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We Dance Upon Demons
From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi, a galvanizing stand-alone contemporary fantasy following a burnt-out reproductive health care worker as she fights back against escalating attacks on her clinic and the malevolent forces in hot pursuit of her newly acquired power.
As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression.
When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum for a brief respite, Nisha suddenly finds herself bleeding, disoriented, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she remembers is the statue that beckoned her to touch it. In the days that follow, Nisha feels a strange power coursing within her, one that attracts a host of dangerous and enigmatic characters who covet it for themselves.
Facing threats both otherworldly and distinctly human, Nisha must navigate uncertain alliances to piece together the centuries-old mystery of her odd and terrifying abilities. And as danger closes in on her loved ones, community, and the clinic she’s determined to protect, Nisha must make a choice about the life she wants—and fight all the demons standing in her way to get it.
As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression.
When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum for a brief respite, Nisha suddenly finds herself bleeding, disoriented, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she remembers is the statue that beckoned her to touch it. In the days that follow, Nisha feels a strange power coursing within her, one that attracts a host of dangerous and enigmatic characters who covet it for themselves.
Facing threats both otherworldly and distinctly human, Nisha must navigate uncertain alliances to piece together the centuries-old mystery of her odd and terrifying abilities. And as danger closes in on her loved ones, community, and the clinic she’s determined to protect, Nisha must make a choice about the life she wants—and fight all the demons standing in her way to get it.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
April 4, 2026
Truly such a relevant story. I didn't really know what to expect from this book as I only ever read one of Vaishnavi Patel's fantasy novels and this new release is a contemporary story unusual for the author, but I was not disappointed. It was a quick glimpse into the life of a reproductive health care worker and even though this book, too, featured fantastical elements, it ended up being a realistic depiction of the current situation in the US. And by that I mean that it was horrifying. By now the protagonist Nisha is dealing with pro-life protestors in front of her workplace, an abortion clinic, on a daily basis. The protestors get more and more aggressive and try to deny women the possibly life-saving care that they are seeking. Nisha is already depressed and spiraling, but there's also the feeling of not being able to do enough. She and her colleagues are fighting an overwhelming force every day and I truly admired the characters' strength and determination. The grim reality of this situation was infuriating to read about and it really had me emotionally involved. I know that it's a personal theme for the author as well and I appreciate that she put all her feelings into a novel to share them with readers. However, I wasn't particularly impressed by the fantasy part of the story. On an exceptionally bad day, Nisha takes a break in a museum where she happens to touch and bleed on a statue of Nataraja, Lord of Dance. Now she has the powers of the demon that was trapped inside the statue and is able to see the truth and connect with the women who held this power before her. While I loved the connection between memory and dance that followed in the wake of her new powers, that whole part just lacked impact for me. The chapters about the other women were short and felt detached from the rest of the story and I didn't really care. At parts the book felt like the beginning of an adult Rick Riordan Presents novel, with Nisha getting wrapped up with demons and deities of the Hindu religion and learning how to navigate her powers, but the parts were always over so quickly. I can imagine that the fantasy element is what's most appealing to other readers, but it was almost a bit unnecessary in my opinion. At least it was, surprisingly, not the part that I was looking forward to the most. I would mainly recommend this book based on all the social commentary that is provided in here and definitely not as a fantasy read. I have no doubt that this story will mean a lot to many readers and I actually can't for this book to hit the shelves so that I can read all the reviews for it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and S&S / Saga Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and S&S / Saga Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2025
full rtc closer to pub day, but very pleasantly surprised after having mixed thoughts on patel’s first two books! unfortunately a very timely book with important socio-political commentary
December 11, 2025
This wasn’t the easiest novel to read, but it was an excellent one.
Unlike the rest of Patel’s works, this one was relentlessly contemporary. It’s set in present-day Chicago; no secondary world at all. The protagonist, Nisha, works in an abortion clinic, which is busier & more important than ever in a post-Roe v. Wade America, with many patients travelling from far distant red states for medical care. It’s also under greater threat than ever; rather than celebrating the fall of Roe and resting on their laurels, the anti-choice movement has only intensified.
