The Last Dragoners of Bowbazaar by Indra Das

A HAUNTING TALE OF CALCUTTA, IDENTITY, AND THE MAGIC OF IMPOSSIBILITY.

Ru is a boy from nowhere. Growing up in the bustling, historic streets of Calcutta, he is constantly reminded by his peers that he doesn't quite fit in. When he searches for answers about his heritage, his parents offer only vague talk of nomads. But Ru’s mind is filled with visions that belong to another world entirely—dreams of endless oceans where humans sail the skies on the backs of divine, serpentine beasts.

As Ru navigates the complexities of adolescence and a burgeoning friendship with Alice, his neighbour from Calcutta’s Chinatown, the veil between his reality and his dreams begins to thin. Does Ru simply possess an overactive imagination, or does he hold the memory of a lost culture? The Last Dragoners of Bowbazaar is a deeply moving, lyrical exploration of what it means to belong when your roots seem to originate from the far reaches of impossibility. It is a story of secrets hidden in plain sight, the immigrant experience, and the strange, mythical wings that might have carried a family across dimensions.

Why you will be spellbound by this novel:

• A Unique Setting: Beautifully weaves the atmosphere of modern-day Calcutta with elements of high fantasy, creating a genre-bending narrative that feels both grounded and otherworldly.

• Critically Acclaimed: A winner of the British Fantasy Award and a finalist for the prestigious Locus Awards, marking it as a standout in contemporary speculative fiction.

• Profound Themes: A poignant coming-of-age story that tackles universal questions of identity, heritage, and the feeling of being an outsider.

• Masterful Prose: From Lambda and Shirley Jackson Award-winning author Indra Das, known for his ability to craft rich, evocative worlds.

If you are a lover of stories that blend magical realism with deeply human emotions, The Last Dragoners of Bowbazaar is a haunting masterpiece you won't be able to put down.