#52BookClub
Prompt: Title has ten letters or less
Serial: 07/52
Book: Berserk
Author: Tejaswi Priyadarshi
Pages: 212
Publication: Readomania
Genre: Psychological Horror Thriller
I received this book from the Readomania team to read and review it. It is my humble attempt to do an honest and unbiased job of the same.
Author
The section about Tejaswi Priyadarshi was interesting. He aces the horror genre and has an impressive repertoire of literary achievements. I braced myself for the herculean tasks ahead – to read a genre I am quite uncomfortable in and to review an author conferred with the Diversity Grant by the Horror Writers Association of America, no less.
Plot
The forty-one-year-old Ramakrishna is a seemingly ordinary Hindi teacher who defies societal norms and falls in love with eighteen-year-old Nazm. However, the conjugal life of the unlikely couple is tragically cut short by a psychopath. A bold and volatile figure, aptly called Coffee Man, comes to the rescue of the guilt-ridden widower. What happens when the three paths intertwine? Will Nazm get justice? Or will the characters go berserk, taking the readers down a twisted hellhole?
TW: Gore, Sex
The novel was only 200-odd pages long, but it took me two days to complete it. Many a time, I had to pause to catch my breath. The author has gone full throttle in describing the gruesome acts of the psychopaths. (Yes, I am using the plural here. Read the book to know the reason.) The violence is quite graphic, and the readers would do well to proceed with caution. Likewise, the sex scenes are vivid, but I would prefer them to the butchering any day. However, don’t let this trigger warning deter you, because the book deals with characters who are beyond redemption.
Review
The first-person point of view, alternating between Ramakrishna and Sachin, suits the narration. We are able to grasp the non-linear thoughts that zigzag through their brains. This also keeps the pace of the novel racy and weirdly consistent, staying true to the nature of the characters.
The men take centre stage in Berserk. Ramakrishna, Coffee Man, and Sachin are not heroes worthy of being placed on a pedestal. My minor grouse is that Nazm and Meera, despite being spunky women, get relegated to the background, although their characters are pivotal to the plot. While reading, I anticipated a climactic reveal in the form of the relationship between Nazm and her murderer, and I was overjoyed by my small victory. But when the final chapter played before me, I prayed fervently that my second guess turned out wrong. If this has aroused your curiosity, grab the book.
The epilogue of the novel leaves us on a tantalising note. There is a smell of something sinister in the air, but it is difficult to put one’s finger upon it.
Verdict
Berserk is not an easy read. It makes you squirm and wince in equal measures. Fans of the psychological horror genre will enjoy it and also understand the facets of mental health that can annihilate a person. As someone not well versed in this subject, I am not in a position to nitpick or question some incidents that take place in this book.
Overall, it was an odd pleasure reading the novel. If you like this genre, you’ll love it. Are you the queasy type? Proceed with the trigger warning. I am now eager to savour the other books by this author, and I wish him the best for the screenplay adaptations of his works.
