Book review - Beast

I was discussing with a friend about a story I had begun writing and after hearing the premise, he asked if I had read Beast published by Penguin. He recollected having read that the book also had a somewhat similar core. Naturally, I was curious and placed it in September’s cart.

Cover:

The cover is quite apt, with the silhouette of a man walking in the background of darkness, the indication of blood and on the sides the faces of roaring lions.

Story:

It starts with ACP Aditi at the crime scene in Powai, investigating the gruesome murders of three men, and suspecting that the killer may not be a human. On the other hand, there is Prithvi, the protagonist, who is an Enforcer (a term used in the world of werelions to indicate someone sent to punish the non-conformist) sent by the council.

Krishna has set up the parallel world of saimhas (humans that can take the form of lions) so well, that it not only sounds real but is full of intrigue and action. The story is about how Prithvi goes about his mission, how Aditi and a couple of other interesting characters blend in and how in the end, something much bigger comes to light.

The story is pacy, the action and adventure keep us hooked throughout thanks to the visual description. The author manages to combine the present with the flashback very effectively. The love triangle from the past, the chemistry between Prithvi and the daughter-like Chandana, the interactions between Prithvi and Aditi, are described in a subtle way. I liked the chase sequences in Mumbai city, the set-up of the saimha school along with the rules, the activities of mysterious Dev, and the ultimate action scenes towards the climax.

All in all, an amazing saga of the human mind v/s the beast within, and an indication of how too much power in the hands of a very few can be dangerous. Highly recommended.

Personally, what thrilled me is that the concept of the story I had begun writing is totally different from that of Beast! So, I can continue building the world I had started on.