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Beast
It was always the same dream, a dream that began with darkness and blood.'
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas-werelions-who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times.
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.
But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master?
Read on, as Aditi and Prithvi race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai-from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city-in search of a dangerous truth.
In search of a monster.
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas-werelions-who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times.
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.
But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master?
Read on, as Aditi and Prithvi race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai-from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city-in search of a dangerous truth.
In search of a monster.
326 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2019
7 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 31, 2019
I have read & loved the first book in Govinda series by Krishan Udayasankar. By the time I finished it and wanted to buy the next books in the series they were off the shelf. Surprisingly only second-hand books are available currently. Even Kindly version is not available. So this time when the opportunity arose I grabbed it. I know I am a bit late to review Beast, but it is better late than never.
The protagonist of our story is Prithvi. He belonged to a supernatural race called Simhas (or werelions). For a human, they were ordinary persons. And Prithvi was one of the persons who worked around to make their kind hidden. The story started when a mysterious murder took place in Mumbai. Prithvi was called upon to find out the murderer. He found out the person related was linked with his part. This takes the story to his childhood and then his upbringing. Read the book to know more, how is the murderer is associated with Prithvi's past.
The tale is fast-paced in current times, but slow-paced in time during a flashback. The language used is simple. A good read for fantasy, action, thriller lover. I found flashback a little bit boring, it took me more time to finish that part. Overall a good read. I will give 3.5/5 for the book.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
The protagonist of our story is Prithvi. He belonged to a supernatural race called Simhas (or werelions). For a human, they were ordinary persons. And Prithvi was one of the persons who worked around to make their kind hidden. The story started when a mysterious murder took place in Mumbai. Prithvi was called upon to find out the murderer. He found out the person related was linked with his part. This takes the story to his childhood and then his upbringing. Read the book to know more, how is the murderer is associated with Prithvi's past.
The tale is fast-paced in current times, but slow-paced in time during a flashback. The language used is simple. A good read for fantasy, action, thriller lover. I found flashback a little bit boring, it took me more time to finish that part. Overall a good read. I will give 3.5/5 for the book.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
June 10, 2019
Title - Beast
Author - Krishna Udayasankar
Publisher - Penguin India
Genre - Fiction
Language - English
Format - Paperpack
The book is simply wow. I just can't believe what I read now.
Is it a book!
No! No!
It's a book that every writer dreamt to write. It's a book that won every readers heart in each page in each word and in each sentence.
Plot :-
It is an urban fantasy thriller. It is not completely but very much based on Indian myths.
Aditi Kashyap , the Asst. Commissioner Of Police is appointed to solve a triple murder case in Mumbai. The story starts with this base of murder case but later on it slowly entered into a new terrifying horrifying world, the world of Saimhas - Werelions . The Saimhas are present along side us from the begining of Ancient time without our knowledge. By the help of Prithivi she finally able to decode the case.... How all these became reality is the main suspense of the book.
My Review:-
❣️ Starting with the cover to the title both r really impresive and that's what called a strict smart Publisher who have done such an impressive work that every booklover surely attracted towards the book to read it once.
❣️The storyline is significant plot is one of the most beautiful and thrilling one I have ever read. I lived each and every page and every new page is like something unique beyond imagination for me.
❣️ The protrayed of each character is wonderful along with its speed is perfect for a thriller book.
❣️The writing style and the language used is simply perfect for every reader no matter whether the reader is beginner or a Bookworm everyone should love it surely.
It's one of my best read till now and highly recommended to everyone to go fetch the book and read it you will simply going to Mesmerized within it.
Rating:-
Title and cover - 4.2/5
Storyline / Plot - 5/5
Protrayed of Character - 4.1/5
Language - 4.5/5
Writing style - 4.7/5
Twists - 4.8/5
Overall - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠
Author - Krishna Udayasankar
Publisher - Penguin India
Genre - Fiction
Language - English
Format - Paperpack
The book is simply wow. I just can't believe what I read now.
Is it a book!
No! No!
It's a book that every writer dreamt to write. It's a book that won every readers heart in each page in each word and in each sentence.
Plot :-
It is an urban fantasy thriller. It is not completely but very much based on Indian myths.
Aditi Kashyap , the Asst. Commissioner Of Police is appointed to solve a triple murder case in Mumbai. The story starts with this base of murder case but later on it slowly entered into a new terrifying horrifying world, the world of Saimhas - Werelions . The Saimhas are present along side us from the begining of Ancient time without our knowledge. By the help of Prithivi she finally able to decode the case.... How all these became reality is the main suspense of the book.
My Review:-
❣️ Starting with the cover to the title both r really impresive and that's what called a strict smart Publisher who have done such an impressive work that every booklover surely attracted towards the book to read it once.
❣️The storyline is significant plot is one of the most beautiful and thrilling one I have ever read. I lived each and every page and every new page is like something unique beyond imagination for me.
❣️ The protrayed of each character is wonderful along with its speed is perfect for a thriller book.
❣️The writing style and the language used is simply perfect for every reader no matter whether the reader is beginner or a Bookworm everyone should love it surely.
It's one of my best read till now and highly recommended to everyone to go fetch the book and read it you will simply going to Mesmerized within it.
Rating:-
Title and cover - 4.2/5
Storyline / Plot - 5/5
Protrayed of Character - 4.1/5
Language - 4.5/5
Writing style - 4.7/5
Twists - 4.8/5
Overall - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠
June 21, 2019
A gruesome triple homicide takes place in suburban Mumbai and ACP Aditi Kashyap is called in to investigate it. As she starts digging deeper into the case, she realises there’s been a whole new secret set of species called Saimahs (werelions) living side by side with humans since the beginning of time itself. How she joins hands with a Saimah Enforcer to solve this crime forms the rest of the story.
Beast is a compelling urban fantasy/thriller novel that will have you at the edge of your seat, wondering both about what comes next and what happened in the past. Krishna Udayasankar has a strong writing voice and is no novice at writing unique characters. While the plot in itself is intriguing, these strong characters and the excellent writing drive the story forward at a brisk pace.
While the blurb makes it seem like Aditi is the main character, it’s Prithvi who takes up more page space. Prithvi’s own past life is strongly tied to the story and it is his past and its consequences that dominate the rest of the story.
Speaking of Prithvi’s past, I initially assumed he was into men too. I thought this was just me, but a close friend who read the book also confirmed that she assumed the same. Despite not being canon, Beast has given us the big gay Indian ship we deserve and we just can’t stop talking about it!
Beast is a fast-paced, intriguing thriller that strikes a beautiful balance between life as we know it and some aspects of Indian mythology. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy, books set in Mumbai, and Indian mythology.
Beast is a compelling urban fantasy/thriller novel that will have you at the edge of your seat, wondering both about what comes next and what happened in the past. Krishna Udayasankar has a strong writing voice and is no novice at writing unique characters. While the plot in itself is intriguing, these strong characters and the excellent writing drive the story forward at a brisk pace.
While the blurb makes it seem like Aditi is the main character, it’s Prithvi who takes up more page space. Prithvi’s own past life is strongly tied to the story and it is his past and its consequences that dominate the rest of the story.
Speaking of Prithvi’s past, I initially assumed he was into men too. I thought this was just me, but a close friend who read the book also confirmed that she assumed the same. Despite not being canon, Beast has given us the big gay Indian ship we deserve and we just can’t stop talking about it!
Beast is a fast-paced, intriguing thriller that strikes a beautiful balance between life as we know it and some aspects of Indian mythology. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy, books set in Mumbai, and Indian mythology.
May 30, 2019
Beast by Krishna Udayasankaris a wonderful story of Prithvi and Aditi. Aditi and Prithvi race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai-from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city-in search of a dangerous truth. How was Prithvi’s past? What will happen when Aditi join his hands with Prithvi?
It’s a wonderful story with an amazing full of twists and turns. The narration of the story is crisp and up to the point. The first few chapters are a bit heavy but once you connect to the story is amazing.
The way the author narrated each and every emotion is just wonderful.
The story takes a turn after a few chapters, keeping the reader hooked throughout. The language used by the author is simple and relatable. The Writing style of the author is crisp and Lucid that makes this book a page-turner.
The story is fast-paced with a smooth flow and many interesting chapters. With each chapter, the story gets interesting keeping the reader Invested in.
You’ll find different themes like friendship, past, loss, love in the story. The mystery element that the author added is wonderful. The way the story is developed is commendable. I loved how the author sequenced the events.
The characters that the author built are strong and relatable making this story more interesting. Each character had its own personality leaving a huge impact on the reader. I loved Aditi’s character the most.
Overall it’s a wonderful story with an interesting plot. A bit heavy read with lots of mystery. Like reading mystery? Go for it!!! It’s a perfect combination of fantasy and mystery.
