Book Review - Cult Of Chaos by Shweta Taneja

Title: Cult of Chaos

Author: Shweta Taneja

Pages: 380

Price: 350

Publisher: Harper Collins

Review

Author-graphic novelist Shweta Taneja's ‘Cult of Chaos’ is a fantasy set in the underbelly of Delhi with a liberal smattering of Tantrism and magic thrown in. I won’t call it a dystopian world, it’s more like a time in future where Tantriks live alongside normal people and have their own little world within this world. Theirs is a society with humans as well as daevas, Danavas, ghosts, Rakshasas, Dasyus. The Tantrik world comprises of the White, Red and Black Tantriks whose magic and rituals differ from each other. They have their own council, police and justice systems. Among all this is the protagonist, Anantya, who was once part of the Kaula Clan – White Tantriks who believe in controlling Magic gained through sex. She defected owing to her father’s unholy intentions towards her and now lives life by her own strict moral code. She is independent and strong but not without vulnerability. She seeks help whenever the occasion demands and gets it as well. Though detested by her own people, she has a small circle of trusted allies that have her back. Anantya now peddles her services as a Tantrik detective helping solve cases that are bizarre and the CBI doesn’t have a logical solution to. She acts as a consultant on these occult and bizarre cases for her friend Madhu who happens to be part Rakshasa.

The story starts off with Anantya being manipulated to accept a case by Qubera and then getting called to investigate a bizarre case that has ‘Black Arts’ written all over it. It’s a boisterous journey from here on with a relentless pace that never falters. While Anantya runs around with the safety of the world riding on her shoulders, the readers get a glimpse of a complex society not unlike our own where the women struggle and the men desire power.

Ms. Taneja has done justice to her readers by spinning a beautiful – though at times gory – world for her readers. The language is simple. There’s humour to set off the convoluted business of Tantrism. The downside of the story is that there is a lot going on that causes some confusion. For me the end didn’t quite work out. It was chaotic and the abruptness felt forced. But I am definitely looking forward to the next installment of Anantya Tantrist detective series.

 If you haven’t read it yet then you’re surely missing out all the fun and freshness that the book has to offer.

About the author

Shweta Taneja is an author, journalist and graphic novelist with a passionate for speculative fiction. She's written six books and two hundred articles in a career spanning 13 years. Her latest book Cult of Chaos (HarperCollins India, 2014) is a bestseller and has got positive media reviews. When she's not writing, she can be found lurking at www.shwetawrites.com or @shwetawrites

For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetawrites

Buy Links

Amazon: http://goo.gl/ux7ORI
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Uread: http://goo.gl/6yBKWx
Infibeam: http://goo.gl/WQaofi

I'd like to thank author Shweta Taneja for letting me review her book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!