Celestial | The Devourers: A Novel
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The Devourers: A Novel
Indra Das
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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.”—Tordotcom.
“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.
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 16
you thought things couldn’t get trippier?
you thought things couldn’t get trippier? THINK AGAIN. here are some book recs that start weird … and get exponentially weirder.
📚 books mentioned: - Metal from Heaven by August Clarke - Spread Me by Sarah Gailey - The Devourers by Indra Das
👗💄: - dress is from Show Me Your Mumu, rented from Nuuly - necklace is from By Alexa Rae - eyeshadow is eyeshadow is Sickly Sweet Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics - eye shimmer is Glitterpuck (Feel Something) from Half Magic - eyeliner is 24 Hour Waterproof (Vanilla) from Persona Cosmetics - mascara is Clean Volume from Merit Beauty - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment (Lingonberry Jam Glimmer)
thank you to Tor Nightfire for the gifted copy!
#weirdbooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @erewhonbooks @tornightfire @delreybooks @showmeyourmumu @byalexarae @blendbunnycosmetics @halfmagicbeauty @merit @olehenriksen
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 10
💭 what magical creatures do you wish you saw more of in fantasy books?
give me a unique beast any day of the week!
📚 books mentioned: - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - The Devourers by Indra Das
👗💄: - dress is from Amy Jane London (rented from Nuuly) and corset is from Scarlet Darkness - eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - eyeshadow shimmer is eyeshadow single (Sparkle Puff) from Half Magic - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump (Dragonfruit) from Tarte Cosmetics - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Tor Books for the gifted copy!
#fantasybooks #fantasycreatures #fantasybookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @knopfyoungreaders @torbooks @delreybooks @amyjanelondon @scarletdarkness_brand @scarletdarkness_official @dandylionsco @halfmagicbeauty @nyxcosmetics @tartecosmetics
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fantasy books • fantasy creatures • fantasy beasts and monsters • books with mythology • unique fantasy books • fantasy book recs • diverse books • Knopf Books for Young Readers • Del Rey
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Oct 28 2025
🌕 wait … is that a full moon? get out of here!!
here are some book recs involving werewolves and shapeshifters!
📚 books mentioned: - Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury - The Devourers by Indra Das - King of Dead Things by Nevin Holness
👗💄: - dress is from ASTR The Label, rented from Nuuly - purple eyeshadow is In A Trance palette from Colourpop - sparkle shadow is Sparkle Puff from Half Magic - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Simon Teen for the gifted books!
#werewolfbooks #werewolfbookrecs #shapeshifterbooks #horrorbooks #horrorbookrecs #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #SimonTeenInfluencer @simonteen @delreybooks @astrthelabel @nuuly @colourpopcosmetics @halfmagicbeauty
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
weird books for weird readers!!
weird books for weird readers!!
📚 books mentioned: - But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo - Open Throat by Henry Hoke - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - The Devourers by Indra Das
👗💄: - dress is from @selkie - chrome green eyeliner is from @kaleidosmakeup - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Tordotcom for the gifted copy!
#weirdbooks #weirdgirlbooks #disturbingbooks #weirdbookrecs #horrorbooks #fantasybooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram @tordotcompub @mcdbooks @delreybooks
4 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025
😋 the dress matches the vibe, right? books with CANNIBALISM.
😋 the dress matches the vibe, right? books with CANNIBALISM.
📚 books mentioned: - Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova - The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - The Devourers by Indra Das - Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton - How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
👗: - dress is from @celiabdesigner and rented from @nuuly
#horrorbooks #fantasybooks #scifibooks #cannibalismbooks #disturbingbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @zandoprojects @delreybooks @grandcentralpub @orbitbooks_us
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 9 2025
30+ trans & nonbinary book recs | trans rights readathon 2025 prep!
feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!
let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.
☆ featured links ☆ official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/ PLEASE sign up here to be included in the data: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/2025-trans-rights-readathon 💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/
☆ everything I mentioned (in order) ↓ - Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi - The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi - Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi - The Deep by Rivers Solomon - Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon - An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon - Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White - Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros - Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros - Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros - Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas - The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas - Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas - Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison - Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager - The Seep by Chana Porter - The Devourers by Indra Das - The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson - The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia - Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo - Station Six by S.J. Klapecki - Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley - Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
↓ find me in more places ↓ 🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph 📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph 🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social 📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph 📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph 💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com more: https://beacons.ai/starrysteph
☆ resources ☆ 🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/ 🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/ 🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024
adult standalone fantasy book recs!!
i am so pro-standalone reads.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024
and all with vastly different tones lol.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 8 2024
👻 some SPECTACTULARLY spooky supernatural queer book recs for your pride (and year-round) TBR!!
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 3 2024
pickle books may not be a real thing, but they are consistently the most effective way to describe my favorite books.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 3 2024
may is here, so it’s time for a single sentence april monthly reading wrap up! (also i’m so sleepy. i didn’t film a longer one. but let me know if you really want to know more about any of these reads.)
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 16
you thought things couldn’t get trippier?
you thought things couldn’t get trippier? THINK AGAIN. here are some book recs that start weird … and get exponentially weirder.
📚 books mentioned: - Metal from Heaven by August Clarke - Spread Me by Sarah Gailey - The Devourers by Indra Das
thank you to Tor Nightfire for the gifted copy!
3 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 10
💭 what magical creatures do you wish you saw more of in fantasy books?
give me a unique beast any day of the week!
📚 books mentioned: - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - The Devourers by Indra Das
thank you to Tor Books for the gifted copy!
.
3 books
4
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Oct 28 2025
🌕 wait … is that a full moon? get out of here!!
here are some book recs involving werewolves and shapeshifters!
📚 books mentioned: - Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury - The Devourers by Indra Das - King of Dead Things by Nevin Holness
thank you to Simon Teen for the gifted books!
3 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Sep 13 2025
weird books for weird readers!!
weird books for weird readers!!
📚 books mentioned: - But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo - Open Throat by Henry Hoke - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - The Devourers by Indra Das
thank you to Tordotcom for the gifted copy!
4 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025
😋 the dress matches the vibe, right? books with CANNIBALISM.
😋 the dress matches the vibe, right? books with CANNIBALISM.
👗: - dress is from @celiabdesigner and rented from @nuuly
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 9 2025
30+ trans & nonbinary book recs | trans rights readathon 2025 prep!
feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!
let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.
34 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024
adult standalone fantasy book recs!!
i am so pro-standalone reads.
10 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 17 2024
and all with vastly different tones lol.
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 8 2024
👻 some SPECTACTULARLY spooky supernatural queer book recs for your pride (and year-round) TBR!!
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 3 2024
pickle books may not be a real thing, but they are consistently the most effective way to describe my favorite books.
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 3 2024
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