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The Divine Dancers #2
The Rise of the Celestials
Internationally bestselling author Kritika H. Rao weaves a stunning tale of love, seduction, and betrayal in this enchanting and romantic conclusion to the Divine Dancers duology that started with The Legend of Meneka
After completing her dangerous mission to seduce Sage Kaushika—and unexpectedly finding love in the process—Meneka enjoys a fragile freedom. She now lives in the mortal realm with Kaushika, both learning to trust each other. Yet deep differences linger between them, and conflicting loyalties may still tear them apart.
The illusion of peace shatters when Meneka is abruptly summoned back to the City of Immortals by Lord Indra, who demands her help in facing a threat from the demonic realm. Meneka wants nothing to do with Indra’s schemes, but she can’t return to Kaushika unless she complies. If she fails, her immortal home will fall, Kaushika will be lost to her, and her very identity as an apsara will become forfeit.
To save all she loves, Meneka must navigate the darkest corners of the Immortal Realm, pursued by monsters and demons. But the greatest danger lies in a truth she cannot outrun—one that could shatter her bond with Kaushika forever.
This sequel to The Legend of Meneka brings the celestial dancer’s saga to a thrilling conclusion, delving deeper into Hindu mythology as she faces an ancient threat—and confronts truths buried in her own heart.
After completing her dangerous mission to seduce Sage Kaushika—and unexpectedly finding love in the process—Meneka enjoys a fragile freedom. She now lives in the mortal realm with Kaushika, both learning to trust each other. Yet deep differences linger between them, and conflicting loyalties may still tear them apart.
The illusion of peace shatters when Meneka is abruptly summoned back to the City of Immortals by Lord Indra, who demands her help in facing a threat from the demonic realm. Meneka wants nothing to do with Indra’s schemes, but she can’t return to Kaushika unless she complies. If she fails, her immortal home will fall, Kaushika will be lost to her, and her very identity as an apsara will become forfeit.
To save all she loves, Meneka must navigate the darkest corners of the Immortal Realm, pursued by monsters and demons. But the greatest danger lies in a truth she cannot outrun—one that could shatter her bond with Kaushika forever.
This sequel to The Legend of Meneka brings the celestial dancer’s saga to a thrilling conclusion, delving deeper into Hindu mythology as she faces an ancient threat—and confronts truths buried in her own heart.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Kritika H. Rao
6 books305 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 35 reviews
May 9, 2026
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Beautiful!
Meneka has little time to enjoy her fragile freedom after completing her mission to seduce Rishi Kaushika and finding love in the process. She now lives in the mortal world at his ashram, ignoring the differences and focusing on their love.
However, Meneka is summoned by Indra to help face a threat from the asura realm. While she wants nothing to do with it, ignoring the summons could take away everything she has. Navigating the darkest realm seems less dangerous than the truth that could destroy her bond to Kaushika forever.
The story comes in Meneka’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
This is not a standalone. It starts pretty much a month after the previous book (The Legend of Meneka) ends. Though there is some backstory, it doesn’t give everything you might need to follow this one.
There’s a glossary at the beginning for non-English words. The author’s note at the end is informative too, but more so if you have at least some idea about Hindu scriptures, devas, etc.
The book is mainly about Meneka’s growth, which started in the previous one and continues here. There is a lot of internal dialogue, which can feel repetitive. However, it is necessary. The conflict is not as binary as it appears. I don’t know how many readers would actually understand the nuance here. Many people, sadly, follow a binary rhetoric where it is either this or that. Life hardly works that way, and nothing in Hinduism is binary. There are always multiple streams, many permutations and combinations, and a grey area that has to be acknowledged. Meneka’s internal conflict and a part of the external conflict reflect this. If you understand this, you will understand her worry better.
Kaushika is more mellow in this one because he has changed a little and wants to be more compassionate and guided by love. Of course, we do get a few glimpses of his original form, but this change brings him closer to his newer version, the one where he became Vishwamitra.
The romance is spicier, but it has to be. She is an apsara, and someone who is her true self when she is with the men she loves. I love how this aspect comes into play during the climax. Not just her individual growth, but their bond too. Beautiful!
Nanda has a bigger role, and I really like her. Given how apsaras are meant to be alluring and complicated with several masks, she is refreshingly straightforward, which is a result of her trauma in book one.
Matali is actually Indra’s trusted charioteer, but the author made him a gandharva (and a charioteer). His relationship with Indra is the same (they are very close), though. I did expect him to have a slightly bigger role when he was introduced.
The descriptions are as beautiful as ever and paint a picture of the setting. Interestingly, Naraka here is more of the commercial version (the nightmarish one). Yama’s sabha in the Mahabharata is described as full of light. However, both versions are true, and they co-exist. It depends on what the sabha and Yama want people to see. I did feel Yama wasn’t fully explored. Yes, we do get a discussion about him being Dharma Raja, the deva of dharma (justice, righteousness, etc.), but maybe a bit about Meneka realizing (later, after the war) the implication of a certain statement would have helped (when Sachi is part Indra, judging Indra means judging Sachi too).
The concept of Yama’s judgment is straightforward but complex. Despite being a dharma raja, he is not above dharma. In fact, in Hinduism, kings are not above/beyond the law. They are bound by law and take an oath to reinforce it without bias. The same applies even to the deva of dharma. He can only enforce it according to the set laws, not wield it like a weapon. So, a person is judged and awarded for merits and demerits. The good deeds are rewarded, the bad deeds are punished. Being a good person doesn’t mean their bad deeds are forgiven, and vice versa. That’s why in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas and Draupadi go through Naraka first. Once their punishment ended, they were taken to Svarga. Similarly, Duryodhana went to Svarga first to enjoy the rewards of his good deeds.
Simple equation:
Few good deeds = svarga first, naraka next
Few bad deeds = naraka first, svarga next
The judgment at the end of the war in this book follows a similar concept, while honoring the divine masculine and divine feminine energies equally. One cannot exist without the other. Elevating one and ignoring the other is what leads to disarray, and we see it in what happens between Indra and Sachi (and how it affects so many others). The scene also serves as a reflection of how the main characters grew. It takes them closer to what they wanted—individually and together.
The war scenes have to be my favorite! Nothing gory or terrifying. No arrows whizzing or spears being hurled. There is some violence, but the focus is on prana and Shakti (magic and power in the purest and truest form). I was hoping for a scene with Shakti in this book, and man, I got something more than I expected. While it wasn’t as emotionally vulnerable as the other one (it wasn’t meant to be), it was beautifully powerful and inspiring. It does what Shakti does—awaken the mind, heart, and soul.
One reason I kept postponing this book was the ending. I knew how the original ended, and wasn’t sure if this would go the same way. Without revealing spoilers, let’s say, it made me very happy. Phew! Such a relief, and it makes me sad that I didn’t read the book until now.
To summarize, The Rise of the Celestials is a fitting end to the duology and is as beautiful as the first one, though differently. What makes me happier is that the author stays true to her Hindu self while highlighting many aspects modern readers can relate to. The resolution is focused on that one word she highlights in her note—harmony (balancing the divine masculine and divine feminine).
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheRiseOfTheCelestials
One Liner: Beautiful!
Meneka has little time to enjoy her fragile freedom after completing her mission to seduce Rishi Kaushika and finding love in the process. She now lives in the mortal world at his ashram, ignoring the differences and focusing on their love.
However, Meneka is summoned by Indra to help face a threat from the asura realm. While she wants nothing to do with it, ignoring the summons could take away everything she has. Navigating the darkest realm seems less dangerous than the truth that could destroy her bond to Kaushika forever.
The story comes in Meneka’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
This is not a standalone. It starts pretty much a month after the previous book (The Legend of Meneka) ends. Though there is some backstory, it doesn’t give everything you might need to follow this one.
There’s a glossary at the beginning for non-English words. The author’s note at the end is informative too, but more so if you have at least some idea about Hindu scriptures, devas, etc.
The book is mainly about Meneka’s growth, which started in the previous one and continues here. There is a lot of internal dialogue, which can feel repetitive. However, it is necessary. The conflict is not as binary as it appears. I don’t know how many readers would actually understand the nuance here. Many people, sadly, follow a binary rhetoric where it is either this or that. Life hardly works that way, and nothing in Hinduism is binary. There are always multiple streams, many permutations and combinations, and a grey area that has to be acknowledged. Meneka’s internal conflict and a part of the external conflict reflect this. If you understand this, you will understand her worry better.
Kaushika is more mellow in this one because he has changed a little and wants to be more compassionate and guided by love. Of course, we do get a few glimpses of his original form, but this change brings him closer to his newer version, the one where he became Vishwamitra.
The romance is spicier, but it has to be. She is an apsara, and someone who is her true self when she is with the men she loves. I love how this aspect comes into play during the climax. Not just her individual growth, but their bond too. Beautiful!
