A review by pagesofelly
Leila by Prayaag Akbar

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This dystopian novel gripped me right from the start. I finished it in a couple of hours! And it left me feeling… all sorts of things (both good and bad). 

The book is set in a dystopian world, sometime in the near future, where an obsession with purity is all-prevalent. There is a Purity One building, where deviant individuals and communities are confined to be treated. Behind those walls, an order prevails, where purity is upheld - with purity being defined by certain powers. Against this backdrop, the novel follows Shalini, a desperate mom, in search of her lost daughter, Leila. Sixteen years have passed and Shalini is so close to finding Leila, only to be betrayed by the harshest bitter truth. 

This is a story of faith and longing, while delving deep into the complexities of grief. Through the plot, the author masterfully explores systemic issues of race, class and privilege, spotlighting the difficult choices that have to be confronted in life. It is a startling account of what organized powers can create, and perpetuate, allowing many lives to be lost and simply dismissed. 

Leila is a beautiful piece of fiction that I’d highly recommend to all.