It’s a wonderful story with an amazing full of twists and turns. The narration of the story is crisp and up to the point. The first few chapters are a bit heavy but once you connect to the story is amazing.
The way the author narrated each and every emotion is just wonderful.
The story takes a turn after a few chapters, keeping the reader hooked throughout. The language used by the author is simple and relatable. The Writing style of the author is crisp and Lucid that makes this book a page-turner.
The story is fast-paced with a smooth flow and many interesting chapters. With each chapter, the story gets interesting keeping the reader Invested in.
You’ll find different themes like friendship, past, loss, love in the story. The mystery element that the author added is wonderful. The way the story is developed is commendable. I loved how the author sequenced the events.
The characters that the author built are strong and relatable making this story more interesting. Each character had its own personality leaving a huge impact on the reader. I loved Aditi’s character the most.
Overall it’s a wonderful story with an interesting plot. A bit heavy read with lots of mystery. Like reading mystery? Go for it!!! It’s a perfect combination of fantasy and mystery.
September 18, 2025
Beast by Krishna Udayshankar, is a murder mystery thriller, horrifying at the same time. Also includes a touch of mythology blended with science fiction facts and myths. To blend all these genres and styles into one book is no amateur task.
Krishna Udayshankar has done a great job in clubbing all these together into a single read. The book is a thriller such that it keeps the readers on their toes all throughout the book till the very end.
I love the cover of the book, thrilling and horrifying at the same time, one glance at it and the reader can feel the chills down their spines.
The storyline is way more thrilling than the cover and the title together. ACP Aditi Kashyap is assigned a triple murder mystery case. The shocking part of the case being the way the murders had been attempted. It didn't look like the work of any sane human. It was more of an animal like attack.
Now about the protagonist, Prithvi, who is an enforcer, and is hired to track down the murderer or killers and kill them to put an end to these recurring murders in the metro city suburb of Mumbai.
Soon thereafter, Prithvi and Aditi are introduced to the world of Saimahs - the werelions(yes, just like werewolves)
This species has been said to have existed parallel to the human race since ancient times but were never discovered as they both existed in their own discreet worlds living peacefully away from the other.
Just as exciting as it sounds, there's a lot lot more this book has to offer.
Krishna Udayshankar has done a great job in clubbing all these together into a single read. The book is a thriller such that it keeps the readers on their toes all throughout the book till the very end.
I love the cover of the book, thrilling and horrifying at the same time, one glance at it and the reader can feel the chills down their spines.
The storyline is way more thrilling than the cover and the title together. ACP Aditi Kashyap is assigned a triple murder mystery case. The shocking part of the case being the way the murders had been attempted. It didn't look like the work of any sane human. It was more of an animal like attack.
Now about the protagonist, Prithvi, who is an enforcer, and is hired to track down the murderer or killers and kill them to put an end to these recurring murders in the metro city suburb of Mumbai.
Soon thereafter, Prithvi and Aditi are introduced to the world of Saimahs - the werelions(yes, just like werewolves)
This species has been said to have existed parallel to the human race since ancient times but were never discovered as they both existed in their own discreet worlds living peacefully away from the other.
Just as exciting as it sounds, there's a lot lot more this book has to offer.
September 7, 2020
I had so much fun reading this. This urban fantasy stand alone novel, a genre that has historically I haven't enjoyed, was surprisingly...fun! I have read Govinda, the first part of the fantasy trilogy that I thought was pretty okay. Though I like her writing, I wasn't a huge fan of the plot or the pace of the story. Beast however keeps you on your toes, is action packed, fast paced and you gotta run with it.
its a good evening binge. like a nice action movie..
its a good evening binge. like a nice action movie..
April 29, 2021
Mythology is a wonderful concept to drown in. They are tales of such magnificent and absurd proportions. It's like the people of the old didn't limit their imaginations. Anything could happen and any being can come into existence. I just love them. And it is always fun to read a modern book rooted in the myths. Rather than the plots, the procedure of correlating the past with the present is the thing that usually reels me in.
Beast is based on the story of Narasimha. The progenies of half human half lion being has thrived and is still living among us in secrecy. From there on out the book is a full fledged bollywood movie in a book format. I liked the story. The plot was fast paced. She didn't waste any time in going from point A to B. The plot had many twists and turns. But we can see them from a mile off. Ambiguousness in the beginning was replaced with clarity in the middle. You can very much guess the end of the Book once you reach the middle part. Even then, the book is fun. I had to give credit to the author for that. She has an engaging writing style. Compared to her previous book, Aryavarta chronicles, this book is a walk in the park; both in terms of plot and complexity.
Despite the bollywood style of the plot ( too much drama, twists and action) I couldn't help liking this book. I loved the way the author conjured connections to link the Present and bygone Saimhas. The only complaint I have is that she could have expanded on the background of Saimhas much more. I am waiting for her next book. Just want to know what her beautiful mind is going to conjure up next.
Beast is based on the story of Narasimha. The progenies of half human half lion being has thrived and is still living among us in secrecy. From there on out the book is a full fledged bollywood movie in a book format. I liked the story. The plot was fast paced. She didn't waste any time in going from point A to B. The plot had many twists and turns. But we can see them from a mile off. Ambiguousness in the beginning was replaced with clarity in the middle. You can very much guess the end of the Book once you reach the middle part. Even then, the book is fun. I had to give credit to the author for that. She has an engaging writing style. Compared to her previous book, Aryavarta chronicles, this book is a walk in the park; both in terms of plot and complexity.
Despite the bollywood style of the plot ( too much drama, twists and action) I couldn't help liking this book. I loved the way the author conjured connections to link the Present and bygone Saimhas. The only complaint I have is that she could have expanded on the background of Saimhas much more. I am waiting for her next book. Just want to know what her beautiful mind is going to conjure up next.
June 5, 2019
An invigorating concoction of mystery,mayhem,mythology,love,friendship,brotherhood,politics and revenge. A constant tug of war between human conscience and beast's hunger.
When ACP Aditi Kashyap is given the charge of horrific triple murder case little did she imagined,she would be sucked into a vortex of deadly secrets,hideous creatures and secret organizations.Once she realizes,that she is pitted against lethal entity.She join forces with Prithvi, an Enforcer tasked with hunting the culprit.What follows is a whirlwind series of events, that unfurls many acrimonious truths from the murkier past.
A spine chilling thriller whose strength lies in its compact plot-line, fast paced story and detailed characters.The multilayered characters with their distinct personality add a different essence to the tale.Narrated in a rich language,the author skillfully projects how a choice of an individual walking on the fine line between right and wrong makes all the difference.The explicit descriptions about Werelions infused life into story, brought alive each encounter and transformations.
Power is a double edged sword.It takes humongous efforts to resist its lust and dutifully carry out the responsibilities that comes along-with it.The author has did a splendid job.I would recommend the book to every fiction and urban mystery lover.
January 25, 2020
'Beast' is an urban fantasy thriller set in modern Mumbai. Packed with chase sequences, gangsters, shoot outs and a final showdown at the villain's den, it checks all the right boxes for a classic thriller. It also aims to look beyond just thrills by adding philosophical overtones by casting its eyes on caste conflicts, society's inability to deal with is outliers, the cost of centralising all information and the beast that it can create.
But beyond all that, it wasn't something that kept me glued to it for long. Yes, I raced through it but the atmosphere and conflicts did not work for me - maybe you can blame me for my inability to consume fantasy, so it was unusual to try it out. The idea of a man wolf 🐺 was always a subject of cheap thrills, so it takes quite an effort to take it seriously, despite the writer's attempts to pour through the conflicts in all earnestness.
Hollywood churns out fantasies galore and creates alternate worlds where such an existence appears plausible. But when the same thing is set in an Indian urban backdrop, it kind of seems our of place. I think it needed a longer novel where an alternate universe needed to be created and then the conflict between these two worlds could have been fleshed out. But a few such characters here and there (with odd suggestions of gay brotherhood) felt contrived and yeh conflict did not appear real enough to feel much.
Nevertheless, wouldn't be surprised if this gets recreated as a Hindi movie or expanded web series in future.
But beyond all that, it wasn't something that kept me glued to it for long. Yes, I raced through it but the atmosphere and conflicts did not work for me - maybe you can blame me for my inability to consume fantasy, so it was unusual to try it out. The idea of a man wolf 🐺 was always a subject of cheap thrills, so it takes quite an effort to take it seriously, despite the writer's attempts to pour through the conflicts in all earnestness.
Hollywood churns out fantasies galore and creates alternate worlds where such an existence appears plausible. But when the same thing is set in an Indian urban backdrop, it kind of seems our of place. I think it needed a longer novel where an alternate universe needed to be created and then the conflict between these two worlds could have been fleshed out. But a few such characters here and there (with odd suggestions of gay brotherhood) felt contrived and yeh conflict did not appear real enough to feel much.