Nanda has a bigger role, and I really like her. Given how apsaras are meant to be alluring and complicated with several masks, she is refreshingly straightforward, which is a result of her trauma in book one.
Matali is actually Indra’s trusted charioteer, but the author made him a gandharva (and a charioteer). His relationship with Indra is the same (they are very close), though. I did expect him to have a slightly bigger role when he was introduced.
The descriptions are as beautiful as ever and paint a picture of the setting. Interestingly, Naraka here is more of the commercial version (the nightmarish one). Yama’s sabha in the Mahabharata is described as full of light. However, both versions are true, and they co-exist. It depends on what the sabha and Yama want people to see. I did feel Yama wasn’t fully explored. Yes, we do get a discussion about him being Dharma Raja, the deva of dharma (justice, righteousness, etc.), but maybe a bit about Meneka realizing (later, after the war) the implication of a certain statement would have helped (when Sachi is part Indra, judging Indra means judging Sachi too).
The concept of Yama’s judgment is straightforward but complex. Despite being a dharma raja, he is not above dharma. In fact, in Hinduism, kings are not above/beyond the law. They are bound by law and take an oath to reinforce it without bias. The same applies even to the deva of dharma. He can only enforce it according to the set laws, not wield it like a weapon. So, a person is judged and awarded for merits and demerits. The good deeds are rewarded, the bad deeds are punished. Being a good person doesn’t mean their bad deeds are forgiven, and vice versa. That’s why in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas and Draupadi go through Naraka first. Once their punishment ended, they were taken to Svarga. Similarly, Duryodhana went to Svarga first to enjoy the rewards of his good deeds.
Simple equation:
Few good deeds = svarga first, naraka next
Few bad deeds = naraka first, svarga next
The judgment at the end of the war in this book follows a similar concept, while honoring the divine masculine and divine feminine energies equally. One cannot exist without the other. Elevating one and ignoring the other is what leads to disarray, and we see it in what happens between Indra and Sachi (and how it affects so many others). The scene also serves as a reflection of how the main characters grew. It takes them closer to what they wanted—individually and together.
The war scenes have to be my favorite! Nothing gory or terrifying. No arrows whizzing or spears being hurled. There is some violence, but the focus is on prana and Shakti (magic and power in the purest and truest form). I was hoping for a scene with Shakti in this book, and man, I got something more than I expected. While it wasn’t as emotionally vulnerable as the other one (it wasn’t meant to be), it was beautifully powerful and inspiring. It does what Shakti does—awaken the mind, heart, and soul.
One reason I kept postponing this book was the ending. I knew how the original ended, and wasn’t sure if this would go the same way. Without revealing spoilers, let’s say, it made me very happy. Phew! Such a relief, and it makes me sad that I didn’t read the book until now.
To summarize, The Rise of the Celestials is a fitting end to the duology and is as beautiful as the first one, though differently. What makes me happier is that the author stays true to her Hindu self while highlighting many aspects modern readers can relate to. The resolution is focused on that one word she highlights in her note—harmony (balancing the divine masculine and divine feminine).
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheRiseOfTheCelestials
April 12, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Rise of the Celestials now.
Kritika H. Rao crafted a gorgeous conclusion to the Divine Dancers duology, rich with expanded lore, world-building, and explorations of love and divinity. The Rise of the Celestials takes big swings, and I would say it executes on them pretty well.
We follow Meneka on a journey to the underworld, torn away from Kaushika but determined to help protect her home from old and new threats. While there, she encounters new beings from Hindu mythology, new creatures, and new forms of magic that reshape her understanding of the world. As the reader, we're mostly along for the ride as Meneka attempts to absorb all of this new information and use it to protect her loved ones.
The problem with her task is that her loved ones have conflicting goals and motives. She loves Kaushika, but he's still bound by his vow. She cares for Shachi and Lord Indra, even as they have wronged her and each other. She cares even for those she's met in the underworld, though they have challenged her worldview. This is a very introspective book, and Rao paints a delicate balance between internal character growth and external conflicts that keep the book moving.
Sometimes the internal moments slowed things down for me a bit, but overall, I really appreciated the journey Meneka undertook, and especially how her relationships evolved. You might think everything was wrapped up at the end of The Legend of Meneka, but The Rise of the Celestials truly shows you how much more Meneka (and the readers) had to learn and grow.
Kaushika and Meneka are such a fascinating couple to me. In Book 1, I was ALL IN on their relationship, feeling the depths of their love and betrayal and path toward rebuilding trust. We see that trust TRULY put to the test in this sequel, and there were moments that I feared they could never recover from. But by the end, I once again felt fully invested in them, and I loved how their relationship transcended the emotional and physical to emphasize the spiritual as well.
And the spice?? I fear Kritika H. Rao is truly underrated when it comes to fantasy romance books. I saw another reviewer say that Kaushika and Meneka feel truly SENSUAL, and I agree wholeheartedly. Every moment between them is intentional, intimate, vulnerable, titillating, and just... representative of two people connecting on a level few can comprehend.
So, all in all, if you want to explore more Hindu mythology and read a compelling duology full of self-identity, divinity, action, magic, and delicious spice, this is def the series for you!
Kritika H. Rao crafted a gorgeous conclusion to the Divine Dancers duology, rich with expanded lore, world-building, and explorations of love and divinity. The Rise of the Celestials takes big swings, and I would say it executes on them pretty well.
We follow Meneka on a journey to the underworld, torn away from Kaushika but determined to help protect her home from old and new threats. While there, she encounters new beings from Hindu mythology, new creatures, and new forms of magic that reshape her understanding of the world. As the reader, we're mostly along for the ride as Meneka attempts to absorb all of this new information and use it to protect her loved ones.
The problem with her task is that her loved ones have conflicting goals and motives. She loves Kaushika, but he's still bound by his vow. She cares for Shachi and Lord Indra, even as they have wronged her and each other. She cares even for those she's met in the underworld, though they have challenged her worldview. This is a very introspective book, and Rao paints a delicate balance between internal character growth and external conflicts that keep the book moving.
Sometimes the internal moments slowed things down for me a bit, but overall, I really appreciated the journey Meneka undertook, and especially how her relationships evolved. You might think everything was wrapped up at the end of The Legend of Meneka, but The Rise of the Celestials truly shows you how much more Meneka (and the readers) had to learn and grow.
Kaushika and Meneka are such a fascinating couple to me. In Book 1, I was ALL IN on their relationship, feeling the depths of their love and betrayal and path toward rebuilding trust. We see that trust TRULY put to the test in this sequel, and there were moments that I feared they could never recover from. But by the end, I once again felt fully invested in them, and I loved how their relationship transcended the emotional and physical to emphasize the spiritual as well.
And the spice?? I fear Kritika H. Rao is truly underrated when it comes to fantasy romance books. I saw another reviewer say that Kaushika and Meneka feel truly SENSUAL, and I agree wholeheartedly. Every moment between them is intentional, intimate, vulnerable, titillating, and just... representative of two people connecting on a level few can comprehend.
So, all in all, if you want to explore more Hindu mythology and read a compelling duology full of self-identity, divinity, action, magic, and delicious spice, this is def the series for you!
Did Not Finish
February 26, 2026DNF @28%
I loved book one, so this is a really hard DNF for me. Unfortunately, I was just so so confused. The magic and terms in this book are over my head. I referred to the glossary a lot, but there were words I didn’t know that weren’t in the glossary, so I just remained confused, and I don’t like feeling that way as I read, so it’s a DNF. I really really hope this book finds success and it seems like it will be a satisfying conclusion to the duology! I’m really bummed I couldn’t finish it. :/
I loved book one, so this is a really hard DNF for me. Unfortunately, I was just so so confused. The magic and terms in this book are over my head. I referred to the glossary a lot, but there were words I didn’t know that weren’t in the glossary, so I just remained confused, and I don’t like feeling that way as I read, so it’s a DNF. I really really hope this book finds success and it seems like it will be a satisfying conclusion to the duology! I’m really bummed I couldn’t finish it. :/
April 18, 2026
I would give this 6 stars if I could. I am in awe that I get to live in a time when a book like this exists. Having loved fantasy from a young age, I always craved stories that incorporated the magnificent characters of Hindu mythology, the very stories central to the culture I was raised in. In this stunning conclusion to a near-perfect duology, Kritika H. Rao delivers exactly that. The heart of this book is its exploration of Shakti. By placing primordial feminine energy at the center of the narrative, Rao reminds us that this isn't just a secondary force, it is the power of the universe that keeps everything running. I was particularly moved by the inclusion of the goddesses I grew up celebrating, as their strength provides the backbone for the climax that allows Meneka to fulfill her destiny. As the book powerfully notes, "Even the Destroyer of Worlds relies on Shakti, the primordial creative energy, to function." Perhaps the most impressive achievement is how the author turns the apsara trope on its head. In traditional myth, apsaras are often reduced to mere temptresses who are in the background of the stories; here, Meneka is the primary moral and cosmic arbiter capable of navigating the complexities of this divine realms. In doing this, she comes to understand the difference between balance and harmony and concludes that harmony is the brave acceptance of our internal chaos and contradictions and is what is needed over balance. While there is a beautiful love story at the heart of this “romantasy,” Meneka’s journey is about more than just romance; it’s about the devotion she holds for everyone she loves and the reclamation of an identity that was once imposed upon her. I am genuinely sad that this journey is over with this second book of the duology, and I truly hope this author continues to give us more stories that breathe such life into my favorite ancient myths!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.25/5
Heat Index: 7/10
—sequel to The Legend of Meneka (read that first!)
