Citadel of Love

Based on folklore, legends and myths, and backed by meticulous research, Citadel of Love is set in Odisha of the thirteenth-century—considered the state’s golden age, when the Konark temple was being built under King Narasimha Deva’s patronage. A modern-day foreigner, Charles, arrives with his fiancée to study the Konark region. As he discovers palm leaf manuscripts and records tales that were handed down generations, he begins to have strange experiences. A woman’s statue, in particular, haunts him till he is transported to a time when she was alive and the Konark complex was under construction. Two mystical love stories of the past unfold, even as new romance blooms in Charles’ life. Surreal, mysterious and often bordering on the magical-real, this is a tale of passion that spans centuries.

Pratibha Ray, formerly Professor in Education and former Member, Odisha Public Service Commission, is one of the leading fiction writers in India writing in her mother tongue Odia. She has several novels, travelogues, short story, poetry and essay collections to her credit. She is the recipient of the Jnanpith Award for her contribution to Indian literature, the Moorti Devi Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri given by the Government of India. Monalisa Jena was born in Odisha. She is the author of many books in various genres, including two collections of short stories, three books of poems and several volumes of translations.