Word Count: 465 | Reading Time: 2 min
Traditional fantasy fiction, like the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien, can often become a complex, sprawling epic because of its sheer scope. But, in Mad Sisters of Esi, Tashan Mehta has introduced a different kind of complexity, one which explores sisterhood, myths, fables, dreams, and the very nature of storytelling itself.
As a character-driven, standalone novel, there are no massive action sequences, no Dark Lord to defeat, no world to save, no Chosen One. Instead, we begin by following the stories of two sisters, Myung and Laleh, who live inside a magical, cosmic whale (the whale of babel) that creates worlds that they chart. The two don’t know where they come from, and pray to a being known as ‘Great Wisa.’ Laleh is content with the life that she leads, but Myung is not, and her curiosity takes her on a journey outside the whale that is equal parts tragic, transformative, and informing.
Mad Sisters of Esi has a certain liminal quality to it. The worldbuilding is never clearly defined, as it is in some fantasy books, and it feels like a fevered dream at times, but one that ultimately makes sense. The plot is nonlinear, the perspective switches constantly from first person to third person and even second person, while the formatting ranges from diary entries to academic papers. It can be a fragmented tale at times, and though that makes it difficult to follow in parts, it resonates strongly with the themes of the novel.
All of this comes wrapped in a package of beautiful prose, where readers will want to pause mid- page and reread or absorb certain sentences over and over again. The characters don’t speak in ‘quotes’ as you might expect, but instead they speak in italics. That adds to the atmosphere of the dreamlike enchantment the story can have on the reader.
What can break this enchantment is the exposition, which is used liberally as a creative choice, and can sometimes feel overdone. Simultaneously, the book can also feel that it lacks a grounding or a foundation every so often, which blends well with the liminal nature of the story, but can feel disconcerting and confusing for many readers. Both of these factors make this a hard book to recommend to casual readers of fantasy literature, who might be looking for something more accessible.
Overall, though, if you can look past these aspects (or if they don’t bother you), Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta is a novel worth reading, especially if you like abstract storytelling, character-driven fantasy, and a lyrical writing style.
Mad Sisters of Esi has also been nominated for the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, which is great news for all readers who like South Asian speculative fiction!