—based on Hindu mythology
—"so we chose each other—now what?"
—JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS OUT!!!
The Basics:
Apsara Meneka chose her lover, the sage Kaushika, over her mission to destroy him, and now lives with him in the mortal realm, in love... if not entirely at peace. Trust between them is complicated, to say the least. Lord Indra summons Meneka back to the Immortal Realm out of nowhere, with no choice but to help him vanquish a threat from the demonic realm. If she doesn't, there's no returning to Kaushika, and she'll lose everything, including her identity as an apsara. But even as she fights to save the Immortal Realm, Meneka knows... there are things that could keep her and Kaushika apart no matter what she does.
The Review:
I think I said, when reviewing The Legend of Meneka, that the book was maybe more fantasy technically, but also made sense as a fantasy romance, and this stays true for The Rise of the Celestials. The worldbuilding is lush, there's a Big Fantasy plot (although it's technically low fantasy, as it's still rooted in the real historical world), and plenty of fighting-magic-boom action.
But this book also says "um, we're smart, but we're also carnal" from the jump, because we open with Kaushika giving Meneka the ol' "having sex because we can now", and I loved that so much. Like, hell yeah, Kritika H. Rao, I salute you.
This dives further into the world of the immortals than the first, taking Meneka back to where she began, whereas the first novel was throwing her into unfamiliar territory. This naturally makes it a little slower and think-ier at points, but not in a bad way. Rao takes the time to expand the world and create something broader, more fascinating.
Did I love Meneka and Kaushika getting separated? I have mixed feelings. This is something we see kind of often in romantic duologies or trilogies, at least when the main couple gets together in the first book. It's a device that can get tired. However, Meneka and Kaushika are a couple who definitely ended the first novel in a place where I felt like they loved each other, but did not completely, totally trust each other. There were unresolved issues, and their separation forces them to confront those problems in a way that's mature without seeming "perfect". These are two people with great power, and their relationship doesn't exist without sacrifice.
Rao also takes the opportunity to expand on figures like Indra, not just in terms of plot but character and emotionality as well. I'm not a Hindu, and I can't speak to how Rao handles the mythology in terms of accuracy. But on a creative level, I really appreciate how grounded in reality these divine characters felt.
While the love story isn't quite as central to this installment as it was the last, I still think, through all the battles and and conflict, it remains the book's heart. And while Rao confronts the supernatural, the spiritual, conflicts between identity and duty and love (and if love is truly Enough), Meneka and Kaushika keep you invested all the way through, emotionally. It's a difficult balance to strike, and for me, she got it.
The Sex:
Like I said, this begins with a sex scene, and it's far from the only one. In fact, there's a truly unhinged scene later that made me literally kick my feet.
One thing I feel like Rao gets better than so many authors today is how expansive the word "sensual" can be. The last encounter in this novel is so... beautiful. It's sexy, it's carnal, it's titillating. But it also just FEELS truly sensual, in a way I find a lot of novels struggle with.
So yeah. It's hot.
The Conclusion:
Make sure to read The Legend of Meneka first—and then get your beautifully written, satisfying, and yes, sexy ending (HEA included) here. So happy with how it turned out for Meneka and Kaushika.
Thanks to Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
read
Heat Index: 7/10
—sequel to The Legend of Meneka (read that first!)
—based on Hindu mythology
—"so we chose each other—now what?"
—JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS OUT!!!
The Basics:
Apsara Meneka chose her lover, the sage Kaushika, over her mission to destroy him, and now lives with him in the mortal realm, in love... if not entirely at peace. Trust between them is complicated, to say the least. Lord Indra summons Meneka back to the Immortal Realm out of nowhere, with no choice but to help him vanquish a threat from the demonic realm. If she doesn't, there's no returning to Kaushika, and she'll lose everything, including her identity as an apsara. But even as she fights to save the Immortal Realm, Meneka knows... there are things that could keep her and Kaushika apart no matter what she does.
The Review:
I think I said, when reviewing The Legend of Meneka, that the book was maybe more fantasy technically, but also made sense as a fantasy romance, and this stays true for The Rise of the Celestials. The worldbuilding is lush, there's a Big Fantasy plot (although it's technically low fantasy, as it's still rooted in the real historical world), and plenty of fighting-magic-boom action.
But this book also says "um, we're smart, but we're also carnal" from the jump, because we open with Kaushika giving Meneka the ol' "having sex because we can now", and I loved that so much. Like, hell yeah, Kritika H. Rao, I salute you.
This dives further into the world of the immortals than the first, taking Meneka back to where she began, whereas the first novel was throwing her into unfamiliar territory. This naturally makes it a little slower and think-ier at points, but not in a bad way. Rao takes the time to expand the world and create something broader, more fascinating.
Did I love Meneka and Kaushika getting separated? I have mixed feelings. This is something we see kind of often in romantic duologies or trilogies, at least when the main couple gets together in the first book. It's a device that can get tired. However, Meneka and Kaushika are a couple who definitely ended the first novel in a place where I felt like they loved each other, but did not completely, totally trust each other. There were unresolved issues, and their separation forces them to confront those problems in a way that's mature without seeming "perfect". These are two people with great power, and their relationship doesn't exist without sacrifice.
Rao also takes the opportunity to expand on figures like Indra, not just in terms of plot but character and emotionality as well. I'm not a Hindu, and I can't speak to how Rao handles the mythology in terms of accuracy. But on a creative level, I really appreciate how grounded in reality these divine characters felt.
While the love story isn't quite as central to this installment as it was the last, I still think, through all the battles and and conflict, it remains the book's heart. And while Rao confronts the supernatural, the spiritual, conflicts between identity and duty and love (and if love is truly Enough), Meneka and Kaushika keep you invested all the way through, emotionally. It's a difficult balance to strike, and for me, she got it.
The Sex:
Like I said, this begins with a sex scene, and it's far from the only one. In fact, there's a truly unhinged scene later that made me literally kick my feet.
One thing I feel like Rao gets better than so many authors today is how expansive the word "sensual" can be. The last encounter in this novel is so... beautiful. It's sexy, it's carnal, it's titillating. But it also just FEELS truly sensual, in a way I find a lot of novels struggle with.
So yeah. It's hot.
The Conclusion:
Make sure to read The Legend of Meneka first—and then get your beautifully written, satisfying, and yes, sexy ending (HEA included) here. So happy with how it turned out for Meneka and Kaushika.
Thanks to Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
read
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The epic conclusion to the Celestial Dancers duology is a beautiful exploration of love and Shakti. Meneka and Kaushika's budding relationship undergoes plenty of trials and separation without ever feeling contrived, though I would have loved to read more of them together. Still, the story makes them WORK for that HEA, and the payoff is excellent.
So, where we left off after The Legend of Meneka: Having stopped one celestial war, Meneka and Kaushika are happy to abscond away to a remote hut in the woods and explore their newfound love... except shit's fucked in the Heavens once more (as it often is— a classic in Hindu mythology, especially where the later variations of the Lord of the Heavens, Indra, are concerned, as Kritika H. Rao says in her author's note. Imagine the kind of messy antics Zeus gets up to and how Hera reacts. That's basically Indra and Shachi!), and Meneka is sent on a quest to the underworlds.
Through it all, Kaushika is an anchor to Meneka, even during times of separation and discord sown by outside forces. Their relationship is steady but passionate, and without spoiling too much, I think the climactic battle might be the HOTTEST THING just because this man is like, TAUNTING her with his *sexual wiles* and SEDUCING HER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLEFIELD?!? That's the kind of cinematic, romantic moments I'm here for in romantasies.
As I read through this book, I was reminded of both the beauty and nuances found within Hindu scripture and mythology, and some notes on that:
a) Death and destruction have shades—though death is inevitable, life and death are cyclical, and Yama, the god of death, is also the god of justice, a righteous being.
b) Meneka spends much of this book harnessing Shakti, the cosmic energy that is the basis of everything and everyone. I don't know if characterizing Shakti as a kind of "magic" is quite accurate, and it's probably done to fit with romantasy genre conventions. Though Shakti is a universal energy, it is described as feminine (though not limited to women), which I think is extremely special when much of religion is so patriarchal, and the goddesses who... I suppose, personify Shakti, are extremely powerful in their own right and worshipped to this day. Accordingly, much of this story is about the strength women wield, and sisterhood.
c) The Gods are powerful but fallible— the secondary romance in this story might very well be Lord Indra and Shachi, who are basically a married couple on the outs in a BIG way this entire story.
