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Savage Beasts.
‘A powerful, vital commentary on empire, race, money, women and power’
Hannah Kaner, Sunday Times bestselling author of Godkiller
‘Absorbing and thoughtful…full of page-turning drama and vibrantly drawn characters’ Claire Heywood, author of Daughters of Sparta
A propulsive retelling inspired by the Greek myth of Medea
Calcutta, 1757.
Bengal is on the brink of war. The East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, are advancing and nobody is safe. Meena, the Nawab’s neglected and abused daughter, finds herself falling under the spell of James Chilcott, nephew of Sir Peter, who claims he wants to betray the company . . . for a price.
Caught between friend and foe, Meena and James escape Calcutta, their hands stained in blood and pockets filled with gold. In Ceylon, they’re cleansed of their sins by Meena’s beloved aunt Kiran, before the young lovers set sail for the Dutch controlled Cape of Good Hope, with the promise of a new life.
Yet past resentments and present betrayals begin to pile up as they struggle to overcome their differences. And as Meena yet again finds herself in a foreign land without anyone to turn to, she is forced to find out what she is willing to sacrifice when love turns to hate.
The perfect read for fans of The Song of Achilles, Ariadne and Pandora
‘Extraordinary… Selvarajah skillfully interweaves the familiar story of Medea with something vivd, vibrant and brand new’ Sarah Underwood, author of New York Times bestseller Lies We Sing to the Sea
‘A clever and compassionate retelling of the Medea myth . . . an ending worth of the great Greek playwrights’ Laura Shepperson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines
‘Mythic, rageful and timely… a devastating must read’ Tasha Suri, author of TikTok sensation, The Jasmine Throne
‘A beautiful and unique retelling of Medea’ Sunday Times bestselling author Sophie Irwin
‘Powerful and entrancing’ USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton
‘A vivid picture of a dark and difficult world… an emotional journey of a woman’s strength and determination despite all the odds’ Siya Turabi, author of The Last Beekeeper
Hannah Kaner, Sunday Times bestselling author of Godkiller
‘Absorbing and thoughtful…full of page-turning drama and vibrantly drawn characters’ Claire Heywood, author of Daughters of Sparta
A propulsive retelling inspired by the Greek myth of Medea
Calcutta, 1757.
Bengal is on the brink of war. The East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, are advancing and nobody is safe. Meena, the Nawab’s neglected and abused daughter, finds herself falling under the spell of James Chilcott, nephew of Sir Peter, who claims he wants to betray the company . . . for a price.
Caught between friend and foe, Meena and James escape Calcutta, their hands stained in blood and pockets filled with gold. In Ceylon, they’re cleansed of their sins by Meena’s beloved aunt Kiran, before the young lovers set sail for the Dutch controlled Cape of Good Hope, with the promise of a new life.
Yet past resentments and present betrayals begin to pile up as they struggle to overcome their differences. And as Meena yet again finds herself in a foreign land without anyone to turn to, she is forced to find out what she is willing to sacrifice when love turns to hate.
The perfect read for fans of The Song of Achilles, Ariadne and Pandora
‘Extraordinary… Selvarajah skillfully interweaves the familiar story of Medea with something vivd, vibrant and brand new’ Sarah Underwood, author of New York Times bestseller Lies We Sing to the Sea
‘A clever and compassionate retelling of the Medea myth . . . an ending worth of the great Greek playwrights’ Laura Shepperson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines
‘Mythic, rageful and timely… a devastating must read’ Tasha Suri, author of TikTok sensation, The Jasmine Throne
‘A beautiful and unique retelling of Medea’ Sunday Times bestselling author Sophie Irwin
‘Powerful and entrancing’ USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton
‘A vivid picture of a dark and difficult world… an emotional journey of a woman’s strength and determination despite all the odds’ Siya Turabi, author of The Last Beekeeper
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
May 23, 2023
*OUTLIER OPINION ALERT*
In 1757 Calcutta (Kolkata), Meena, the seventeen-year-old daughter of the Nawab of Bengal, meets and falls in love and James Chilcott, the nephew of one of the most powerful officers of the East India Company with which the whole of India is at war. James claims to not share the ideology of the EIC and offers information to help the Nawab, which is not well received. Meena falls in love with James and hopes to lead a life different from the restrictions and abuse that are a part of her present life. But escaping won’t be easy and Meena, in a moment of desperation, elopes with James after a horrific showdown with her brother that ends in tragedy. We follow James and Meena over the next eight years, as they travel from Calcutta to Ceylon, then to South Africa and finally to England, and as Meena begins to comprehend the reality of her husband, his motives and how the world truly judges outsiders, it is only a matter of time before she is compelled to resort to drastic measures to save herself and her son from those wish to harm them.
I’m a fan of Greek mythology and when I heard of Rani Selvarajah’s Savage Beasts, a retelling of Medea’s story revolving around the theme of colonization and in particular, British occupation of India, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, the execution of this story leaves a lot to be desired.
1757 is a crucial year in the history of India and Bengal, with the East India Company gaining territory and finally defeating the ruling Nawab at the Battle of Plassey, thereby cementing its foothold in Bengal and India as a whole. No matter how young or gullible the seventeen-year-old princess of a royal family might be, it is difficult to believe that Meena would succumb to the charms of an Englishman who is the nephew of one of the most high-ranking officers of the East India Company even though he claims to have disavowed the values (or lack thereof) of the East India Company. Even if I choose to ignore that fact (I know this story is supposed to be fiction!), their initial interaction reads more like a Bridgerton novel than two people from completely different cultural backgrounds interacting for the first time and Meena’s reactions throughout this novel read more like contemporary fiction than a story set in the eighteenth century. Was it absolutely necessary to portray Indian rulers as barbaric to justify Meena eloping with a man she only recently met, betraying her country and her family, fully aware of the ongoing war with the British? The author portrays the Nawab and his son as despicable men who don’t hesitate to torture Meena, even having her beaten by their guards in court. Again, I'm aware this is fiction, but in conservative society and culture dating 1757 India, I believe there would be a difference between how a royal family would conduct itself and a scene that sounds like something from Game of Thrones. (I’m a fan of GoT, no offense intended!) The handling of the characters and the setting is inauthentic in many ways, but I’m stopping myself here. As the story progresses, we can draw parallels to Medea’s story and we know that things will not end well for Meena.
The narrative suffers from minor repetition and the pacing is uneven, but not so much that it would impact the overall reading experience. I’m all for retellings of the myths and creative license and I don’t look for factual accuracy in said reimaginings or retellings. But overall, I felt that the characterizations lacked depth and I wasn’t quite invested in Meena’s story. Medea is a fierce and compelling character in Greek mythology but sadly, Meena is not portrayed with the same intensity.
Please note that there are some disturbingly violent scenes in this novel and much bigotry and abusive language directed toward Indians (as would be expected, given the era and the settings, so no surprises there!)
Many thanks to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the digital review copy of Savage Beasts. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In 1757 Calcutta (Kolkata), Meena, the seventeen-year-old daughter of the Nawab of Bengal, meets and falls in love and James Chilcott, the nephew of one of the most powerful officers of the East India Company with which the whole of India is at war. James claims to not share the ideology of the EIC and offers information to help the Nawab, which is not well received. Meena falls in love with James and hopes to lead a life different from the restrictions and abuse that are a part of her present life. But escaping won’t be easy and Meena, in a moment of desperation, elopes with James after a horrific showdown with her brother that ends in tragedy. We follow James and Meena over the next eight years, as they travel from Calcutta to Ceylon, then to South Africa and finally to England, and as Meena begins to comprehend the reality of her husband, his motives and how the world truly judges outsiders, it is only a matter of time before she is compelled to resort to drastic measures to save herself and her son from those wish to harm them.
I’m a fan of Greek mythology and when I heard of Rani Selvarajah’s Savage Beasts, a retelling of Medea’s story revolving around the theme of colonization and in particular, British occupation of India, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, the execution of this story leaves a lot to be desired.
1757 is a crucial year in the history of India and Bengal, with the East India Company gaining territory and finally defeating the ruling Nawab at the Battle of Plassey, thereby cementing its foothold in Bengal and India as a whole. No matter how young or gullible the seventeen-year-old princess of a royal family might be, it is difficult to believe that Meena would succumb to the charms of an Englishman who is the nephew of one of the most high-ranking officers of the East India Company even though he claims to have disavowed the values (or lack thereof) of the East India Company. Even if I choose to ignore that fact (I know this story is supposed to be fiction!), their initial interaction reads more like a Bridgerton novel than two people from completely different cultural backgrounds interacting for the first time and Meena’s reactions throughout this novel read more like contemporary fiction than a story set in the eighteenth century. Was it absolutely necessary to portray Indian rulers as barbaric to justify Meena eloping with a man she only recently met, betraying her country and her family, fully aware of the ongoing war with the British? The author portrays the Nawab and his son as despicable men who don’t hesitate to torture Meena, even having her beaten by their guards in court. Again, I'm aware this is fiction, but in conservative society and culture dating 1757 India, I believe there would be a difference between how a royal family would conduct itself and a scene that sounds like something from Game of Thrones. (I’m a fan of GoT, no offense intended!) The handling of the characters and the setting is inauthentic in many ways, but I’m stopping myself here. As the story progresses, we can draw parallels to Medea’s story and we know that things will not end well for Meena.
