2026 National Book Awards for Translated Literature (finalist)
"An unforgiving tale of political horror and womanhood... Fascinating."―Mariana Enriquez
THREE SISTERS. A CARETAKER, A TRAVELLER, AND A BRIDE.
Mutiara and Maya's lives are irrevocably altered when their younger sister Annisa straps a bomb to her waist and commits a devastating act.
As they grapple with grief, guilt, and unanswered questions, their search leads them to long-concealed secrets, forsaken family bonds, and
the unsettling prophecies of their grandmother, whose enigmatic wisdom has shaped the destinies of women across generations.
Paramaditha's haunting novel subversively blends Islamic mysticism, horror, and political reckoning, all seen through the ghostly lens of Indonesian folklore and occult traditions.
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2026
READER REVIEWS
"What a gorgeous, hectic, and moving novel." Connor, Waterstones booksellers
Genre: Fantasy
THREE SISTERS. A CARETAKER, A TRAVELLER, AND A BRIDE.
Mutiara and Maya's lives are irrevocably altered when their younger sister Annisa straps a bomb to her waist and commits a devastating act.
As they grapple with grief, guilt, and unanswered questions, their search leads them to long-concealed secrets, forsaken family bonds, and
the unsettling prophecies of their grandmother, whose enigmatic wisdom has shaped the destinies of women across generations.
Paramaditha's haunting novel subversively blends Islamic mysticism, horror, and political reckoning, all seen through the ghostly lens of Indonesian folklore and occult traditions.
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2026
READER REVIEWS
"What a gorgeous, hectic, and moving novel." Connor, Waterstones booksellers
Genre: Fantasy
Praise for this book
"Night of a Thousand Hells is full of natural lyricism and fascinating mythology. I loved watching how differently (and humanly) these sisters grappled with guilt, shame, and reconciliation." - Nikkitha Bakshani
"A rich, complex, ambitious and utterly compelling novel. I loved its skilful weaving of mysticism, the occult, the political and the deeply personal. It seizes you from the very beginning and pulses through you, long after you have finished reading, with a wild, dark force." - Lucy Caldwell
"Night of a Thousand Hells shows what it means to be a woman, and especially an Asian woman, in this fierce and relentless world. Paramaditha understands every glorious, perilous, bloody, unbearable, and stunning moment that comprises the million different facets of the brilliant entirety that is womanhood." - Bora Chung
"Night of a Thousand Hells is a rollercoaster of a book. Breathtaking and startling, with plenty of twists along the way, it will set your pulse and mind racing. Its narrators' voices are fresh and defiant, but its humanity is universal. An urgent interrogation of family, faith and freedom." - Ann Morgan
"Night of a Thousand Hells is written from the heart; as moving and immersive as it is stylish and important - a story of women trying to survive, propelled by the equal forces of rage and love, all set against a brilliantly realised world of myths, faith and devastating politics. Spellbinding." - Preti Taneja
"This is a novel of enormous range and ambition, dazzling in its many perspectives. From the electric opening pages, the three sisters will keep you up all night. Unlike anything I've read in years." - Mirza Waheed
"A rich, complex, ambitious and utterly compelling novel. I loved its skilful weaving of mysticism, the occult, the political and the deeply personal. It seizes you from the very beginning and pulses through you, long after you have finished reading, with a wild, dark force." - Lucy Caldwell
"Night of a Thousand Hells shows what it means to be a woman, and especially an Asian woman, in this fierce and relentless world. Paramaditha understands every glorious, perilous, bloody, unbearable, and stunning moment that comprises the million different facets of the brilliant entirety that is womanhood." - Bora Chung
"Night of a Thousand Hells is a rollercoaster of a book. Breathtaking and startling, with plenty of twists along the way, it will set your pulse and mind racing. Its narrators' voices are fresh and defiant, but its humanity is universal. An urgent interrogation of family, faith and freedom." - Ann Morgan
"Night of a Thousand Hells is written from the heart; as moving and immersive as it is stylish and important - a story of women trying to survive, propelled by the equal forces of rage and love, all set against a brilliantly realised world of myths, faith and devastating politics. Spellbinding." - Preti Taneja
"This is a novel of enormous range and ambition, dazzling in its many perspectives. From the electric opening pages, the three sisters will keep you up all night. Unlike anything I've read in years." - Mirza Waheed
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