Nevertheless, wouldn't be surprised if this gets recreated as a Hindi movie or expanded web series in future.
June 5, 2019
The cover of the book goes well with the story. Author's narration style is impressive, though appears difficult to understand / follow for initial few pages but as pages are turned you totally get engrossed in the book. Book is science fiction and has lot of horror and action scenes in it. The horror scenes take your breath away and action scenes are gripping, exciting and lively like in movies.
Plot looks convincing and is about solving of triple homicide murder which happened in Mumbai suburbs as mentioned in description of book without any surprises.
The main protagonists are a good cop "Aditi Kashyap" ACP Crime Branch, Mumbai and "Prithvi" an enforcer. Villain in the plot is not a human but Werelion hence the title "Beast". Author has built charecters well and done justice to all including supporting characters. To know about protagonists, their identity / background / charecter, how they meet, why they team up, difficulties they face, how they catch the murderers etc is the essence of story so grab the book and start reading. Book leaves readers with happy feeling in the end.
Pros :
Plot is very interesting, entertaining and gripping.
People who enjoy reading and watching sci-fi like werewolves, vampires, predators etc would love this book.
Plot looks convincing and is about solving of triple homicide murder which happened in Mumbai suburbs as mentioned in description of book without any surprises.
The main protagonists are a good cop "Aditi Kashyap" ACP Crime Branch, Mumbai and "Prithvi" an enforcer. Villain in the plot is not a human but Werelion hence the title "Beast". Author has built charecters well and done justice to all including supporting characters. To know about protagonists, their identity / background / charecter, how they meet, why they team up, difficulties they face, how they catch the murderers etc is the essence of story so grab the book and start reading. Book leaves readers with happy feeling in the end.
Pros :
Plot is very interesting, entertaining and gripping.
People who enjoy reading and watching sci-fi like werewolves, vampires, predators etc would love this book.
May 2, 2020
My rating: 3.9/5
Oh I recommend this author so very much!!
And thank you so much, the rating is actually for not making it all like Harry and Sirius, just the good parts <3
Loving my Readathon!
Oh I recommend this author so very much!!
And thank you so much, the rating is actually for not making it all like Harry and Sirius, just the good parts <3
Loving my Readathon!
August 8, 2023
This book was so good. It started off a little cheesy and it was kind of slow at moments. Also i thought the end was a little too melodramatic but overall i still loved it. The imagination was something. And the book was well written so an extra star for that.
September 20, 2019
Isn’t it a bit farcical to write a review months after the book is released? Surely the whole world and their grandmother know by now that the book is good, the book is exciting, the book is going to stand as foundational for Indian Urban Horror/Fantasy (with some other stalwarts, but the whole world and their grandmother know about those too. Surely.).
Maybe the world has been living under a rock. Granny reads slowly these days. There are too many books (there are not enough books), and you just haven’t gotten around to this one, okay? I should back off and simply remind you to read Kishna Udayasankar’s Beast instead, and assure you that you will like it.
Hello! You should read Krishna Udayasankar’s Beast. I truly believe you will like it. I should mention for honesty transparency and other virtues that I know Udayasankar online and talk to her mildly often and think she’s awesome. Obviously I am now biased. An unreliable source. You cannot trust me when I say, a. This book will make EXCELLENT TV, assuming good TV makes it and b. This book needs a sequel, tomorrow and yesterday and c. This book has exciting action sequences, two potential heroines, one tragic hero, a pinch of homoeroticism, dramatic flashbacks, jokes, and Weird Science.
Beast opens with a gripping, terrifying scene of carnage and violence, with Udayasankar’s trademark building tension snapping shut as the Beast makes its entrance. The Beast has killed some shady characters, lords of the Mumbai Underworld, and the ripples of this devastation ripple through Mumbai, in sunlight and underground. You know the Beast is magic right off the gun, because the Beast has gleaming white teeth despite being a presumably mindless creature that lives to feast on the Mumbai mafia.
Prithvi Narasimha is plagued by recurring nightmares. Someone he loves is dead. Someone he loves killed her. Narasimha wades through blood literally and metaphorically. We understand that he is an Enforcer for a mysterious secret society, which is gradually revealed to be a society not of choice but rather of birth - Narasimha is a Saimha, a genetic freak, a genetic miracle, a secret that has existed for generations. The Saimha are an organised culture, with their own mythologies of how they came to exist, and their own hopes for the future. But these were-lions do something we rarely see in fiction - They refuse to transform into the “Beast” of the title, staying human and setting up the central conflict of the novel, reflected in all its other wars. Which begs the question: who is eating the Underworld?
What does it mean to be human? In a non-were-lion context, humans are both animal and spirit, our ids and our superegos balanced very finely with the ego. We must live in our completion and accept our various facets, the good and the bad. We must live consciously, or in reaction. In Beast, this conflict is rendered outward, physical. You must never transform into your animal self. You must be human, civilised, your veneer of gentleness is your humanity. Monsters are violent people, violent people are monsters. Break these rules, and an Enforcer like Prithvi Narasimha is sent after you.
Narasimha as an Enforcer is a man bowed under tragedy, serving a cause that is coded as necessary, brutal, oppressive and unkind. He contrasts with Aditi Kashyap (more on names later) who is a policewoman who does not live under the same torments. She believes in her job, she chose her vocation wholeheartedly, and simply wants to do it well.
Assistant Commissioner Aditi Kashyap is on the scene of the crime, trying to put together who - more to the point, what - killed these goons. She is a practical woman in a man’s world, and she has no time for fantasies of were-lions. Her subordinates, who respect her and don’t seem to mind being stupid in front of her, are very pro- the were-lion theory. But until she has proof, Kashyap investigates the normal way, like a proper police woman should. The reader sees glimpses of Kashyap’s world - police politics, public pressure, the need for negotiation with a criminal parallel world that does not follow the rules. As the novel progresses you realise she cares more for justice than the law, and is not here to be your nurturing healer. She is here to kick ass, take names, and investigate grisly murders.
Of course Narasimha must try to keep Kashyap from finding the monster, the beast out on the loose, killing gangsters. Our first clue that something is amiss is that this Saimha is killing only gangsters. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Kashyap and Narasimha trawl through Mumbai’s seedy underbelly, saving a gangster’s moll from rape and torture, following clues until they almost literally stumble across the rogue were-lion - who is someone from Narasimha’s past.
Udayasankar sketches out a society with rigid delineation of power and a caste system of birth and orphanage. Narasimha is an orphan whose best friend Rahul Acharya is a pureblood, born to Saimha parents. The two boys grow together and taste the forbidden fruit of transformation. This relationship is frustrating, subtle and complicated, a sexless erotic love consummated not through mutual love but through a third party, a woman named Noor. Noor is seen here only through the eyes of Narasimha’s love, but through those eyes we see a compassionate woman who requires her friends, her lovers, to stand up, to take a stance. Rahul and Noor’s deaths hang over Narasimha for all the novel, with the details revealed slowly to us through flashbacks and sighs over what might have been. The frustration of unconsummated, barely expressed love are shackles on Narasimha’s own life, not allowing him to search for better for himself.
If these character developments are nuanced, between the lines and behind the curtain, the naming conventions in the novel are not. Aditi Kashyap, Dev Narayan, Prithvi Narasimha - these are not names without weight, especially when used all together in the same novel with its quiet undertones of rage against the system. Shades of Harry Potter echo when I read about Orphans versus Purebloods in Saimha culture. It feels a bit heavy handed, but on this I accept that there are others who will find it clever and cutting nomenclature, contrasting the mythological names against the realities of caste, gender and narrative power.
The novel itself speeds through these revelations, and speeds through finding the rogue Saimha, the twists and turns of brining that Saimha to justice, the machinations of Saimha society and Saimha genetics. If Beast has a flaw, it is that it delivers its plot with ruthless efficiency, not spending a single paragraph more than necessary to sketch out its second protagonists, or the bare bones of science necessary for the plot.
Much is left for the reader to find between the lines, and a lot of filtered through Narasimha’s own skewed perspective. Some questions receive over-easy answers. What caused Rahul’s rage and violence? How does Kashyap balance her role as police with her trigger-happy shooting of every person in a fight? How do we reconcile the genetics of Saimha with the vague mythologies we are shown in the book? What does the Council do? How does this parallel caste and class structure work? How did it work before today’s communication technology?
Udayasankar’s plotting is neat and tidy, and her character development is deliberately the opposite. No one is a single thing. Not humans, and not Saimha. This push and pull cannot be solved by separation and categorisation, and Usdayasankar’s solution to the struggle is extremely satisfying, and radical. Udayashankar is a maestro of building conclusions that in retrospect are inevitable, and the final answers are extremely satisfying.