The narrative suffers from minor repetition and the pacing is uneven, but not so much that it would impact the overall reading experience. I’m all for retellings of the myths and creative license and I don’t look for factual accuracy in said reimaginings or retellings. But overall, I felt that the characterizations lacked depth and I wasn’t quite invested in Meena’s story. Medea is a fierce and compelling character in Greek mythology but sadly, Meena is not portrayed with the same intensity.
Please note that there are some disturbingly violent scenes in this novel and much bigotry and abusive language directed toward Indians (as would be expected, given the era and the settings, so no surprises there!)
Many thanks to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the digital review copy of Savage Beasts. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 9, 2023
“But you must know, in this world, it is important to ensure your best interests. And not wait for others to secure them for you.”
I started this devastatingly beautiful book while soaking up the sunshine, on the warmest and sunniest day of the year, surrounded by the scent of my lilac and jasmine blossoms. *sighs just thinking about it*
“While men had their swords, a woman’s weapon was her words. A woman needed to know how to speak and put her point across, even when they refused to listen.”
Then I was brutally thrown into the heart wrenching premise of this story… following Meena, a Bengalese princess, fighting her way through her abusive family, the beginning of the British occupation and colonization of India (or South Asian), and every heart break that comes after.
“All she saw was weak mean desperate for the flimsiest scrap of power over others.”
I realized I wasn’t as familiar with the original story of Medea as I thought, but I didn’t want to spoil this adventure for myself, and the more I read, the more I remembered. The parallels between Meena’s journey, and Medea’s are noticeable, from little details like the names of ships, to the important plot points.
“Observing the maps of the world, the heaving bookcases full of words written by white men who similarly felt that the world belonged to them.”
I think the voice that Rani Selvarajah gave to this incredibly strong female character, was impressive and impactful. To be a young woman, raised by one of the most pitiful excuses of a “man”, having every moment of your life dictated, then witnessing everything you care for and your culture being ripped away from you by rich old white men, was horrifying and deeply enraging. I can’t lie, I was fantasizing about what sort of long, drawn out, painful ends most of these characters could have… A few even surpassed my expectations.
“I learned that violence was a remarkably useful tool to get what you want.”
Savage Beasts is a deeply moving and evocative, historical fiction, from a beautifully brutal feminist perspective. I highly recommend if you enjoy Historical Fiction, Mythology retellings, and strong female characters.
Thank you to Rani Selvarajah, and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It should be noted that I support Women’s rights… but more importantly I support Women’s wrongs. ⚔️
I started this devastatingly beautiful book while soaking up the sunshine, on the warmest and sunniest day of the year, surrounded by the scent of my lilac and jasmine blossoms. *sighs just thinking about it*
“While men had their swords, a woman’s weapon was her words. A woman needed to know how to speak and put her point across, even when they refused to listen.”
Then I was brutally thrown into the heart wrenching premise of this story… following Meena, a Bengalese princess, fighting her way through her abusive family, the beginning of the British occupation and colonization of India (or South Asian), and every heart break that comes after.
“All she saw was weak mean desperate for the flimsiest scrap of power over others.”
I realized I wasn’t as familiar with the original story of Medea as I thought, but I didn’t want to spoil this adventure for myself, and the more I read, the more I remembered. The parallels between Meena’s journey, and Medea’s are noticeable, from little details like the names of ships, to the important plot points.
“Observing the maps of the world, the heaving bookcases full of words written by white men who similarly felt that the world belonged to them.”
I think the voice that Rani Selvarajah gave to this incredibly strong female character, was impressive and impactful. To be a young woman, raised by one of the most pitiful excuses of a “man”, having every moment of your life dictated, then witnessing everything you care for and your culture being ripped away from you by rich old white men, was horrifying and deeply enraging. I can’t lie, I was fantasizing about what sort of long, drawn out, painful ends most of these characters could have… A few even surpassed my expectations.
“I learned that violence was a remarkably useful tool to get what you want.”
Savage Beasts is a deeply moving and evocative, historical fiction, from a beautifully brutal feminist perspective. I highly recommend if you enjoy Historical Fiction, Mythology retellings, and strong female characters.
Thank you to Rani Selvarajah, and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It should be noted that I support Women’s rights… but more importantly I support Women’s wrongs. ⚔️
May 13, 2023
Debut novelist, Rani Selvarajah has brilliantly reimagined the Greek myth of Medea! Not only has she crafted her tale in a different historical time frame, but she’s also set it in a different culture.
Do you remember Medea, the central figure in the quest of the Golden Fleece and the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts? Well, Selvarajah has reinterpreted her as Meena, the daughter of the powerful Nawab of Bengal and set her adventures against the backdrop of the rise of the East India Company in 1757 Calcutta.
I’ll admit to starting this one with trepidation. I wasn’t sure about (1) a retelling of such a powerful classic and (2) the fate and undertaking of it in the hands of a debut author. My fears were debunked within the first chapter. In fact, I’m still in awe of Rani Selvarajah’s writing; such talent in a debut. If you have any doubts about the twists put on this tale, be rest assured that it’s done exceptionally well.
I was quickly transported to Calcutta, Ceylon and the Cape of Good Hope through the author’s attention to fine detail and her implementation of the five senses in her writing. Meena is a fascinating and fearless woman who is determined to stand her ground regardless of personal cost. Selvarajah’s examination of an Indian woman, a princess, nonetheless, who is also a foreigner was captivating. I loved this fearless woman’s portrayal and the fresh appeal of a reworked journey to freedom as much as I enjoyed thinking about what happens when we are no longer useful to those who at one time depended upon our help. A thought-provoking read, for sure.
Readers familiar with the Medea myths will see the parallels in the doomed love affair narratives and will appreciate how well Rani Selvarajah translated it. Yes, there are some niggling parts with falling in love too quickly, repetitive adjectives and scenes where I could see through the actions, but on the whole, it was a spectacular reimagining.
This tale, with a focus on what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of love, is definitely one you’ll want to add to your reading list ASAP.
I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Do you remember Medea, the central figure in the quest of the Golden Fleece and the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts? Well, Selvarajah has reinterpreted her as Meena, the daughter of the powerful Nawab of Bengal and set her adventures against the backdrop of the rise of the East India Company in 1757 Calcutta.
I’ll admit to starting this one with trepidation. I wasn’t sure about (1) a retelling of such a powerful classic and (2) the fate and undertaking of it in the hands of a debut author. My fears were debunked within the first chapter. In fact, I’m still in awe of Rani Selvarajah’s writing; such talent in a debut. If you have any doubts about the twists put on this tale, be rest assured that it’s done exceptionally well.
I was quickly transported to Calcutta, Ceylon and the Cape of Good Hope through the author’s attention to fine detail and her implementation of the five senses in her writing. Meena is a fascinating and fearless woman who is determined to stand her ground regardless of personal cost. Selvarajah’s examination of an Indian woman, a princess, nonetheless, who is also a foreigner was captivating. I loved this fearless woman’s portrayal and the fresh appeal of a reworked journey to freedom as much as I enjoyed thinking about what happens when we are no longer useful to those who at one time depended upon our help. A thought-provoking read, for sure.
Readers familiar with the Medea myths will see the parallels in the doomed love affair narratives and will appreciate how well Rani Selvarajah translated it. Yes, there are some niggling parts with falling in love too quickly, repetitive adjectives and scenes where I could see through the actions, but on the whole, it was a spectacular reimagining.
This tale, with a focus on what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of love, is definitely one you’ll want to add to your reading list ASAP.
I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 24, 2023
6.5/10
First of all, It is important to mention that Savage Beasts is the first book by Rani Selvarajah, and I am happy to see it and wish her success...
but
there are butS...
Unfortunately, without the audio version, I would have dropped this one. While I won't offer criticism, the retelling of Medea set in 18th-century India during England's attacks didn't quite capture my interest.
I have said before for a few other books, I don't enjoy a feminist retelling that the magic and gods are removed from it, it is not a myth anymore. I want magic elements and mythical characters!