Nisha is also coming off of a bad breakup, a bad car accident, and feeling like a failure in the highly status-conscious Indian-American community for never going to law school like she planned. And to also care, deeply, about right and wrong, especially on as hot an issue as reproductive freedom, to be working tirelessly to make the world a better place, and have to watch as instead there is … well, it’s all rather demoralizing. As many of us can relate.
The speculative fiction aspect comes into things when, while trying to relax while strolling through the Art Institute of Chicago, she accidentally releases a demon trapped inside a statue of Nataraja (Shiva in his aspect as Lord of Dance). The demon in question is the demon of ignorance Apasmara, aka Muyalaka, and says to call him Muya. He’s very happy to be out of the statue, but would also like the portion of his power that Nisha inadvertently stole back. Unfortunately, there are other demons about who would also very much like that power, and are prepared to offer Nisha both favors and threats to get it.
More than anything else, this is a novel of Nisha dealing with her inner demons (pun intended). She has to cope with her depression, her conviction that she is a failure, her overdeveloped sense of responsibility, her unwillingness to accept help - she’s got a whole grab-bag of neuroses, honestly. It’s all excellent, and excellently done.
But the novel, especially the first third or so until the supernatural stuff really picks up speed, is a grind. And felt far too familiar to me - watching the country change, thinking things can’t get worse and then, yeah, of course, there they go, it’s worse. And all you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, say, “Fuck!” and start again. And again, and again.
Escapism this is not. Definitely worth the read, but be prepared for it all to feel a little too real.
My blog
Unlike the rest of Patel’s works, this one was relentlessly contemporary. It’s set in present-day Chicago; no secondary world at all. The protagonist, Nisha, works in an abortion clinic, which is busier & more important than ever in a post-Roe v. Wade America, with many patients travelling from far distant red states for medical care. It’s also under greater threat than ever; rather than celebrating the fall of Roe and resting on their laurels, the anti-choice movement has only intensified.
Nisha is also coming off of a bad breakup, a bad car accident, and feeling like a failure in the highly status-conscious Indian-American community for never going to law school like she planned. And to also care, deeply, about right and wrong, especially on as hot an issue as reproductive freedom, to be working tirelessly to make the world a better place, and have to watch as instead there is … well, it’s all rather demoralizing. As many of us can relate.
The speculative fiction aspect comes into things when, while trying to relax while strolling through the Art Institute of Chicago, she accidentally releases a demon trapped inside a statue of Nataraja (Shiva in his aspect as Lord of Dance). The demon in question is the demon of ignorance Apasmara, aka Muyalaka, and says to call him Muya. He’s very happy to be out of the statue, but would also like the portion of his power that Nisha inadvertently stole back. Unfortunately, there are other demons about who would also very much like that power, and are prepared to offer Nisha both favors and threats to get it.
More than anything else, this is a novel of Nisha dealing with her inner demons (pun intended). She has to cope with her depression, her conviction that she is a failure, her overdeveloped sense of responsibility, her unwillingness to accept help - she’s got a whole grab-bag of neuroses, honestly. It’s all excellent, and excellently done.
But the novel, especially the first third or so until the supernatural stuff really picks up speed, is a grind. And felt far too familiar to me - watching the country change, thinking things can’t get worse and then, yeah, of course, there they go, it’s worse. And all you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, say, “Fuck!” and start again. And again, and again.
Escapism this is not. Definitely worth the read, but be prepared for it all to feel a little too real.
My blog
February 19, 2026
To say that this book has profoundly changed me to my core is the understatement of my lifetime.
A love letter to women’s health and power of choice. It so vehemently highlights abortion and women’s rights (and all the other life saving healthcare that abortion clinics perform) while criticizing the changes in America with the overturning of Roe that are detrimental to women’s health.
Somehow Patel was able to masterfully do that within a contemporary fantasy full of South Asian lore and tongue-in-cheek humor and empowerment. She emplors you to take that all-consuming rage and turn it into action.
I laughed. I cried. I was angry. I felt empowered to make a change.