As a stand-alone novel, Beast is tightly plotted, tense and satisfying, but perhaps a little thin on some crucial character development and world-building. As the first book in a series (which I seriously hope it is), Beast is very nearly perfect, opening us to questions of our own fractured selves and the way we live our lives, on auto-pilot or on purpose.
October 28, 2019
'Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas-werelions-who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times.
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.'
Fantasy fiction meets crime and mystery.
The narrative interaction between the two shores of storytelling is spectacular. For sometime you would feel yourself in the comfortable adobe of generality; until; you're stuck with the fascinating mysterious world of Saimhas.
The author had completely dominated characterization, but with an innovative touch. The in depth commitment she had shown towards it is highly appreciated.
The detailed elucidation of Prithvi's past was perhaps needed for building a strong story but it was repulsive after a certain point. The twists and turns the author brought forward before and after that is sufficient to keep one glued to the pages.
Overall, it's an innovative creation with all elements needed for making it a good read.
Author: Krishna Udayasankar
Publishers: Penguin India
Language: English
My rating: 4/5
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.'
Fantasy fiction meets crime and mystery.
The narrative interaction between the two shores of storytelling is spectacular. For sometime you would feel yourself in the comfortable adobe of generality; until; you're stuck with the fascinating mysterious world of Saimhas.
The author had completely dominated characterization, but with an innovative touch. The in depth commitment she had shown towards it is highly appreciated.
The detailed elucidation of Prithvi's past was perhaps needed for building a strong story but it was repulsive after a certain point. The twists and turns the author brought forward before and after that is sufficient to keep one glued to the pages.
Overall, it's an innovative creation with all elements needed for making it a good read.
Author: Krishna Udayasankar
Publishers: Penguin India
Language: English
My rating: 4/5
June 3, 2019
Fabulous book, a welcome change from the usual myth retellings. Beast takes the well-known Narasimha tale and spins a what-if scenario. ***MILD SPOILERS*** What if there were other humanoid species which had survived evolution alongside the Homo Sapiens? What if they lived among us, camouflaging their identities to fit in with their "civilized" cousins? Which side of theirs is more "beastly," the human one or the animal?
Plotting, action: excellent as always. The opening scene was blood-soaked, gruesome... right up my alley. :D
Setting: the descriptions of the gritty side of Mumbai are close to cinematic.
Characters: A great intro of Prithvi, who I assume will continue to be the main character of the series. Bhima Rao is a favorite since I like the rebellions professor trope. This is also where I have a complaint about the book. I wish - really, really wish - there was more of Aditi. She has the potential to be a kickass female character, so I'm hoping we'll see more of her in the next books.
Plotting, action: excellent as always. The opening scene was blood-soaked, gruesome... right up my alley. :D
Setting: the descriptions of the gritty side of Mumbai are close to cinematic.
Characters: A great intro of Prithvi, who I assume will continue to be the main character of the series. Bhima Rao is a favorite since I like the rebellions professor trope. This is also where I have a complaint about the book. I wish - really, really wish - there was more of Aditi. She has the potential to be a kickass female character, so I'm hoping we'll see more of her in the next books.
April 11, 2019
Finished reading Beast a couple days back, and as usual loved the writing style of Krishna Udaysankara, that has captured me ever since I read Govinda.
The concept was delightfully different from the cliched 'werewolf' trope. A new foray into WereLions and connecting these fantastical creatures to the Indian mythological Narsimha story is like my favourite kind of genre merger. Although I personally would have liked it better if the full-moon-makes-you-change concept was made a little different.
As far as protagonists go, Prithvi and ACP Aditi were perfection! Simple yet emotionally complicated every day characters, fighting their inner demons, and trying to hold on to their selves and sanity as bravely as they can. Protagonists that you would root for.
Most of the characters were given a good backstory, and explanations about why they are who they are was amazing.
Again, personally I would have liked if the Villain was given some more flesh and a character depth. Without revealing any major spoilers, I just felt that the character of the Bad Guy was very 2D and I just could not connect with him at all. I like having villainous characters that draw you in, and you get attached with them and even sometimes empathize with them.
Another major love factor in the book was the lack of forced romantic episodes. I cannot state how cringe worthy and unnecessary that becomes when the protagonists are forced into lovey dovey scenes just for the sake of it.
Also, I loved the depiction of the strong ties of friendship among the characters, and the way the story unfolds going back and forth different timelines and different character viewpoints. At times I had to just go back and read the previous chapters and be like 'Ohh That is why/how this happened! Now I see!'
That was real fun!
The depictions, the symbolism and the flow of the story was absolutely brilliant.
Saying that, I still believe some parts of the story felt forced or unfinished. Like what was the case with Rajan and gang, why were they made the targets of the attack, and what happened to Rosie, and what is the backstory of the council and why it works the way it works, the Prophecy is a relatively new idea that the extremists are against, so what was the reason of the extremists clash before the Prophecy then?
Too many questions, but too little pages in the book. Probably all my concerns would have been taken care of if the the book were made into a series (Are you hearing that Krishna?? Like Pretty Pleaseeee!)
It's just that we were thrown into this brand new world and having a stand alone book is kind of dampening my excitement to be a part of the Narsimha clan.
All in all, liked Beast a lot, and need a bigger fill of it....
The concept was delightfully different from the cliched 'werewolf' trope. A new foray into WereLions and connecting these fantastical creatures to the Indian mythological Narsimha story is like my favourite kind of genre merger. Although I personally would have liked it better if the full-moon-makes-you-change concept was made a little different.
As far as protagonists go, Prithvi and ACP Aditi were perfection! Simple yet emotionally complicated every day characters, fighting their inner demons, and trying to hold on to their selves and sanity as bravely as they can. Protagonists that you would root for.
Most of the characters were given a good backstory, and explanations about why they are who they are was amazing.
Again, personally I would have liked if the Villain was given some more flesh and a character depth. Without revealing any major spoilers, I just felt that the character of the Bad Guy was very 2D and I just could not connect with him at all. I like having villainous characters that draw you in, and you get attached with them and even sometimes empathize with them.
Another major love factor in the book was the lack of forced romantic episodes. I cannot state how cringe worthy and unnecessary that becomes when the protagonists are forced into lovey dovey scenes just for the sake of it.
Also, I loved the depiction of the strong ties of friendship among the characters, and the way the story unfolds going back and forth different timelines and different character viewpoints. At times I had to just go back and read the previous chapters and be like 'Ohh That is why/how this happened! Now I see!'
That was real fun!
The depictions, the symbolism and the flow of the story was absolutely brilliant.
Saying that, I still believe some parts of the story felt forced or unfinished. Like what was the case with Rajan and gang, why were they made the targets of the attack, and what happened to Rosie, and what is the backstory of the council and why it works the way it works, the Prophecy is a relatively new idea that the extremists are against, so what was the reason of the extremists clash before the Prophecy then?
Too many questions, but too little pages in the book. Probably all my concerns would have been taken care of if the the book were made into a series (Are you hearing that Krishna?? Like Pretty Pleaseeee!)
It's just that we were thrown into this brand new world and having a stand alone book is kind of dampening my excitement to be a part of the Narsimha clan.
All in all, liked Beast a lot, and need a bigger fill of it....
June 3, 2019
"When you don't know what moves a man, you can't foresee his actions." - Krishna Udayasankar
Blurb:
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas -- werelions -- who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times. Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer. But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master? As a greater conspiracy unfolds and the very survival of humankind is placed under threat, Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai -- from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city -- in search of a dangerous truth. In search of a monster.
Views:
This is probably one of the most intriguing and nail biting book I've read in the recent past. The theme of the book is so fascinating that you can't stop reading even for once.
I have heard about werewolves before but this book introduced me to the world of werelions or the Saimhas. It's really a fascinating world but they have their restrictions and many rules and regulations which they must abide by to thrive peacefully. The storyline is weaved with so much care and the intricacies are so well designed that it kept me on the edge throughout.
The beast part of the book apart from the storyline is definitely the characters. They are very much well built and each characters are provided with their backstories and those are extremely well written. There are a few chapters which are slowly paced to tell about the characters perfectly but other than those all the chapters proceed with a breakneck speed.
The narration is perfect and tied the whole story beautifully. The language is so lucid and it made the prose so much interesting to read. Moreover this is a book which has an unique concept and I loved the whole of it.
Rating and Recommendations:
5/5. An excellent thrilling rollercoaster ride it was. Definitely a must read. Just pick this one up and thank me later!
Blurb:
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas -- werelions -- who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times. Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer. But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master? As a greater conspiracy unfolds and the very survival of humankind is placed under threat, Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai -- from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city -- in search of a dangerous truth. In search of a monster.
