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The Devourers
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The Devourers
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The Devourers
Audiobook13 hours

The Devourers

Written by Indra Das

Narrated by Meera Simhan and Shishir Kurup

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

For readers of Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, China Miéville, and David Mitchell comes a striking debut novel by a storyteller of keen insight and captivating imagination.

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST

On a cool evening in Kolkata, India, beneath a full moon, as the whirling rhythms of traveling musicians fill the night, college professor Alok encounters a mysterious stranger with a bizarre confession and an extraordinary story. Tantalized by the man's unfinished tale, Alok will do anything to hear its completion. So Alok agrees, at the stranger's behest, to transcribe a collection of battered notebooks, weathered parchments, and once-living skins.

From these documents spills the chronicle of a race of people at once more than human yet kin to beasts, ruled by instincts and desires blood-deep and ages-old. The tale features a rough wanderer in seventeenth-century Mughal India who finds himself irrevocably drawn to a defiant woman-and destined to be torn asunder by two clashing worlds. With every passing chapter of beauty and brutality, Alok's interest in the stranger grows and evolves into something darker and more urgent.

Shifting dreamlike between present and past with intoxicating language, visceral action, compelling characters, and stark emotion, The Devourers offers a reading experience quite unlike any other novel.

Praise for The Devourers

"A chilling, gorgeous saga that spans several centuries and many lands . . . The all-too-human characters-including the nonhuman ones-and the dreamlike, recursive plot serve to entrance the reader. . . . There's no escaping The Devourers. Readers will savor every bite."-N. K. Jemisin, The New York Times Book Review

"The Devourers is beautiful. It is brutal. It is violent and vicious. . . . [It] also showcases Das's incredible prowess with language and rhythm, and his ability to weave folklore and ancient legend with modern day loneliness."-Tor.com

"A wholly original, primal tale of love, violence, and transformation."-Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Red Rising Trilogy

"Astonishing . . . a narrative that takes possession of you and pulls you along in its wake."-M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts

"Every sentence of this ferocious and extraordinary book pulses with life. An absolute masterpiece."-Daniel José Older, author of Half-Resurrection Blues

"Das's brutal, intoxicating, and gorgeously visceral debut merges an often mythic sensibility with an appreciation for the coarse beauty of the everyday."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A sensual tale of violence and desire . . . for fans of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire but with a fascinating setting beautifully described."-Library Journal (starred review)

"Das's narrative is lush, imaginative, and hypnotic, bringing to life scenes of savagery and moments of wonder. . . . Das's debut is an ambitious, unsettling trip into our own capacity for violence."-Kirkus Reviews

"[An] extraordinary piece of meta-fiction: stories within stories . . . trans-genre, transgender and transgressive . . . Who gets what he or she wants and, above all, who has the moral right to their desires, is the heart of this remarkable, multi-layered novel."-Maclean's
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 12, 2016
ISBN9780451483249
Unavailable
The Devourers

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Reviews for The Devourers

Rating: 3.7627118372881356 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Trigger warning: rapeThe task of reviewing The Devourers is daunting. It’s a more literary novel than most of the SFF stories I review here, and it’s a very complex novel. It’s a story that deserves essays and thematic analysis more than a relatively brief, mostly spoiler-free review. The Devourers was not an easy book to read. There’s violence and brutality, and a large part of the story revolves around rape. About a fourth of the way through I thought about quitting. However, I’m very glad I didn’t.In Kolkata, India the narrator, Alok, encounters a man who claims to be half-werewolf. Alok ends up agreeing to transcribe a series of texts for the mysterious stranger. From those texts come the story of man eating shapeshifters in seventeenth century Mughal India.I considered quitting because the first of those texts is written by one of three shapeshifters from Europe traveling into India. This shapeshifter, Fenir, decides that he is tired of only destroying and wants to create. To do so, he rapes a human woman, all the while insisting that he’s in love with her.If the frame narrative hadn’t immediately had Alok voice some of my own concerns, I might very well quit. As is, the novel went on to give a voice and story to the woman involved, Cyrah. And Cyrah became a character I absolutely love. Cyrah is both angry and brave, a woman who’s willing to stand face to face with monsters and speak her mind.The Devourers is a book about monsters. While there may not be all that many human eating demon creatures in this world, there’s plenty who would voice some of the same attitudes as Fenir, who would insist on taking away the personhood of others. But the narrative never agrees with Fenir, and it never tries to victim blame Cyrah or deny in any way that what happened to her was rape. And it points out what a human action that was.Gender and sexuality play a huge role in The Devourers. There’s an intersection with race as well, especially given that Cyrah, a poor woman of Persian ancestry, is attacked by a shapeshifter wearing the form of a white man. But the questioning and exploration of gender and sexuality is everywhere in the narrative, from the shapeshifters bisexuality to Alok’s growing interest in the mysterious stranger.There’s something to the darkness of The Devourers that I think might appeal to the fans of Neil Gaiman. It’s a book that never avoids violence or brutality, but it also a very literary feel to it, with some elegant prose. Although it’s unlike almost anything I’ve read before, I’m very glad that I chose to see The Devourers through to the end.Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What pulled me into this story was the richness of the prose and the descriptions. I may be from India but even I was caught unawares by the sheer detail involved and how much I learned from it all. Reading about these travellers as they walk past the construction site of the Taj Mahal, and describe Akbarabad....it was enchanting! The story intrigued me from the start with its unusual introduction and the beautiful prose kept me hooked. Every sensation was described so elegantly, so deeply, that I could almost feel it myself. Everything I read evoked a physical and emotional response in me so much so that I became just as invested in this story as Alok. This is a werewolf story like no other, and it has really given me a unique reading experience. While I usually whiz through books, I had to take my time with this one in order to truly appreciate its subtleties and nuances. I sincerely hope that you will all give this novel a chance to blow your mind away!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Oh my god. I'm at a loss and need an evening to digest, but I will say that this might be the best book I've ever read. I'm not quite sure how to convey how high a standard that is.