As someone with this point of view, I found the plot's aspects unbelievable. It's hard for me to follow and sympathize with Meena, an abused daughter who seeks happiness from James, an Englishman stranger, and turns back to her family, flees Calcutta and... well, we know the tale of an unfaithful husband, unhappy life and madness.
The characters were unlikable, and the conversations were odd. Although there are some strong points, but were not bold enough. The only notable aspect is Aunt's big cat and the knowledge of poisons that weren't exceeded.
I may recommend this one to general fiction readers, historical fiction or multicultural readers, wasn't much mythological!
Thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio via NetGalley for giving me a chance to listen to Savage Beasts by Rani Selvarajah and Narrated by Shazia Nicholls. I have given my honest review.
First of all, It is important to mention that Savage Beasts is the first book by Rani Selvarajah, and I am happy to see it and wish her success...
but
there are butS...
Unfortunately, without the audio version, I would have dropped this one. While I won't offer criticism, the retelling of Medea set in 18th-century India during England's attacks didn't quite capture my interest.
I have said before for a few other books, I don't enjoy a feminist retelling that the magic and gods are removed from it, it is not a myth anymore. I want magic elements and mythical characters!
As someone with this point of view, I found the plot's aspects unbelievable. It's hard for me to follow and sympathize with Meena, an abused daughter who seeks happiness from James, an Englishman stranger, and turns back to her family, flees Calcutta and... well, we know the tale of an unfaithful husband, unhappy life and madness.
The characters were unlikable, and the conversations were odd. Although there are some strong points, but were not bold enough. The only notable aspect is Aunt's big cat and the knowledge of poisons that weren't exceeded.
I may recommend this one to general fiction readers, historical fiction or multicultural readers, wasn't much mythological!
Thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio via NetGalley for giving me a chance to listen to Savage Beasts by Rani Selvarajah and Narrated by Shazia Nicholls. I have given my honest review.
May 17, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
**TRIGGER WARNING** Abusive father, brother and partner. Slavery. Rape.
Set in 1757, Calcutta is on the brink of war and the East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, is quickly advancing. The Nawab's neglected daughter, Meena, is desperate to escape her gilded cage, and when she meets the intriguing James Chilcott, nephew of Sir Peter, she finds herself falling under his spell. James is different to the white men she has been brought up to fear, and the lovers find themselves fleeing Calcutta with blood on their hands and stolen gold in their pockets.
Meena falls for the nephew of the enemy. Thye escape together looking for a new life. This is a descriptively written story, but the dialogue felt a bit dysfunctional. It did take me a few chapters for me to get into this story. This is a Medea retelling but I'm not familiar with that Greek myth. I wasn't keen on any of the characters. I found this to be quite an interesting read.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #RaniSelvarajah for my ARC of #SavageBeasts in exchange for an honest review.
**TRIGGER WARNING** Abusive father, brother and partner. Slavery. Rape.
Set in 1757, Calcutta is on the brink of war and the East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, is quickly advancing. The Nawab's neglected daughter, Meena, is desperate to escape her gilded cage, and when she meets the intriguing James Chilcott, nephew of Sir Peter, she finds herself falling under his spell. James is different to the white men she has been brought up to fear, and the lovers find themselves fleeing Calcutta with blood on their hands and stolen gold in their pockets.
Meena falls for the nephew of the enemy. Thye escape together looking for a new life. This is a descriptively written story, but the dialogue felt a bit dysfunctional. It did take me a few chapters for me to get into this story. This is a Medea retelling but I'm not familiar with that Greek myth. I wasn't keen on any of the characters. I found this to be quite an interesting read.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #RaniSelvarajah for my ARC of #SavageBeasts in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
“savage beasts” is a medea (greek mythology) retelling set in bengal. meena, a princess, falls for a white english man, the nephew of the enemy, and they run away together. as war grows closer to calcutta, meena and james start their own family.
the instalove between meena and james was really disgusting to me; you mean to tell me the daughter of the nawab would betray her people and her country for a white man? so suddenly? it is clear that james is a racist (sometimes fetishist) from the start. he treats meena poorly at every turn.
the colonial british are somehow glorified as “the good guys” against the people of bengal. meena’s father is abusive and cruel, it’s no wonder she falls into the arms of a stranger. i cannot understand why meena acts the way she does when she knows the british actively seek to slaughter her people. the descriptions of bengal were wonderful, detailed, and brilliant. meena is written to be a woman who is constantly pushed around and has no agency. this novel just didn’t work for me.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
the instalove between meena and james was really disgusting to me; you mean to tell me the daughter of the nawab would betray her people and her country for a white man? so suddenly? it is clear that james is a racist (sometimes fetishist) from the start. he treats meena poorly at every turn.
the colonial british are somehow glorified as “the good guys” against the people of bengal. meena’s father is abusive and cruel, it’s no wonder she falls into the arms of a stranger. i cannot understand why meena acts the way she does when she knows the british actively seek to slaughter her people. the descriptions of bengal were wonderful, detailed, and brilliant. meena is written to be a woman who is constantly pushed around and has no agency. this novel just didn’t work for me.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2023
A unique retelling of the story of Made A. This was mesmerising, richly descriptive and beautifully written. Wonderful storytelling and fantastic characters. I was immediately transported back in time and became an invisible bystander witnessing first hand the tale that was unfolding. I picked this book on the off chance and I am so glad I did. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 8, 2023
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC.
This is a Medea retelling that has been set in 18th century India. It's a wonderful setting for this story as it uses the brutal British East India Company to set the stage for Meena and James' fateful tale. The descriptions of Calcutta, the palace and gardens bring so much to this very dark and brutal story. Be aware there are scenes of physical violence so you may need to check the content warnings. If you are familiar with Medea's story you will find all the hallmarks of it here. Meena survives, fights and refuses to bend to the men and society that works to marginalize her.
My main issue came at the beginning with the instalove between Meena and James, it felt rushed and then with a few time jumps, the relationship vascilates so quickly that I didn't feel connected to the characters. This meant that the overall story didn't have a big emotional impact. There is much to like here and the groundwork was laid for a captivating story, but it just missed the mark in a couple areas for me.
This is a Medea retelling that has been set in 18th century India. It's a wonderful setting for this story as it uses the brutal British East India Company to set the stage for Meena and James' fateful tale. The descriptions of Calcutta, the palace and gardens bring so much to this very dark and brutal story. Be aware there are scenes of physical violence so you may need to check the content warnings. If you are familiar with Medea's story you will find all the hallmarks of it here. Meena survives, fights and refuses to bend to the men and society that works to marginalize her.
My main issue came at the beginning with the instalove between Meena and James, it felt rushed and then with a few time jumps, the relationship vascilates so quickly that I didn't feel connected to the characters. This meant that the overall story didn't have a big emotional impact. There is much to like here and the groundwork was laid for a captivating story, but it just missed the mark in a couple areas for me.
September 11, 2023
"While men had their swords, a woman's weapon was her words. A woman needed to know how to speak and put her point across, even when they refused to listen."
As the tagline says, A woman wronged will shake an empire.
WHAT. A. BOOK. Simply a masterpiece. I support women's right, but I also support women's wrongs. This was an inspiring and provocative read. Loved every part of it.
"All she saw was weak mean desperate for
the flimsiest scrap of power over others."
Women. I have so much respect for women. And most of all, this book is so much more because this book is about a woman fighting her ways through oppression and injustice back in 1750s.
I think everybody should read this book. Go grab your copy!
As the tagline says, A woman wronged will shake an empire.
WHAT. A. BOOK. Simply a masterpiece. I support women's right, but I also support women's wrongs. This was an inspiring and provocative read. Loved every part of it.
"All she saw was weak mean desperate for
the flimsiest scrap of power over others."
Women. I have so much respect for women. And most of all, this book is so much more because this book is about a woman fighting her ways through oppression and injustice back in 1750s.
I think everybody should read this book. Go grab your copy!
February 5, 2023
This is a Medea retelling of a Greek myth
Brilliant writing style, very engaging.A lovely quick read. I enjoyed how this was re-told I India, and I liked the charters.
Brilliant writing style, very engaging.A lovely quick read. I enjoyed how this was re-told I India, and I liked the charters.
did-not-finish
May 17, 2023Did Not Finish.
Savage Beasts is a retelling of the Greek tragedy Medea, but it’s set in the 1750’s India.
I had a hard time connecting to the story, so many elements didn’t fit for me. Meena is the daughter of the Nawab, essentially royalty, yet she walks around with no chaperone and is able to do as she pleases? She speaks English and walks down to the docks with no risk of harm or consequences.
The romance between her and James is instalove-y and comes out of nowhere. I find it hard to believe Meena would betray her people by leaving and supporting James.