The sex:
The nice thing about a duology with an already-established couple is that we are far more likely to get a ten page sex scene in the first chapter... AND WE DO! Kaushike and Meneka get off on the cerebral aspect of sex as much as the physical, and I love the light femdom component— Meneka loves to tease and edge, while Kaushika is usually more rough and demanding when she makes him crack.
Overall:
I'm not a romantasy reader by any means but Kritika H. Rao has done a fantastic job making this duology genuinely sexy, and Very Adult in its concerns. Meneka and Kaushika are both people with years of experience and understanding, and their love story is accordingly nuanced and... dare I say once more, epic.
Thank you to Avon for the advanced copy.
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: April 7th
So, where we left off after The Legend of Meneka: Having stopped one celestial war, Meneka and Kaushika are happy to abscond away to a remote hut in the woods and explore their newfound love... except shit's fucked in the Heavens once more (as it often is— a classic in Hindu mythology, especially where the later variations of the Lord of the Heavens, Indra, are concerned, as Kritika H. Rao says in her author's note. Imagine the kind of messy antics Zeus gets up to and how Hera reacts. That's basically Indra and Shachi!), and Meneka is sent on a quest to the underworlds.
Through it all, Kaushika is an anchor to Meneka, even during times of separation and discord sown by outside forces. Their relationship is steady but passionate, and without spoiling too much, I think the climactic battle might be the HOTTEST THING just because this man is like, TAUNTING her with his *sexual wiles* and SEDUCING HER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLEFIELD?!? That's the kind of cinematic, romantic moments I'm here for in romantasies.
As I read through this book, I was reminded of both the beauty and nuances found within Hindu scripture and mythology, and some notes on that:
a) Death and destruction have shades—though death is inevitable, life and death are cyclical, and Yama, the god of death, is also the god of justice, a righteous being.
b) Meneka spends much of this book harnessing Shakti, the cosmic energy that is the basis of everything and everyone. I don't know if characterizing Shakti as a kind of "magic" is quite accurate, and it's probably done to fit with romantasy genre conventions. Though Shakti is a universal energy, it is described as feminine (though not limited to women), which I think is extremely special when much of religion is so patriarchal, and the goddesses who... I suppose, personify Shakti, are extremely powerful in their own right and worshipped to this day. Accordingly, much of this story is about the strength women wield, and sisterhood.
c) The Gods are powerful but fallible— the secondary romance in this story might very well be Lord Indra and Shachi, who are basically a married couple on the outs in a BIG way this entire story.
The sex:
The nice thing about a duology with an already-established couple is that we are far more likely to get a ten page sex scene in the first chapter... AND WE DO! Kaushike and Meneka get off on the cerebral aspect of sex as much as the physical, and I love the light femdom component— Meneka loves to tease and edge, while Kaushika is usually more rough and demanding when she makes him crack.
Overall:
I'm not a romantasy reader by any means but Kritika H. Rao has done a fantastic job making this duology genuinely sexy, and Very Adult in its concerns. Meneka and Kaushika are both people with years of experience and understanding, and their love story is accordingly nuanced and... dare I say once more, epic.
Thank you to Avon for the advanced copy.
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: April 7th
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is how he sees me. His muse, his light, his goddess...
The Rise of the Celestials is the second and final instalment in the adult romantasy duology, The Divine Dancers. Written in third person POV the story continues after the events of Legend of Meneka, as Meneka, now living in the mortal realm with her Sage, finds herself drawn back to the City of Immortals as a threat from the demonic realm threatens the home. If she does not help Indra, the city will fall, she will lose Kaushika, and her identity will be lost. As she finds herself drawn into the deepest recesses of the Immortal realm, Meneka realizes there are secrets she must confront...secrets that might tear her and Kaushika apart forever.
I love the dynamic between Kaushika and Meneka in this book so much!
Meneka is definitely having to confront her secrets in this book that challenge how she views the world. Her journey around her faith and what she values is core to her story and it blended beautifully with the romance as she must decide.
Kaushika continues to be a figure who gets Meneka to question and re-evaluate and I felt he was so necessary for Meneka's journey. He definitely is secretive and holding back but he embraces Meneka as she is and I liked that regardless of the tensions at play you could see how much she means to him.
"Always," he whispers. "I always want this with you. I always want you."
In terms of spice I would place this book at 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are approximately 3 spicy peppers with the first scene around the 5% mark. This story follows a couple in an establishment relationship so the spice fit what was happening between them. The spice is more romantically written versus explicit. The romance and this book had a beautiful touch of yearning to it as our characters find themselves on opposite sides, realms, and worlds. I loved seeing the moments when they found each other again and the honesty that grew between them - no matter what truths were revealed they loved each other.
The story itself is a lot more fantasy focused than the previous book. There are quests across realms, tricky gods playing games, and exploration of faith. I struggled at times because there isn't a lot of dialogue between characters and instead more of a focus on introspection here. I will also say our MCs are separated a lot which left me with mixed feelings and I love them together. I found the mythology fascinating to explore and see how it built up. I loved the romance and I felt the side characters balanced this good and evil line ever so carefully. It was such a fast read for me as I just wanted to keep going. The ending is beautiful and felt satisfactory for how this built up to.
Overall, I loved how we closed Meneka and Kaushika's journey! I am very curious for what more comes along from Kritika!
Thank you Harper Voyager for the arc!
This is how he sees me. His muse, his light, his goddess...
The Rise of the Celestials is the second and final instalment in the adult romantasy duology, The Divine Dancers. Written in third person POV the story continues after the events of Legend of Meneka, as Meneka, now living in the mortal realm with her Sage, finds herself drawn back to the City of Immortals as a threat from the demonic realm threatens the home. If she does not help Indra, the city will fall, she will lose Kaushika, and her identity will be lost. As she finds herself drawn into the deepest recesses of the Immortal realm, Meneka realizes there are secrets she must confront...secrets that might tear her and Kaushika apart forever.
I love the dynamic between Kaushika and Meneka in this book so much!
Meneka is definitely having to confront her secrets in this book that challenge how she views the world. Her journey around her faith and what she values is core to her story and it blended beautifully with the romance as she must decide.
Kaushika continues to be a figure who gets Meneka to question and re-evaluate and I felt he was so necessary for Meneka's journey. He definitely is secretive and holding back but he embraces Meneka as she is and I liked that regardless of the tensions at play you could see how much she means to him.
"Always," he whispers. "I always want this with you. I always want you."
In terms of spice I would place this book at 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are approximately 3 spicy peppers with the first scene around the 5% mark. This story follows a couple in an establishment relationship so the spice fit what was happening between them. The spice is more romantically written versus explicit. The romance and this book had a beautiful touch of yearning to it as our characters find themselves on opposite sides, realms, and worlds. I loved seeing the moments when they found each other again and the honesty that grew between them - no matter what truths were revealed they loved each other.
The story itself is a lot more fantasy focused than the previous book. There are quests across realms, tricky gods playing games, and exploration of faith. I struggled at times because there isn't a lot of dialogue between characters and instead more of a focus on introspection here. I will also say our MCs are separated a lot which left me with mixed feelings and I love them together. I found the mythology fascinating to explore and see how it built up. I loved the romance and I felt the side characters balanced this good and evil line ever so carefully. It was such a fast read for me as I just wanted to keep going. The ending is beautiful and felt satisfactory for how this built up to.
Overall, I loved how we closed Meneka and Kaushika's journey! I am very curious for what more comes along from Kritika!
Thank you Harper Voyager for the arc!
May 24, 2026
★★★★☆ 4 out of 5 stars
First of all, Kritika H. Rao?? What did we do to deserve this level of high-stakes, lore-heavy, celestial absolute madness? Sequel syndrome where? She really said "Oh, you liked the first book? Cool, here’s a bucket of ancient mythology, political betrayal, and cosmic stakes so high they’re currently orbiting Mars."
We open with Meneka & Kaushika in their little mortal love nest, trying to be soft and domestic, and Rao immediately goes, “haha no ❤” and drags Meneka back to Indra’s glittering snake pit to fix a whole demonic crisis or lose her home, her man, and basically her entire identity as an apsara. The whiplash between cozy intimacy and “welcome back to celestial politics, hope you packed trauma” is insane in the best way. That first spicy scene? Honestly one of the most gorgeous, lyrical, actually-earned sex scenes I’ve read in romantasy! it feels like devotion and danger braided together instead of just, you know, insert steam here.
What I absolutely loved:
ミ☆ That first scene? One of the most gorgeous, lyrical, actually-earned moments I’ve read in romantasy. It felt like devotion and danger braided together rather than just a random smut break. 10/10, no notes, I was blushing.