    EDIT: The mythology in this. The story. The characters. The sense of change that permeates every scene--shapeshifters, emotional evolution, physical and emotional adaptation, and genderfluidity. I'm still absolutely in awe of this book.

    The mythology is vast and fully, beautifully developed--the idea is that the "werewolves" are, in fact, every mythological creature that humans have ever heard of/come up with. They are described differently (werewolves vs. djinn, for example) because the shapeshifters make up different "tribes" across the world. During the witch hunts in Europe, many of them migrated east to the Mughal Empire.

    There is so much pain, anger, horror, and disappointment that each of the characters go through, that it is only offset by the depth of companionship they find in one another. Cyrah is my favorite character; she is fierce beyond imagining, and I loved reading her story. I could never be as brave as her, and I can't help but admire her until I lose all ability to communicate my admiration and love and just keep spouting gibberish and getting louder and more obnoxious as I go.

    The story itself makes my heart hurt. I won't give any spoilers, but it's beautiful on so many levels that it blows my mind that Indra had all this in his head, clear enough that he got it down on paper and jesus christ this is just the best book and it's gruesome but everyone needs to read it.

    However! Y'all should take care of yourselves, obviously: there is a rape, and discussions of rape, and discussions of being the result of a rape (like your father raped your mother). There is also a lot of gruesome people-eating. There is some cannibalism. There's a lot of crass pissing, and there's some genuine cruelty. This book, I recognize, will not be for everyone. It will put you through the wringer, but for many of you, it is absolutely worth the discomfort. Read this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow, what an amazing take on the mythology of 'werewolves' and 'shapeshifters'. A visceral and thoughtful exploration about finding ourselves and making others a part of our personal story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was an interesting and unique read for me. I’m not much into werewolves, of any type, however, this isn’t really a werewolf story, at least not in the sense I’m used to. They are not the only characters either. There is a rack of different fantasy through the pages of this book. It’s deep, thought provoking, dark, and even a bit gory. The writing is phenomenal, and the tale (overall) is very simple, but it’s not a fast read, at least it wasn’t for me. I finished this book a month ago, but have been taking some time to try to think of how I’m going to rate it. At first, I was going to give it three stars because while it is a good book, it’s just not my cup of tea. There is a lot going on this book, a lot of social topics, a lot of strange fiction, and a lot of everything else. Now, a month later, I realize that I have to give this book four stars. I think of it randomly – certain scenes, certain emotion, and certain characters have left a residual presence behind. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a heavy, vivid, intense fantasy. Someone who is looking for something different.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Alok is a history professor in Kolkata with a fairly quiet life - until he meets a stranger who claims to be half werewolf. "The stranger" - as he is known - asks Alok to transcribe a set of scrolls/journals that detail the story of the stranger's parents. I know, I know, sounds rather cheesy, right? For the first half of the book (probably more like the first 3/4), I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, the mythology, and the writing (although it did get a little TOO metaphorical in places). Then, about 75% of the way in, once Alok has finished the transcription, it gets a little too weird (see spoilers below), with metaphors on steroids. Also, the sex scenes were way overwritten - like soft porn overwritten. Don't get me wrong, I like a good sex scene (who doesn't right?), and I am fully comfortable with gay sex - when it's written well. I wouldn't call this horror; it's not intended to be scary (or maybe it is, and I'm immune). I also don't agree with the statement "For fans of Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood...". Um, no. This book, while not bad and actually good for the most part, is nowhere in the vicinity of the geniuses that are Gaiman and Atwood. I'm just going to assume that the publishers were hoping to lure in fans of magical realism. There are some great musings on gender and sexuality, which leads to my "huh?" moment. That ending - *SPOILERS AHEAD* So, all of the sudden, Alok is transgender? Um, what? It's fairly obvious throughout the book that he is bisexual, but there are NO hints whatsoever that he identifies as a woman. I get that