I ended up quitting around the 50% mark. The characters felt more like modern day…just implanted in the past. Thank you to One More Chapter HC for the review copy.
Savage Beasts is a retelling of the Greek tragedy Medea, but it’s set in the 1750’s India.
I had a hard time connecting to the story, so many elements didn’t fit for me. Meena is the daughter of the Nawab, essentially royalty, yet she walks around with no chaperone and is able to do as she pleases? She speaks English and walks down to the docks with no risk of harm or consequences.
The romance between her and James is instalove-y and comes out of nowhere. I find it hard to believe Meena would betray her people by leaving and supporting James.
I ended up quitting around the 50% mark. The characters felt more like modern day…just implanted in the past. Thank you to One More Chapter HC for the review copy.
April 20, 2023
Wow. So Medea is one of my all time favorite characters in Greek mythology. And I have been dying for someone to write a book worthy of her. And ladies and gentlemen, I think we’ve got it. The setting of the British imperial takeover of India and having “Jason” be part of the East India Company was a surprisingly perfect twist. Meena is such a strong character, even as all the men around her underestimate her and abuse her. The plotline follows the myth fairly closely while still being fresh. I loved all the allusions to the myths with Kiran and her wild boars, the names of the ships, and so many other small details.
But the heart of this story is both a woman being betrayed, but also the evils of colonialism. These intertwine so seamlessly. Because ultimately, Medea was otherized by Jason, and Meena is absolutely otherized by James and every other white person she meets. I love how fiesty she is, even while that fire has her being called hysterical. The absolute rage she feels and that I felt on her behalf was consuming. And knowing how the story traditionally ends had me on edge the entire second half of the book. I won’t give anything away, but the narrative choices were perfect. I raged, I cried, and I promise the journey was worth it.
Highly recommend this one!
4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.
But the heart of this story is both a woman being betrayed, but also the evils of colonialism. These intertwine so seamlessly. Because ultimately, Medea was otherized by Jason, and Meena is absolutely otherized by James and every other white person she meets. I love how fiesty she is, even while that fire has her being called hysterical. The absolute rage she feels and that I felt on her behalf was consuming. And knowing how the story traditionally ends had me on edge the entire second half of the book. I won’t give anything away, but the narrative choices were perfect. I raged, I cried, and I promise the journey was worth it.
Highly recommend this one!
4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Want to read
January 16, 2023i've always wished for more historical fiction set during British-occupied India, hopefully, this Medea retelling will be the One?
May 24, 2023
When I got the invitation to grab an arc for this book in my email I didn't hesitate. I saw that it was a Greek Mythology retelling and there was no way I was gonna say no. I have to admit that maybe it would have been a good idea to read the rest of the blurb too. I'm currently dealing with a lot of stuff and we're mostly working on getting my stress levels down. This book might have not really helped when it comes to that. But I'm still glad One More Chapter gave me this arc.
This is the kind of book where not being able to read it in one sitting is a compliment. The book is raw. The book is confronting. And in true Greek fashion the book does evolve into a drama in the last few chapters. And yet I also think that the book is a must read. It explains the colonial era much better than any history book can do. It's thought-provoking and it's not sugar coating what the European countries have done across the world during what the Dutch still call "the golden century".
And of course the tale of Medea, and Jason, is perfect as a backbone for this story. Medea is one of the many misunderstood and abused women you will read about in Greek Mythology. She leaves her home for a guy only to eventually be cast aside. And then the Gods orchestrate her dramatic ending. The moment the young English James falls in love with Indian Princess Meena the question is not if it will end badly. The question is how badly it will end.
Because of my knowledge of the original tale I had issues rooting for the romance. I don't think we're supposed to root for it. We mostly have to understand why Meena eventually does what she does. And I did understand. Because the author does a great job building up towards that one moment Meena decides that enough is enough. I personally think she held on for a very long time. I was fuming with rage for quite some time already before Meena snapped.
Maybe not the most fun book you'll ever read, but for sure one of the most important books you'll ever read.
This is the kind of book where not being able to read it in one sitting is a compliment. The book is raw. The book is confronting. And in true Greek fashion the book does evolve into a drama in the last few chapters. And yet I also think that the book is a must read. It explains the colonial era much better than any history book can do. It's thought-provoking and it's not sugar coating what the European countries have done across the world during what the Dutch still call "the golden century".
And of course the tale of Medea, and Jason, is perfect as a backbone for this story. Medea is one of the many misunderstood and abused women you will read about in Greek Mythology. She leaves her home for a guy only to eventually be cast aside. And then the Gods orchestrate her dramatic ending. The moment the young English James falls in love with Indian Princess Meena the question is not if it will end badly. The question is how badly it will end.
Because of my knowledge of the original tale I had issues rooting for the romance. I don't think we're supposed to root for it. We mostly have to understand why Meena eventually does what she does. And I did understand. Because the author does a great job building up towards that one moment Meena decides that enough is enough. I personally think she held on for a very long time. I was fuming with rage for quite some time already before Meena snapped.
Maybe not the most fun book you'll ever read, but for sure one of the most important books you'll ever read.
May 24, 2023
"While men had their swords, a woman's weapon was her words. A woman needed to know how to speak and put her point across, even when they refused to listen."
Against the turbulent backdrop of 18th century Calcutta, war is brewing as the East India Company rises in power under the formidable leadership of Sir Peter Chilcott.
Meena, daughter of the Bengali Nawab, lives in a sheltered but abusive home and longs to escape. When she encounters James Chilcott, nephew of the enemy, who represents change and the potential of love, Meena finds herself growing increasingly entranced by his charm and must discover quickly what she is willing to sacrifice in the name of love.
Rani Selvarajah translates the captivating and brutal tale of Medea that has so much allured readers for centuries beautifully into the time period of the British Colonisation of India.
Rich, vivid and filled to the brim with descriptive storytelling, Savage Beasts does not shy away from the dark themes of the original tale through the exploration of historical events relevant to the time period such as oppression, racism and the impact of colonisation.
A fearless and powerful novel, Meena's development in love and the sensation of powerlessness is heart-rending and one that will be sympathised with by many modern readers.
Thank you to @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for allowing me to read this hugely interesting book!
Against the turbulent backdrop of 18th century Calcutta, war is brewing as the East India Company rises in power under the formidable leadership of Sir Peter Chilcott.
Meena, daughter of the Bengali Nawab, lives in a sheltered but abusive home and longs to escape. When she encounters James Chilcott, nephew of the enemy, who represents change and the potential of love, Meena finds herself growing increasingly entranced by his charm and must discover quickly what she is willing to sacrifice in the name of love.
Rani Selvarajah translates the captivating and brutal tale of Medea that has so much allured readers for centuries beautifully into the time period of the British Colonisation of India.
Rich, vivid and filled to the brim with descriptive storytelling, Savage Beasts does not shy away from the dark themes of the original tale through the exploration of historical events relevant to the time period such as oppression, racism and the impact of colonisation.
A fearless and powerful novel, Meena's development in love and the sensation of powerlessness is heart-rending and one that will be sympathised with by many modern readers.
Thank you to @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for allowing me to read this hugely interesting book!
May 7, 2024
(this is just raw thoughts and hatred)
I AM SO UPSET. THIS WAS SO BAD!!!!! Medea x historical India literally could not be more my jam and the concept basically embodies my entire major BUT IT WAS SHIT!!! FLAMING PILES OF GARBAGE HAVE MORE APPEAL!!!!!!!!!! It was so badly written, not just technically but also contextually. There is no sentence variety and no vocab variety, especially with dialogue; everyone says the exact same thing over and over and over. The narration in general is just so terrible and reads corny af; like respectfully was this even edited. Wattpad-ass quality I have never been so for real. But like WORSE.
I felt like the author was beating me over the head with "British bad. They think Indians inhuman." Yeah literally no fucking shit, we get it since it's just about every other sentence. Ever heard of SUBTLETY? SHOWING NOT TELL?? 13 year olds are capable of more nuance. WHY WAS THIS ALLOWED TO BE PUBLISHED!!!!! And then the author says all this over and over in the same words and all tell no show but then simultaneously proceeds to then turn the male Indian characters into caricatures. So cruel and evil for what and why. Like I have so much beef with how people characterize non-Western men as brutes, yet despite the author's entire fucking thing being "wow that's so unreasonable white men would characterize the Indians as barbaric" she LITERALLY did exactly that. Like are you fucking dense. What the fuck. YOU ARE THE PROBLEMMMM!!