ミ☆ I lived for Meneka being a menace and verbally drop-kicking Indra while being trapped in his system. Every time a celestial or demon underestimated her and she responded with weaponized grace? My skin cleared. My crops flourished.
ミ☆ The way dharma vs. desire vs. survival is woven into her choices is deliciously messy. Loving Kaushika doesn’t magically fix the fact that he’s a literal threat to her entire world. We love a complicated queen!
Do I think the plot sometimes did the absolute most when I just wanted them to sit down and TALK instead of hiding world-shattering truths from each other like it’s a competitive sport? Yes. Did I want to bonk Kaushika on the head for his “I love you but also revolution” energy and Meneka for her chronic self-sacrificing heroine disorder? Also yes, lovingly.
But honestly? The payoff is so satisfying. Big mythic stakes, a genuinely earned ending, and Meneka finally getting to be more than a pawn. It’s dense, it’s dramatic, and it’s messy around the edges in the best way possible.
First of all, Kritika H. Rao?? What did we do to deserve this level of high-stakes, lore-heavy, celestial absolute madness? Sequel syndrome where? She really said "Oh, you liked the first book? Cool, here’s a bucket of ancient mythology, political betrayal, and cosmic stakes so high they’re currently orbiting Mars."
We open with Meneka & Kaushika in their little mortal love nest, trying to be soft and domestic, and Rao immediately goes, “haha no ❤” and drags Meneka back to Indra’s glittering snake pit to fix a whole demonic crisis or lose her home, her man, and basically her entire identity as an apsara. The whiplash between cozy intimacy and “welcome back to celestial politics, hope you packed trauma” is insane in the best way. That first spicy scene? Honestly one of the most gorgeous, lyrical, actually-earned sex scenes I’ve read in romantasy! it feels like devotion and danger braided together instead of just, you know, insert steam here.
What I absolutely loved:
ミ☆ That first scene? One of the most gorgeous, lyrical, actually-earned moments I’ve read in romantasy. It felt like devotion and danger braided together rather than just a random smut break. 10/10, no notes, I was blushing.
ミ☆ I lived for Meneka being a menace and verbally drop-kicking Indra while being trapped in his system. Every time a celestial or demon underestimated her and she responded with weaponized grace? My skin cleared. My crops flourished.
ミ☆ The way dharma vs. desire vs. survival is woven into her choices is deliciously messy. Loving Kaushika doesn’t magically fix the fact that he’s a literal threat to her entire world. We love a complicated queen!
Do I think the plot sometimes did the absolute most when I just wanted them to sit down and TALK instead of hiding world-shattering truths from each other like it’s a competitive sport? Yes. Did I want to bonk Kaushika on the head for his “I love you but also revolution” energy and Meneka for her chronic self-sacrificing heroine disorder? Also yes, lovingly.
But honestly? The payoff is so satisfying. Big mythic stakes, a genuinely earned ending, and Meneka finally getting to be more than a pawn. It’s dense, it’s dramatic, and it’s messy around the edges in the best way possible.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating 4.5 stars
This duology was so amazing!! The world building and the folklore and Hindu culture behind it was so fascinating! I have a rudimentary understanding of Hinduism, what I was taught in college in a religion course I voluntarily took but this goes more in depth from Rao perspective on things. In her acknowledgements she does explain various things within the duology. I really appreciated that outlook from the author's perspective and how she went about writing and still some further explanations about Gods & Goddesses. Rarely, are there books within the fantasy realm that take on using Hinduism folklore and I really enjoy seeing a unique fantasy. The romance in this book was amazing as well. I loved the continuation of Meneka and Kaushika's story together and how they both had to learn how to be independent of each other, but their love could still everlasting even with differing opinions. I felt that this book for Meneka and the other Aspara's and Shachi, was all about female rage and how it comes in all different forms. Despite how you handle your rage as a woman and seek your justice does make you any less or any greater than the other. There were so many life lessons in this final book I feel like I was an apprentice sage while reading this book. I truly truly enjoyed this book and Meneka's journey.
The only reason it was not rated a 5 star for me was because of the final decision between Meneka and Kaushika before going to war. I will not elaborate further because of spoilers, but I felt that Meneka should have stuck up more for herself in this instance and she did not. What was happening was exact as Shachi suspected would happen and I was sad that Meneka just folded. Other than that, I really enjoyed her character development and felt the pacing was much better than the first book and seeing her grow into her magic and her full self was very satisfying. The ending was exactly what I wanted and ended the book very happy.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for the physical ARC and e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This duology was so amazing!! The world building and the folklore and Hindu culture behind it was so fascinating! I have a rudimentary understanding of Hinduism, what I was taught in college in a religion course I voluntarily took but this goes more in depth from Rao perspective on things. In her acknowledgements she does explain various things within the duology. I really appreciated that outlook from the author's perspective and how she went about writing and still some further explanations about Gods & Goddesses. Rarely, are there books within the fantasy realm that take on using Hinduism folklore and I really enjoy seeing a unique fantasy. The romance in this book was amazing as well. I loved the continuation of Meneka and Kaushika's story together and how they both had to learn how to be independent of each other, but their love could still everlasting even with differing opinions. I felt that this book for Meneka and the other Aspara's and Shachi, was all about female rage and how it comes in all different forms. Despite how you handle your rage as a woman and seek your justice does make you any less or any greater than the other. There were so many life lessons in this final book I feel like I was an apprentice sage while reading this book. I truly truly enjoyed this book and Meneka's journey.
The only reason it was not rated a 5 star for me was because of the final decision between Meneka and Kaushika before going to war. I will not elaborate further because of spoilers, but I felt that Meneka should have stuck up more for herself in this instance and she did not. What was happening was exact as Shachi suspected would happen and I was sad that Meneka just folded. Other than that, I really enjoyed her character development and felt the pacing was much better than the first book and seeing her grow into her magic and her full self was very satisfying. The ending was exactly what I wanted and ended the book very happy.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager for the physical ARC and e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2026
4.5 stars
This was an incredible follow up to the first book with just as much emotion, conflict, and inner turmoil, if not more.
Meneka is pulled in every direction. She’s just discovered herself and who she thinks she wants to be but the universe is going to put her to the test. Her world has changed so much and there’s so many things to figure out and she just wants to remain willfully ignorant for a little longer and pretend everything is perfect.
But life will make your choice if you don’t choose first. She wants freedom but is sucked into being a pawn for others. She wants truth and freedom but there are secrets she hasn’t told yet and truths she doesn’t want to hear.
She’s called back to heaven and sent on another mission by Indra to put her back in heavens good graces. He’s to infiltrate the demon realm and find out who is behind the attacks on heaven and stop them.
Another impossible task. Being punished for standing for what’s right. But Meneka already knows who’s behind these attacks and must figure out who’s side she’s on and how to move forward.
A war is brewing and Meneka is trapped in the middle of it.
I love Meneka as a character. She’s complex and complicated and so very “human”.
My only gripe with this book is (spoilers ahead)
how can she stay and still be so in love with kaushika after he betrays her like that? He joined a war against her to destroy her god and her kingdom and home after making a promise not to. He lied to her, snuck around behind her back, and then went to war against her. His arrogance in having to be right could have killed them both and destroyed heaven entirely and he didn’t care and wouldn’t listen to Meneka at all about how wrong that is. How for someone whose aim is to choose love is choosing war and calling it love. To me them getting back together after that without any real resolution to that or admitting wrong or even taking accountability for what he did against her… that’s not a happily ever after. For someone who is supposed to be so wise now it’s more like she’s living in ignorance and choosing to turn a blind eye
This was an incredible follow up to the first book with just as much emotion, conflict, and inner turmoil, if not more.
Meneka is pulled in every direction. She’s just discovered herself and who she thinks she wants to be but the universe is going to put her to the test. Her world has changed so much and there’s so many things to figure out and she just wants to remain willfully ignorant for a little longer and pretend everything is perfect.
But life will make your choice if you don’t choose first. She wants freedom but is sucked into being a pawn for others. She wants truth and freedom but there are secrets she hasn’t told yet and truths she doesn’t want to hear.
She’s called back to heaven and sent on another mission by Indra to put her back in heavens good graces. He’s to infiltrate the demon realm and find out who is behind the attacks on heaven and stop them.
Another impossible task. Being punished for standing for what’s right. But Meneka already knows who’s behind these attacks and must figure out who’s side she’s on and how to move forward.
A war is brewing and Meneka is trapped in the middle of it.
I love Meneka as a character. She’s complex and complicated and so very “human”.
