BEAST: AN URBAN FANTASY REMINISCENT OF A FOLKLORE

Namrata looks at Krishna Udayasankar’s new novel set in Mumbai in the backdrop of the dark underbelly of the city amidst the world of Saimhas (werelions)

Publisher: Penguin

Released in : March 2019

An urban fantasy set in the mega city of Mumbai, Beast by Krishna Udayasankar reminds you of the folklore of Lord Narsimha and Prahalad. The description of one being ‘Neither a man, nor an animal’, is the common thread between the two.

Krishna Udayasankar is known as the author of The Aryavarta Chronicles long with Immortal, 3 and Objects of Affection. Her books have known to be a fascinating point where myth and science meet. Beast also falls in that category where she talks about Mumbai being attacked by werelions (Saimhas) who have been living alongside human-beings since ancient times.

The cover of the book is set in greyish blue tones against the backdrop of a lit-up Mumbai skyline with a hazy face of the lion playing hide and seek with the reader. The cover along with the first line of the blurb – When mythical creatures commit a real crime, who gets to be the judge? – adding to the intrigue of a reader.

Read the full review on Kitaab

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