The Destiny of Shaitan
by Laxmi Hariharan
Genre: Fantasy
78,000 words
The Destiny of Shaitan is a delicious blend of gods & humans, offering a glimpse into your own power. Partially set in a futuristic Bombay, this coming of age story is painted against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world. When Tiina accompanies Yudi on a mission to save the universe from the ruthless Shaitan, she seeks more than the end of the tyrant; she seeks herself. Driven by greed and fear for his own survival, Shaitan bulldozes his way through the galaxy, destroying everything in his path. Tiina wants Yudi to destroy Shaitan, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Shaitan being killed by his son. But she finds that Yudi is hesitant to do so. The final showdown between Tiina, Yudi, and Shaitan has unexpected consequences, for Shaitan will do anything in his power to win the fight, even kill Tiina. The stakes are high and the combatants determined. Will Shaitan’s ultimate destiny be fulfilled?
This title is available from Amazon US and Amazon UK.
Laxmi, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning? Shaitan (which means naughty/ troublesome in Hindi and is also a synonym for devil) is cursed by his father—Shiva to be killed by his own son. Told through the eyes of Tiina, the girlfriend of Shaitan’s son Yudi, the Destiny of Shaitan is really about how Shaitan tries to evade his destiny, which in turn impacts every other character in the novel.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The Destiny of Shaitan is #1 Chronicle of the Three. My favourite character in this novel is Artemis. Artemis was only an inanimate spaceship, until she developed a crush, on Tiina. Tiina is a strong character and there is a very masculine side to her, which automatically resonates with Artemis. Artemis also represents that part of Tiina which cannot be reined in. With the help of Artemis, Tiina has to find herself first. In #2 Chronicle of the Three, the next in the series, I plan to delve deeper into the adventures of Tiina and Artemis.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
One of the key themes is that the journey is more important than the destination, so you have to enjoy every moment of it, by living in the now, by being present and aware of everything around you, every second.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about your writing that shows they “get” you as an author?
When they realize that there is a thread of spirituality running through the novel, for the fantastical adventures of the characters in the outer world are actually just a device to take reader on a journey inwards, then I know that they really get me.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“A delicious blend of gods and humans, sacred and profane; an enlightening spiritual journey entertainingly disguised as Sci-Fi. It will take you on a gripping ride, catapulting you into a world that gives you more than a glimpse of your own power and potential. Let this author show you where we can all be headed when we get out of our heads and limitations and into a richer and deeper place, the expansive world of imagination.”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
www.laxmihariharan.com
Hi Stephen,
thanks for spotlighting The Destiny of Shaitan in the book brief. You have a great site – awesome resource for authors & readers alike.
Laxmi