I am an OB nurse, but I never knew until I read this (a privilege I recognize) the need for people to volunteer at clinics to be able to safely escort patients inside away from pro-life protestors standing outside harassing them. Especially during the 40 days starting from Lent where their efforts to try to close down clinics is at its peak. This is where the story takes place. This has propelled me into action within my community.
I will think about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you for Vaishna for the opportunity to read this early and for being such a brilliant inspiration to women.
A love letter to women’s health and power of choice. It so vehemently highlights abortion and women’s rights (and all the other life saving healthcare that abortion clinics perform) while criticizing the changes in America with the overturning of Roe that are detrimental to women’s health.
Somehow Patel was able to masterfully do that within a contemporary fantasy full of South Asian lore and tongue-in-cheek humor and empowerment. She emplors you to take that all-consuming rage and turn it into action.
I laughed. I cried. I was angry. I felt empowered to make a change.
I am an OB nurse, but I never knew until I read this (a privilege I recognize) the need for people to volunteer at clinics to be able to safely escort patients inside away from pro-life protestors standing outside harassing them. Especially during the 40 days starting from Lent where their efforts to try to close down clinics is at its peak. This is where the story takes place. This has propelled me into action within my community.
I will think about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you for Vaishna for the opportunity to read this early and for being such a brilliant inspiration to women.
May 29, 2026
I do not feel qualified at this moment to review this book, firstly because of the Too Real subject matter, and secondly because I want to let it settle in my mind, and thirdly because I picked it for my IRL book club, and the meeting doesn't take place until next January, so I will be re-reading it for sure. Haha that was all one sentence. Will review upon re-read. But it was good! I had some issues with pacing, but they may resolve in my head after it does the aforementioned settling. A raw book, for sure, but a cathartic one.
November 5, 2025
Like Nisha, I too experience deep depression and an inability to move forward, because I don't feel like I'm making any sort of difference in the world. Which is silly, because one singular person may not be able to change the world, but they can make a monumental difference. We Dance Upon Demons explores the current state of horrors that is our reproductive rights in the US, while also tackling what it means to be impactful, realistic and hopeful despite said horrors. "You know, most people don't change the world, and yet, most people still matter. You're smart, you're capable, you're driven. Your sincere effort is enough."
I really enjoyed this book. It's short, funny, relevant, angry, and empowering. It's well researched. It's an obvious book, but it's not heavy handed. Patel's ability to write stories across so many different genres is absolutely amazing to me. Every one of her stories is fantastic, has a point of view, and is impactful. We Dance Upon Demons is nothing like Ten Incarnations which is nothing like Kaikeyi which is nothing like Goddess of the River. Patel continues to cement herself as an auto-buy author for me.
BRB going to buy this book for my pro-life family members.
I really enjoyed this book. It's short, funny, relevant, angry, and empowering. It's well researched. It's an obvious book, but it's not heavy handed. Patel's ability to write stories across so many different genres is absolutely amazing to me. Every one of her stories is fantastic, has a point of view, and is impactful. We Dance Upon Demons is nothing like Ten Incarnations which is nothing like Kaikeyi which is nothing like Goddess of the River. Patel continues to cement herself as an auto-buy author for me.
BRB going to buy this book for my pro-life family members.
May 16, 2026
How disappointing that a book centered around themes im passionate about written by an author who wrote one of my favorite books, turned out to be so lackluster.
Frankly, the plot and a lot of the cultural elements read kind of forced and preachy, a lot of info dumping that lacked subtlety or building emotional impact. The dialogue and inner monologues and the way the plot progresses feels clunky. Patel’s book left me a bit confused as to who the target audience for this book is- there’s a lot of Hindu cultural background that is dropped without building context, making it difficult for a non-Indian to follow it all with ease. And there’s also a lot of pro-choice pov that is dropped that feels overly preachy and far too in your face with no emotional backdrop at all, which confuses me because I think the target audience of the book already knows all of this and doesn’t need it spelled out in such a basic way!
The characters also feel one dimensional and static- despite being a brown girl obsessed with dance and my own culture, I felt no connection to our protagonist or any of her relationships. The brown diaspora in the book also feels very stereotypically portrayed, with the dialogues reflecting tired and overused cliches of how brown aunties and uncles act. this book in no way wove the complexity of relationships, identity, or even power in the same way that the author managed to do with Kaikeyi. An unfortunately forgettable book.
