much thought and research has gone into writing of this story.
The narration is really good, the story structure manages to hold your attention and keeps you excited for the upcoming twists and turns. The language is impressive, too. However, the text needs some editing. There were a few mistakes here and there but the meaning was understandable. A few sentences felt like they were unnecessary.
The writer shows his skill in writing the scary parts which are capable of raising your hair. I read mostly at night so going to kitchen or bathroom after reading it got pretty scary.
Characters in the story aren't monotonous. By the story ends the characters ,which appeared to be whites and blacks in the beginning, turn out to be different shades of grey. Yet, the end gives you a closure(which may or may not be taken away soon).

This is good , fulfilling read which can be completed in 2-3 days. Pishacha manages to shock and scare you while tugging at your heart-strings.
My rating : 3/5.

[Shreshtha Rathore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally decided to go with horror and picked up my first book that belongs to the genre, “Pishacha” by Neil D’Silva.

What I absolutely loved.

I am not a character oriented reader, however when it came to this book, well, exceptions!
I couldn’t bring myself to like the Pishacha, but the irony is that I couldn’t hate him either, I was balancing on a rope all the while, simply wishing the best for this evil spirit.

All of my doubts regarding differences between bhoot, preta, pishacha, dayan and kalini are clear!

The story is engrossing, at first it seems like a cliche, a monstrous creature in love with a pretty girl, however when the plot builds up, I’ll suggest you to be prepared for lots of unexpected surprises!

I absolutely loved the thrill, when you watch a movie, you can close the eyes, hear the dialogues and let the scene pass; when you read, you have no way to escape your own horrid imagination.

This one’s the best part, I loved the language so much! It was easy going and the words were so in sync, they absolutely settled in with the narration. The author made it so natural, I could flow with the storyline like knife on butter, no bumpy dents in sentences that break your reading joy. This is something I wish to see more often in books by Indian authors. I personally feel that many people try too hard cramming in words and sentences that aren’t required.

What I didn’t like:

How do you expect me to sleep after reading such a book? I am supposed to be an independent woman who lives alone!

I’ll say, go for the book!

[Starlight Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonjour Bibliophiles.

We are back with the another Review.
Book Name: The Pishacha:A tale of love beyond births.
Writer: Neil D'Sliva
Published in 2016 by frontier publication
Genre:Horror

The author has blended Love and horror perplexingly, One cannot close the book without finishing it. The story is mind gripping, addictive and giving goosebumps time to time .
This is the story of salvation , story of true love, story of rebirth , story of a demon who wants to conquer the love of his life but the problem is He is Pishacha and she is human. In the beginning of the book you might hate that wrecked soul , there will be so many questions goes inside your mind which will bind you to read the book fastest, eventually you will begin to understand the Pishacha, which makes the story more unique.
The language is simple and plot is well constructed.


Lines from the book:
1-There is no bigger myth about human relationships than breakups. Nothing about the notion that two people can break up is even near the truth. Two people can stop seeing each other, stop communication, perhaps even drift away and live on opposite ends of the globe, but can they really break off each other? For, even if they make every cautious attempt to stay physically distant from each other, how can they separate those shared memories that are so entangled with each other?


2-Forgetting is a myth. No one ever forgets anything; we are just not conditioned enough to do it.

[Simon Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by the author, and it certainly won't be the last. Pishacha is a grisly but gripping horror story with dark fairy tale edges that delves extensively into Hindu folklore for it's nail-biting, emotionally exhilarating twists and turns.

The plot concerns a flesh-eating demonic entity that stalks imperilled heroine Neekita, for mysterious reasons that gradually become clear. Various other subplots weave in and out of the main plot - one involving a holy man, the other a young man called Nakul, who finds himself drawn to a mysterious and seductive woman. Past and present eventually collide in a dramatic and satisfying finale.

Three things greatly impressed me about this novel: 1) The lean, page-turning prose, 2) The absorbing narrative, and 3) The elements of Hindu folklore, with which I am unfamiliar. It proved a fascinating experience to read this kind of supernatural horror from a cultural background I know very little about. For all these reasons, I'd highly recommend this to horror fans, or those disposed to gothic and dark grown-up fairy tales.

[Sunita Saldhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Neil D’silva that I have read. It’s been a really long time since I have read a horror story. But everyone in the book club was talking about it and I decided it was high time I expanded my reading experiences.
The beginning of the book got me hooked. I was like, okay, I really want to know what is going to happen. The romantic in me loved the idea of a love through the centuries specially when one is a demon and the other human.
Would he succeed? Would he win her? What about the man she is in love with? Why have they been separated? As I was reading, the questions kept playing in my mind.
I must admit I got a bit impatient with the pace of the book initially. I wanted it to go faster. I wanted answers to all my questions. And then suddenly the pace picked up and I couldn’t put it down.
The book was good no doubt, though there were a few grammatical errors scattered through it. It could have been edited a bit more carefully.
But all in all I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading his other book, “Maya’s New Husband”.