Views:
This is probably one of the most intriguing and nail biting book I've read in the recent past. The theme of the book is so fascinating that you can't stop reading even for once.
I have heard about werewolves before but this book introduced me to the world of werelions or the Saimhas. It's really a fascinating world but they have their restrictions and many rules and regulations which they must abide by to thrive peacefully. The storyline is weaved with so much care and the intricacies are so well designed that it kept me on the edge throughout.
The beast part of the book apart from the storyline is definitely the characters. They are very much well built and each characters are provided with their backstories and those are extremely well written. There are a few chapters which are slowly paced to tell about the characters perfectly but other than those all the chapters proceed with a breakneck speed.
The narration is perfect and tied the whole story beautifully. The language is so lucid and it made the prose so much interesting to read. Moreover this is a book which has an unique concept and I loved the whole of it.
Rating and Recommendations:
5/5. An excellent thrilling rollercoaster ride it was. Definitely a must read. Just pick this one up and thank me later!
May 26, 2019
I picked up this book mostly because I really enjoyed the author's Aryavarta Chronicles. While I watch a lot of SF/F, I don't read much in the genre. Usually, I'm bored by all the detailed (but necessary) worldbuilding. This wasn't much of a problem with Beast as the setting is Mumbai, and I'm very, very glad I decided to give it a try because it gave me a few hours of sheer reading pleasure.
The story starts in Powai, with corpses of criminal drug dealers. There are rumors in the media about the murderer. Theories that he/she might be supernatural. Into the chaos arrives Prithvi, an Enforcer (a cop of sorts) for a community of werelions living amongst the Homo Sapiens, their real identities concealed. The rest of the tale unfolds mostly from his point of view. His boss is certain the murderer is one them and would like him put away to prevent exposure of the community. Prithvi sets out tracking the murderer, but what he finds are answers to questions from his past. His trauma, his broken relationships, his secrets, his failures... all return to threaten not just his life but also the... well, you'll have to read to find out.
Prithvi is a delicious character. From the side characters, my fav is Bhima. There are debates (?arguments) between them on what I'd like to think of as collective control vs. individual freedom. Where does legitimate law enforcement stop and tyranny start? Why do those with privilege never open their mouths to object to ever increasing authoritarianism? Still, my favorite parts of the story were the action scenes. There is a fight scene in a bar... again, read to find out. The police blockade...you know what I'm going to say... anyway... awesome! I hear the book has been picked up for a show. Greatly looking forward to it.
What didn't I like? I think there could've been more Aditi in it; the word count could've handled a bit more character development for her. Still, although the story does come to a satisfactory conclusion, it feels like Book 1 of a series. Hopefully, we'll see more of Aditi in the sequels. Indian litt could use more badass female characters.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely! Pick it up and lose yourself in the world the author has created.
The story starts in Powai, with corpses of criminal drug dealers. There are rumors in the media about the murderer. Theories that he/she might be supernatural. Into the chaos arrives Prithvi, an Enforcer (a cop of sorts) for a community of werelions living amongst the Homo Sapiens, their real identities concealed. The rest of the tale unfolds mostly from his point of view. His boss is certain the murderer is one them and would like him put away to prevent exposure of the community. Prithvi sets out tracking the murderer, but what he finds are answers to questions from his past. His trauma, his broken relationships, his secrets, his failures... all return to threaten not just his life but also the... well, you'll have to read to find out.
Prithvi is a delicious character. From the side characters, my fav is Bhima. There are debates (?arguments) between them on what I'd like to think of as collective control vs. individual freedom. Where does legitimate law enforcement stop and tyranny start? Why do those with privilege never open their mouths to object to ever increasing authoritarianism? Still, my favorite parts of the story were the action scenes. There is a fight scene in a bar... again, read to find out. The police blockade...you know what I'm going to say... anyway... awesome! I hear the book has been picked up for a show. Greatly looking forward to it.
What didn't I like? I think there could've been more Aditi in it; the word count could've handled a bit more character development for her. Still, although the story does come to a satisfactory conclusion, it feels like Book 1 of a series. Hopefully, we'll see more of Aditi in the sequels. Indian litt could use more badass female characters.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely! Pick it up and lose yourself in the world the author has created.
June 16, 2019
Another great work done by Krishna Udayasankar. By the name of the book, I could have never expected such a plot but which is well executed.
The story revolves around Saimhas – werelions who have lived alongside humans since ancient times. ACP Aditi Kashyap is dragged into this as a terrifying triple murder is encountered in the suburbs of Mumbai. Due to growing gruesome deaths Prithvi, an enforcer is called upon to find out the person responsible behind all these murders and having no choice ACP Aditi join hands with Prithvi. But, soon a very shocking truth is revealed in front of Prithvi which drags them further deeper into the case and chances of survival are further decreased.
Fighting with his own dark and violent past, will Prithvi be able to unravel the mystery that lies in front of him?
Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai – from quite suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city – in search of a dangerous truth, in search of a monster…
What an amazing book it was for me, totally loved it. Starting from the first word itself the book is a roller coaster ride. The cover is good although it didn’t say much about the storyline of the book. The characters are depicted very well and even their dialogues are quite impressive. This is the first time I have read such a book where the idea of, that we are not fully humans although not aliens as well but totally different creatures. The plot is quite unpredictable. The pace of the book could have been better towards the center of the story, as it seemed like it is moving too slow as compared to other parts of the book.
The book is divided into different sections according to the characters of the novel. The title of the book consists of only one word, but it literally describes the whole book and what it is all about, if read carefully. This novel will take you to an enthralling world with an assortment of characters and a thrilling storyline.
A highly recommended book.
The story revolves around Saimhas – werelions who have lived alongside humans since ancient times. ACP Aditi Kashyap is dragged into this as a terrifying triple murder is encountered in the suburbs of Mumbai. Due to growing gruesome deaths Prithvi, an enforcer is called upon to find out the person responsible behind all these murders and having no choice ACP Aditi join hands with Prithvi. But, soon a very shocking truth is revealed in front of Prithvi which drags them further deeper into the case and chances of survival are further decreased.
Fighting with his own dark and violent past, will Prithvi be able to unravel the mystery that lies in front of him?
Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai – from quite suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city – in search of a dangerous truth, in search of a monster…
What an amazing book it was for me, totally loved it. Starting from the first word itself the book is a roller coaster ride. The cover is good although it didn’t say much about the storyline of the book. The characters are depicted very well and even their dialogues are quite impressive. This is the first time I have read such a book where the idea of, that we are not fully humans although not aliens as well but totally different creatures. The plot is quite unpredictable. The pace of the book could have been better towards the center of the story, as it seemed like it is moving too slow as compared to other parts of the book.
The book is divided into different sections according to the characters of the novel. The title of the book consists of only one word, but it literally describes the whole book and what it is all about, if read carefully. This novel will take you to an enthralling world with an assortment of characters and a thrilling storyline.
A highly recommended book.
July 26, 2019
Initially I was a bit skeptical to pick this up seeing it was about were lions - concept of vampires and werewolves has been beaten to death in Western Fiction. But still I was curious how this concept has been explored int he Indian context. And after finishing it, I must say the author has done a remarkable job.
She has Indianized the concept by linking to the mythological story of Narasimha while at same time giving a scientific feel with some genetics jargon. The story as such is gripping. The characters feel relateable. The plot is tight and story moves at strong pace cutting back and forth between present time and flashback. The idea of a supernaturally powered race has been well utilized and the conflict is the standard one that arises in stories where such a super human race resides alongside the human race and some specific to the super human having a violent side.
At its core, there is also a subtle message of embracing one's identity.
The book is however not entirely flawless. Some of the plot points could have received better closure. The idea of Were lions as the cause of the crime could have been kept as a mystery and the revelation could have come as surprise for greater effect - that would have also given greater role to the lady police officer. While author has done really well with some characters, I felt the author did not do enough to build reader sympathy for one of the main characters. Also I felt more could have been done in developing the connection to the mythology and the play of science versus religion. But then all this is easier said than done. The book might have bloated to double its size. Talking of which all is not lost and she can still address quite a bit of my quibbles in a sequel.
Overall a good read that I highly recommend. Though I have nitpicked quite a bit, it is testimonial to the author's abilities that the discussion is on these nuances and not on things such as poor writing, one dimensional characters, childish plots and other basic things like that.
She has Indianized the concept by linking to the mythological story of Narasimha while at same time giving a scientific feel with some genetics jargon. The story as such is gripping. The characters feel relateable. The plot is tight and story moves at strong pace cutting back and forth between present time and flashback. The idea of a supernaturally powered race has been well utilized and the conflict is the standard one that arises in stories where such a super human race resides alongside the human race and some specific to the super human having a violent side.
At its core, there is also a subtle message of embracing one's identity.
