The City of Devi

The City of Devi takes place in Mumbai during a period of international conflict and nuclear threats. The story follows Sarita, a woman searching for her missing husband Karun through the chaotic streets of a nearly abandoned city. The plot combines elements of a thriller with South Asian mythology, particularly centered around Devi, the Hindu mother goddess. Nuclear tensions between India, Pakistan, and China form the backdrop as Mumbai's remaining inhabitants gather to worship a statue of Devi that many believe will provide protection. A complex love triangle emerges between the main characters as they navigate the dangerous cityscape. The novel moves between present-day scenes of urban warfare and earlier peaceful times in Mumbai. The novel explores themes of religious faith, sexuality, and human connection against the backdrop of potential apocalypse. Through its mixture of mythology and modern conflict, it presents questions about what sustains people during times of crisis.

Readers found this apocalyptic love triangle complex and ambitious, but uneven in execution. Many noted the vivid depictions of Mumbai and appreciated the blend of Hindu mythology with contemporary themes. Liked: - Strong sense of place and cultural details - Original take on end-of-world scenario - LGBTQ representation in Indian literature - Poetic passages about Mumbai Disliked: - Plot becomes convoluted in final third - Some found the supernatural elements jarring - Characters' actions often lack credible motivation - Sexual scenes felt gratuitous to many readers "The mythology integration worked until it didn't," noted one Goodreads reviewer. "Started strong but lost its way," wrote another. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.6/5 (80+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (90+ ratings) Professional critics rated it higher than general readers, with particular praise in The Guardian and New York Times.

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🔸 The novel completes Suri's trilogy of works based on the Hindu trinity, with "The Death of Vishnu" and "The Age of Shiva" being the first two installments. 🔸 Manil Suri balances his career as an acclaimed novelist with his position as a mathematics professor at the University of Maryland. 🔸 Mumbai, where the novel is set, is home to over 20 million people and hosts the world's largest concentration of Art Deco buildings outside of Miami. 🔸 The character of Devi (the Hindu Mother Goddess) has over 1000 different forms in Hindu mythology, each representing different aspects of divine feminine power. 🔸 The book was awarded the Bad Sex in Fiction Award by Literary Review in 2013, a humorous literary prize recognizing poorly written sexual descriptions in otherwise good novels.