And in general, every single character possessed no depth; they were flat and bland and did not feel real. Particularly Meena has a very abrupt character change in the last 100 or so pages –– she resents the English for viewing her as cruel and barbaric, and is depicted as timid and sheltered and resents violence, but then straight up murders a bunch of people with NO BUILD UP (!) and very bizarre (non-)reactions. She never possessed any of the #girlboss energy of Medea, which makes Meena's actions in the ending so unrealistic. Like we know how Medea ends, why can we not build up to this more gradually and naturally and do the characterization RIGHT. What happened to complex female characters??? Just suddenly acting manic, when there was no foreshadowing or appropriate character arc, does NOT equal complexity. And also what happened to tension and suspense????? Like there was no arc, this was just teleporting from point A to point B. Characterization of both her and James (weak ass boy) felt so immature I was genuinely shocked that this is classified as adult. It feels like a pre-teen TRYING to write adult content, but having none of the capabilities or experience to do so without it all feeling clumsy. There is soooo much heavy and intense content just thrown out there and glossed over. The story jumps from one scene to another without the past narrative being appropriately built on. Pacing = bad. Guttural. Terrible.
Particularly tho I hate hate hate hate how everyone was characterized and represented. Why are people so unrealistically cruel and overly immature, and why is it that the Indian characters in particular are depicted EXACTLY as the author insists they aren't? Every single page some white doofus says "they are animalistic" and we are told that's so wrong and we should be angry they think that, but then the author literally depicts them as animalistic. Bro your Orientalism is showing. ALSO THE INSTA LOVE OF IT ALL GOOD GOD. HOW DO WE HAVE LITERAL LOVE CONFESSIONS LIKE A HUNDRED PAGES IN BRO YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER LIKE THAT!!!!! Also having them not be officially married is such a cop-out like in the play they ARE married but because she's a 'foreigner' it can be absolved and that adds so much nuance!!!!
In general this topic required maturity and understanding of complexity because colonialism is a beast of a topic and when you have a character like Medea with the things she does, you gotta build up to it. You have to portray her as more than some lovesick teenager. You must SHOW. there was not a single moment of show. We go from they are besotted and in love to she has a whole toddler and they hate each other. Um don't you think we are missing some CRITICAL in between moments??? Lazy writing imo!!!! And when it comes particularly to retellings of classical myths and lit you can't just do a 1-1 retelling and expect that to be it. Like babes we know the story, we don't need to reread it in a slightly different font. You gotta add to what already exists, which is not easy and we certainly see that some people don't possess that critical ability!!!! And in general, nothing is ever a 1-1 comparison, you have to look at with understanding of a situation or event's individual context. You can't claim Medea's foreignness and Meena's foreignness are comparable, and that's where the story really falls flat. The author could not handle the complexity of the history of Indian colonization, let alone in conjunction with a retelling. What a fucking fumble.
I think the concept was absolutely up my alley but the execution could not have been worse. Overly preachy with no substance to actually show what it is they were trying to convey. No character development, no flow, no depth or soul. Also ending was so rushed and lacklustre and the dialogue was immature from page 1. Everything read like monologues for a children's film. Cannot believe such a gorgeous cover was wasted on this story. Also cannot believe I wasted actual British pounds and suitcase space on this book. I think the other GR reviews have to be actual paid bots bc there's no way anyone read this and could call it emotionally complex or even passable writing, my guy give a ninth grader an hour and they'd run laps on this. Embarrassing to the entirety of South Asia and classical studies. Medea girl (and India) I am so sorry they did you like this!!!!
I AM SO UPSET. THIS WAS SO BAD!!!!! Medea x historical India literally could not be more my jam and the concept basically embodies my entire major BUT IT WAS SHIT!!! FLAMING PILES OF GARBAGE HAVE MORE APPEAL!!!!!!!!!! It was so badly written, not just technically but also contextually. There is no sentence variety and no vocab variety, especially with dialogue; everyone says the exact same thing over and over and over. The narration in general is just so terrible and reads corny af; like respectfully was this even edited. Wattpad-ass quality I have never been so for real. But like WORSE.
I felt like the author was beating me over the head with "British bad. They think Indians inhuman." Yeah literally no fucking shit, we get it since it's just about every other sentence. Ever heard of SUBTLETY? SHOWING NOT TELL?? 13 year olds are capable of more nuance. WHY WAS THIS ALLOWED TO BE PUBLISHED!!!!! And then the author says all this over and over in the same words and all tell no show but then simultaneously proceeds to then turn the male Indian characters into caricatures. So cruel and evil for what and why. Like I have so much beef with how people characterize non-Western men as brutes, yet despite the author's entire fucking thing being "wow that's so unreasonable white men would characterize the Indians as barbaric" she LITERALLY did exactly that. Like are you fucking dense. What the fuck. YOU ARE THE PROBLEMMMM!!
And in general, every single character possessed no depth; they were flat and bland and did not feel real. Particularly Meena has a very abrupt character change in the last 100 or so pages –– she resents the English for viewing her as cruel and barbaric, and is depicted as timid and sheltered and resents violence, but then straight up murders a bunch of people with NO BUILD UP (!) and very bizarre (non-)reactions. She never possessed any of the #girlboss energy of Medea, which makes Meena's actions in the ending so unrealistic. Like we know how Medea ends, why can we not build up to this more gradually and naturally and do the characterization RIGHT. What happened to complex female characters??? Just suddenly acting manic, when there was no foreshadowing or appropriate character arc, does NOT equal complexity. And also what happened to tension and suspense????? Like there was no arc, this was just teleporting from point A to point B. Characterization of both her and James (weak ass boy) felt so immature I was genuinely shocked that this is classified as adult. It feels like a pre-teen TRYING to write adult content, but having none of the capabilities or experience to do so without it all feeling clumsy. There is soooo much heavy and intense content just thrown out there and glossed over. The story jumps from one scene to another without the past narrative being appropriately built on. Pacing = bad. Guttural. Terrible.
Particularly tho I hate hate hate hate how everyone was characterized and represented. Why are people so unrealistically cruel and overly immature, and why is it that the Indian characters in particular are depicted EXACTLY as the author insists they aren't? Every single page some white doofus says "they are animalistic" and we are told that's so wrong and we should be angry they think that, but then the author literally depicts them as animalistic. Bro your Orientalism is showing. ALSO THE INSTA LOVE OF IT ALL GOOD GOD. HOW DO WE HAVE LITERAL LOVE CONFESSIONS LIKE A HUNDRED PAGES IN BRO YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER LIKE THAT!!!!! Also having them not be officially married is such a cop-out like in the play they ARE married but because she's a 'foreigner' it can be absolved and that adds so much nuance!!!!
In general this topic required maturity and understanding of complexity because colonialism is a beast of a topic and when you have a character like Medea with the things she does, you gotta build up to it. You have to portray her as more than some lovesick teenager. You must SHOW. there was not a single moment of show. We go from they are besotted and in love to she has a whole toddler and they hate each other. Um don't you think we are missing some CRITICAL in between moments??? Lazy writing imo!!!! And when it comes particularly to retellings of classical myths and lit you can't just do a 1-1 retelling and expect that to be it. Like babes we know the story, we don't need to reread it in a slightly different font. You gotta add to what already exists, which is not easy and we certainly see that some people don't possess that critical ability!!!! And in general, nothing is ever a 1-1 comparison, you have to look at with understanding of a situation or event's individual context. You can't claim Medea's foreignness and Meena's foreignness are comparable, and that's where the story really falls flat. The author could not handle the complexity of the history of Indian colonization, let alone in conjunction with a retelling. What a fucking fumble.
I think the concept was absolutely up my alley but the execution could not have been worse. Overly preachy with no substance to actually show what it is they were trying to convey. No character development, no flow, no depth or soul. Also ending was so rushed and lacklustre and the dialogue was immature from page 1. Everything read like monologues for a children's film. Cannot believe such a gorgeous cover was wasted on this story. Also cannot believe I wasted actual British pounds and suitcase space on this book. I think the other GR reviews have to be actual paid bots bc there's no way anyone read this and could call it emotionally complex or even passable writing, my guy give a ninth grader an hour and they'd run laps on this. Embarrassing to the entirety of South Asia and classical studies. Medea girl (and India) I am so sorry they did you like this!!!!
April 25, 2023
— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Savage Beasts
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Rani Selvarajah
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction/Mythology Retelling
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 25th May 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 24th April 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.75/5
”Don’t let him take and take, because if he ever leaves, you need to be happy with what you have left.”
Savage Beasts is a cutting title for a wonderful book. This is a Medea retelling set in 1754 India, just as the British are colonizing India. I love the Greek heroine Medea, and I loved Meena, our main character in Savage Beasts.
The mythology of Medea surprisingly translates extremely well into the British colonization of India. The manipulation, the betrayals, and the cutthroat nature it takes to steal a kingdom. Honestly, as a British woman, I felt sick at the way Meena was treated, the racism and utter misplaced superiority of the British characters in Savage Beasts had my heart bleeding for Meena. This is a tale of such sharp sorrow.
And yet, as Meena’s maid said’ ”she is no helpless wretch”. I admired Meena’s determination to stand up for herself even as I cringed at the potential trouble it would bring down on her head.
I guess this is where my trouble stems from
Meena was so smart, headstrong, stubborn, brave and fearless, and James’ manipulations at the very beginning were so transparent, yet they were making love declarations within chapters of meeting.
Alternatively I did really like the pacing of the novel so it does all balance out.
Overall, this book successfully translates Medea’s story into Meena’s, and explores the British colonization of India in a brutal and heartbreaking manner.
—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚♀️✨
♡Booksta
♡Twitter
♡Blog
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Savage Beasts
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Rani Selvarajah
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction/Mythology Retelling
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 25th May 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 24th April 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.75/5
”Don’t let him take and take, because if he ever leaves, you need to be happy with what you have left.”
Savage Beasts is a cutting title for a wonderful book. This is a Medea retelling set in 1754 India, just as the British are colonizing India. I love the Greek heroine Medea, and I loved Meena, our main character in Savage Beasts.
The mythology of Medea surprisingly translates extremely well into the British colonization of India. The manipulation, the betrayals, and the cutthroat nature it takes to steal a kingdom. Honestly, as a British woman, I felt sick at the way Meena was treated, the racism and utter misplaced superiority of the British characters in Savage Beasts had my heart bleeding for Meena. This is a tale of such sharp sorrow.
And yet, as Meena’s maid said’ ”she is no helpless wretch”. I admired Meena’s determination to stand up for herself even as I cringed at the potential trouble it would bring down on her head.
I guess this is where my trouble stems from
Meena was so smart, headstrong, stubborn, brave and fearless, and James’ manipulations at the very beginning were so transparent, yet they were making love declarations within chapters of meeting.
Alternatively I did really like the pacing of the novel so it does all balance out.
Overall, this book successfully translates Medea’s story into Meena’s, and explores the British colonization of India in a brutal and heartbreaking manner.
—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚♀️✨
♡Booksta
♡Blog
February 14, 2023
The Greek myth of Medea is transposed to 18th century India in Rani Selvarajah’s debut novel, Savage Beasts. It was actually the Indian setting that attracted me to it rather than the mythology aspect as I’m not very familiar with Medea – except where she has appeared as a secondary character in other novels I’ve read, such as Madeline Miller’s Circe – and I expect this book will have equal appeal to readers of historical fiction and those who enjoy mythology retellings.
The novel opens in 1757 in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). The East India Company, under the leadership of Sir Peter Chilcott, are advancing on Bengal and war seems inevitable, but James Chilcott, Sir Peter’s nephew, has arrived in Calcutta ready to make a bargain. He is prepared to betray the company and reveal their plans, he says, but he wants something from the Nawab of Bengal in return. Although the Nawab isn’t convinced, his daughter, Meena, is captivated by the handsome young Englishman and agrees to help him. When things go wrong, James and Meena are forced to flee Bengal, leaving a scene of death and devastation in their wake.
So far, I could see the parallels with mythology – Meena in the role of Medea, daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, and James as Jason, who comes to Colchis on the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. When Meena and James leave Bengal, they encounter Meena’s aunt, Kiran, whom I quickly identified with Circe. The later parts of the myth are less familiar to me, but as far as I could tell the novel continued to follow the basic outline, with one or two nice twists towards the end.
What let this novel down for me was the writing. I hate to be too critical of an author’s first novel, but I did find some of the word choices odd or inappropriate. Characters ‘smirk’ all the time, on almost every page – that’s when they’re not ‘sneering’ or ‘scoffing’. I lost count of how many times these words were repeated. I also struggled to believe in Meena as a convincing woman of her time. It seemed unlikely that the daughter of a Nawab (a Mughal ruler of similar status to a prince) would have the freedom to hang around the docks of Bengal on her own, as Meena does in the opening chapter, and her subsequent actions feel more and more anachronistic.
I did like the basic concept of moving the Medea story to 18th century India and the idea of James/Jason as part of a colonial power coming to take what they can from Bengal/Colchis is an intriguing one. For this to work, though, there really needed to be a stronger sense of time and place, but sadly, I couldn’t think of the characters as anything other than modern people in historical costume. Despite my negativity, I stuck with the book to the end and did occasionally become drawn into the story; it’s been receiving a mixture of reviews, including plenty of four and five star ones, so evidently other readers have enjoyed it more than I did. Give it a try if it appeals – and please let me know if there are any other retellings of the Medea myth you can recommend!
The novel opens in 1757 in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). The East India Company, under the leadership of Sir Peter Chilcott, are advancing on Bengal and war seems inevitable, but James Chilcott, Sir Peter’s nephew, has arrived in Calcutta ready to make a bargain. He is prepared to betray the company and reveal their plans, he says, but he wants something from the Nawab of Bengal in return. Although the Nawab isn’t convinced, his daughter, Meena, is captivated by the handsome young Englishman and agrees to help him. When things go wrong, James and Meena are forced to flee Bengal, leaving a scene of death and devastation in their wake.
So far, I could see the parallels with mythology – Meena in the role of Medea, daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, and James as Jason, who comes to Colchis on the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. When Meena and James leave Bengal, they encounter Meena’s aunt, Kiran, whom I quickly identified with Circe. The later parts of the myth are less familiar to me, but as far as I could tell the novel continued to follow the basic outline, with one or two nice twists towards the end.
What let this novel down for me was the writing. I hate to be too critical of an author’s first novel, but I did find some of the word choices odd or inappropriate. Characters ‘smirk’ all the time, on almost every page – that’s when they’re not ‘sneering’ or ‘scoffing’. I lost count of how many times these words were repeated. I also struggled to believe in Meena as a convincing woman of her time. It seemed unlikely that the daughter of a Nawab (a Mughal ruler of similar status to a prince) would have the freedom to hang around the docks of Bengal on her own, as Meena does in the opening chapter, and her subsequent actions feel more and more anachronistic.
I did like the basic concept of moving the Medea story to 18th century India and the idea of James/Jason as part of a colonial power coming to take what they can from Bengal/Colchis is an intriguing one. For this to work, though, there really needed to be a stronger sense of time and place, but sadly, I couldn’t think of the characters as anything other than modern people in historical costume. Despite my negativity, I stuck with the book to the end and did occasionally become drawn into the story; it’s been receiving a mixture of reviews, including plenty of four and five star ones, so evidently other readers have enjoyed it more than I did. Give it a try if it appeals – and please let me know if there are any other retellings of the Medea myth you can recommend!
January 19, 2023
I just finished SAVAGE BEASTS and it is an incredible telling of the Medea myth. The parallels in this new historical setting are powerful and compelling. I loved how fast the story moved and how emotional I felt about many of the characters. I felt for Meena, wanted to know Kiran and celebrated these fierce women through the whole story. Rani Selvarajah has a gift for drawing you into the current action and dialogue and then suddenly dropping a bomb of a line that is profound and true. Many moments and words made me stop and reflect. I really loved it and highly recommend!
February 20, 2023
3.25/5 stars! This is the debut novel by author Rani Selvarajah. This is a Medea re-telling set in India in 18th century. The descriptions of the world were well-written, but a lot of the dialogue didn't. I think there was a disconnect between the time and world and the characters. If you can look past this, (or don't notice), I think this was a really enjoyable read. A bit predictable, but good.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
February 3, 2023
I really loved reading this book and considering it is the authors first novel it is an amazing read. I found it interesting that all of the characters had something that I disliked about them but did not want to put the book down. This book is a Medea retelling but I know nothing about the original story.
My thanks to the author and publisher for this gifted copy
My thanks to the author and publisher for this gifted copy
May 26, 2023
“Zeus, do you hear how I am mocked, rejected, by this savage beast, polluted with her children’s blood?”, Euripides, ‘Medea’.
My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. One More Chapter for an eARC and to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘Savage Beasts’ by Rani Selvarajah. The audiobook is narrated by Shazia Nicholls.
This impressive debut novel is a reimagining of the Greek myth of Medea. However, the author has moved the story in time and place to the Indian subcontinent during the eighteenth Century.
Calcutta, 1757. Meena is the neglected and abused daughter of the Nawab of Bengal. It is known that the East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, is poised to make war on Bengal.
Meena enjoys disguising herself and slipping away from the palace to watch ships arriving from around the world. One day she sees a handsome stranger disembarking from a ship named the Argo. Meena is immediately taken with him, especially when she hears his demand to be presented to the Nawab. He is James Chilcott, the nephew of Sir Peter, and when he meets with the Nawab he claims that he wants to betray the company . . . for a price.
Obviously Rani Selvarajah changes aspects of the myth. There is no Golden Fleece though there is a golden treasure. Like King Aeëtes of Colchis, the Nawab is a tyrant and the story from there mirrors the classic myth. Like Medea, Meena falls in love with James and assists him. They escape from Calcutta and head to Ceylon, where they meet with Meena’s beloved aunt Kiran, who cleanses them of their sins as Circe did in the original myth.
With hopes for a new life they sail first to the Cape of Good Hope and later to England. However, by then Bengal has fallen and been plundered by the East India Company. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers though those familiar with Medea’s story will have some indication of its direction.
In her Author’s Note, Rani Selvarajah writes of her decision to retell Medea’s story against the tragic backdrop of the early days of the colonisation of India, initially by the East India Company. She highlights the attitudes of the British overlords though also reflects that Meena’s reception in England mirrors injustices that “are emblematic of a society that is brutal towards a foreign woman, whether in the mythic Age of Heroes, 5th century Athens, the rise of British colonialism, or today.”
Certainly Meena’s father, the Nawab, and her brother are nasty pieces of work and she does fall very quickly in love with James. Yet both of these aspects of the story are in keeping with the original myth, though the insta-love there was facilitated by Hera, seeking to aid Jason.
With respect to the audiobook, Shazia Nicholls is an established actor of stage and screen, who is of Pakistani and Colombian heritage. While this was my first experience of her as a narrator, I was very impressed. Her voice is rich and clear and she moved fluidly between the accents of the novel’s various characters.
Overall, I found ‘Savage Beasts’ a well crafted, imaginative retelling of this classic myth that held my attention throughout.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. One More Chapter for an eARC and to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘Savage Beasts’ by Rani Selvarajah. The audiobook is narrated by Shazia Nicholls.
This impressive debut novel is a reimagining of the Greek myth of Medea. However, the author has moved the story in time and place to the Indian subcontinent during the eighteenth Century.
Calcutta, 1757. Meena is the neglected and abused daughter of the Nawab of Bengal. It is known that the East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, is poised to make war on Bengal.
Meena enjoys disguising herself and slipping away from the palace to watch ships arriving from around the world. One day she sees a handsome stranger disembarking from a ship named the Argo. Meena is immediately taken with him, especially when she hears his demand to be presented to the Nawab. He is James Chilcott, the nephew of Sir Peter, and when he meets with the Nawab he claims that he wants to betray the company . . . for a price.
Obviously Rani Selvarajah changes aspects of the myth. There is no Golden Fleece though there is a golden treasure. Like King Aeëtes of Colchis, the Nawab is a tyrant and the story from there mirrors the classic myth. Like Medea, Meena falls in love with James and assists him. They escape from Calcutta and head to Ceylon, where they meet with Meena’s beloved aunt Kiran, who cleanses them of their sins as Circe did in the original myth.
With hopes for a new life they sail first to the Cape of Good Hope and later to England. However, by then Bengal has fallen and been plundered by the East India Company. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers though those familiar with Medea’s story will have some indication of its direction.
In her Author’s Note, Rani Selvarajah writes of her decision to retell Medea’s story against the tragic backdrop of the early days of the colonisation of India, initially by the East India Company. She highlights the attitudes of the British overlords though also reflects that Meena’s reception in England mirrors injustices that “are emblematic of a society that is brutal towards a foreign woman, whether in the mythic Age of Heroes, 5th century Athens, the rise of British colonialism, or today.”
Certainly Meena’s father, the Nawab, and her brother are nasty pieces of work and she does fall very quickly in love with James. Yet both of these aspects of the story are in keeping with the original myth, though the insta-love there was facilitated by Hera, seeking to aid Jason.
With respect to the audiobook, Shazia Nicholls is an established actor of stage and screen, who is of Pakistani and Colombian heritage. While this was my first experience of her as a narrator, I was very impressed. Her voice is rich and clear and she moved fluidly between the accents of the novel’s various characters.
Overall, I found ‘Savage Beasts’ a well crafted, imaginative retelling of this classic myth that held my attention throughout.
Highly recommended.
June 20, 2023
Savage Beasts is a riveting historical fiction novel set in 1757 Calcutta, amidst a backdrop of impending war and the oppressive rule of the East India Company. The story is crafted in the framework of Greek myth of Medea as highlighted by author in the book blurb.
Rani Selvarajah takes readers on a thrilling journey through love, betrayal, and sacrifice. At the heart of the story is Meena, the neglected daughter of the Nawab, who yearns for freedom from her gilded confinement.
Meena is fiery, intelligent, witty and brave. She is potrayed as a woman who can impress anyone but she is not appreciated or valued for her strong personality by the men in her life. When she meets James Chilcott, the intriguing nephew of the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, her life takes an unexpected turn.
The development of Meena and James' relationship is a central theme in the novel. Their love blooms against the backdrop of a city on the brink of war, as the East India Company ruthlessly advances.
One of the strongest aspects of Savage Beasts is its well-researched historical context. The author seamlessly weaves in the political tensions and cultural dynamics of the time period, providing readers with a vivid and immersive experience.
Meena's struggle for independence and her internal conflict between love and hate are compelling, and her evolution throughout the novel is riveting. Other characters, such as Sir Peter Chilcott, are equally complex and add depth to the story.
In conclusion, Savage Beasts blends elements of romance, adventure, and political intrigue to create an engaging and immersive reading experience.
Rani Selvarajah takes readers on a thrilling journey through love, betrayal, and sacrifice. At the heart of the story is Meena, the neglected daughter of the Nawab, who yearns for freedom from her gilded confinement.
Meena is fiery, intelligent, witty and brave. She is potrayed as a woman who can impress anyone but she is not appreciated or valued for her strong personality by the men in her life. When she meets James Chilcott, the intriguing nephew of the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, her life takes an unexpected turn.
The development of Meena and James' relationship is a central theme in the novel. Their love blooms against the backdrop of a city on the brink of war, as the East India Company ruthlessly advances.
One of the strongest aspects of Savage Beasts is its well-researched historical context. The author seamlessly weaves in the political tensions and cultural dynamics of the time period, providing readers with a vivid and immersive experience.
Meena's struggle for independence and her internal conflict between love and hate are compelling, and her evolution throughout the novel is riveting. Other characters, such as Sir Peter Chilcott, are equally complex and add depth to the story.
In conclusion, Savage Beasts blends elements of romance, adventure, and political intrigue to create an engaging and immersive reading experience.
July 3, 2023
Although I am a great fan of Greek mythological stories like Perseus Jackson and Hercules, I haven't heard about Medea and her story. So when I got to know that this book is a medea myth retelling, I jumped on the opportunity to increase my knowledge of Greek mythologies.
I am not a great fan of historical fiction, but more knowledge about the transfer of power between nations at that time intrigued me. The book gave us a promising start by introducing us to a very fierce and somewhat stubborn princess, Meena, daughter of the Nawab of Bengal.
I liked her; her love for her dead mother shined through from the start. I liked the fact that she was not portrayed as some submissive mule, even at the start of the story.
But as soon as she met James, her character went downhill for me. I mean, she became so naive and trusted a man she had just met. I get that she was attracted to him, but that didn't justify her actions.
I really wanted to like her as much as i did in the starting but to no avail.
I felt like James character had no depth. I was not in the least interested in getting to know him more. I think his character needed more building. I still had hope for the story, so I went ahead with it. But unfortunately, it did not get any better for me. Meena's actions were beyond my understanding. I mean, she herself invited trouble with her actions and then did not deal with it wisely.
I can't stop myself from mentioning the stunning cover, though. It's really so beautiful, and I love that it adorns my bookshelf.
I did not dislike the author's writing; it was actually pretty good. It was the story that did not sit well with me.
I am not a great fan of historical fiction, but more knowledge about the transfer of power between nations at that time intrigued me. The book gave us a promising start by introducing us to a very fierce and somewhat stubborn princess, Meena, daughter of the Nawab of Bengal.
I liked her; her love for her dead mother shined through from the start. I liked the fact that she was not portrayed as some submissive mule, even at the start of the story.
But as soon as she met James, her character went downhill for me. I mean, she became so naive and trusted a man she had just met. I get that she was attracted to him, but that didn't justify her actions.
I really wanted to like her as much as i did in the starting but to no avail.
I felt like James character had no depth. I was not in the least interested in getting to know him more. I think his character needed more building. I still had hope for the story, so I went ahead with it. But unfortunately, it did not get any better for me. Meena's actions were beyond my understanding. I mean, she herself invited trouble with her actions and then did not deal with it wisely.
I can't stop myself from mentioning the stunning cover, though. It's really so beautiful, and I love that it adorns my bookshelf.
I did not dislike the author's writing; it was actually pretty good. It was the story that did not sit well with me.
June 1, 2023
Rating this book has been the ever most difficult task for me. I hated it and I loved it and thank the author for reminding me of a part of history that the newer generations are just forgetting.
Now because I have to address a lot of parts let's start with what I did like here:
🧡The story- very compelling, hard for an Indian to put down
🧡Emotions- Surges mixed emotions of nostalgia, actual history and abandonment
🧡Ending- I totally loved the way the climax of the book was a buildup and was satisfied with its Ending too. (I wished the whole book had that kind of effect)
Coming to some grey areas that I am not so sure about:
🩶The protagonist should have taken a lot of decisions way prior in the book, which I felt were prolonged.
🩶The way the book shows a character's suffering so much at the hands of their loved ones but does so little to change her situation
🩶The proclamation that the story is inspired by #greekmythology tale of Medea - I found just a minuscule resemblance to it and I don't think it's right to stamp the book as a Medea Retelling.
Hence, after a lot of swaying, I made up my mind to stand in the middle.
Genre: #historicalfiction #india #british
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Will recommend this book to people looking for a take on Indian History during British colonisation. If you are expecting a lot of Greek mythology - that will be disappointing for the most part of the book.
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the Digital Review copy.
This is my honest review of the ARC.
Now because I have to address a lot of parts let's start with what I did like here:
🧡The story- very compelling, hard for an Indian to put down
🧡Emotions- Surges mixed emotions of nostalgia, actual history and abandonment
🧡Ending- I totally loved the way the climax of the book was a buildup and was satisfied with its Ending too. (I wished the whole book had that kind of effect)
Coming to some grey areas that I am not so sure about:
🩶The protagonist should have taken a lot of decisions way prior in the book, which I felt were prolonged.
🩶The way the book shows a character's suffering so much at the hands of their loved ones but does so little to change her situation
🩶The proclamation that the story is inspired by #greekmythology tale of Medea - I found just a minuscule resemblance to it and I don't think it's right to stamp the book as a Medea Retelling.
Hence, after a lot of swaying, I made up my mind to stand in the middle.
Genre: #historicalfiction #india #british
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Will recommend this book to people looking for a take on Indian History during British colonisation. If you are expecting a lot of Greek mythology - that will be disappointing for the most part of the book.
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the Digital Review copy.
This is my honest review of the ARC.
April 27, 2023
A Meadea retelling set in Calcutta, Cape of Good Hope and England.
Princess Meera grows up motherless in an abusive household, with a father that rules with violence and fear.
When James, the nephew of Chilcott of the East India Trading company arrives on the shores, with seemingly honourable ideals, Meera surprises herself by falling for him. She does unthinkable things to save him from her father's men, and her Father and her brother.
Meera's fiery temperament and resilience are strained by the slaughter she caused, James' numerous betrayals, her love for her son, the racism of the British and her resentful dependence on a man whose arrogance and cowardice ruin any respect she had for him.
- Slight fantastical moments such as her Aunt's skills with 'potions' and her pet jaguar
- Found James' character annoying and too static for all the time and events that he went through
- Pretty shocking moments of violence, especially when Meera chops her brother up with an axe (no joke)
- Meera sometimes plays coy and meek and genuinely hopes to mend her marriage. The naivety didn't blend well with her smart and cynical outbursts.
- Other characters felt pretty two dimensional.
- Moments of racism and sexism kept shocking Meera to the point where I felt frustrated that she didn't expect it. Would have liked more on this topic.
I read this book quickly and found it easy enough to follow and enjoy.
Princess Meera grows up motherless in an abusive household, with a father that rules with violence and fear.
When James, the nephew of Chilcott of the East India Trading company arrives on the shores, with seemingly honourable ideals, Meera surprises herself by falling for him. She does unthinkable things to save him from her father's men, and her Father and her brother.
Meera's fiery temperament and resilience are strained by the slaughter she caused, James' numerous betrayals, her love for her son, the racism of the British and her resentful dependence on a man whose arrogance and cowardice ruin any respect she had for him.
- Slight fantastical moments such as her Aunt's skills with 'potions' and her pet jaguar
- Found James' character annoying and too static for all the time and events that he went through
- Pretty shocking moments of violence, especially when Meera chops her brother up with an axe (no joke)
- Meera sometimes plays coy and meek and genuinely hopes to mend her marriage. The naivety didn't blend well with her smart and cynical outbursts.
- Other characters felt pretty two dimensional.
- Moments of racism and sexism kept shocking Meera to the point where I felt frustrated that she didn't expect it. Would have liked more on this topic.
I read this book quickly and found it easy enough to follow and enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2023
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Savage Beasts” is a debut novel by Rani Selvarajah. This is a retelling of the Greek myth Medea but set in the late 1700s. The story begins in India, where the East India Company, led by Sir Peter Chilcott, is trying to take over all of India. Sir Peter’s nephew, James goes to Bengal, claiming to want to betray his uncle. Meena, the daughter of the Nawab, falls under James’s spell and decides to spend her life with him. Meena uses her medicinal knowledge (from her aunt Kiran) to aid her and James’s escape from Bengal and they begin a life together, eventually ending up in England, where things begin unraveling.
If you know the story of Medea, you’ll see the parallels in this story. If, like me, you need a refresher on the tale - do read the original myth. I did like how Ms. Selvarajah set the story in colonial times - that was a nice updated touch. The overarching idea, I believe, was well executed. Where this fell a little flat for me was in the actual writing - Meena’s racing heart gets mentioned a lot, along with some modern (2000s) things thrown in, opposed to it being a bit more historically accurate. But, those quibbles aside, for a debut novel, this was an engrossing read and I did wonder how the story was going to play out, especially one key part of the Medea myth. My favorite character was probably Meena’s aunt, Kiran - from her leopard to her reputation on the island. For me, this book is probably a 3.75 star rating, but rounded up to 4 stars.
“Savage Beasts” is a debut novel by Rani Selvarajah. This is a retelling of the Greek myth Medea but set in the late 1700s. The story begins in India, where the East India Company, led by Sir Peter Chilcott, is trying to take over all of India. Sir Peter’s nephew, James goes to Bengal, claiming to want to betray his uncle. Meena, the daughter of the Nawab, falls under James’s spell and decides to spend her life with him. Meena uses her medicinal knowledge (from her aunt Kiran) to aid her and James’s escape from Bengal and they begin a life together, eventually ending up in England, where things begin unraveling.
If you know the story of Medea, you’ll see the parallels in this story. If, like me, you need a refresher on the tale - do read the original myth. I did like how Ms. Selvarajah set the story in colonial times - that was a nice updated touch. The overarching idea, I believe, was well executed. Where this fell a little flat for me was in the actual writing - Meena’s racing heart gets mentioned a lot, along with some modern (2000s) things thrown in, opposed to it being a bit more historically accurate. But, those quibbles aside, for a debut novel, this was an engrossing read and I did wonder how the story was going to play out, especially one key part of the Medea myth. My favorite character was probably Meena’s aunt, Kiran - from her leopard to her reputation on the island. For me, this book is probably a 3.75 star rating, but rounded up to 4 stars.
May 24, 2023
3.5 stars
I was transported to India, through Ceylon and to the Cape of Good Hope as we follow Meena on her journey- as she grows as a character and as a woman.
Meena is a captivating character - fearless in a world dominated and controlled by men, she fights for her rights and survival.
I wasn’t very aware of the details of the myth of Medea, but could enjoy the descriptions of Meena’s home and journey.
I was transported to India, through Ceylon and to the Cape of Good Hope as we follow Meena on her journey- as she grows as a character and as a woman.
Meena is a captivating character - fearless in a world dominated and controlled by men, she fights for her rights and survival.
I wasn’t very aware of the details of the myth of Medea, but could enjoy the descriptions of Meena’s home and journey.
May 5, 2023
I think Rani Selvarajah’s debut novel “Savage Beasts” is a clever retelling of the myth of Medea set in the time of colonial Britain invading India. I was swept along as Meena (Medea) and James (Jason) flee torture and imprisonment in search of freedom and adventure. But betrayal and death are never far behind when you’re willing to do anything for love and gain, as Meena will soon find out that she doesn’t know James as well as she thought. I liked this book although I’ll admit its darkness could be off-putting at times. “Savage Beasts” hews very closely to the original Greek myth (with all the bloodiness, passion, and revenge you’d expect); so while I would say there are no surprises for the mythological buff, the telling of this tale is still compelling.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. “Savage Beasts” comes out May 25th!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. “Savage Beasts” comes out May 25th!
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