The book is however not entirely flawless. Some of the plot points could have received better closure. The idea of Were lions as the cause of the crime could have been kept as a mystery and the revelation could have come as surprise for greater effect - that would have also given greater role to the lady police officer. While author has done really well with some characters, I felt the author did not do enough to build reader sympathy for one of the main characters. Also I felt more could have been done in developing the connection to the mythology and the play of science versus religion. But then all this is easier said than done. The book might have bloated to double its size. Talking of which all is not lost and she can still address quite a bit of my quibbles in a sequel.
Overall a good read that I highly recommend. Though I have nitpicked quite a bit, it is testimonial to the author's abilities that the discussion is on these nuances and not on things such as poor writing, one dimensional characters, childish plots and other basic things like that.
June 1, 2019
Beast.
~
Thank you for sending the review copy @krishnaudayasankar and @penguinindia.
~
Any book with a hint of crime mystery immediately becomes my favourite. But this is probably the first time I've ever had the chance to read something that includes crime as well as fantasy fiction. Also this was my first book by the author so I wasn't sure what to expect. Set in Mumbai suburbs, this book explores Indian mythology. Beast is a book that is sure to entice readers till the very last page.
~
When a brutal murder case presents itself in the suburbs of Mumbai, Assistant commissioner of police, Aditi Kashyap takes over the task of nabbing the culprits. Very soon she is dragged into the scary world of Saimhas, werelions who have coexisted with humans for centuries. There is in-depth detail about how the werelions came into existence and how they managed to be hidden for so long. Then Prithvi comes into the picture, an Enforcer who has been hired to kill the murderer. One thing that I enjoyed about the author's writing is her precision in nailing the characters. It's detailed and also has bouts of emotion whenever the book demands.
~
There were many things that I liked about this book. The inclusion of Indian mythology about Narasimha whom Indians worship diligently impressed me as a reader. She has focused on relationships be it professional or personal. Aditi's persona has a strong feminist picture which I absolutely loved. That being said, I however felt that the book dragged quite a bit. The book jumps from present to Prithvi's past which felt quite lengthy. I had to push myself to finish the book inspite of it being well narrated. A much smaller and crisper version would have excited me more. But I'm very eager to read more books by the author now that I know how beautifully she weaves stories.
~
Rating - 3.5/5.
~
Thank you for sending the review copy @krishnaudayasankar and @penguinindia.
~
Any book with a hint of crime mystery immediately becomes my favourite. But this is probably the first time I've ever had the chance to read something that includes crime as well as fantasy fiction. Also this was my first book by the author so I wasn't sure what to expect. Set in Mumbai suburbs, this book explores Indian mythology. Beast is a book that is sure to entice readers till the very last page.
~
When a brutal murder case presents itself in the suburbs of Mumbai, Assistant commissioner of police, Aditi Kashyap takes over the task of nabbing the culprits. Very soon she is dragged into the scary world of Saimhas, werelions who have coexisted with humans for centuries. There is in-depth detail about how the werelions came into existence and how they managed to be hidden for so long. Then Prithvi comes into the picture, an Enforcer who has been hired to kill the murderer. One thing that I enjoyed about the author's writing is her precision in nailing the characters. It's detailed and also has bouts of emotion whenever the book demands.
~
There were many things that I liked about this book. The inclusion of Indian mythology about Narasimha whom Indians worship diligently impressed me as a reader. She has focused on relationships be it professional or personal. Aditi's persona has a strong feminist picture which I absolutely loved. That being said, I however felt that the book dragged quite a bit. The book jumps from present to Prithvi's past which felt quite lengthy. I had to push myself to finish the book inspite of it being well narrated. A much smaller and crisper version would have excited me more. But I'm very eager to read more books by the author now that I know how beautifully she weaves stories.
~
Rating - 3.5/5.
October 23, 2019
The beast by krishna ujayashankar is a wonderful and a gripping book that I read recently.
There are many reasons to like this book firstly I loved the concept around which it revolves. It is unique, innovative and gripping . I haven't read a book that has such a unique and diverse concept that's been executed so well yet!
The writing style was good and engaging.
The narration too was done quite well. Which helped me to stay connected with the story.
The language was easy going and lucid.
The cover and the title are appropriately chosen keeping in mind the interest and curiosity of a reader.
The storyline was beautiful and captivating.
The plot was fresh and strong upto around 75% of the book. After that the story takes a slow pace in the between and certain scenes feel a bit overstretched and at times there is some info dumping done.
The author has successfully experimented the story by blending the mystery, fantasy, fiction and the mythology genre, so there's something for everyone in this book that's waiting to be explored.
The characters were very well developed.
I could connect with the protagonist very well. I absolutely loved the character of inspector Aditi! Prithvi's (protagonist) character too was very well developed.
I liked how the concept of domestic violence is discussed in this book.
Almost after every part there were many unexpected twists and turns that keep coming up which kept me gripped as i read the book.
The places, the scenes were described intricately. The emotions of each character is crafted beautifully and presented perfectly.
Overall, this was a very interesting and a fantastic read. Definitely recommended for people who like books that have a combination of various genres. Or for people whoare lookingout for a perfect murder mystery read.
MY RATING: 4/5🌟
There are many reasons to like this book firstly I loved the concept around which it revolves. It is unique, innovative and gripping . I haven't read a book that has such a unique and diverse concept that's been executed so well yet!
The writing style was good and engaging.
The narration too was done quite well. Which helped me to stay connected with the story.
The language was easy going and lucid.
The cover and the title are appropriately chosen keeping in mind the interest and curiosity of a reader.
The storyline was beautiful and captivating.
The plot was fresh and strong upto around 75% of the book. After that the story takes a slow pace in the between and certain scenes feel a bit overstretched and at times there is some info dumping done.
The author has successfully experimented the story by blending the mystery, fantasy, fiction and the mythology genre, so there's something for everyone in this book that's waiting to be explored.
The characters were very well developed.
I could connect with the protagonist very well. I absolutely loved the character of inspector Aditi! Prithvi's (protagonist) character too was very well developed.
I liked how the concept of domestic violence is discussed in this book.
Almost after every part there were many unexpected twists and turns that keep coming up which kept me gripped as i read the book.
The places, the scenes were described intricately. The emotions of each character is crafted beautifully and presented perfectly.
Overall, this was a very interesting and a fantastic read. Definitely recommended for people who like books that have a combination of various genres. Or for people whoare lookingout for a perfect murder mystery read.
MY RATING: 4/5🌟
June 23, 2019
The Cover! This book's cover was the first thing that got me interested in it. The mixture of red and black with blood style font and that play of shadow; I had to read it. Yes, I know judging a book by its cover isn't the best idea but it will not the first time that I've trusted my guts and they have turned out to be just about right.
The best way to describe it is how this book is a thriller done in the right way. It has a mystery to it, realistic characters and a sincere hook that keep you connected to it until the very end of the book. I usually avoid reading Indian thrillers since the genre is a personal favorite for me and I've seen many Indian plots turning out to be almost the same.
Coming to the writing directly, the narration is fast and filled with just enough details to keep you interested without leaving you confused. The dialoges and characters reactions turned out to be connected to the real life.
For the plot itself, we get to follow the story of a Mumbai based Enforcer, Prithvi who is stuck on finding out the person behind some brutal murders going around in the area which doesn't seem like the work of a human. There are also rumors going on around the city of creatures called Saimhas/Werelions that adds just a whole new level to the story of thrill and interest. We also get to follow Aditi, the officer investigating the case. She dismisses all the rumors and tries to follow the case only practically.
What follows is something that may touch you even after the book. And just like any good thriller, I will avoid breaking down the plot to avoid spoilers. But surely, I can comment how this book would be perfect for you if you want a fresh horror story that isn't based upon stereotypes.
The best way to describe it is how this book is a thriller done in the right way. It has a mystery to it, realistic characters and a sincere hook that keep you connected to it until the very end of the book. I usually avoid reading Indian thrillers since the genre is a personal favorite for me and I've seen many Indian plots turning out to be almost the same.
Coming to the writing directly, the narration is fast and filled with just enough details to keep you interested without leaving you confused. The dialoges and characters reactions turned out to be connected to the real life.
For the plot itself, we get to follow the story of a Mumbai based Enforcer, Prithvi who is stuck on finding out the person behind some brutal murders going around in the area which doesn't seem like the work of a human. There are also rumors going on around the city of creatures called Saimhas/Werelions that adds just a whole new level to the story of thrill and interest. We also get to follow Aditi, the officer investigating the case. She dismisses all the rumors and tries to follow the case only practically.
What follows is something that may touch you even after the book. And just like any good thriller, I will avoid breaking down the plot to avoid spoilers. But surely, I can comment how this book would be perfect for you if you want a fresh horror story that isn't based upon stereotypes.
