Item: Age of Vice
Rating: 3.00
Author: quirkycat

by Deepti Kapoor

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED OPRAH DAILY PICK FOR 2023

'Ill-fated love and toxic family power struggles provide emotional drive for this big dynastic saga' JAKE ARNOTT, GUARDIAN

'Huge, epic, immersive and absorbing . . . certain to be a book of the year' LEE CHILD, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

'Kapoor's violent and bitter story is deeply addictive' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)

This is the age of vice, where pleasure and power are everything, and the family ties that bind can also kill

New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the kerb, and in the blink of an eye five people are dead. It's a rich man's car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold.
Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family-loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all.

In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals, and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family's ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence, and revenge, will these characters' connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction?

Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.

Book Summary:

It all begins with a death. Doesn't it always? Five people are dead on the side of the road, and the media wants to know who's to blame. They can't blame the wealthy owner of the car – because he's not in it. His poor driver is, though, and he can't explain how he got here.

Things are likely to get worse before they get better, to say the least. Enter a world of action, wealth, and corruption. How will all the pieces of the puzzle fit together?

My Review:

I picked Age of Vice as one of my January BOTM picks because it looked amazing, and I was hoping to read something different. The good news is that I got what I wanted. The bad news is that I struggled to get into it. I think the introduction was way heavier than I expected (and trust me, I was expecting a strong start!).

To say that Age of Vice was heavy would be an understatement. I can easily see some readers adoring every minute of it, while others will struggle to get to the end. Interestingly, this isn't a standalone novel but rather one of three. I have no idea what else will be covered in the next two! I may or may not check them out. We'll have to wait and see how I feel.

Highlights:
Coming of Age Tale
Contemporary
New Delhi Focus

Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault (implied)
Selling children
(Unpaid) Child Labor

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Age of Vice

by Deepti Kapoor

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Feb 10, 2023

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