My only gripe with this book is (spoilers ahead)
how can she stay and still be so in love with kaushika after he betrays her like that? He joined a war against her to destroy her god and her kingdom and home after making a promise not to. He lied to her, snuck around behind her back, and then went to war against her. His arrogance in having to be right could have killed them both and destroyed heaven entirely and he didn’t care and wouldn’t listen to Meneka at all about how wrong that is. How for someone whose aim is to choose love is choosing war and calling it love. To me them getting back together after that without any real resolution to that or admitting wrong or even taking accountability for what he did against her… that’s not a happily ever after. For someone who is supposed to be so wise now it’s more like she’s living in ignorance and choosing to turn a blind eye
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
#TheRiseoftheCelestials by #KritikaH.Rao is the conclusion to The Divine Dancers Duology that began with #TheLegendofMeneka.
The war between Indra and Kaushika has been avoided pitting Meneka against the man that she loves to save Amaravati, her beloved city. Now in the throes of peace and passion with Kaushika she knows that their time is running short to have a conversation about the battle and where their loyalties lie. Before they can have their discussion she is swept back to Amaravati to face Lord Indra after going against him. She suddenly finds herself ensconced in another mission for Indra that is fraught with dangers.
Meneka has always considered Indra’s Queen Sachi to be someone she loves and trusts but since the battle she is no longer sure who she can trust. Now a corpse is hurtling toward beloved home and if it touches the banks of Amaravati the city will dissolve into nothingness. Meneka knows that Kaushika is the cause of this but something else, some other power is pushing it along. Meneka no longer is sure that Sachi wants the same thing as her. Sachi’s rage is all powerful and consuming.
Meneka must find harmony within herself. To be able to embrace her celestial magic and human magic that of prana if she can learn to tap into asura magic that of demons that she can touch the power of the cosmos that of Shakti. If she can access this then she will be more powerful than all and can bring an end to the coming destruction, but in learning this magic she could lose herself and be divided from Kaushika.
#TheRiseoftheCelestials is a story of coming into your own power and accepting yourself for who you are not who others perceive you to be. Discovering that not all parts of you have to be equal to be in harmony.
I adored reading #TheRiseoftheCelestials by #KritikaH.Rao, just like in #TheLegendofMeneka I was pulled fully into that world and got lost in its beauty.
Thank you so much to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsPublishing for giving me the chance to read an eArc of this amazing book in return for a fair and honest review.
The war between Indra and Kaushika has been avoided pitting Meneka against the man that she loves to save Amaravati, her beloved city. Now in the throes of peace and passion with Kaushika she knows that their time is running short to have a conversation about the battle and where their loyalties lie. Before they can have their discussion she is swept back to Amaravati to face Lord Indra after going against him. She suddenly finds herself ensconced in another mission for Indra that is fraught with dangers.
Meneka has always considered Indra’s Queen Sachi to be someone she loves and trusts but since the battle she is no longer sure who she can trust. Now a corpse is hurtling toward beloved home and if it touches the banks of Amaravati the city will dissolve into nothingness. Meneka knows that Kaushika is the cause of this but something else, some other power is pushing it along. Meneka no longer is sure that Sachi wants the same thing as her. Sachi’s rage is all powerful and consuming.
Meneka must find harmony within herself. To be able to embrace her celestial magic and human magic that of prana if she can learn to tap into asura magic that of demons that she can touch the power of the cosmos that of Shakti. If she can access this then she will be more powerful than all and can bring an end to the coming destruction, but in learning this magic she could lose herself and be divided from Kaushika.
#TheRiseoftheCelestials is a story of coming into your own power and accepting yourself for who you are not who others perceive you to be. Discovering that not all parts of you have to be equal to be in harmony.
I adored reading #TheRiseoftheCelestials by #KritikaH.Rao, just like in #TheLegendofMeneka I was pulled fully into that world and got lost in its beauty.
Thank you so much to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsPublishing for giving me the chance to read an eArc of this amazing book in return for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you are a fan of high fantasy and enjoy new cultural perspectives and relearning a new version of mythology, then this sequel is for you!
With the Rise of the Celestials, Kritika takes us back to her jewel hued, golden toned Amaravati or city of the immortals and the twists in the struggle for power between the Lord of the skies Indra and his Queen Shachi. The book opens in surprising fashion with an intimate moment between the bold Meneka and her lover, the warrior sage Kaushika. In the last book, Meneka, an apsara redefined her prana or power by weaving together the Mortal or Tapasvin magic and the Celestial or Immortal magic to weave a stronger power source of Infinite prana, the essence of the Universe.
The melding of the realms, the duality of nature and the primordial source of power are beautifully drawn out as we journey with Meneka to try and find out who wishes to harm Amaravati. This journey sees the introduction of Matali, Indra's mahout or elephant driver in the myths but a Gandharava or a musical weaver, the opposite of the Apasaras, the celestial dancers. I loved how the streams of consciousness and the concept of Shakti was discussed between Vashishta and Meneka - this section was one of my highlights from this sequel!
The enmeshing and trinity of the power lore and the interaction between realms and the simplicity with which she approached the concept of a universal femininity and the ending was simply astounding, as someone who grew up in the culture and heard the stories, the baselining of devotion, love and definition of self were mesmerizing in logic and evoked a wonderful sense of meditative contemplation...
All in all, absolutely loved the storyline and spinning of Meneka and Vishwamitra's love ballad with cosmic interplay!
My sublime gratitude to Avon and harper Voyager and Netgalley for blessing me with the ARC, and my humble namastes to Kritika for a well sung ode to the cosmic confluence of Shakti...
With the Rise of the Celestials, Kritika takes us back to her jewel hued, golden toned Amaravati or city of the immortals and the twists in the struggle for power between the Lord of the skies Indra and his Queen Shachi. The book opens in surprising fashion with an intimate moment between the bold Meneka and her lover, the warrior sage Kaushika. In the last book, Meneka, an apsara redefined her prana or power by weaving together the Mortal or Tapasvin magic and the Celestial or Immortal magic to weave a stronger power source of Infinite prana, the essence of the Universe.
The melding of the realms, the duality of nature and the primordial source of power are beautifully drawn out as we journey with Meneka to try and find out who wishes to harm Amaravati. This journey sees the introduction of Matali, Indra's mahout or elephant driver in the myths but a Gandharava or a musical weaver, the opposite of the Apasaras, the celestial dancers. I loved how the streams of consciousness and the concept of Shakti was discussed between Vashishta and Meneka - this section was one of my highlights from this sequel!
The enmeshing and trinity of the power lore and the interaction between realms and the simplicity with which she approached the concept of a universal femininity and the ending was simply astounding, as someone who grew up in the culture and heard the stories, the baselining of devotion, love and definition of self were mesmerizing in logic and evoked a wonderful sense of meditative contemplation...
All in all, absolutely loved the storyline and spinning of Meneka and Vishwamitra's love ballad with cosmic interplay!
My sublime gratitude to Avon and harper Voyager and Netgalley for blessing me with the ARC, and my humble namastes to Kritika for a well sung ode to the cosmic confluence of Shakti...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you HarperVoyagerUS for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
This duology is so special to me! I read The Legend of Meneka when it first came out and remember enjoying it, but I re-read it before I started Rise of the Celestials and was blown away by how much more meaningful it felt the second time around. Rise of the Celestials was exactly how I’d hope this retelling would end and I’m so thankful to Kritika Rao for writing these books.
I grew up on a lot of the legends and stories included in these books so it was a beautiful experience being able to see all the characters through a feminist lens. Hinduism is a religion (when not enforced by bigots ) that encourages contradiction and criticism of gods and goddesses, and I think Rao does this principle justice in her framing of the flawed characters. The philosophical conundrums of Meneka and Kaushika are fun puzzles we get to solve with them all while enjoying their romance arc.
The magic system is ethereal in Rise of the Celestials. One of my favorites, hands down. Mudra, dance & music-based soft magic applied through goddess energy is absolutely my cup of tea.
I’d recommend The Divine Dancers Duology to folks who enjoy satisfying character arcs, fans of seductive femme fatales tropes, and to those who have learned to respect non-Western storytelling in fantasy.
This duology is so special to me! I read The Legend of Meneka when it first came out and remember enjoying it, but I re-read it before I started Rise of the Celestials and was blown away by how much more meaningful it felt the second time around. Rise of the Celestials was exactly how I’d hope this retelling would end and I’m so thankful to Kritika Rao for writing these books.
I grew up on a lot of the legends and stories included in these books so it was a beautiful experience being able to see all the characters through a feminist lens. Hinduism is a religion (when not enforced by bigots ) that encourages contradiction and criticism of gods and goddesses, and I think Rao does this principle justice in her framing of the flawed characters. The philosophical conundrums of Meneka and Kaushika are fun puzzles we get to solve with them all while enjoying their romance arc.
The magic system is ethereal in Rise of the Celestials. One of my favorites, hands down. Mudra, dance & music-based soft magic applied through goddess energy is absolutely my cup of tea.
I’d recommend The Divine Dancers Duology to folks who enjoy satisfying character arcs, fans of seductive femme fatales tropes, and to those who have learned to respect non-Western storytelling in fantasy.