September 13, 2019
Hey BookLovers!!
Let's talk about the book BEAST by KRISHNA UDAYASANKAR.
BLURB
An urban adventure thriller inspired by the legend of the Narasimha Avatar and explained through Genetics.
It was always the same dream, a dream that began with darkness and blood.
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas -- werelions -- who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times.
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.
But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master?
As a greater conspiracy unfolds and the very survival of humankind is placed under threat, Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai -- from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city -- in search of a dangerous truth.
In search of a monster.
MY REVIEW
1. COVER
The cover could have been better.
3/5 stars.
2. TITLE
The title of the book is "Beast" which is a good one but could have been better.
3/5 stars.
3. REVIEW ABOUT THE BOOK
The book has the most thrilling and amazing plot.
The writer has done a tremendous job in her writing.
The language and writing style is really good.
Even beginners can start their reading journey with this book.
4. RECOMMENDED TO:
-Mythology readers
-Sci-fi readers
Let's talk about the book BEAST by KRISHNA UDAYASANKAR.
BLURB
An urban adventure thriller inspired by the legend of the Narasimha Avatar and explained through Genetics.
It was always the same dream, a dream that began with darkness and blood.
When Assistant Commissioner of Police Aditi Kashyap is called upon to solve a gruesome triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb, she is dragged into the terrifying world of the Saimhas -- werelions -- who have lived alongside humans, hiding amongst them, since ancient times.
Faced with the unbelievable, Aditi has no choice but to join hands with Prithvi, an Enforcer called in to hunt down this seemingly otherworldly murderer.
But can Prithvi overcome the nightmarish burdens of his dark and violent past to unravel the mystery hidden deep within this secret world of werelions? Can he be trusted to save lives, or will he choose to serve a different, more powerful, master?
As a greater conspiracy unfolds and the very survival of humankind is placed under threat, Aditi and Prithvi must race through the dark underbelly of Mumbai -- from quiet suburbs to gritty brothels, from forgotten colonial tunnels to the lights and glamour of the inner city -- in search of a dangerous truth.
In search of a monster.
MY REVIEW
1. COVER
The cover could have been better.
3/5 stars.
2. TITLE
The title of the book is "Beast" which is a good one but could have been better.
3/5 stars.
3. REVIEW ABOUT THE BOOK
The book has the most thrilling and amazing plot.
The writer has done a tremendous job in her writing.
The language and writing style is really good.
Even beginners can start their reading journey with this book.
4. RECOMMENDED TO:
-Mythology readers
-Sci-fi readers
May 8, 2019
Title : Beast
Author : Krishna Udayasankar
Genre : Fantasy
I'm generally quite reluctant to pick up Indian authors since in recent times I have had experiences that were from bad to disastrous. Hence, when I finally decided to pick up this book, I kept my expectations at an pretty average but I did expect a good storyline as she has written a few books earlier which had pretty rave reviews. Read ahead to find out whether the book did meet my expectations or not.
The plot revolves primarily around Enforcer Prithvi who has been assigned to find out about the gruesome murders that had taken place in the suburbs of Mumbai. ACP Aditi Kashyap, the investigating officer had been hearing weird theories about the murders which she ain't ready to believe but as the plot moves on, the circumstances does allow her a hint of doubt on the legend of Saimhas or as we call it Werelions. With deep buried secrets that would be unveiled, we are put on a roller coaster ride of twists that promises to keep us hooked.
The book does exceeds my expectations by bringing out a pretty interesting storyline that is quite tight. There are hardly any dull moments throughout the book though at times the plot is predictable. Picking up a concept that is not new yet binding it out with Indian mythology, the author does deserve the appreciation for all its worth. With characters that does ooze emotion and being relatable, this could be one of the best Indian books that I have read in recent times.
So do I recommend picking up this book? Ofcourse I do. Not everyday you pick up a book that is entertaining and keeps you on the edge throughout. I'm highly looking forward to what else the author would bring out soon. From what I have heard, this book will have a promising sequel.
My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5)
Author : Krishna Udayasankar
Genre : Fantasy
I'm generally quite reluctant to pick up Indian authors since in recent times I have had experiences that were from bad to disastrous. Hence, when I finally decided to pick up this book, I kept my expectations at an pretty average but I did expect a good storyline as she has written a few books earlier which had pretty rave reviews. Read ahead to find out whether the book did meet my expectations or not.
The plot revolves primarily around Enforcer Prithvi who has been assigned to find out about the gruesome murders that had taken place in the suburbs of Mumbai. ACP Aditi Kashyap, the investigating officer had been hearing weird theories about the murders which she ain't ready to believe but as the plot moves on, the circumstances does allow her a hint of doubt on the legend of Saimhas or as we call it Werelions. With deep buried secrets that would be unveiled, we are put on a roller coaster ride of twists that promises to keep us hooked.
The book does exceeds my expectations by bringing out a pretty interesting storyline that is quite tight. There are hardly any dull moments throughout the book though at times the plot is predictable. Picking up a concept that is not new yet binding it out with Indian mythology, the author does deserve the appreciation for all its worth. With characters that does ooze emotion and being relatable, this could be one of the best Indian books that I have read in recent times.
So do I recommend picking up this book? Ofcourse I do. Not everyday you pick up a book that is entertaining and keeps you on the edge throughout. I'm highly looking forward to what else the author would bring out soon. From what I have heard, this book will have a promising sequel.
My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5)
May 23, 2019
Whoa! Did I enjoy reading this book! Not only because it’s my favourite genre: fantasy, not because there’s a character named after me (Tara), but because it’s an intelligently written book; a powerful statement on humanity.
Drawing from the myth of Hiranyakashipu, Prahalad and the Vishnu avatar, Narsimha, the plot explores the world of ‘Saimhas’ or werelions in the midst of human existence. A gory and baffling triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb triggers a series of events surrounding this unusual world that the investigating officer, ACP Aditi Kashyap stumbles upon. Her unwilling alliance with Prithvi, an Enforcer with a suspicious past, helps her unravel the mystery of the murder, bringing to light the history of a myth she relegated only to bedtime stories.
The writing is raw and concise. Krishna Udayashankar is definitely a big fan of the fantasy genre because she deftly employs everything she has read to write a story you cannot put down! The narrative is layered with political commentary in the garb of a fantastical tale, power and corruption being underlying themes throughout. Udayashankar unleashes her imagination on the reader, every chapter a delicious read, reminding us that ‘the notion of evil is a very human thing.’ She repeatedly emphasises the difference between humans and animals when tackling issues like human greed, sexual identity, social heirarchy and love, woven effortlessly into the narrative. The only drawback is the uneven ratio of dialogue and action, where I preferred the latter.
Needless to say, this book is an out and out entertainer that deserves a Netflix adaptation for sure!
Drawing from the myth of Hiranyakashipu, Prahalad and the Vishnu avatar, Narsimha, the plot explores the world of ‘Saimhas’ or werelions in the midst of human existence. A gory and baffling triple homicide in a Mumbai suburb triggers a series of events surrounding this unusual world that the investigating officer, ACP Aditi Kashyap stumbles upon. Her unwilling alliance with Prithvi, an Enforcer with a suspicious past, helps her unravel the mystery of the murder, bringing to light the history of a myth she relegated only to bedtime stories.
The writing is raw and concise. Krishna Udayashankar is definitely a big fan of the fantasy genre because she deftly employs everything she has read to write a story you cannot put down! The narrative is layered with political commentary in the garb of a fantastical tale, power and corruption being underlying themes throughout. Udayashankar unleashes her imagination on the reader, every chapter a delicious read, reminding us that ‘the notion of evil is a very human thing.’ She repeatedly emphasises the difference between humans and animals when tackling issues like human greed, sexual identity, social heirarchy and love, woven effortlessly into the narrative. The only drawback is the uneven ratio of dialogue and action, where I preferred the latter.
Needless to say, this book is an out and out entertainer that deserves a Netflix adaptation for sure!
August 22, 2019
✴👹BEAST👹✴
AUTHOR:Krishna Udayasankar
Publication:Penguin India
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
"The struggle start when u need to fight the beast inside"
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
👹Introduction👹
Horrors spread in lively city of mumbai...
When three dead bodies, all having extensive files on them, known as members of rival gang had been found in bits and pieces near Mumbai Pune Highway...And faces turned green and yellow with shock when one of the body of most feared goon name "Rajan"
Though goons have more than one rivals...But the Bodies were torned out...
Possibilty that it didnr seem a work of human or it was just frame to disguise and confuse the police...
But whoever did whether human or animal had a "beast" inside him
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
👹Background👹
The book is #fiction read introducing creature name "simha" which is influence by the avatara of vishnu "Narsimha"
And the story revolves around the horrific killings and its investigation where the only eye witness claims he has seen a lioness...
