"Imagine all the drama, sexual intrigue, and familial discord of the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, retold in modern times with a satirical twist…a compelling and wildly entertaining tale unfolds."
Lizzie Crocker - The Daily Beast "A bold and delightful novel, executed with energy and flair...Albinia has pulled off the remarkable trick of melding a story about modern family ties with a timeless tale about gods and avatars. Leela's Book is as much a meditation on tensions between brothers and sisters, or between parents and their children, as it is a rumination on the nature of storytelling...The result is magnificent."
Financial Times "Leela's Book is a stimulating novel in which Albinia skilfully manages an intricate plot and an enormous, diverse cast of characters. Her immense historical acumen and sophisticated sense of culture have enabled her to craft a powerful tale."
The Guardian "Bold, playful, smart and lively."
Time Out "Albinia handles the complex plot and many diverse characters she has created with skill and humor while at the same time offering an insightful look at the sociopolitical complexity of present-day India. A remarkable debut novel."
Library Journal (starred review) "A compelling tale that weaves together the profound and the playful, the modern and the traditional, the secular and the mythological—all the strands that make up today's India."
Manil Suri, author of The City of Devi