Night of a Thousand Hells

FINALIST FOR THE 2026 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR TRANSLATED LITERATURE A genre-defying feminist gothic novel blending Indonesian folklore, Islamic mysticism, horror, and political reckoning. International literary sensation Intan Paramaditha returns with her most ambitious and haunting work to date. The novel opens with a devastating act: the youngest of three sisters becomes a suicide bomber. In the aftermath, her surviving siblings are forced to confront the violent, buried truths of their family history. Their search leads them to long-concealed secrets, and to the prophecies of their grandmother, whose shadowy wisdom has shaped their fates. Set across Indonesia, the United States, and Australia, the novel explores class divides, sisterhood, migration, shame, abandonment, and the politics of care - all through a ghostly, atmospheric lens that draws on Asian folktales and occult traditions. With its blend of political urgency, mythic resonance, and psychological depth, Night of a Thousand Hells is a singular contribution to global feminist literature. 'An unforgiving tale of political horror and womanhood by a writer that is fearless.' -Mariana Enriquez, author of Our Share of Night '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, author of We That Are Young and Aftermath 'Paramaditha writes effortlessly across genres, blending dysfunctional family epic, haunting folklore and horror, with themes of suffocating traditions, pervasive gender inequity, and LGBTQ+ discrimination and identities ... Provocative, chilling.' -Shelf Awareness