[Maithili Jais · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I mean, talk about a disappointment. I’m giving this 2 stars for creativity and having a fast-paced action-packed plot. However. Reading it was nothing short of painful.

The main female lead is defined only by her existence in the lives of the men around her. The men around her also only care about acquiring her. None of the characters have any depth outside of romantic and sexual interests. A story of love beyond births? I think it’s really a story about obsession and possessiveness. All of the characters around Neetika behave possessively towards her, and arguably it is the most stressed defining aspect of her existence. (Not to mention issues with the fact that the men in her life don’t seem to understand healthy boundaries or consent)

Not to mention the colorism and ableism. Come on. It’s really overused and unoriginal in addition to just being bad.

Two stars because I like the mythology and exploration. However, the representation of women characters was terrible. Too many problems to be enjoyable.

[Nandini Reddy Dayal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neetika is living the life of a typical 20 year old with her boyfriend Yug. It all seems normal and boring until she finds herself shadowed by an invisible entity. Pishacha introduces quite a few Indian supernatural beliefs that have found a place in tales of yore. The end was a bit anti-climactic (for me) because of how powerfully the antagonistic character was built up. But definitely a worthy horror read.

Neil D'silva continues to be the only Indian horror author I read. I have always loved Indian horror shows and definitely a big Ramsay brothers fan for their pulp fiction style horror. This particular story I felt would have made for a great Ramsay production as it had all the elements they use in their stories.

[Bhawna Sharma · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the book, Pishach was portrayed as extremely powerful, even more so than the blessed sadhus and other beings.He mercilessly killed innocent people, but I wished he had targeted the one who caused him suffering instead of innocent individuals.
There were unresolved plot points, such as what happened to Shalaka that turned her into a dayan? Additionally, Nakul seemed to have no role in the story and was transferred to the palace for no apparent reason. The climax felt rushed, with a powerful character like Pishach, who had killed innocents and even Malini, simply walking away when the real killer asked him to stay away due to her lack of memory of her past life and actions.

The climax could have been improved if it had been slightly different.

[Aditya Tiwari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not that good to keep the reader captivated

The book is written in a well mannered rhythm and will keep the reader indugled in the beginning. But then, the redundancy of events become more that what is expected and there it somwwhat loses its grip.
However, the book is good , the imagination of thr author and his R&D on required subjects is also worth admiration.
Overall, the book is readable and the reader eill enjoy it , atleast for once.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all the horror stories I have read so far, there are really a couple authors who can actually write horror and create an impact on the readers mind.

Neil D’silva is one such author, I must say. It's first time I have read one of his works and I accept Pishacha scared me.

Fiction, horror, paranormal, suspense, history, romance all in one but all well balanced. The story is fast paced, addictive and unputdownable and scary too. It had been a long time since I read such a mind gripping, horror story and I absolutely loved it.

The book cover is apt to the title though it gives a rough idea to the reader but it's much more than that.

Pishacha is a must read but CAUTION… don’t read at night.

[Roy D'silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil D'Silva returns with Pishacha, a supernatural book with an interesting premise. Neil succeeds in creating yet another intense, intriguing story that pulls the audience from whatever it is doing and pay attention. The heady mixture of mythology, supernatural and delicious offerings of horror make this book a must read.

[Satyam Mahato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago, if anybody would’ve recommended me to read a book in the horror genre, I would instantly deny it. But book by book, Neil D’Silva is making me fall in love with his writing. Pishacha: a tale of love beyond births is so intriguing that it keeps you engaged with the story and kindles the fire of curiosity within you. Slowly and slowly, the story unfolds with new twists and turns and I never felt like putting it down for a while. And the climax, Ah! I didn’t expect yet.
God bless you, sir. Keep writing and entertaining us with such stories.
Waiting for MNH-2.

[Readington · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the author can write much better. Somewhere in this book, he has lost the very essence of what he really wants to say. I had no clue why this 'pishacha' was scaling the mountains. The main characters didn't do anything except screaming and shivering. It's a very confusing read.

[Ramdas Krishnamurthy]

pishacha: A story of love

This is a story of love and revenge that an other worldly entity has for a human being. Although it will not scare the crap out of you it is an enjoyable read.

[Manohar Prabhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good thriller.

[Gopesh P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good one....

A good book to read...climax scenes could have been better. Also, the explanation of scenarios could have been reduced. Overall nice.

[Mohammed Yaseen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably would’ve been better as a short story.

[Spandana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome plot!!!

[Aakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pishacha..

Good book yo read in the very time...
The book have a good concept of love and the lovera reborn to complete there love stories..