Frankly, the plot and a lot of the cultural elements read kind of forced and preachy, a lot of info dumping that lacked subtlety or building emotional impact. The dialogue and inner monologues and the way the plot progresses feels clunky. Patel’s book left me a bit confused as to who the target audience for this book is- there’s a lot of Hindu cultural background that is dropped without building context, making it difficult for a non-Indian to follow it all with ease. And there’s also a lot of pro-choice pov that is dropped that feels overly preachy and far too in your face with no emotional backdrop at all, which confuses me because I think the target audience of the book already knows all of this and doesn’t need it spelled out in such a basic way!
The characters also feel one dimensional and static- despite being a brown girl obsessed with dance and my own culture, I felt no connection to our protagonist or any of her relationships. The brown diaspora in the book also feels very stereotypically portrayed, with the dialogues reflecting tired and overused cliches of how brown aunties and uncles act. this book in no way wove the complexity of relationships, identity, or even power in the same way that the author managed to do with Kaikeyi. An unfortunately forgettable book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Infuriating and powerful, this book will throw you into the fire and then drag you back out.
Nisha is trapped in the eye of a storm, working herself to the bone at a small abortion clinic despite the increasingly violent threats and protests that surround the building. One day on her break she walks through an art museum and ends up accidentally freeing a demon and getting magical powers. As the protests outside the clinic become a battlefield for inhuman forces, Nisha must find a way to use her newfound powers for good.
This is the kind of book that does a brilliant job of making you extremely angry about something you may have momentarily forgotten to be extremely angry about. There is so much shit going down in the world right now, I have to admit that my anger has not primarily been directed towards the atrocious handling of women's reproductive rights in the last few years. That is no longer the case, because this book reminded me that there is no height that these cretins won't stoop to to maintain their control on peoples' bodies.
I actually think the fantasy element is the least compelling part of this story. Just Nisha's experience facing some people at their ugliest, doing her best to help patients and support her colleagues, and dealing with her own guilt, mental illness, and complicated feelings towards her family and community would have been a compelling story. The clinic has a really well-illustrated dynamic, because on one hand these people have gone through hell together and care a lot about each other, and on the other it's hard to maintain warm, loving relationships with people when you're actively under fire and you don't know if you can trust the people around you. Nisha's struggles with mental health felt very real to me, particularly because they don't fall very clearly in one direction. Clearly, she struggles with depression but also anxiety and paranoia and a truckload of guilt, and all of those things feed into one another. I don't really know what to say about the fantasy side of the story. I don't think it felt super cohesive with everything else to me and it proceeds at a much slower pace than the rest of the plot. I might update this if I can get my thoughts together but just know it wasn't really the standout part of the book for me.
For the record, I would bet on a group of aunties defeating a horde of demons or group of right-wing freaks any day.
Thank you to Vaishnavi Patel and Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Nisha is trapped in the eye of a storm, working herself to the bone at a small abortion clinic despite the increasingly violent threats and protests that surround the building. One day on her break she walks through an art museum and ends up accidentally freeing a demon and getting magical powers. As the protests outside the clinic become a battlefield for inhuman forces, Nisha must find a way to use her newfound powers for good.
This is the kind of book that does a brilliant job of making you extremely angry about something you may have momentarily forgotten to be extremely angry about. There is so much shit going down in the world right now, I have to admit that my anger has not primarily been directed towards the atrocious handling of women's reproductive rights in the last few years. That is no longer the case, because this book reminded me that there is no height that these cretins won't stoop to to maintain their control on peoples' bodies.