the author was trying to parallel the "second skin" of the werewolves/djinn, but that was completely and totally out of the blue. Frankly, I feel that it is unfair to the character and to the transgender community. It comes across as a comparison of gender fluidity with monstrosity - which I realize was not the author's intent, but should be considered nonetheless. Honestly, Alok's characterization was pretty poor throughout the book, but this just blindsided me. It is obvious that he feels alienated, even from his parents, and he is especially drawn to the stranger; but, again, there was no evidence (maybe there was, and I missed it?). It didn't feel authentic but just another metaphor in a book already teeming with them. I would be interested in hearing how others felt about this ending. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. The book hits shelves in September 2016.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A visceral and truly original read. I appreciated the author's subtle and original exploration of many worn tropes, e.g. werewolves and forbidden love, in the larger context of the human condition. I found both the plot and the characters multifaceted and compelling. This is a complex work that operates on many levels. I recommend this for anyone looking for a fantasy work that pushes boundaries and offers a new and different voice. Note: not for the easily queasy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Das weaves together the story of a half-werewolf, a historian, barbarians, a whore, and steeps it in Indian history and folklore. If that doesn't get your attention, I am not sure what will. This story is dark, bloody, and beautiful at the same time, and is a completely different take on the horror/fantasy genera of werewolves. It explores the themes of humanity, (motherly)love, and belonging. A riveting read. Fans of The Wise Wolf by McGreevy would probably enjoy this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Poetic and visceral tale of shapeshifters and werewolves in India.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A lush, wonderful novel that delves into werewolf folklore from several different cultures, while also managing to be topical about gender, rape, and the nature of love.

    Longer review to follow later.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is not the twee werewolf Twilight style novel, this is visceral, not shying away from the reality of shape-shifting creatures who eat humans. Hunter and prey. Alok is a history professor who meets a stranger. "My part in this story began the winter before winters started getting warmer, on a full-moon night so bright you could see your own shadow on an unlit rooftop. It was under that moon—slightly smudged by December mist clinging to the streets of Kolkata—that I met a man who told me he was half werewolf. He said this to me as if it were no different from being half Bengali, half Punjabi, half Parsi. Half werewolf under a full moon. Not the most subtle kind of irony, but a necessary one, if I’m to value the veracity of my recollections."Intrigued and not wishing to appear unsophisticated he listens to the strangers story; and so begins a most bizarre and yet believable story about shape-shifters. Alok is given a handwritten journal, translated from the original, to transcribe into a typed manuscript. From the journals we travel back to a time before India is overturned by the Dutch East India co. Setting the story in India gives the story another layer as India shape-shifts into the country we know now, the character also change and shift. Covering themes concerning obsession, love, belonging, identity and loyalty; this is much more than a story about werewolfs. Not one for the squeamish or prissy reader.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a surprise this read was! When I first started this book and up to first 30% I didn’t thought even for a second that I’ll add this book to my favorite shelf. yah I am touched by this book!Once in a far town called Mumtaz Abad a trio of shapeshifters each from one part of Europe walked past a young Persian woman sitting in a courtyard of a caravanserai!Fenrir the shapeshifter, werewolf, monster who loves humans. He is a devourer who wants to create, to have a child, to love but love is forbidden for their kinds.Cyrah the young woman, giver, who was raped but her life spared, something that shouldn’t have happened as she was the pray.I found the first part of story which is told from Fenrir point of view somehow frustrating and I didn’t enjoy it at all but when Cyrah’s story started I couldn’t put it down and I felt like I was living this story, it wasn’t just reading it.This is an unsettling and raw but beautiful book. It's hard to believe it's just the first book of an author. Don’t expect a werewolf story as this is not one. You will read about so many concepts openly put in this book: rape, bi-sexuality and love.