April 29, 2026
The Rise of the Celestials is a powerful and satisfying conclusion to Meneka’s and Kaushika’s story. Picking up immediately after the first book, it follows Meneka as she grapples with the cost of being an Apsara, a being whose will is not always her own. Though she has found love, she remains bound to the summons of the Lord of the Heavens, and her journey through unfamiliar worlds forces her to confront what choice, agency, and desire truly mean.
Reimagining mythology is never easy, especially when the original tale of Meneka and Vishwamitra ends in tragedy. The author does a remarkable job carving out a new path for this couple, one that honors the source material while offering something more hopeful and emotionally layered.
I not only enjoyed this book but deeply admire how the author weaves in other mythological threads to enrich this duology. This version of Meneka is no damsel in distress, though she begins manipulated and constrained, she ultimately claims her own heart and her own destiny. Her decisions are hers alone, and that transformation is the soul of the story.
I’ll definitely be looking forward to the author’s future works.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this book.
Reimagining mythology is never easy, especially when the original tale of Meneka and Vishwamitra ends in tragedy. The author does a remarkable job carving out a new path for this couple, one that honors the source material while offering something more hopeful and emotionally layered.
I not only enjoyed this book but deeply admire how the author weaves in other mythological threads to enrich this duology. This version of Meneka is no damsel in distress, though she begins manipulated and constrained, she ultimately claims her own heart and her own destiny. Her decisions are hers alone, and that transformation is the soul of the story.
I’ll definitely be looking forward to the author’s future works.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a whirlwind of a book. The story picks up immediately after the end of book one, and from the very first pages it pulls you right back into the world. So much is happening at once that you really have to pay attention to the details—but that’s part of what makes it so immersive. Every chapter adds another layer to the plot, and I found myself completely sucked in, unable to stop reading.
The relationship at the heart of the story is one of my favorite parts. The love between them is powerful, but it’s also messy and flawed in a very real way. That tension runs through the entire book and keeps the emotional stakes incredibly high.
I also loved the depth of the worldbuilding. The representation of the culture feels rich and thoughtful, and the lore surrounding the celestial gods adds so many fascinating details to the story. It’s clear how much care went into crafting this world.
And that ending—wow. After everything that happens throughout the book, the conclusion left me stunned/
The relationship at the heart of the story is one of my favorite parts. The love between them is powerful, but it’s also messy and flawed in a very real way. That tension runs through the entire book and keeps the emotional stakes incredibly high.
I also loved the depth of the worldbuilding. The representation of the culture feels rich and thoughtful, and the lore surrounding the celestial gods adds so many fascinating details to the story. It’s clear how much care went into crafting this world.
And that ending—wow. After everything that happens throughout the book, the conclusion left me stunned/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reading and enjoying The Legend of Meneka last year this was a highly anticipated release for me.
The book started off strong, I love Meneka and Kaushika together and I was intrigued to see where this book would take them next. However, I did struggle towards the middle and got a bit confused or muddled at some points that I think could have been explained a little bit clearer. This could just be me but I didn’t have this issue with the first book.
As with the first book I love the rich cultural influence, beautiful world descriptions and even down to their clothing. Religion and philosophy play a big part and I think it helps to create an immersive world that you can really picture.
The concept of Lord Indra asking for Menekas help and her being forced to do it did intrigue me, and it did feel high stakes because her relationship with Kaushika was on the line and I just wanted them to be together.
Overall a satisfying conclusion to The Divine Dancers duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book started off strong, I love Meneka and Kaushika together and I was intrigued to see where this book would take them next. However, I did struggle towards the middle and got a bit confused or muddled at some points that I think could have been explained a little bit clearer. This could just be me but I didn’t have this issue with the first book.
As with the first book I love the rich cultural influence, beautiful world descriptions and even down to their clothing. Religion and philosophy play a big part and I think it helps to create an immersive world that you can really picture.
The concept of Lord Indra asking for Menekas help and her being forced to do it did intrigue me, and it did feel high stakes because her relationship with Kaushika was on the line and I just wanted them to be together.
Overall a satisfying conclusion to The Divine Dancers duology.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The first book in this duology, The Legend of Meneka, was one of my top reads if 2025. I was instantly reminded why when I picked up The Rise of the Celestials. The writing is simply sublime. Full of philosophy and sensuality and emotional intelligence and connection and mysticism. The world-building is intense, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the Hindu inspiration and are learning all of it for the first time, but honestly it elevates the story and has me itching to seek out more.
Meneka grew so much into herself in the first book, and watching that growth be challenged and conquered again is joyous and thought-provoking. She is so deeply and unashamedly herself. Her connection with Kaushika is stunningly realized - poetic and supportive and spicy and magical and real all at once. This is a book that breaks you and remakes you, full of adventure and heartache. Infinity stars for the series.
Thank you so much to the team at Harper Voyager for the advance proof, and to NetGalley for the eARC as well.
Meneka grew so much into herself in the first book, and watching that growth be challenged and conquered again is joyous and thought-provoking. She is so deeply and unashamedly herself. Her connection with Kaushika is stunningly realized - poetic and supportive and spicy and magical and real all at once. This is a book that breaks you and remakes you, full of adventure and heartache. Infinity stars for the series.
Thank you so much to the team at Harper Voyager for the advance proof, and to NetGalley for the eARC as well.
April 7, 2026
A wonderful conclusion to the dulogy that started with the Legend of Meneka. The book covers some timeless conflicts (loyalty to your partner vs the family you came from) as well as some specific and incredibly beautiful landscapes and themes common to Hindu mythology (as someone who struggles to quiet my mind in yoga classes, this book really seamlessly helps to discuss the context of yoga in Hinduism.)
I do wish that we had gotten to see more of the relationship between Meneka and her fellow asparas. Because we see the origins of her relationship with her love Kaushika, we understand the love she has for him. But because so much of what we see in her home is the abuse and mistreatment of Meneka by Indra, we have less explanation of her love and loyalty with her family to help us understand her loyalty.
The book is so gorgeous and I loved reading it. I'm excited to see what's next for Rao, and hope she'll continue to play in this mythology inspired world. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the early copy.
I do wish that we had gotten to see more of the relationship between Meneka and her fellow asparas. Because we see the origins of her relationship with her love Kaushika, we understand the love she has for him. But because so much of what we see in her home is the abuse and mistreatment of Meneka by Indra, we have less explanation of her love and loyalty with her family to help us understand her loyalty.
The book is so gorgeous and I loved reading it. I'm excited to see what's next for Rao, and hope she'll continue to play in this mythology inspired world. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the early copy.
April 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.
This is the second half of a duology that begins with The Legend of Meneka.
I loved the first book, an enchanting romantasy about an immortal aspara falling in love with a human. But my primary critique of the first volume was it seemed like a story that could be a single book. My impression, after reading the concluding volume, is that it certainly could have been a single book.
Meneka spends the book between her lord and lady and other loved ones who are all at cross purposes, and Meneka is viewed as a tool to be used. This leads to Meneka Meneka bouncing between the mortal realm and various layers of the underworld and celestial kingdom as a pawn, having little sense of why she’s there and sometimes how she got there. While the writing is still luscious, the story has a passivity to it that didn’t engage me, so the book felt like a slog.
YMMV of course. There are loads of beautiful descriptions and interesting bits of Hindu lore, so it’s certainly worth picking up if you enjoyed the first one.
This is the second half of a duology that begins with The Legend of Meneka.
I loved the first book, an enchanting romantasy about an immortal aspara falling in love with a human. But my primary critique of the first volume was it seemed like a story that could be a single book. My impression, after reading the concluding volume, is that it certainly could have been a single book.
Meneka spends the book between her lord and lady and other loved ones who are all at cross purposes, and Meneka is viewed as a tool to be used. This leads to Meneka Meneka bouncing between the mortal realm and various layers of the underworld and celestial kingdom as a pawn, having little sense of why she’s there and sometimes how she got there. While the writing is still luscious, the story has a passivity to it that didn’t engage me, so the book felt like a slog.
YMMV of course. There are loads of beautiful descriptions and interesting bits of Hindu lore, so it’s certainly worth picking up if you enjoyed the first one.
April 8, 2026
The Rise of the Celestials takes that fragile peace and immediately tears it apart. I liked how it doesn’t pretend things are okay.. the relationship is strained, the politics are worse, and Meneka gets dragged right back into divine chaos whether she wants it or not. What really stood out is how much more personal this feels compared to book one. It’s less about being used and more about reclaiming power, identity, and choice, even when everything is pulling her in different directions. It definitely feels like a finale that leans into emotional and mythological payoff rather than just spectacle.
Thank you to @harpercollins for the opportunity to read and feature this title.
💃 Apsara caught between duty and freedom
⚡ Gods manipulating mortal and celestial realms
🔥 Forbidden love tested by loyalty
👑 Celestial politics and divine power struggle
🌌 Journey through mortal, celestial, and underworld realms
🪷 Reclaiming identity and power
Thank you to @harpercollins for the opportunity to read and feature this title.