I actually think the fantasy element is the least compelling part of this story. Just Nisha's experience facing some people at their ugliest, doing her best to help patients and support her colleagues, and dealing with her own guilt, mental illness, and complicated feelings towards her family and community would have been a compelling story. The clinic has a really well-illustrated dynamic, because on one hand these people have gone through hell together and care a lot about each other, and on the other it's hard to maintain warm, loving relationships with people when you're actively under fire and you don't know if you can trust the people around you. Nisha's struggles with mental health felt very real to me, particularly because they don't fall very clearly in one direction. Clearly, she struggles with depression but also anxiety and paranoia and a truckload of guilt, and all of those things feed into one another. I don't really know what to say about the fantasy side of the story. I don't think it felt super cohesive with everything else to me and it proceeds at a much slower pace than the rest of the plot. I might update this if I can get my thoughts together but just know it wasn't really the standout part of the book for me.
For the record, I would bet on a group of aunties defeating a horde of demons or group of right-wing freaks any day.
Thank you to Vaishnavi Patel and Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
October 18, 2025
I received a free copy from Saga Press via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date May 12th, 2026.
I've consistently enjoyed Patel's work, and I was excited to read her modern-day fantasy novel latest. In We Dance Upon Demons, depressed twenty-something Nisha is the volunteer coordinator at an understaffed and beleaguered abortion clinic. After a strange encounter with an Indian statue in the museum, Nisha is plunged into a strange world of demons and monsters--but in the end, the supernatural may not be as dangerous as the very human threats to her clinic...
We Dance Upon Demons is a very pointed novel, and Patel obviously incorporated her time as a clinic volunteer with Planned Parenthood into her writing. The demon-hunting elements are almost incidental to the plot in comparison to Nisha's crushing depression and the reality of her everyday life. While the individual scenes are brutal, like a raped twelve-year -old being called a murderer by protesters as she tries to get into the clinic, it's the sheer relentlessness of it all that stood out to me. Every day, Nisha's job is to escort patients trying to access basic health care through a mob screaming abuse, and it never stops. Combined with the understaffing typical for a small nonprofit, it's no wonder she's disillusioned. The tone did occasionally swing into informative abortion brochure, but righteous anger permeating the novel was more than enough to animate it.
This book strays a little farther from Hindu mythology than Patel's previous novels. The supernatural appears mostly in brief interludes where Nisha relives the memories of her ancestors who also bore demon powers. But I loved her intense and fraught relationship with her culture, from her passionate love of traditional dance to arguing with conservative uncles, to her very close but difficult bond with her mother. While she doesn't always like her community, this is a book about how it's ultimately people who have the power to save or destroy everything she's worked for, not the supernatural.
Short, snappy, and with an absolute fierceness of purpose on abortion rights. As a fantasy enjoyer, I would have liked to see a little more focus on the rather neglected demons, but the vividness of the scenes set in the clinic more than made up for it. Recommended.
I've consistently enjoyed Patel's work, and I was excited to read her modern-day fantasy novel latest. In We Dance Upon Demons, depressed twenty-something Nisha is the volunteer coordinator at an understaffed and beleaguered abortion clinic. After a strange encounter with an Indian statue in the museum, Nisha is plunged into a strange world of demons and monsters--but in the end, the supernatural may not be as dangerous as the very human threats to her clinic...
We Dance Upon Demons is a very pointed novel, and Patel obviously incorporated her time as a clinic volunteer with Planned Parenthood into her writing. The demon-hunting elements are almost incidental to the plot in comparison to Nisha's crushing depression and the reality of her everyday life. While the individual scenes are brutal, like a raped twelve-year -old being called a murderer by protesters as she tries to get into the clinic, it's the sheer relentlessness of it all that stood out to me. Every day, Nisha's job is to escort patients trying to access basic health care through a mob screaming abuse, and it never stops. Combined with the understaffing typical for a small nonprofit, it's no wonder she's disillusioned. The tone did occasionally swing into informative abortion brochure, but righteous anger permeating the novel was more than enough to animate it.
This book strays a little farther from Hindu mythology than Patel's previous novels. The supernatural appears mostly in brief interludes where Nisha relives the memories of her ancestors who also bore demon powers. But I loved her intense and fraught relationship with her culture, from her passionate love of traditional dance to arguing with conservative uncles, to her very close but difficult bond with her mother. While she doesn't always like her community, this is a book about how it's ultimately people who have the power to save or destroy everything she's worked for, not the supernatural.
