he Wildings is an engaging tale of a group of “wildings”, stray cats living in Nizamuddin in Delhi, and of a little orange kitten with extraordinary powers, a “sender”, Mara, who suddenly comes into their midst (even though she is an “inside” cat). We are taken into their world, free and happy, yet fraught with danger as they explore, go on hunts, train the newer members of their clan, and face their enemies—predators and their own kind gone rogue. The cats hunt for their food as is their nature but live by a code that respects all life around them—their own kind and others. But when dark shadows are cast on their lives and a grave threat to their safety and that of others arises, something most have never yet seen, they have to prepare for battle, seeking alliances with all the various creatures that live in Nizamuddin. But can Mara do anything to help, for she has never stepped out of her house only travelling and interacting with others through her telepathic powers...

I really enjoyed the writing and the wonderful illustrations that not only accompany the text but at places merge into it. The author quite clearly knows her cats and creates a whole bunch of unique and very loveable characters—the felines Miao, Beraal, Hulo, Katar, Southpaw, and Mara (and others like the Supreme Court cats), the magnificent cheel Tooth, squirrels Aao and Jao, tigers Ozzy, Rani, and Rudra, Kirri, the mongoose, and even the mouse Jethro. The “villains” of the piece are well carved out sending shivers down the readers’ spine. She keeps her cats and their adventures very real but at times, they are too real and that can be heartbreaking leaving you wishing that things had been just a little storybook-like instead.