The book introduces well planned characters Prithvi who is enforcer ;Aditi who is lead Police Investigating office and a Secrecy maintained around a name Noor.
The is well pierced while introducing itself with past of every characters making storyline very interesting...
Prithvi childhood was something which ought to bring unexplained emotions to its reader making his character justified in time being.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
Review
👹the books has a good phase maintained can be felt little slow until u found your grip
👹the narration and language is still and simple
👹the book can be good for thriller and fictional reader
👹i didnt like the cover because its not eye catching.
👹4⭐/5
AUTHOR:Krishna Udayasankar
Publication:Penguin India
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
"The struggle start when u need to fight the beast inside"
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
👹Introduction👹
Horrors spread in lively city of mumbai...
When three dead bodies, all having extensive files on them, known as members of rival gang had been found in bits and pieces near Mumbai Pune Highway...And faces turned green and yellow with shock when one of the body of most feared goon name "Rajan"
Though goons have more than one rivals...But the Bodies were torned out...
Possibilty that it didnr seem a work of human or it was just frame to disguise and confuse the police...
But whoever did whether human or animal had a "beast" inside him
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
👹Background👹
The book is #fiction read introducing creature name "simha" which is influence by the avatara of vishnu "Narsimha"
And the story revolves around the horrific killings and its investigation where the only eye witness claims he has seen a lioness...
The book introduces well planned characters Prithvi who is enforcer ;Aditi who is lead Police Investigating office and a Secrecy maintained around a name Noor.
The is well pierced while introducing itself with past of every characters making storyline very interesting...
Prithvi childhood was something which ought to bring unexplained emotions to its reader making his character justified in time being.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
Review
👹the books has a good phase maintained can be felt little slow until u found your grip
👹the narration and language is still and simple
👹the book can be good for thriller and fictional reader
👹i didnt like the cover because its not eye catching.
👹4⭐/5
December 9, 2019
This is a fantasy book with hints of Indian folklore that will immediately hook readers with the richness of mystery and action. This book started off with a murder and then the characters are interwoven to connect as the plot thickens.
The way the author writes this story was detailed and on point. I didn't find anything out of place especially for the transition between the past and present. I haven't read much of Indian myth and legends nor do I know much about it so this book was really fun and interesting for someone who's only beginning to venture into this.
Beast has different characters who each have their own qualities, flaws and most importantly their own purposes. And for a fantasy book, for me it is considered as a lesser and shorter length compared to other books. Yet everything was explained meticulously with less to none to be questioned.
Regarding the pace of this story, it is both slow and at a steady pace. It is because whenever its going through a part where it's reminiscing the past—flashbacks are really slow. But then the present part are actually at a smooth and steady pace as compared. And because I wanted to know the person and reason behind the murder, I like the latter part better. The flashbacks were only interesting to me when I needed some questions answered and it did but other than that, I find it too draggy.
This book was all in all a fascinating read packed with action, thrill and mystery. The fantasy aspect are nothing like other books there are out there and I recommend it to anyone looking for a book like this that is very rich with the myth of Saimhas.
The way the author writes this story was detailed and on point. I didn't find anything out of place especially for the transition between the past and present. I haven't read much of Indian myth and legends nor do I know much about it so this book was really fun and interesting for someone who's only beginning to venture into this.
Beast has different characters who each have their own qualities, flaws and most importantly their own purposes. And for a fantasy book, for me it is considered as a lesser and shorter length compared to other books. Yet everything was explained meticulously with less to none to be questioned.
Regarding the pace of this story, it is both slow and at a steady pace. It is because whenever its going through a part where it's reminiscing the past—flashbacks are really slow. But then the present part are actually at a smooth and steady pace as compared. And because I wanted to know the person and reason behind the murder, I like the latter part better. The flashbacks were only interesting to me when I needed some questions answered and it did but other than that, I find it too draggy.
This book was all in all a fascinating read packed with action, thrill and mystery. The fantasy aspect are nothing like other books there are out there and I recommend it to anyone looking for a book like this that is very rich with the myth of Saimhas.
January 20, 2020
𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 is authored by @krishnaudayasankar and published by 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮
Assistant commissioner of police Aditi Kashyap is assigned a case of tripple murders which has shook the whole city. She is helped by Prithvi,an enforcer to solve the case. But as the case progresses, many twists and turns take place including Prithvi's own past. Who are saimhas? How are they related to this case? What happens next is highly compelling which no reviewer would like to reveal. So grab this book to know more
Cover is designed such that it intrigues the on-looker at first sight. It delivers perfectly to the content inside. Coming to the content, plot is framed well but the story seems quite heavy and slow paced in initial chapters. But eventually the pace becomes faster and story becomes interesting and gripping. The language used by author is Lucid and the story is narrated aptly with precision. The characters and emotions are interwoven in a smart manner by author to give this thriller an emotional touch. I really liked that very characteristic of author's storytelling. It's absolutely stunning. This book is a perfect combination of thriller as well as fantasy. Author has blended both the genres smartly without overshadowing any one of them. Giving the story enough justice that only Krishna Udayasankar could, author has succeeded in leaving her mark on reader's mind. Overall this book was a compelling read for me
Thumbs up for -
1) Good storytelling
2) Good cover design
3) Good plot
Thumb down for -
1) Slow paced initially
2) Pretty predictable at times
Recommended for lovers of fantasy and thriller
Ratings - 4/5🌟
Assistant commissioner of police Aditi Kashyap is assigned a case of tripple murders which has shook the whole city. She is helped by Prithvi,an enforcer to solve the case. But as the case progresses, many twists and turns take place including Prithvi's own past. Who are saimhas? How are they related to this case? What happens next is highly compelling which no reviewer would like to reveal. So grab this book to know more
Cover is designed such that it intrigues the on-looker at first sight. It delivers perfectly to the content inside. Coming to the content, plot is framed well but the story seems quite heavy and slow paced in initial chapters. But eventually the pace becomes faster and story becomes interesting and gripping. The language used by author is Lucid and the story is narrated aptly with precision. The characters and emotions are interwoven in a smart manner by author to give this thriller an emotional touch. I really liked that very characteristic of author's storytelling. It's absolutely stunning. This book is a perfect combination of thriller as well as fantasy. Author has blended both the genres smartly without overshadowing any one of them. Giving the story enough justice that only Krishna Udayasankar could, author has succeeded in leaving her mark on reader's mind. Overall this book was a compelling read for me
Thumbs up for -
1) Good storytelling
2) Good cover design
3) Good plot
Thumb down for -
1) Slow paced initially
2) Pretty predictable at times
Recommended for lovers of fantasy and thriller
Ratings - 4/5🌟
June 19, 2025
Let’s start with the good stuff: the writing was genuinely engaging, and the author clearly knows how to keep the pages turning. Some of the plot twists landed really well—I actually paused for a second to go, “Wait, what?!” in the best way possible. For example: The pacing, especially in the first half, kept me hooked.
But as the story went on, a few things began to unravel. The ? Ugh! They felt like straight-up Bollywood action sequences: unrealistic, and honestly hard to take seriously. I get the appeal, but it didn't work for me.
had potential. A childhood romance could’ve added SOOOO MUCH emotional depth, but the author completely ignored it. When I saw that the 2nd to last part was called , I was honestly so excited to get more of their romance but was left disappointed. That backstory was screaming to be explored and just… wasn’t. Aditi, one of the main characters, also felt extremely one-dimensional. I expected so much more from her, but the author seemed to not show much, which made it disappointing.
Also, the book could’ve easily been 70 pages shorter. The editing really needed tightening, and some of the dialogue? Oof. Cringe-worthy, forced, and just...unnatural. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
Overall, Beast had potential. Great writing, solid twists but weighed down by dramatic excess, missed opportunities, and some characters who deserved more love from their own author.
But as the story went on, a few things began to unravel. The ? Ugh! They felt like straight-up Bollywood action sequences: unrealistic, and honestly hard to take seriously. I get the appeal, but it didn't work for me.
had potential. A childhood romance could’ve added SOOOO MUCH emotional depth, but the author completely ignored it. When I saw that the 2nd to last part was called , I was honestly so excited to get more of their romance but was left disappointed. That backstory was screaming to be explored and just… wasn’t. Aditi, one of the main characters, also felt extremely one-dimensional. I expected so much more from her, but the author seemed to not show much, which made it disappointing.
Also, the book could’ve easily been 70 pages shorter. The editing really needed tightening, and some of the dialogue? Oof. Cringe-worthy, forced, and just...unnatural. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
Overall, Beast had potential. Great writing, solid twists but weighed down by dramatic excess, missed opportunities, and some characters who deserved more love from their own author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews