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The Divine Dancers #1
The Legend of Meneka
In this sweeping crossover of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology, acclaimed author Kritika H. Rao reimagines the famous tale of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling in love with her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalty to her home and being true to herself—perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, and Circe.
Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.
When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.
Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.
Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.
When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.
Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2025
98 people are currently reading
15458 people want to read
About the author
Kritika H. Rao
6 books291 followersKritika H. Rao is a science-fiction and fantasy writer, who has lived in India, Australia, Canada and The Sultanate of Oman. Kritika’s stories are influenced by her lived experiences, and often explore themes of consciousness, self vs. the world, and identity. She drops in and out of social media; you might catch her on Twitter or Instagram @KritikaHRao. Visit her online at www.kritikahrao.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
January 23, 2025
4.5 Stars (considering the average rating, I'm rounding up)
One Liner: Full stars for the Shiva chapter
Meneka is one of the apsaras of Indra’s court and a powerful weapon. Her power is the art of seduction – to use dance and illusion to defeat Indra’s enemies and prevent heaven from losing its magic. However, Meneka no longer wants to do this. She wants to stay in Amaravathi, Indra’s kingdom, and use her talents there.
However, Indra offers her a deal – seduce Kaushika and prove her devotion to Amaravthi to get what she wants. Meneka agrees knowing the new mission is near impossible. Kaushika may have become a sage but he was a well-feared Kshatriya with warrior instincts. By channeling the same intensity, he became a sage with tremendous magic intent on waging war against Indra.
Will Meneka be successful in her mission or will she get more than what she bargained for and at what cost?
The story comes in Meneka’s first-person POV in the present tense.
My Thoughts:
Though I’m wary of retellings exploring Hindu Puranic and Ithihasic stories, I did want to try this after someone recommended the author’s previous books. The lower rating scared and worried me. NGL, I postponed this to read closer to the pub date as I didn’t want a repeat of Kaikeyi.
Patel’s Kaikeyi is nothing more than a distorted and colonized take on something sacred to my culture. All those comparing Legend of Meneka to that nonsense in a perfumed package have absolutely missed all the nuances that make this a Hindu book. The sad state is that even the official promotion does it!
Moreover, marketing this book using popular tropes has done it a disservice. I know, readers need a checklist these days; the tags are important; the comparisons are important; even more than the book itself. But, a book is much more than its tropes.
Enemies to lovers, romantasy, cozy fantasy, spicy, et al… well, the tags are right but only if you know the core context. Otherwise, these won’t make sense or feel incorrect.
Legend of Meneka is not just lust, seduction, or spice. It is an exploration of sringara and Kama at physical, emotional, spiritual, and cosmic levels. It is the celebration of the union of divine masculine and divine feminine without which this universe wouldn’t exist. When it talks of Shiva and Shakti in terms of lingam and yoni, it transcends the mortal desire for flesh and sexual gratification. It is the pulsing life that ensures the universe thrums with neverending energy to prevent self-destruction. Without the union of Shiva and Shakti, there is no life, no prana, no jeeva, and no prakriti. Love is too small a word to encompass the relationship of Shiva and Shakti. They are two halves of a whole, the Ardhanareeshwara, the perfect balance of divine masculine and divine feminine.
Though the author uses the word lust in the story, she switches to the actual term in her note –Kama. Lust doesn’t define Kama as it is only a part of it. Kama is one of the Purusharthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha) and a part of our lives. We have only reduced their true meanings with our incorrect translations to English. Lust might be a sin but Kama is necessary and has to be balanced with Dharma and Artha to travel the path to Moksha (Artha and Kama have to be discarded at the appropriate stage). Kama is not limited to physical and material aspects; it never has been.
When something so intricate and integral to Hinduism is removed from its framework, the result is a diluted and surface-level narrative that limits the story to the physical realm. Those unfamiliar with the core details miss out on the nuance; it doesn’t exist for them. It’s much like how yoga became a billion-dollar industry of stretching exercises with fancy and exotic names. It has no soul. Similarly, when the Hindu framework is removed/ ignored/ avoided, this book ends up as a weak YA story of a whiny heroine and a grumpy hero.
Before I dive into the details, let me share a short version of the original. This isn’t an individual story but is mentioned in different places as a part of the backstory.
Summary of the Original
The cookie-cutter version makes it seem like Kaushika and Meneka had a one-nighter or a fling. However, it was likely to be an affair that lasted a solid few months or years and ended with Meneka’s pregnancy/ Shakuntala’s birth.
The second half dealing with Indra sending Meneka to Kaushika is provided as a backstory in Shakuntala’s story in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva). The first half can be found in the Ramayana.
The author took different versions of this story and used creative liberties to spin a tale of magic, love, lust, seduction, and power strongly rooted in Hinduism.
While her MMC retained the core traits of Kaushika, she gave her own spin to Meneka (which is where I believe things went a bit south).
Characters
Kaushika is a Kshatriya turned Brahmin. The blend of both has given him an advantage and a disadvantage. I don’t use the terms in the ‘caste’ sense. Not even varna or jati. I talk of them as gunas (personality traits). A Kshatriya is a warrior born and trained to protect, rule, and govern, and spends most of his years as a grihasta (a married man). A Brahmin is leaner born and trained to study, acquire knowledge, gain wisdom, and attain a balance of mind that prevents partiality, pride, anger, and grief. It’s a life-long tapasya to constantly improve oneself; not for accolades but for the peace felt when one separates themselves from the rest of the world.
Those who know Vishwamitra (even the movies/ TV version should be enough) can easily see Kaushika. The aloof grumpy hero with a temper is not an archetype. It is him. It is who he is, and has always been. The author retained his essence perfectly. I had zero issues visualizing him as I read the book.
She did the same for Indra – who can be a hero, villain, or both. He is a complicated deva with an abundance of grey shades. After all, he is my god even if he is not my God. Rambha is much like how I expect an apsara to be.
The issue lies with Meneka’s characterization. Since we don’t get much information about her, the author created someone vulnerable and naïve possibly to showcase her growth. A great idea. However, the execution makes her sound whiny at times. While I can see her conflict, I don’t think it makes much sense when you ignore the Hindu framework. She pales as a new adult who whines and cries and cannot decide what to do. But within the framework, she presents the conflict of dharma. I think using the word loyalty in place of devotion for Indra might have helped.
Themes
The book deals with many themes like loyalty, love, friendships, devotion, dharma, etc. The core of it is finding oneself. I wouldn’t have minded if Meneka found herself earlier than she did. I prefer strong FMCs, so there have been instances when I wanted to shake sense into her. Still, when it happened, it was beautiful. Diversity is another theme that blends with everything else. The devas would hardly bother with the gender rules humans like to define! They accept everything as natural. Beautiful!
The book has spice but only around 2.5. That may not be enough for those who want a spice romantasy. It works for me as I can see the elements of sringara rasa, which is integral to my culture. It is one of the nava rasas (nine flavors, to put it loosely). It blends romance, love, lust, desire, seduction, sensuality, and erotica but is a lot more than these. English really doesn’t do justice to the word. There’s no exact translation. For an apsara, sringara is in every fiber of her being. She is it. In the book, their interactions are a heady blend of everything with a good dose of vulnerability. Maybe more spice might have helped but it is not necessary. What we get here is a slow dance where every move is full of eroticism that stems from genuine feelings.
World-building and Magic System
The world-building is also Hindu. It is colorful, vibrant, rich, and full of life. Be it Amaravati or Kaushika’s ashram, opulence or earthiness, everything is inherent to my culture. Even though the choice of kurta-pajama as costumes took a while to get used to, the saris, jewelry, topknots, dhoti, etc., are familiar and comforting.
I love the use of scents to describe the characters. I could feel and smell them. Star anise for Rambha – what a choice! Potent and spicy, exciting and mysterious, and a touch of sweetness with a bite that can draw blood; most importantly, best in small quantities or it will overpower the dish.
Magic is inherent to our essence. It is the prana that keeps us hoping and living. In the book, magic comes from prana (the source of life). It is represented by the elements (fire, wind, water, and earth), the pancha bhootas that sustain life.
While it may seem silly for ‘love’ to be the key, it is apt. It is the truth. For an apsara, it is the most vital differentiating factor. The key couldn’t have been anything else. Nothing would make sense other than love. It is this love that resulted in the birth of Shakuntala.
I could easily visualize every scene in the book, be it the setting, the intimacy, the dance, or the magic. It helps that I know what a Kalpavriksha is or what Sri Yantra looks like. Not being familiar with these elements will make a difference to your reading experience.
Shiva and Ending
I’m not a crier when I read books. I read too many words a day for them to touch my heart. So, when a book makes me teary-eyed, I give it grace marks. But this made me cry; not for the characters, though. I was a little annoyed by Meneka by then.
The tears had everything to do with Shiva in that one chapter. The tears are a response to the beauty of love for Shiva. The author must be a Shiv bhakt. You cannot fake bhakti like this (at least I think it cannot be). Words carry intentions that seep through at some point. All I feel here is love and devotion that comes from deep trust; not something we are expected to display but something that’s a part of our soul. I can only pray I’m right. If book two proves me otherwise, it’ll be a lesson I have to learn.
The ending is open since the whole thing will conclude in the sequel. Meneka has decent growth, so I hope it sustains and increases in the next book instead of crashing to zero and starting again. The stakes are high, and I prefer we have a heroine capable of more transparency and self-reflection. Don’t turn her into a new adult again. Let her continue to bloom. And… give us a beautiful chapter with Shakti.
To summarize, The Legend of Meneka is an unapologetically Hindu story filled with symbolism from my culture. Not many will understand the nuances. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
There’s a glossary at the beginning (a great idea) and the final version will have a map as well. Don’t miss the author’s note. It might help understand the book a little more (if you couldn’t).
Thank you, NetGalley, and Harper Voyager, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheLegendOfMeneka
**********************************************************
Pre-read:
For the sake of my sanity, please, please let this be good!
One Liner: Full stars for the Shiva chapter
Meneka is one of the apsaras of Indra’s court and a powerful weapon. Her power is the art of seduction – to use dance and illusion to defeat Indra’s enemies and prevent heaven from losing its magic. However, Meneka no longer wants to do this. She wants to stay in Amaravathi, Indra’s kingdom, and use her talents there.
However, Indra offers her a deal – seduce Kaushika and prove her devotion to Amaravthi to get what she wants. Meneka agrees knowing the new mission is near impossible. Kaushika may have become a sage but he was a well-feared Kshatriya with warrior instincts. By channeling the same intensity, he became a sage with tremendous magic intent on waging war against Indra.
Will Meneka be successful in her mission or will she get more than what she bargained for and at what cost?
The story comes in Meneka’s first-person POV in the present tense.
My Thoughts:
Though I’m wary of retellings exploring Hindu Puranic and Ithihasic stories, I did want to try this after someone recommended the author’s previous books. The lower rating scared and worried me. NGL, I postponed this to read closer to the pub date as I didn’t want a repeat of Kaikeyi.
Patel’s Kaikeyi is nothing more than a distorted and colonized take on something sacred to my culture. All those comparing Legend of Meneka to that nonsense in a perfumed package have absolutely missed all the nuances that make this a Hindu book. The sad state is that even the official promotion does it!
Moreover, marketing this book using popular tropes has done it a disservice. I know, readers need a checklist these days; the tags are important; the comparisons are important; even more than the book itself. But, a book is much more than its tropes.
Enemies to lovers, romantasy, cozy fantasy, spicy, et al… well, the tags are right but only if you know the core context. Otherwise, these won’t make sense or feel incorrect.
Legend of Meneka is not just lust, seduction, or spice. It is an exploration of sringara and Kama at physical, emotional, spiritual, and cosmic levels. It is the celebration of the union of divine masculine and divine feminine without which this universe wouldn’t exist. When it talks of Shiva and Shakti in terms of lingam and yoni, it transcends the mortal desire for flesh and sexual gratification. It is the pulsing life that ensures the universe thrums with neverending energy to prevent self-destruction. Without the union of Shiva and Shakti, there is no life, no prana, no jeeva, and no prakriti. Love is too small a word to encompass the relationship of Shiva and Shakti. They are two halves of a whole, the Ardhanareeshwara, the perfect balance of divine masculine and divine feminine.
Though the author uses the word lust in the story, she switches to the actual term in her note –Kama. Lust doesn’t define Kama as it is only a part of it. Kama is one of the Purusharthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha) and a part of our lives. We have only reduced their true meanings with our incorrect translations to English. Lust might be a sin but Kama is necessary and has to be balanced with Dharma and Artha to travel the path to Moksha (Artha and Kama have to be discarded at the appropriate stage). Kama is not limited to physical and material aspects; it never has been.
When something so intricate and integral to Hinduism is removed from its framework, the result is a diluted and surface-level narrative that limits the story to the physical realm. Those unfamiliar with the core details miss out on the nuance; it doesn’t exist for them. It’s much like how yoga became a billion-dollar industry of stretching exercises with fancy and exotic names. It has no soul. Similarly, when the Hindu framework is removed/ ignored/ avoided, this book ends up as a weak YA story of a whiny heroine and a grumpy hero.
Before I dive into the details, let me share a short version of the original. This isn’t an individual story but is mentioned in different places as a part of the backstory.
Summary of the Original
The cookie-cutter version makes it seem like Kaushika and Meneka had a one-nighter or a fling. However, it was likely to be an affair that lasted a solid few months or years and ended with Meneka’s pregnancy/ Shakuntala’s birth.
The second half dealing with Indra sending Meneka to Kaushika is provided as a backstory in Shakuntala’s story in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva). The first half can be found in the Ramayana.
The author took different versions of this story and used creative liberties to spin a tale of magic, love, lust, seduction, and power strongly rooted in Hinduism.
While her MMC retained the core traits of Kaushika, she gave her own spin to Meneka (which is where I believe things went a bit south).
Characters
Kaushika is a Kshatriya turned Brahmin. The blend of both has given him an advantage and a disadvantage. I don’t use the terms in the ‘caste’ sense. Not even varna or jati. I talk of them as gunas (personality traits). A Kshatriya is a warrior born and trained to protect, rule, and govern, and spends most of his years as a grihasta (a married man). A Brahmin is leaner born and trained to study, acquire knowledge, gain wisdom, and attain a balance of mind that prevents partiality, pride, anger, and grief. It’s a life-long tapasya to constantly improve oneself; not for accolades but for the peace felt when one separates themselves from the rest of the world.
Those who know Vishwamitra (even the movies/ TV version should be enough) can easily see Kaushika. The aloof grumpy hero with a temper is not an archetype. It is him. It is who he is, and has always been. The author retained his essence perfectly. I had zero issues visualizing him as I read the book.
She did the same for Indra – who can be a hero, villain, or both. He is a complicated deva with an abundance of grey shades. After all, he is my god even if he is not my God. Rambha is much like how I expect an apsara to be.
The issue lies with Meneka’s characterization. Since we don’t get much information about her, the author created someone vulnerable and naïve possibly to showcase her growth. A great idea. However, the execution makes her sound whiny at times. While I can see her conflict, I don’t think it makes much sense when you ignore the Hindu framework. She pales as a new adult who whines and cries and cannot decide what to do. But within the framework, she presents the conflict of dharma. I think using the word loyalty in place of devotion for Indra might have helped.
Themes
The book deals with many themes like loyalty, love, friendships, devotion, dharma, etc. The core of it is finding oneself. I wouldn’t have minded if Meneka found herself earlier than she did. I prefer strong FMCs, so there have been instances when I wanted to shake sense into her. Still, when it happened, it was beautiful. Diversity is another theme that blends with everything else. The devas would hardly bother with the gender rules humans like to define! They accept everything as natural. Beautiful!
The book has spice but only around 2.5. That may not be enough for those who want a spice romantasy. It works for me as I can see the elements of sringara rasa, which is integral to my culture. It is one of the nava rasas (nine flavors, to put it loosely). It blends romance, love, lust, desire, seduction, sensuality, and erotica but is a lot more than these. English really doesn’t do justice to the word. There’s no exact translation. For an apsara, sringara is in every fiber of her being. She is it. In the book, their interactions are a heady blend of everything with a good dose of vulnerability. Maybe more spice might have helped but it is not necessary. What we get here is a slow dance where every move is full of eroticism that stems from genuine feelings.
World-building and Magic System
The world-building is also Hindu. It is colorful, vibrant, rich, and full of life. Be it Amaravati or Kaushika’s ashram, opulence or earthiness, everything is inherent to my culture. Even though the choice of kurta-pajama as costumes took a while to get used to, the saris, jewelry, topknots, dhoti, etc., are familiar and comforting.
I love the use of scents to describe the characters. I could feel and smell them. Star anise for Rambha – what a choice! Potent and spicy, exciting and mysterious, and a touch of sweetness with a bite that can draw blood; most importantly, best in small quantities or it will overpower the dish.
Magic is inherent to our essence. It is the prana that keeps us hoping and living. In the book, magic comes from prana (the source of life). It is represented by the elements (fire, wind, water, and earth), the pancha bhootas that sustain life.
While it may seem silly for ‘love’ to be the key, it is apt. It is the truth. For an apsara, it is the most vital differentiating factor. The key couldn’t have been anything else. Nothing would make sense other than love. It is this love that resulted in the birth of Shakuntala.
I could easily visualize every scene in the book, be it the setting, the intimacy, the dance, or the magic. It helps that I know what a Kalpavriksha is or what Sri Yantra looks like. Not being familiar with these elements will make a difference to your reading experience.
Shiva and Ending
I’m not a crier when I read books. I read too many words a day for them to touch my heart. So, when a book makes me teary-eyed, I give it grace marks. But this made me cry; not for the characters, though. I was a little annoyed by Meneka by then.
The tears had everything to do with Shiva in that one chapter. The tears are a response to the beauty of love for Shiva. The author must be a Shiv bhakt. You cannot fake bhakti like this (at least I think it cannot be). Words carry intentions that seep through at some point. All I feel here is love and devotion that comes from deep trust; not something we are expected to display but something that’s a part of our soul. I can only pray I’m right. If book two proves me otherwise, it’ll be a lesson I have to learn.
The ending is open since the whole thing will conclude in the sequel. Meneka has decent growth, so I hope it sustains and increases in the next book instead of crashing to zero and starting again. The stakes are high, and I prefer we have a heroine capable of more transparency and self-reflection. Don’t turn her into a new adult again. Let her continue to bloom. And… give us a beautiful chapter with Shakti.
To summarize, The Legend of Meneka is an unapologetically Hindu story filled with symbolism from my culture. Not many will understand the nuances. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
There’s a glossary at the beginning (a great idea) and the final version will have a map as well. Don’t miss the author’s note. It might help understand the book a little more (if you couldn’t).
Thank you, NetGalley, and Harper Voyager, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheLegendOfMeneka
**********************************************************
Pre-read:
For the sake of my sanity, please, please let this be good!
February 5, 2025
Well, Zana and I hated this. At least it's not just East Asian fantasy we hate? We've moved on to South Asian. No but seriously, mythology retellings have not been done well. And for something labeled romantasy, I expected it to get hot and heavy. It was just boring. I have nothing nice to say, so I'll end it here.
🥃 Take a shot every time this book is dumb as hell
🥃 Take a shot every time they mention yogis
🥃 Take a shot every time they mention ascetism
🥃 Take a shot every time this not as dirty as advertised
📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Harper Voyager
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager
🥃 Take a shot every time this book is dumb as hell
🥃 Take a shot every time they mention yogis
🥃 Take a shot every time they mention ascetism
🥃 Take a shot every time this not as dirty as advertised
📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Harper Voyager
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager
November 20, 2025
A spellbinding rendition of love and betrayal evocative of intense longing and unfulfilled desires; exquisite and seductive in its prose, rich and detailed in its tapestry of characters while captivating in plot and thought-provoking in its knowledge and lore. I highly recommend it.
November 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the arc!
🌟🌟/5
I really, really wanted to like this. A romantasy steeped in Hindu mythology is an amazing concept, but the story did not do it justice.
The Good:
The mythology aspect of this was really well done. I loved how to author's take on apsara lore. The worldbuilding as the magic system were well done. The author brings the setting to life through her prose. I also appreciate the fact that the world is queernormative.
The Not-so-good:
As someone who's familiar with Hindu mythology, I did not face much trouble with the infodumping. However, readers unfamiliar with it might get confused while reading. Meneka's internal turmoil was overdone to the point that she came off as whiny and annoying. The writing was repititive in many parts. My biggest issue with the book is the 'romance'. Meneka and Kaushika's relationship is fueled by lust. There is no chemistry between these two, and that is why when Meneka discovers that love is magic (literal magic, mind you) in its own right, I'd have flung this book across the room if I'd had a physical copy. NOT THE FRICKIN POWER OF LOVE AGAIN. These two were neither enemies nor lovers at any point. The lack of chemistry made the smut scenes terrible.
The ending was...weird. I wish the author would've made the book longer and wrapped up the story in one book. Even the climax was unsatisfactory. I don't want to dive into spoiler territory, but the way these people handled devas-all powerful forces of nature-without any great repercussions, was just...😐.
As you can see from my review, personally, the cons heavily outweighed the pros. We don't see enough Hindu mythology inspired book so I had to get an arc for myself. Unfortunately, this was a big miss. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel.
🌟🌟/5
I really, really wanted to like this. A romantasy steeped in Hindu mythology is an amazing concept, but the story did not do it justice.
The Good:
The mythology aspect of this was really well done. I loved how to author's take on apsara lore. The worldbuilding as the magic system were well done. The author brings the setting to life through her prose. I also appreciate the fact that the world is queernormative.
The Not-so-good:
As someone who's familiar with Hindu mythology, I did not face much trouble with the infodumping. However, readers unfamiliar with it might get confused while reading. Meneka's internal turmoil was overdone to the point that she came off as whiny and annoying. The writing was repititive in many parts. My biggest issue with the book is the 'romance'. Meneka and Kaushika's relationship is fueled by lust. There is no chemistry between these two, and that is why when Meneka discovers that love is magic (literal magic, mind you) in its own right, I'd have flung this book across the room if I'd had a physical copy. NOT THE FRICKIN POWER OF LOVE AGAIN. These two were neither enemies nor lovers at any point. The lack of chemistry made the smut scenes terrible.
The ending was...weird. I wish the author would've made the book longer and wrapped up the story in one book. Even the climax was unsatisfactory. I don't want to dive into spoiler territory, but the way these people handled devas-all powerful forces of nature-without any great repercussions, was just...😐.
As you can see from my review, personally, the cons heavily outweighed the pros. We don't see enough Hindu mythology inspired book so I had to get an arc for myself. Unfortunately, this was a big miss. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel.
November 28, 2024
Thank you so much to Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC
As a fan of Kritika H. Rao's debut novel The Surviving Sky, I was super excited after reading the announcement of this new romantasy duology. Now having finished the novel, let me just say that this book is one of my top fantasies of the year! I absolutely loved following Meneka and Kaushika, being immersed in this world, and seeing so many figures that I grew up hearing stories about. This book is unapologetically Hindu and it made me so happy to read a book that is so rich in my religion and culture. I know the marketing for this book is really focused on selling it as an enemies to lovers / romantasy, but I think this book is just as appealing for fans of Kaikeyi and other Hindu retellings that center the women that are often left out of our most famous legends.
I do see many negative reviews from white and other non-Indian readers, but I really urge new readers to take these reviews with a grain of salt. It seems like a common theme of these reviews is that readers had a hard time understanding the Hindu terminology and lore included in this book (even though there's a Glossary at the front of the book and Google is free???). I also see people complaining about the spice in this book and how Meneka and Kaushika's relationship is based in lust the majority of the time. It irks me that this book is clearly labeled as a spicy romantasy and yet readers are disappointed that it isn't a fantasy with minimal romance. Also, I already know that if these characters were white, romantasy readers would be all over this book salivating over the spice and romance. Ignore these reviews and pick up this book, especially if you're a South Asian and/or Hindu reader! I think fans of Vaishnavi Patel and Sue Lynn Tan will love this duology. I can't wait to read the sequel! I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up.
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As a fan of Kritika H. Rao's debut novel The Surviving Sky, I was super excited after reading the announcement of this new romantasy duology. Now having finished the novel, let me just say that this book is one of my top fantasies of the year! I absolutely loved following Meneka and Kaushika, being immersed in this world, and seeing so many figures that I grew up hearing stories about. This book is unapologetically Hindu and it made me so happy to read a book that is so rich in my religion and culture. I know the marketing for this book is really focused on selling it as an enemies to lovers / romantasy, but I think this book is just as appealing for fans of Kaikeyi and other Hindu retellings that center the women that are often left out of our most famous legends.
I do see many negative reviews from white and other non-Indian readers, but I really urge new readers to take these reviews with a grain of salt. It seems like a common theme of these reviews is that readers had a hard time understanding the Hindu terminology and lore included in this book (even though there's a Glossary at the front of the book and Google is free???). I also see people complaining about the spice in this book and how Meneka and Kaushika's relationship is based in lust the majority of the time. It irks me that this book is clearly labeled as a spicy romantasy and yet readers are disappointed that it isn't a fantasy with minimal romance. Also, I already know that if these characters were white, romantasy readers would be all over this book salivating over the spice and romance. Ignore these reviews and pick up this book, especially if you're a South Asian and/or Hindu reader! I think fans of Vaishnavi Patel and Sue Lynn Tan will love this duology. I can't wait to read the sequel! I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up.
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January 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
3.9 stars
I thought this was a pretty interesting fantasy! The world-building and magic systems were pretty straightforward, and the writing was very easy to get through and understand. The first few chapters were a bit slow, but after the first roughly 15%, things really picked up, and I couldn't put the book down! Meneka was an interesting main character, and while I definitely got a bit annoyed with her at times, I overall enjoyed the story from her perspective! The romance between Kaushika and Meneka was well done, and I thought their characters complemented each other really well. I really liked the Hindu-inspired fantasy world that this author created; it was really interesting to read about, as I haven't read many books that are Hindu-inspired! Overall, I would recommend this book, and I'm very interested in seeing where the duology goes in book two! :)
3.9 stars
I thought this was a pretty interesting fantasy! The world-building and magic systems were pretty straightforward, and the writing was very easy to get through and understand. The first few chapters were a bit slow, but after the first roughly 15%, things really picked up, and I couldn't put the book down! Meneka was an interesting main character, and while I definitely got a bit annoyed with her at times, I overall enjoyed the story from her perspective! The romance between Kaushika and Meneka was well done, and I thought their characters complemented each other really well. I really liked the Hindu-inspired fantasy world that this author created; it was really interesting to read about, as I haven't read many books that are Hindu-inspired! Overall, I would recommend this book, and I'm very interested in seeing where the duology goes in book two! :)
November 17, 2024
Rated 2.5/5 stars
I…had very mixed emotions on this one. Initially I was impressed with the writing - it’s lyrical in a way that reflects the sensuality that comes with Meneka as an ‘instrument of lust’. It was easy to fall into that atmosphere, but ultimately it proved to be a hindrance to the actual romance later. It’s a strange one where the descriptive tone and its attempt to be reminiscent of mythology almost removes it from the audience entirely - it’s hard to care for the characters or what they’re doing when they feel untouchable.
I wanted to love this but ultimately just felt very mild about it unfortunately. But if you’re looking for a romantasy that feels distinctly different- more focused on lust as a concept and tool to be used, than the grand whirlwind romances of today’s hype - then this might be one to check out.
I…had very mixed emotions on this one. Initially I was impressed with the writing - it’s lyrical in a way that reflects the sensuality that comes with Meneka as an ‘instrument of lust’. It was easy to fall into that atmosphere, but ultimately it proved to be a hindrance to the actual romance later. It’s a strange one where the descriptive tone and its attempt to be reminiscent of mythology almost removes it from the audience entirely - it’s hard to care for the characters or what they’re doing when they feel untouchable.
I wanted to love this but ultimately just felt very mild about it unfortunately. But if you’re looking for a romantasy that feels distinctly different- more focused on lust as a concept and tool to be used, than the grand whirlwind romances of today’s hype - then this might be one to check out.
December 23, 2024
This was a beautiful, beautiful story and I loved it so much. The Legend of Meneka is a breathtaking romantasy steeped in Hindu mythology and follows Meneka, a celestial dancer (apsara) whose duty is to seduce mortal "marks" at the command of her king Indra. The marks are always those who have posed political challenges for Indra and threatened devotion in him in the mortal realm, which weakens his power.
Meneka desires freedom from the role of seducing mortals, wanting to live peacefully in her own realm. So in exchange, she agrees to seduce Kaushika, a mortal sage that Meneka finds out has amassed immense power.
From the moment Meneka meets Kaushika, I was absolutely captivated by their story. Kritika Rao transcends the bounds of typical romantasy tropes and instead concocts a sweeping, star-crossed lovers story - and it is definitely enemies to lovers to enemies... and then lovers? Meneka is everything that Kaushika loathes, and she herself has been taught that Kaushika is immoral. But despite their weariness to each other and no matter how much hatred is ingrained in them, their pull is undeniable. Kaushika's sense of self revolved around self-discipline and denial of love/pleasure, but Meneka chips away at his walls bit by bit. I adored Meneka. She is love personified - she loves her realm and her king but also cannot help but love the mortals and their land. She loves so fiercely and so deeply -- I wanted nothing but the best for her.
The pacing in the early-middle of the book was a bit slow at times as Meneka struggles to grasp a new magic, and the religious terminology is very frequent and hefty, and can be confusing for those who aren't familiar. There is a glossary, although I still had to do some extra research. That said, I enjoyed learning about Hindu mythology and I felt so immersed into this world.
Kritika Rao's writing is stunningly lush, and a big strength in this book is its imagery. I've found myself really enjoying mythology retelling as of late and this book delivered in every way. I fell in love with Meneka and Kaushika and can't wait to read more from this author.
Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC! 📚
Meneka desires freedom from the role of seducing mortals, wanting to live peacefully in her own realm. So in exchange, she agrees to seduce Kaushika, a mortal sage that Meneka finds out has amassed immense power.
From the moment Meneka meets Kaushika, I was absolutely captivated by their story. Kritika Rao transcends the bounds of typical romantasy tropes and instead concocts a sweeping, star-crossed lovers story - and it is definitely enemies to lovers to enemies... and then lovers? Meneka is everything that Kaushika loathes, and she herself has been taught that Kaushika is immoral. But despite their weariness to each other and no matter how much hatred is ingrained in them, their pull is undeniable. Kaushika's sense of self revolved around self-discipline and denial of love/pleasure, but Meneka chips away at his walls bit by bit. I adored Meneka. She is love personified - she loves her realm and her king but also cannot help but love the mortals and their land. She loves so fiercely and so deeply -- I wanted nothing but the best for her.
The pacing in the early-middle of the book was a bit slow at times as Meneka struggles to grasp a new magic, and the religious terminology is very frequent and hefty, and can be confusing for those who aren't familiar. There is a glossary, although I still had to do some extra research. That said, I enjoyed learning about Hindu mythology and I felt so immersed into this world.
Kritika Rao's writing is stunningly lush, and a big strength in this book is its imagery. I've found myself really enjoying mythology retelling as of late and this book delivered in every way. I fell in love with Meneka and Kaushika and can't wait to read more from this author.
Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC! 📚
January 15, 2025
Well... This was a disappointment.
The first chapter started out great. I was excited for an adult read, with more mature topics and possibly mature characters.
But other than the two or three sex scenes, this basically read like an older YA novel. Meneka also felt like a YA protagonist who desperately wanted to be morally grey, but ended up just being really meh. While I liked the Hindu mythology (a lot of it was very new to me, but others who are familiar with these stories might think otherwise), the story was a typical romance.
I thought there'd be more tension since the summary made it sound like a forbidden romance, but sadly, I was wrong. (Like I said, I know nothing about the actual story. So that's on me.)
Everything played out to a T. Meneka falls in love with Kaushika. Meneka denies her feelings. Kaushika falls in love with her. He doesn't really deny his feelings. They get together. Something bad happens and they have to be apart. There's a final battle. Then prep for the sequel.
Maybe POV chapters from Kaushika could've shaken things up a bit? I don't know. I was really bored most of the time and I didn't find any of the characters compelling enough to root for.
At least the cover's pretty.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc.
The first chapter started out great. I was excited for an adult read, with more mature topics and possibly mature characters.
But other than the two or three sex scenes, this basically read like an older YA novel. Meneka also felt like a YA protagonist who desperately wanted to be morally grey, but ended up just being really meh. While I liked the Hindu mythology (a lot of it was very new to me, but others who are familiar with these stories might think otherwise), the story was a typical romance.
I thought there'd be more tension since the summary made it sound like a forbidden romance, but sadly, I was wrong. (Like I said, I know nothing about the actual story. So that's on me.)
Everything played out to a T. Meneka falls in love with Kaushika. Meneka denies her feelings. Kaushika falls in love with her. He doesn't really deny his feelings. They get together. Something bad happens and they have to be apart. There's a final battle. Then prep for the sequel.
Maybe POV chapters from Kaushika could've shaken things up a bit? I don't know. I was really bored most of the time and I didn't find any of the characters compelling enough to root for.
At least the cover's pretty.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc.
October 15, 2024
Indian mythical Background: Kaushika has been one of my favorite of the seven Brahmarishis. One who was born as a prince and warrior, he was quelled by Vashishta, another Brahmarishi, who used his staff to absorb even the greatest weapon (Brahmastra) hurled at him by Kaushika, When Kaushika attempts the ascetic penance required to become a sage, he encounters Trisanku, and since Indra refuses Trisanku entry into heaven creates another heaven and loses his ascetic powers. He begins his penances all over to be thwarted by Meneka and spends 12 years with her, she falls in love with him and bears him a child - Sakuntala, before resuming his original task of becoming a Maharishi and the second time, Indra sends Rambha who gets cursed. Finally after many more years of dedicated penance, he finally becomes one of the saptarishis as Vishwamitra or 'Friend of the Universe'
I am a fan of Vaishnavi Patel's novels and was expecting a similar connected yet moving rendition of the tale. Kritika has surprised me, and in such a wonderful way! She's delved into the role of the Apsara and etched each of the divinities as flighty, devious and balanced within nature. The exploration of love as a theme in devotion was superbly executed and the duality of rage and love with shades of acceptance, loyalty and trust have been mellifluously depicted.
The story begins with Meneka returning from a mission to seduce a devotee who strayed from the worship of Indra. Her inner dialogues and doubts that assail her, when she performs , form the crux of the story. She fancies herself in love with Rambha, the head apsara, and to earn her freedom, has to seduce kaushika to whom 3 apsaras have already been lost. Meneka gets recruited as a yogi and must contend with the mortals and their beliefs and her own self doubt.
You end up falling in love with Meneka, the immortal who is young at heart, and grows with her experience and survives her doubts. Her path to asceticism and acceptance of her emotions and status, the way she recovers from her fumbling and thrives in her newfound knowledge make this a beautiful and exulting read. Add in some spicy moments with sparks flying between the lead pair and my oh my - what a page turner she is!!!
A million thank yous to Kritika, Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity to revisit a well loved epic's retelling at the hands of a masterful storyteller!
I am a fan of Vaishnavi Patel's novels and was expecting a similar connected yet moving rendition of the tale. Kritika has surprised me, and in such a wonderful way! She's delved into the role of the Apsara and etched each of the divinities as flighty, devious and balanced within nature. The exploration of love as a theme in devotion was superbly executed and the duality of rage and love with shades of acceptance, loyalty and trust have been mellifluously depicted.
The story begins with Meneka returning from a mission to seduce a devotee who strayed from the worship of Indra. Her inner dialogues and doubts that assail her, when she performs , form the crux of the story. She fancies herself in love with Rambha, the head apsara, and to earn her freedom, has to seduce kaushika to whom 3 apsaras have already been lost. Meneka gets recruited as a yogi and must contend with the mortals and their beliefs and her own self doubt.
You end up falling in love with Meneka, the immortal who is young at heart, and grows with her experience and survives her doubts. Her path to asceticism and acceptance of her emotions and status, the way she recovers from her fumbling and thrives in her newfound knowledge make this a beautiful and exulting read. Add in some spicy moments with sparks flying between the lead pair and my oh my - what a page turner she is!!!
A million thank yous to Kritika, Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity to revisit a well loved epic's retelling at the hands of a masterful storyteller!
September 1, 2025
I have very mixed feelings about this book so here we go:
- what hooked me was the idea of this book, sounded great, promised angst and seducing your enemy, but falling in love with him ughhh really wanted that
- but the first 40% was so painfully boring, I was praying for something to happen, but not only nothing really was happening, the main character was very naive and really couldn't understand how she's supposed to be that great seductress when she's making so dumb choices, and I felt absolutely zero chemistry with mmc, maybe it was narrators fault, but for that almost half of this book I imagined mmc like a very old monk with very long beard - because that's exactly how he was acting and how he sounded!!!
- 40%-70% - this was the moment where the most things were happening, here I started to like the characters, was curious what will happen, here I had fun
- 70% - end - it got boring again, I stopped caring about these characters or how their problems will be resolved, will not read another book
overall i think it is too long and instead of filling this book with tension abt her undercover mission and all it was just boring nothing and extremely naive fmc and extremely irritating mmc
- what hooked me was the idea of this book, sounded great, promised angst and seducing your enemy, but falling in love with him ughhh really wanted that
- but the first 40% was so painfully boring, I was praying for something to happen, but not only nothing really was happening, the main character was very naive and really couldn't understand how she's supposed to be that great seductress when she's making so dumb choices, and I felt absolutely zero chemistry with mmc, maybe it was narrators fault, but for that almost half of this book I imagined mmc like a very old monk with very long beard - because that's exactly how he was acting and how he sounded!!!
- 40%-70% - this was the moment where the most things were happening, here I started to like the characters, was curious what will happen, here I had fun
- 70% - end - it got boring again, I stopped caring about these characters or how their problems will be resolved, will not read another book
overall i think it is too long and instead of filling this book with tension abt her undercover mission and all it was just boring nothing and extremely naive fmc and extremely irritating mmc
September 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the arc! Well… this was a disappointment. I didn’t know what I was expecting from this book going into it, but I at least wanted a compelling character and a decent plot. I found neither of these here.
My biggest problem with The Legend of Meneka is Meneka herself. I would call her a Mary Sue, but at least Mary Sues are less melodramatic and pathetic. I was sick of hearing her whine and whine ad nauseam for at least half of the book. Girl, I get that you’re miserable, and I get that you’re confused, but simply… you don’t need to shove that down my throat 100 times. Tbf, shoving that bs down my throat is still more erotic than the lacking romance, but more on that later. Anyways, there is nothing unique, identifiable, idiosyncratic, and/or compelling about Meneka besides her Aspara status. Also, the concept of beauty as a weapon in a fantasy book? Shocking, revolutionary🤯. Seriously though, I’d be fine with this trope if it contained any nuance, but unfortunately that is not the case here. Rather, it’s as shallow as a man who brags about being 6’5 on his tinder profile.
Obviously, This isn’t a character-driven story, but the plot was beyond lacking as well. Things were told instead of shown (Meneka’s power progression), the pacing was off, and I was bored to death. Mostly, the meat of this book was made up of Meneka’s complaining, then later the weak romance. Speaking of the romance? Pass. I’m bone dry and decidedly not kicking my feet. There was not enough tension between the two mcs, let alone any relationship development. Of course, any tension that was there seemed forced. Let’s also not forget about the chemistry in general, which was nonexistent. I have more chemistry with the pharmacists at my local CVS drive through. And all of a sudden, the mcs were bonking and sucking and fucking. Then the word love is floated around??? What? I guess who needs the power of friendship when you have the power of fuck. Anyways, I’m bored. I’m yawning. I’m honkshooing.
The only thing I liked about this book was the mythology-based world building. Unfortunately even that was incomprehensible at times, and often dropped on you in large info dumps. It at times felt like reading a textbook, and despite the fact that it’s September, I really don’t feel like going back to school. This is more personal though, and I’m sure those with prior knowledge on Hindu mythology would’ve enjoyed this more.
In conclusion, she swings and she misses. It’s a shame, because the idea of exploring religion and spirituality through sex sounded so delicious to me. I need more of that in fantasy so bad actually. Anyways, this book was a miss on all major fronts, which upsets me so much. God the synopsis sounded so good, but alas. -2 Shiva stars.
My biggest problem with The Legend of Meneka is Meneka herself. I would call her a Mary Sue, but at least Mary Sues are less melodramatic and pathetic. I was sick of hearing her whine and whine ad nauseam for at least half of the book. Girl, I get that you’re miserable, and I get that you’re confused, but simply… you don’t need to shove that down my throat 100 times. Tbf, shoving that bs down my throat is still more erotic than the lacking romance, but more on that later. Anyways, there is nothing unique, identifiable, idiosyncratic, and/or compelling about Meneka besides her Aspara status. Also, the concept of beauty as a weapon in a fantasy book? Shocking, revolutionary🤯. Seriously though, I’d be fine with this trope if it contained any nuance, but unfortunately that is not the case here. Rather, it’s as shallow as a man who brags about being 6’5 on his tinder profile.
Obviously, This isn’t a character-driven story, but the plot was beyond lacking as well. Things were told instead of shown (Meneka’s power progression), the pacing was off, and I was bored to death. Mostly, the meat of this book was made up of Meneka’s complaining, then later the weak romance. Speaking of the romance? Pass. I’m bone dry and decidedly not kicking my feet. There was not enough tension between the two mcs, let alone any relationship development. Of course, any tension that was there seemed forced. Let’s also not forget about the chemistry in general, which was nonexistent. I have more chemistry with the pharmacists at my local CVS drive through. And all of a sudden, the mcs were bonking and sucking and fucking. Then the word love is floated around??? What? I guess who needs the power of friendship when you have the power of fuck. Anyways, I’m bored. I’m yawning. I’m honkshooing.
The only thing I liked about this book was the mythology-based world building. Unfortunately even that was incomprehensible at times, and often dropped on you in large info dumps. It at times felt like reading a textbook, and despite the fact that it’s September, I really don’t feel like going back to school. This is more personal though, and I’m sure those with prior knowledge on Hindu mythology would’ve enjoyed this more.
In conclusion, she swings and she misses. It’s a shame, because the idea of exploring religion and spirituality through sex sounded so delicious to me. I need more of that in fantasy so bad actually. Anyways, this book was a miss on all major fronts, which upsets me so much. God the synopsis sounded so good, but alas. -2 Shiva stars.
January 21, 2025
2025 reads: 18/300
2025 tbr: 9/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers, known as apsaras, are revered for their beauty and magic. as one of these apsaras, meneka knows there’s more to it than that. lord indra, king of heaven, uses her and other apsaras to seduce his enemies for his own gain. meneka hates what she does, so she strikes a deal: she will seduce a mortal sage, whose growing power threatens lord indra, and she will be allowed to forego future missions. it seems easy enough, but as meneka gets to know the sage, kaushika, she starts to feel like killing him won’t be as easy as she thought.
as a huge fan of the “i was sent to kill you but instead i’m falling for you” trope, this book seemed like something i’d really enjoy. sure enough, the angst levels were perfect for this adult romantasy. i also love reading about mythology, so i was excited that this book was rooted in hindu mythology. i don’t read a lot of books based on this type of mythology, so i wasn’t familiar with the apsaras that are the main point of this book, but i really enjoyed reading about them in this novel.
i would recommend this to adult romantasy readers, especially if you enjoy mythology! i’m looking forward to book two.
2025 tbr: 9/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers, known as apsaras, are revered for their beauty and magic. as one of these apsaras, meneka knows there’s more to it than that. lord indra, king of heaven, uses her and other apsaras to seduce his enemies for his own gain. meneka hates what she does, so she strikes a deal: she will seduce a mortal sage, whose growing power threatens lord indra, and she will be allowed to forego future missions. it seems easy enough, but as meneka gets to know the sage, kaushika, she starts to feel like killing him won’t be as easy as she thought.
as a huge fan of the “i was sent to kill you but instead i’m falling for you” trope, this book seemed like something i’d really enjoy. sure enough, the angst levels were perfect for this adult romantasy. i also love reading about mythology, so i was excited that this book was rooted in hindu mythology. i don’t read a lot of books based on this type of mythology, so i wasn’t familiar with the apsaras that are the main point of this book, but i really enjoyed reading about them in this novel.
i would recommend this to adult romantasy readers, especially if you enjoy mythology! i’m looking forward to book two.
October 22, 2024
This was interesting, I loved the Hindu mythology-inspired world and the worldbuilding. The fmc is a celestial dancer and seducer warrior who works on behalf of the lord of the realm. When we meet the fmc, she questions her loyalty to the lord after her last mission. She is sent to seduce a mortal sage who is gaining a lot of power and is threatening her lord and finds herself attracted to and falling in love with him. The mmc was good, but I wish there had been more into his thoughts and pov. The mmc practices magic and is a dimpled brooder which I always like. There was a lot of yearning, seduction, and wanting and I liked the cross between mythology and fantasy. Thank you Avon for this arc!
Read for:
- Enemies to lovers
- Hindu mythology
- Seductress fmc
- Romantasy
- Warrior fmc
- Sage mmc
Read for:
- Enemies to lovers
- Hindu mythology
- Seductress fmc
- Romantasy
- Warrior fmc
- Sage mmc
March 2, 2025
I'm not sure how to feel about this one. It was very much okay, with pretty but easily readable prose and a fast-paced storyline. But I kept wanting more, as none of it was really drawing me in. I especially didn't connect with the romance, because I couldn't feel their connection or why they'd feel so strongly about each other. Since this is a romantasy, that did make the book harder to enjoy. I didn't dislike this in any way, but I guess I have to conclude that it wasn't really for me.
September 27, 2024
Thanks Netgalley & HarperVoyager for the ARC!
I would pitch this book as Goddess of the River but romantasy
It doesn't have the same feel as the average romantasy, because it goes so much deeper. It's a retelling of a Hindu myth, and as such uses a lot of religious themes and I really liked how the author used both Hindu philisophy and this specific myth to explore deeper meanings of both love and seduction.
I don't think I've really seen this mentioned, but Meneka is bisexual and initially has feelings for another apsara, though her main romance is of course with Kaushika. The world also felt queernorm to me.
This book hooked me from the first page, which for me rarely happens. The author posted on Insta how in this book the first line didn't really change from the first draft, and I think it's a great first line.
The book opened with Meneka finishing her seduction of Queen Tara, a Queen who had plans for war and would forsake the god Indra. Meneka's task is to seduce her which will turn her away from these plans, and leave her a mess. Meneka hates it. And I love how this opening shows Meneka's character so clearly, because she truly feels awful about having to do this.
She returns to the heavens to report back to Indra, the ruling god, and she wants nothing more than to stay in that realm so she never has to seduce anyone else again. She asks Indra this, and Indra gets quite angry. But he offers her a deal: if she can seduce Kaushika, a mortal sage gaining too much power, then she'll never have to go on another mission. The catch: three other apsaras, each far more experienced than Meneka, have tried and they haven't returned.
Meneka enters Kaushika's commune, where he teaches other people with a talent for magic how to wield their power, along with the path of Shiva. Meneka and Kaushika have quite opposing ideals at first. Meneka might not like her missions, but she does love Indra and wants to serve him, while Kaushika hates Indra and thinks the god has failed humanity. But despite these differences, they find common ground and a romance develops.
The romance between Kaushika and Meneka develops slowly, but it feels very sensual. Seduction is a major theme, and while Meneka has to seduce Kaushika, Kaushika seduces people too, including Meneka, and not all seduction is of romantic/sexual notion. Kaushika pulling people into his quest against Indra is also characterized as a form of seduction.
The pair love each other even when they keep different ideas, as Meneka never agrees with Kaushika about his plans to wage war against Indra even if she gets where he's coming from.
I loved the writing style of this book. It's easy to read, but pretty, and delves very deep into emotion, of the character. To me, it felt very similar to Goddess of the River.
There are sex scenes in this book, but I'd say those are not solely there to be spicy, but also to explore the role of sexuality, sensuality and seduction in love, and place this in the context of the philosphy Meneka and Kaushika follow, and it introduces different ideas from Hinduism. Kaushika believes he must abstain from sex to achieve enlightenment and be able to wield magic (asceticism), whereas Meneka believes Shiva's wife Shakti is very important and that power also comes from Shiva and Shakti's love for each other. I do not know much about hinduism, but I think both these ideas are different traditions within hinduism.
I would recommend this book to fans of Vaishnavi Patel in particular, and to people who enjoy romantasy but would enjoy more depth and philosophy regarding love
I would pitch this book as Goddess of the River but romantasy
It doesn't have the same feel as the average romantasy, because it goes so much deeper. It's a retelling of a Hindu myth, and as such uses a lot of religious themes and I really liked how the author used both Hindu philisophy and this specific myth to explore deeper meanings of both love and seduction.
I don't think I've really seen this mentioned, but Meneka is bisexual and initially has feelings for another apsara, though her main romance is of course with Kaushika. The world also felt queernorm to me.
This book hooked me from the first page, which for me rarely happens. The author posted on Insta how in this book the first line didn't really change from the first draft, and I think it's a great first line.
The book opened with Meneka finishing her seduction of Queen Tara, a Queen who had plans for war and would forsake the god Indra. Meneka's task is to seduce her which will turn her away from these plans, and leave her a mess. Meneka hates it. And I love how this opening shows Meneka's character so clearly, because she truly feels awful about having to do this.
She returns to the heavens to report back to Indra, the ruling god, and she wants nothing more than to stay in that realm so she never has to seduce anyone else again. She asks Indra this, and Indra gets quite angry. But he offers her a deal: if she can seduce Kaushika, a mortal sage gaining too much power, then she'll never have to go on another mission. The catch: three other apsaras, each far more experienced than Meneka, have tried and they haven't returned.
Meneka enters Kaushika's commune, where he teaches other people with a talent for magic how to wield their power, along with the path of Shiva. Meneka and Kaushika have quite opposing ideals at first. Meneka might not like her missions, but she does love Indra and wants to serve him, while Kaushika hates Indra and thinks the god has failed humanity. But despite these differences, they find common ground and a romance develops.
The romance between Kaushika and Meneka develops slowly, but it feels very sensual. Seduction is a major theme, and while Meneka has to seduce Kaushika, Kaushika seduces people too, including Meneka, and not all seduction is of romantic/sexual notion. Kaushika pulling people into his quest against Indra is also characterized as a form of seduction.
The pair love each other even when they keep different ideas, as Meneka never agrees with Kaushika about his plans to wage war against Indra even if she gets where he's coming from.
I loved the writing style of this book. It's easy to read, but pretty, and delves very deep into emotion, of the character. To me, it felt very similar to Goddess of the River.
There are sex scenes in this book, but I'd say those are not solely there to be spicy, but also to explore the role of sexuality, sensuality and seduction in love, and place this in the context of the philosphy Meneka and Kaushika follow, and it introduces different ideas from Hinduism. Kaushika believes he must abstain from sex to achieve enlightenment and be able to wield magic (asceticism), whereas Meneka believes Shiva's wife Shakti is very important and that power also comes from Shiva and Shakti's love for each other. I do not know much about hinduism, but I think both these ideas are different traditions within hinduism.
I would recommend this book to fans of Vaishnavi Patel in particular, and to people who enjoy romantasy but would enjoy more depth and philosophy regarding love
October 25, 2024
This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.
First Glance
I’m a deep lover of mythology retellings, but I’ve made it a personal challenge to find non-Greek stories to read. I’ve yet to be disappointed by a retelling, even for myths I had no background understanding of before reading.
That said, I happen to love unique magic and requested this book when I read that apsaras used dance as the focus of their magical workings. Add in the enemies-to-lovers listed on the book’s listings, and I had to enter to win an ARC.
Positive Bits
Right off the bat, I want to note that I appreciated the use of spice fit perfectly into the story and the main relationship’s growth at the time. As apsaras are described on the book blurb as warriors of seduction, I honestly expected there to be gratuitous scenes to demonstrate that purpose. The author instead used spice as a delicious seasoning to enhance the story where it best applied, while making it make sense in the context of the myth being told.
The author managed to deftly use the enemies-to-lovers trope without falling into its less entertaining traps. I find myself struggling with the trope most often when miscommunication is the sole basis of the “enemy” side of the equation. I personally find that miscommunication in romances turns me off, kicking me out of immersion in the story as I consider all the simple solutions to the problem at hand. This story is woven to make the shift from enemies-to-lovers feel natural and expected in all of the best ways.
As I read the author’s notes at the end, I appreciated that she chose to take Meneka’s myth and expand upon her character. The idea was to make her real and whole in a way the original myths don’t allow, and I think this book truly honors that goal by following Meneka’s story of self-discovery as the primary thread holding the romance and fantasy portions of the book together.
Less Enjoyable Bits
The ending disappointed me, but in an expected way. There’s a hard cliffhanger, because we hit the crescendo of the action and then stop – with book 2 presumably picking up from there in the future. I knew there was a high chance of a cliffhanger, but I was still bummed at where it stopped. (And yet, it just makes me eager for book 2, so maybe it had the intended effect?)
I appreciated the glossary at the start of the book, but I would’ve liked to see other items and words included on the list. It mostly includes mythological people and objects, but there were pieces of clothing and other cultural references I had to look up on my own. Since I was reading a physical book, I didn’t have my phone readily at hand to clarify what we were looking at.
Given the notes of “an empowered, seductive FMC” and “spice & yearning”, I found the amount of seduction and spice actually found in the story to not match my expectations. I didn’t mind the discrepancy per se, but I feel like it’s important to point out for anyone who might be interested in the spicy side of the story more than the mythology. I still enjoyed the story and Meneka’s character arc, with or without more heat.
Is it worth the coin?
Yes – If you like retellings of mythology, this is a wonderful story! Also, it’s great even if you aren’t familiar with Hindu mythology. I had very little base knowledge, and I still followed along and enjoyed the story on its own. I look forward to the second book and plan to get it once it’s written/available.
First Glance
I’m a deep lover of mythology retellings, but I’ve made it a personal challenge to find non-Greek stories to read. I’ve yet to be disappointed by a retelling, even for myths I had no background understanding of before reading.
That said, I happen to love unique magic and requested this book when I read that apsaras used dance as the focus of their magical workings. Add in the enemies-to-lovers listed on the book’s listings, and I had to enter to win an ARC.
Positive Bits
Right off the bat, I want to note that I appreciated the use of spice fit perfectly into the story and the main relationship’s growth at the time. As apsaras are described on the book blurb as warriors of seduction, I honestly expected there to be gratuitous scenes to demonstrate that purpose. The author instead used spice as a delicious seasoning to enhance the story where it best applied, while making it make sense in the context of the myth being told.
The author managed to deftly use the enemies-to-lovers trope without falling into its less entertaining traps. I find myself struggling with the trope most often when miscommunication is the sole basis of the “enemy” side of the equation. I personally find that miscommunication in romances turns me off, kicking me out of immersion in the story as I consider all the simple solutions to the problem at hand. This story is woven to make the shift from enemies-to-lovers feel natural and expected in all of the best ways.
As I read the author’s notes at the end, I appreciated that she chose to take Meneka’s myth and expand upon her character. The idea was to make her real and whole in a way the original myths don’t allow, and I think this book truly honors that goal by following Meneka’s story of self-discovery as the primary thread holding the romance and fantasy portions of the book together.
Less Enjoyable Bits
The ending disappointed me, but in an expected way. There’s a hard cliffhanger, because we hit the crescendo of the action and then stop – with book 2 presumably picking up from there in the future. I knew there was a high chance of a cliffhanger, but I was still bummed at where it stopped. (And yet, it just makes me eager for book 2, so maybe it had the intended effect?)
I appreciated the glossary at the start of the book, but I would’ve liked to see other items and words included on the list. It mostly includes mythological people and objects, but there were pieces of clothing and other cultural references I had to look up on my own. Since I was reading a physical book, I didn’t have my phone readily at hand to clarify what we were looking at.
Given the notes of “an empowered, seductive FMC” and “spice & yearning”, I found the amount of seduction and spice actually found in the story to not match my expectations. I didn’t mind the discrepancy per se, but I feel like it’s important to point out for anyone who might be interested in the spicy side of the story more than the mythology. I still enjoyed the story and Meneka’s character arc, with or without more heat.
Is it worth the coin?
Yes – If you like retellings of mythology, this is a wonderful story! Also, it’s great even if you aren’t familiar with Hindu mythology. I had very little base knowledge, and I still followed along and enjoyed the story on its own. I look forward to the second book and plan to get it once it’s written/available.
September 18, 2024
⭐⭐ It wasn't my cup of tea but it may be yours
🌶️ Intimate scenes but mild language - just a step past closed door
The Legend of Meneka offers a beautifully immersive dive into Hindu mythology, reimagining a tale of romance, war, and self-discovery. The author crafts a vivid world where celestial beings and mortals interact, exploring themes of duty, freedom, and love.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its rich imagery. The celestial realms and earthly landscapes are painted with vibrant detail, and Meneka’s internal struggles add an intriguing layer to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed seeing her grow as a character, torn between the expectations of her role as an apsara and her desire for personal freedom. Her journey of self-discovery is empowering, and I learned a lot about Hindu legend through her story.
However, while the story itself is compelling, I found the pacing to be a challenge. The plot moved quite slowly, and many of Meneka’s thoughts and emotions were explored at length, which at times took away from the forward momentum of the story.
That said, it’s clear this is a deeply heartfelt project for the author, who brings a lot of care and passion to the mythology and characters. While The Legend of Meneka didn’t fully resonate with me, fans of slow-burn romantic fantasy and intricate mythological retellings may find a lot to enjoy here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC!
🌶️ Intimate scenes but mild language - just a step past closed door
The Legend of Meneka offers a beautifully immersive dive into Hindu mythology, reimagining a tale of romance, war, and self-discovery. The author crafts a vivid world where celestial beings and mortals interact, exploring themes of duty, freedom, and love.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its rich imagery. The celestial realms and earthly landscapes are painted with vibrant detail, and Meneka’s internal struggles add an intriguing layer to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed seeing her grow as a character, torn between the expectations of her role as an apsara and her desire for personal freedom. Her journey of self-discovery is empowering, and I learned a lot about Hindu legend through her story.
However, while the story itself is compelling, I found the pacing to be a challenge. The plot moved quite slowly, and many of Meneka’s thoughts and emotions were explored at length, which at times took away from the forward momentum of the story.
That said, it’s clear this is a deeply heartfelt project for the author, who brings a lot of care and passion to the mythology and characters. While The Legend of Meneka didn’t fully resonate with me, fans of slow-burn romantic fantasy and intricate mythological retellings may find a lot to enjoy here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC!
August 19, 2025
3,5 rounded up.
This is a difficult book to score. I did enjoy the story but I didn't know the original story from indian Mythology.
The ending felt rushed and very fantastical, but as it is based on a mythological story, there isn't much the author could have changed about that I assume.
This is a difficult book to score. I did enjoy the story but I didn't know the original story from indian Mythology.
The ending felt rushed and very fantastical, but as it is based on a mythological story, there isn't much the author could have changed about that I assume.
January 19, 2025
Ah yes, the power of Love can save us
😒😒😒
😒😒😒
Read
February 27, 2025I love stories inspired by Hindu mythology, and The Legend of Meneka is the first I’ve read centered on Indra. While Vishnu, Ram, Krishna, and Shiva often take the spotlight, this story explores an apsara’s role in Indra’s swarga.
Meneka, a celestial dancer, is tasked with missions to maintain Indra’s power, but she despises the illusions she must create to manipulate people to do her lord’s bidding. After returning from one such mission, she asks Indra to let her serve from swarga instead of earth. Denied, she recklessly takes on a mission to sway the formidable sage Kaushika. But Kaushika is not easily deceived, and the challenge becomes a journey of self-discovery.
I enjoyed Meneka as the protagonist - starting as overconfident and determined, she grows into someone who understands both herself and the complexities of the world around her and the magical political landscape of the time. Kritika Rao brings alive the celestial court, the conflicts between sages and gods in this beautifully written story about a divine dancer who creates illusions.
🎧 Audiobook review: Sharmila Devar’s narration was phenomenal—it felt like a full-cast production! I especially loved how Meneka’s inner voice differed from her spoken one.
Thanks to b2weird for the tour, kritikahrao for this stunning story, and harpervoyagerus for the review copy!
Head to my blog for the complete book discussion with Ariel (posted Feb 28).
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Meneka, a celestial dancer, is tasked with missions to maintain Indra’s power, but she despises the illusions she must create to manipulate people to do her lord’s bidding. After returning from one such mission, she asks Indra to let her serve from swarga instead of earth. Denied, she recklessly takes on a mission to sway the formidable sage Kaushika. But Kaushika is not easily deceived, and the challenge becomes a journey of self-discovery.
I enjoyed Meneka as the protagonist - starting as overconfident and determined, she grows into someone who understands both herself and the complexities of the world around her and the magical political landscape of the time. Kritika Rao brings alive the celestial court, the conflicts between sages and gods in this beautifully written story about a divine dancer who creates illusions.
🎧 Audiobook review: Sharmila Devar’s narration was phenomenal—it felt like a full-cast production! I especially loved how Meneka’s inner voice differed from her spoken one.
Thanks to b2weird for the tour, kritikahrao for this stunning story, and harpervoyagerus for the review copy!
Head to my blog for the complete book discussion with Ariel (posted Feb 28).
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
January 27, 2025
The Legend of Meneka is a beautiful and lush world, spanning the celestial and the mortal realms in vibrant and exciting ways. Our main POV is Meneka, who is an apsara who's sole purpose is to use her powers of seduction to further the agenda of the god, Indra. She is a well-developed character who embarks on a final mission of seduction in exchange for her freedom, yet finds herself on a road to self-discovery and freely-given love instead. Overall, this was a fast read that was hard to put down, and the plot keeps the pace moving in engaging ways. I'm very much looking forward to book two in this duology! A huge thank you to Kritika H. Rao, Harper Voyager, and to B2Weird Tours for gifting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts and tour participation!
February 17, 2025
3.75/5 stars
the romance development was a biiiit messy for my taste, but i eat up "i came here to kill you but i fell for you instead" cat and mouse kinda dynamic and this is a good one
the romance development was a biiiit messy for my taste, but i eat up "i came here to kill you but i fell for you instead" cat and mouse kinda dynamic and this is a good one
October 29, 2024
3.5 stars
Thank you to Kritika H. Rao, HarperVoyager, and NetGalley for the e-book ARC!
I enjoyed this book. Not a favorite, but as a member that isn’t necessarily within the target audience, I was surprised by how quickly it went by.
The writing itself was a big reason for this. Elegant, graceful prose helped raise my opinions greatly. By a mile, this was the best part of this read. Scenes flowed smoothly from one into another, emotions were intricately transcribed, and pacing was absolutely immaculate for a story of this type. Each page was swift and deep as a river, as fresh as rain. I was left with a sense that the author knew exactly what they were doing with this book, and the steadiness was refreshing in contrast to the adrenaline-filled reads I’ve been focusing on lately.
So why wasn’t it a five-star read?
Well, prose isn’t everything, even though it is very important and maybe even the best tell as to an author’s potential, in certain cases. But that doesn’t make the plot line great, nor the characters personable, and those are two immense factors that can’t be ignored.
In regard to the former—the plot line—I liked it so much better once I realized it was based on a Hindu myth. Forgive me my ignorance, but I know little of such folklore, and, no doubt, this has inspired me to look deeper into these tales that have been greatly ignored by the American culture. That said, I was confused by all the expressions and deities that weren’t presented with much explanation. I was a little lost, left to puzzle things out independently from the book, and had to look up several references as a guide to fully immerse myself in the plot. Once I did, it was enjoyable, but I feel like the ignorance of people like myself should be taken into account and more clarification should be given.
Next, I just didn’t like Meneka. Plain and simple. She gets herself into a lot of problems and can rarely face them without accidentally making them worse, which does progress the storyline—I’ll give her that—but does little to pique any interest. In fact, it was annoyance that was prompted more than anything.
Lastly—and I will warn that this wasn’t a huge deal for me—for a book largely based around illusion and seduction, there wasn’t a whole lot going on in the seduction or magic area. As a closed-door romance reader, I was a little glad for the lack of quote-unquote “spice” (which is present, but not focused-on), but I have to say that it’s a little misleading to market it in such a way that this seems to be such a large factor of the story, when it really isn’t. And as for the magic? I wasn’t really engaged.
That said, I would encourage readers to give this book a try, if nothing else to experience the outstanding writing within. If you can keep up, it will greatly enhance your knowledge of Hindu culture as well.
Happy reading!
Thank you to Kritika H. Rao, HarperVoyager, and NetGalley for the e-book ARC!
I enjoyed this book. Not a favorite, but as a member that isn’t necessarily within the target audience, I was surprised by how quickly it went by.
The writing itself was a big reason for this. Elegant, graceful prose helped raise my opinions greatly. By a mile, this was the best part of this read. Scenes flowed smoothly from one into another, emotions were intricately transcribed, and pacing was absolutely immaculate for a story of this type. Each page was swift and deep as a river, as fresh as rain. I was left with a sense that the author knew exactly what they were doing with this book, and the steadiness was refreshing in contrast to the adrenaline-filled reads I’ve been focusing on lately.
So why wasn’t it a five-star read?
Well, prose isn’t everything, even though it is very important and maybe even the best tell as to an author’s potential, in certain cases. But that doesn’t make the plot line great, nor the characters personable, and those are two immense factors that can’t be ignored.
In regard to the former—the plot line—I liked it so much better once I realized it was based on a Hindu myth. Forgive me my ignorance, but I know little of such folklore, and, no doubt, this has inspired me to look deeper into these tales that have been greatly ignored by the American culture. That said, I was confused by all the expressions and deities that weren’t presented with much explanation. I was a little lost, left to puzzle things out independently from the book, and had to look up several references as a guide to fully immerse myself in the plot. Once I did, it was enjoyable, but I feel like the ignorance of people like myself should be taken into account and more clarification should be given.
Next, I just didn’t like Meneka. Plain and simple. She gets herself into a lot of problems and can rarely face them without accidentally making them worse, which does progress the storyline—I’ll give her that—but does little to pique any interest. In fact, it was annoyance that was prompted more than anything.
Lastly—and I will warn that this wasn’t a huge deal for me—for a book largely based around illusion and seduction, there wasn’t a whole lot going on in the seduction or magic area. As a closed-door romance reader, I was a little glad for the lack of quote-unquote “spice” (which is present, but not focused-on), but I have to say that it’s a little misleading to market it in such a way that this seems to be such a large factor of the story, when it really isn’t. And as for the magic? I wasn’t really engaged.
That said, I would encourage readers to give this book a try, if nothing else to experience the outstanding writing within. If you can keep up, it will greatly enhance your knowledge of Hindu culture as well.
Happy reading!
September 16, 2024
I found myself in a classic reading conundrum where I wanted to devour this book so I knew what happened while also wishing it would never end. The Legend of Meneka was a refreshing read and embodies everything I want from the Romantasy genre. Rao’s ability to create a lush and seductive story is evident in her mythically inspired world-building, captivating magic system, and profound characters. Meneka’s journey through self-worth and identity is one that is very accessible and relatable to many readers. The allegory and symbolism between Meneka and Kaushika’s story and Shiva and Shakti’s story is my favorite part of this book and is something I look forward to seeing more of in the sequel to the Legend of Meneka. I am so lucky to have to been given the opportunity to read this e-arc and I encourage everyone to put The Legend of Meneka on their TBR!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
This is a beautiful reimagining of a tale I grew up hearing and I loved how it stayed true to the essence of the original unlike many mythology retellings that bear no resemblance to the story they are 'inspired ' by.
It is such a relief to read a book steeped in Hindu mythology that doesn't make me cringe. The story of the celestial apsara Menaka and the sage Vishwamitra(Kaushika)is traditionally narrated as one of seduction and manipulation with Menaka being sent to Earth by Lord Indra to explicitly distract the sage from his strict meditation and penance to prevent him from becoming too powerful. This version is so much more nuanced, the way it tells the perspective of Menaka herself and what she felt and the constrictions that bound her. It is feminist in the best way as it neither puts all the blame on the woman nor does it absolve her completely and add on unheard of subplots to justify her every action.
Menaka comes across as naive in her unquestionable devotion to Lord Indra, but it is understandable as seeing him as a saviour and obeying his every word is all she has ever known. Looking at his actions and motivations objectively is something she has to learn to do and the build up to this happening is done really well.
The way the author has portrayed devotion is exquisite. Menaka's pure love for and belief in Lord Shiva and her understanding of the essence of divinity,Shiva and Shakti is just perfect. The message that love is not a barrier to devotion is conveyed to Kaushika in the best way possible.
Calling this a romantasy does not do it justice because the focus here is on the mythology and the connection between two people who get past the negativity of the 'purpose' that brought them together and complete each other in the true sense. Love in all its forms, be it physical, emotional or spiritual, is at the heart of their bond.
The writing brings alive the vibrant natural surroundings in which this story is set and I loved the richness of the prose in depicting the colour and brightness of the celestial world.
The relationship between Kaushika and Menaka is sensual and many of the 'rasas' that are an essential part of this mythology are wonderfully incorporated.
This is definitely a book I would recommend for its storytelling and the glimpse it gives into Hindu culture and beliefs. I'm looking forward to the sequel with great eagerness.
It is such a relief to read a book steeped in Hindu mythology that doesn't make me cringe. The story of the celestial apsara Menaka and the sage Vishwamitra(Kaushika)is traditionally narrated as one of seduction and manipulation with Menaka being sent to Earth by Lord Indra to explicitly distract the sage from his strict meditation and penance to prevent him from becoming too powerful. This version is so much more nuanced, the way it tells the perspective of Menaka herself and what she felt and the constrictions that bound her. It is feminist in the best way as it neither puts all the blame on the woman nor does it absolve her completely and add on unheard of subplots to justify her every action.
Menaka comes across as naive in her unquestionable devotion to Lord Indra, but it is understandable as seeing him as a saviour and obeying his every word is all she has ever known. Looking at his actions and motivations objectively is something she has to learn to do and the build up to this happening is done really well.
The way the author has portrayed devotion is exquisite. Menaka's pure love for and belief in Lord Shiva and her understanding of the essence of divinity,Shiva and Shakti is just perfect. The message that love is not a barrier to devotion is conveyed to Kaushika in the best way possible.
Calling this a romantasy does not do it justice because the focus here is on the mythology and the connection between two people who get past the negativity of the 'purpose' that brought them together and complete each other in the true sense. Love in all its forms, be it physical, emotional or spiritual, is at the heart of their bond.
The writing brings alive the vibrant natural surroundings in which this story is set and I loved the richness of the prose in depicting the colour and brightness of the celestial world.
The relationship between Kaushika and Menaka is sensual and many of the 'rasas' that are an essential part of this mythology are wonderfully incorporated.
This is definitely a book I would recommend for its storytelling and the glimpse it gives into Hindu culture and beliefs. I'm looking forward to the sequel with great eagerness.
January 14, 2025
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao is a first person-POV retelling of the Hindu legend of Menaka, an apsara, and Vishvamitra. Meneka was created to seduce those her lord, Indra, deems dangerous. When a sage named Kaushika proves a threat to Indra’s reign, Meneka is sent to seduce him in return for her freedom once her mission is complete. But she soon finds herself falling for her mark and questioning if she is being manipulated by the other celestial beings.
I was not familiar with the story of Menaka and had never heard of Vishvamitra before reading this. I have some knowledge of the more popular Hindu figures, but most here were fairly new to mean. Kritika H. Rao does provide a glossary at the beginning of the book to explain the terms used throughout the novel and they are helpful if this is a reader’s first time encountering them as many of the terms are not explained in the text. Rao takes the path of immersing the reader in the world by letting them learn unfamiliar terms via the glossary or from context rather than an aside unless Meneka herself needs an explanation.
Meneka and Kaushika’s romantic arc is one full of push-and-pull, as Meneka stays at his ashram and gets to know him and the other people there, as well as their beliefs, but he initially keeps his distance. Initially, Meneka tries to see what he lusts after and cannot find anything, surprising her. It isn’t until later that she finally sees Kaushika is attracted to her as well, but that he has a good handle on controlling himself. By that point, she is attracted to him as well despite her mission and her relationship back in the heavens with another apsara, Rambha.
As noted in the author’s note, there is a layer of eroticism that never goes away even if there are only a handful of sexual scenes on the page. The original story of Menaka involves her seducing a man and this aspect is never brushed aside or minimized. Meneka has had other lovers and so have many of the other characters, including Rambha, and members of the ashram where Meneka stays. I really appreciated this because Rao makes it clear that sex is not dirty or shameful and that female sexuality is powerful. In a time where it feels like more and more people want to hide that sex even exists, we need works that are not erotica that celebrate the freedom to choose our partners no matter the gender.
I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology tellings and readers looking for a fantasy that celebrates human sexuality
The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao is a first person-POV retelling of the Hindu legend of Menaka, an apsara, and Vishvamitra. Meneka was created to seduce those her lord, Indra, deems dangerous. When a sage named Kaushika proves a threat to Indra’s reign, Meneka is sent to seduce him in return for her freedom once her mission is complete. But she soon finds herself falling for her mark and questioning if she is being manipulated by the other celestial beings.
I was not familiar with the story of Menaka and had never heard of Vishvamitra before reading this. I have some knowledge of the more popular Hindu figures, but most here were fairly new to mean. Kritika H. Rao does provide a glossary at the beginning of the book to explain the terms used throughout the novel and they are helpful if this is a reader’s first time encountering them as many of the terms are not explained in the text. Rao takes the path of immersing the reader in the world by letting them learn unfamiliar terms via the glossary or from context rather than an aside unless Meneka herself needs an explanation.
Meneka and Kaushika’s romantic arc is one full of push-and-pull, as Meneka stays at his ashram and gets to know him and the other people there, as well as their beliefs, but he initially keeps his distance. Initially, Meneka tries to see what he lusts after and cannot find anything, surprising her. It isn’t until later that she finally sees Kaushika is attracted to her as well, but that he has a good handle on controlling himself. By that point, she is attracted to him as well despite her mission and her relationship back in the heavens with another apsara, Rambha.
As noted in the author’s note, there is a layer of eroticism that never goes away even if there are only a handful of sexual scenes on the page. The original story of Menaka involves her seducing a man and this aspect is never brushed aside or minimized. Meneka has had other lovers and so have many of the other characters, including Rambha, and members of the ashram where Meneka stays. I really appreciated this because Rao makes it clear that sex is not dirty or shameful and that female sexuality is powerful. In a time where it feels like more and more people want to hide that sex even exists, we need works that are not erotica that celebrate the freedom to choose our partners no matter the gender.
I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology tellings and readers looking for a fantasy that celebrates human sexuality
January 28, 2025
Absolutely beautiful. Rao writes lyrically, the world coming to you fully formed and lush. After I finished the book, I told a friend that I could not really find the words to say how much I enjoyed this, only that I did and it was wonderful. I loved the intense exploration of Meneka. I loved the ending. I loved this book.
I will only say that I think it was a disservice to market this book as romantasy. It was a fantasy with romantic elements. I saw several people angry in the Goodreads review who were expecting something different from this book based on it being described as an enemies to lovers romantasy.
I will only say that I think it was a disservice to market this book as romantasy. It was a fantasy with romantic elements. I saw several people angry in the Goodreads review who were expecting something different from this book based on it being described as an enemies to lovers romantasy.
July 24, 2025
the pacing was weird. the plot did not really make sense. mid.
January 27, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5*
First of all, can I just say how happy I am that in the past couple of years there have been so many stories inspired by Hinduism and Hindu myths that have been discovered and published??? - from retellings/reimaginings such as Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River to inspired fantasy such as The Surviving Sky by the same author. When I saw that she has a new book coming out and that it's a romantasy! - although I'm not the biggest fan of the subgenre but I was instantly interested to read it.
The Legend of Meneka is based on a Hindu myth that I wasn't familiar with - about Meneka, an apsara that was commanded by Deva Indra - the king of heaven - to seduce Sage Kaushika in order to stop him from threatening Deva Indra's realm. But instead, Meneka found herself falling for her mark and questioning everything she was taught and known about her world.
I really enjoyed reading this one - I thought the plot was well developed and executed, and the writing just flew. The romance was great too even though I would've preferred a slower development, but the way the author wrote the push and pull of the characters and the tension between them was well done. I thought Kritika wrote the characters with a lot of heart and thoughtfulness which was why it was easy for me to be able to root for the characters. Even without the romance, I thought the storyline of Meneka was really good by itself especially the way that she had to encounter conditions and realities that made her question her own beliefs and struggle through her mission.
Also can I give this book an appreciation for giving us a glossary??? I didn't really need it and it made me happy that I was able to recognize a lot of the phrases and characters in the book but I knew that the glossary would really help other readers not familiar with Hinduism.
First of all, can I just say how happy I am that in the past couple of years there have been so many stories inspired by Hinduism and Hindu myths that have been discovered and published??? - from retellings/reimaginings such as Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River to inspired fantasy such as The Surviving Sky by the same author. When I saw that she has a new book coming out and that it's a romantasy! - although I'm not the biggest fan of the subgenre but I was instantly interested to read it.
The Legend of Meneka is based on a Hindu myth that I wasn't familiar with - about Meneka, an apsara that was commanded by Deva Indra - the king of heaven - to seduce Sage Kaushika in order to stop him from threatening Deva Indra's realm. But instead, Meneka found herself falling for her mark and questioning everything she was taught and known about her world.
I really enjoyed reading this one - I thought the plot was well developed and executed, and the writing just flew. The romance was great too even though I would've preferred a slower development, but the way the author wrote the push and pull of the characters and the tension between them was well done. I thought Kritika wrote the characters with a lot of heart and thoughtfulness which was why it was easy for me to be able to root for the characters. Even without the romance, I thought the storyline of Meneka was really good by itself especially the way that she had to encounter conditions and realities that made her question her own beliefs and struggle through her mission.
Also can I give this book an appreciation for giving us a glossary??? I didn't really need it and it made me happy that I was able to recognize a lot of the phrases and characters in the book but I knew that the glossary would really help other readers not familiar with Hinduism.
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