💃 Apsara caught between duty and freedom
⚡ Gods manipulating mortal and celestial realms
🔥 Forbidden love tested by loyalty
👑 Celestial politics and divine power struggle
🌌 Journey through mortal, celestial, and underworld realms
🪷 Reclaiming identity and power
April 7, 2026
Many thanks to HarperVoyager for the preview. All opinions are my own.
Rise of the Celestials is a beautiful and powerful conclusion to the duology that started with Legend of Meneka. It explores love, harmony, finding yourself and your path, and true balance. It really expands the Hindu mythology we were introduced to in the first book, and I loved learning so much more about the legends and the goddesses.
The love between Meneka and Kaushika remains strong, but they are tested throughout the book. Is love enough when you have differing goals? They both have to grapple with a lot, but their connection is so strong and they’re willing to put in the work and trust needed. Plus their relationship is soooo scorchingly sensual.
The imagery and writing is again gorgeous. The book is easy to read and hard to put down. I’d definitely recommend this duo!
Rise of the Celestials is a beautiful and powerful conclusion to the duology that started with Legend of Meneka. It explores love, harmony, finding yourself and your path, and true balance. It really expands the Hindu mythology we were introduced to in the first book, and I loved learning so much more about the legends and the goddesses.
The love between Meneka and Kaushika remains strong, but they are tested throughout the book. Is love enough when you have differing goals? They both have to grapple with a lot, but their connection is so strong and they’re willing to put in the work and trust needed. Plus their relationship is soooo scorchingly sensual.
The imagery and writing is again gorgeous. The book is easy to read and hard to put down. I’d definitely recommend this duo!
April 16, 2026
Book two of a duology. In The Rise of the Celestials, apsara Meneka and the sage Kaushika are together, but still fundamentally ideologically opposed. When Meneka is suddenly summoned to heaven by the god Indra, she hopes that completing a quest for him will mend the rift between Kaushika and the gods—but Kaushika has his own plans...
The Rise of the Celestials starts where the unresolved plot threads of The Legend of Meneka left off: Kaushika opposes the gods for their cruelty and refusal to let his friend's soul pass on, and Meneka is ultimately loyal to heaven, even if she finds Indra harsh and erratic. However, I felt that much of the plot in the sequel is just rehashing the conflicts of the first book without introducing many new elements. Since I've already read that book, it's not as much fun to read it over again without the inherent tension of Meneka's assignment to defeat Kaushika. While the actual plot of exploring Sachi's background and realm couldn't possibly have been wedged into book 1, I think the thematic conclusion and emotional arc probably could have been. I liked the take on Indian mythology, but I couldn't help feeling that this volume was a little bit superfluous.
The Rise of the Celestials starts where the unresolved plot threads of The Legend of Meneka left off: Kaushika opposes the gods for their cruelty and refusal to let his friend's soul pass on, and Meneka is ultimately loyal to heaven, even if she finds Indra harsh and erratic. However, I felt that much of the plot in the sequel is just rehashing the conflicts of the first book without introducing many new elements. Since I've already read that book, it's not as much fun to read it over again without the inherent tension of Meneka's assignment to defeat Kaushika. While the actual plot of exploring Sachi's background and realm couldn't possibly have been wedged into book 1, I think the thematic conclusion and emotional arc probably could have been. I liked the take on Indian mythology, but I couldn't help feeling that this volume was a little bit superfluous.
October 7, 2025
Though the title sounds like it belongs in the MCU, The Rise of the Celestials belongs right after The Legend of Meneka. Very much in the vein of the first book in the Divine Dancers duology, this one blends spice with story to complete Meneka's adventure narrative. I am not familiar with the Hindu myth that is the basis of the events in this series so I cannot attest to how faithful a retelling this is, but the tale has some action and suspense to carry the plot between its romantic interludes. Overall, those that enjoyed the start of Meneka's story should like how it ends. (3.5/5)
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
May 8, 2026
Thank you Harper Voyager for the gifted copy!
This was a gorgeous conclusion to the duology. The worldbuilding remained just as lush and immersive as it was in The Legend of Meneka, and I stayed fully invested in Meneka and Kaushika’s journey throughout the story.
I especially loved Meneka’s growth and her discovery of her own sense of self. That aspect of the story felt incredibly satisfying and powerful. I also loved that Kaushika loved her even more because of that growth, which made their relationship feel even stronger and more meaningful.
This duology was such a wonderful introduction to Hindu mythology, and it definitely left me wanting to explore more stories inspired by it.
This was a gorgeous conclusion to the duology. The worldbuilding remained just as lush and immersive as it was in The Legend of Meneka, and I stayed fully invested in Meneka and Kaushika’s journey throughout the story.
I especially loved Meneka’s growth and her discovery of her own sense of self. That aspect of the story felt incredibly satisfying and powerful. I also loved that Kaushika loved her even more because of that growth, which made their relationship feel even stronger and more meaningful.
This duology was such a wonderful introduction to Hindu mythology, and it definitely left me wanting to explore more stories inspired by it.
December 8, 2025
This was a really immersive and rich read, the mythology and the emotions and the romance were woven in SO well together! As in the first book, Meneka's character growth and internal deliberations were amazingly written, I could feel her every struggle and emotion, as well as the understanding and peace she gained at the end.
Also the romance was SO swoony and steamy, I found myself rereading all of Meneka and Kaushika's scenes together, they were just so >>>>>>>>
-- ty to the author and the publisher for a gifted copy!
Also the romance was SO swoony and steamy, I found myself rereading all of Meneka and Kaushika's scenes together, they were just so >>>>>>>>
-- ty to the author and the publisher for a gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!
I really struggled to get into this one. Compared to the first book, I think the first book had the stronger beginning, whereas here I think the second half was stronger. It didn't always keep my interest early on, and I didn't like Meneka being seperated from Kaushika as much.
The second half did grab me though. I really like how this series blends romantasy with a deeper examination of religious beliefs and philosophy. I'm not super familiar with Hinduism, but I don't think you have to be to be able to follow along. It wasn't excessively explained, but since the characters discuss and think through ideas a lot, you get a clear view of them even if you don't really know what the real world equivalents are.
I really liked how this book explored Meneka, and every other woman's connection to Shakti and what this meant for her power, and I liked how she shined there.
Something I also really liked was the conflict between Kaushika and Meneka, something that remains respectful, and they never start hating each other, yet within big conflicts they cannot always agree on what the right thing is, and I thought this was a very unique view on enemies/lovers dichotomies.
Would recommend this series to people who like a blend of spicy romantasy and deeper philosophical exploration
I really struggled to get into this one. Compared to the first book, I think the first book had the stronger beginning, whereas here I think the second half was stronger. It didn't always keep my interest early on, and I didn't like Meneka being seperated from Kaushika as much.
The second half did grab me though. I really like how this series blends romantasy with a deeper examination of religious beliefs and philosophy. I'm not super familiar with Hinduism, but I don't think you have to be to be able to follow along. It wasn't excessively explained, but since the characters discuss and think through ideas a lot, you get a clear view of them even if you don't really know what the real world equivalents are.
I really liked how this book explored Meneka, and every other woman's connection to Shakti and what this meant for her power, and I liked how she shined there.
Something I also really liked was the conflict between Kaushika and Meneka, something that remains respectful, and they never start hating each other, yet within big conflicts they cannot always agree on what the right thing is, and I thought this was a very unique view on enemies/lovers dichotomies.
Would recommend this series to people who like a blend of spicy romantasy and deeper philosophical exploration
April 16, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I'm torn on this review. While it wasn't a bad story, I was never fully invested in it. My reading tastes have changed significantly since the first book's release, and the genre does not hit the same (over saturated and a lot of mediocre stories).
This book was fine. I hated how it started. Felt like it lost the plot at some point. But overall, it was entertaining enough to finish.
I'm torn on this review. While it wasn't a bad story, I was never fully invested in it. My reading tastes have changed significantly since the first book's release, and the genre does not hit the same (over saturated and a lot of mediocre stories).
This book was fine. I hated how it started. Felt like it lost the plot at some point. But overall, it was entertaining enough to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Started out strong and lost momentum for me midway and through the end. As always, the world building and expanse into mythology was great! I think there was one point for me where I wasn’t really sure where the story was going.
*thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion*
*thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion*
April 14, 2026
If you enjoyed the first book you should like this one. Though it is a bit more complex in the issues taking place. I really enjoyed the culmination and ending. Felt like a lot was learned through this one. Still beautiful descriptions of the world, so easy to visualize it all.
May 13, 2026
3.5 stars. This was so hard for me to read physically since I read the first book on audio. It’s a pretty good book just not necessarily for me??? It felt a little more disjointed from the first book than I wanted but honestly I’d still recommend it.
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