Short, snappy, and with an absolute fierceness of purpose on abortion rights. As a fantasy enjoyer, I would have liked to see a little more focus on the rather neglected demons, but the vividness of the scenes set in the clinic more than made up for it. Recommended.
May 16, 2026
4.25
“I doubt the protestors have any idea of the consequences of their actions. A woman could die right in front of them from miscarriage-induced sepsis, and they would still believe in their rightness.”
This is Patel’s fourth book, and while most of them differ in genre and theme, they are all connected in that they incorporate realistic stories with folkloric elements. While the first three books could be considered historical fantasy or alternative history, this one is contemporary and deals with very relevant current affairs.
Nisha, our protagonist, struggles with severe depression after an accident has threatened her life and forced her to reckon with her dreams versus her reality. She also works in reproductive health and constantly feels like she isn’t doing enough for the people who count on her. Taking a forced break on an exceptionally rough day, she visits a museum and has a magical encounter that will change her life.
The book goes into a LOT of heavy themes that include reproductive health and the grim reality that exists for many women who have little-to-no bodily autonomy, how insidious the alt right has become in their anti-choice tactics, and stories of women in the past who encountered gods and demons and terrible humans… and lived to tell the tale.
I have read several nonfiction books on the history of reproductive health, especially when it comes to religious beliefs on abortion over the years. It is interesting how many of these systemic beliefs have changed drastically even in the last hundred years, and this novel briefly touched on this while also commenting on the many anti-life methods that extreme pro-lifers might engage in to get their points across. There is realistic nuance in both the clinic patients and the protestors who wait outside said clinic, and I appreciate that these fictional interactions came from a blend of research and lived experience from the author.
Nisha is such a relatable character as she battles demons both literal and figurative: doing the best she can to cope with her depression (and sometimes unintentionally hurting others in the process), coming to terms with betrayals past and present, reconciling how she sees herself with how her loved ones see her, and embracing her strengths rather than focusing on all of the problems she can’t fix alone.
I do wish we’d gotten a little bit more of the supernatural elements, as well as more page-time and story for some of the side characters who I wanted to get to know better, but overall I felt like this was an important and timely read. I especially loved how Nisha used dance to connect with the power and the stories of women in the past. Thank you so much to @SagaPressBooks and NetGalley for the advanced ebook!
**Note: you may want to check the content warnings. This may be triggering if you’ve dealt with ectopic pregnancy and/or miscarriage.
June 18, 2026
Loved it. Although it’s better labeled as magical realism than fantasy. If you’re looking for escapism, this ain’t it. There’s nothing fantastical about women’s reproductive care being held in the balance of laws manipulated by geriatric men. When their reproductive rights change from state to state, then I’ll sympathize.
Theme-wise there are three demons here: the good, the bad, and the metaphorical. I really loved that.
Don’t miss the author’s note. The author isn’t just a talented writer but a constitutional law and civil rights lawyer with experience working in reproductive healthcare.
Theme-wise there are three demons here: the good, the bad, and the metaphorical. I really loved that.
Don’t miss the author’s note. The author isn’t just a talented writer but a constitutional law and civil rights lawyer with experience working in reproductive healthcare.
May 15, 2026
A fantastic and, unfortunately, relavant story. Really enjoyed how the story progressed and the ending was my favorite part of the book. Highly recommend!
June 17, 2026
a devastatingly resonant story for our times. i loved our protagonist and it was so emotional to read about a depressed woman who has been chosen to literally fight her demons to protect her community and the ones she cares most about. i feel like the author has grown a lot since her first book kaiyeki, but i love how she retains a lot of joy and pride in sharing her culture, and writing myth-inspired stories. this does get very manifesto-y at times but you know, someone's gotta say it. a satisfying yet bittersweet ending.
June 8, 2026
the first chapter of this book begins with a description of depression, which is fitting because the absolutely horrendous depressive slump i had in april to may was what stopped me from reading this arc before release day. 😔 tragic especially considering just how much i was looking forward to this read. alas!
three things drew me to this book 1. i love abortion ❤️ i love love love love abortion so much i forget it’s even a controversial opinion to hold 2. i have sincerely enjoyed vyshnavi patel’s previous works and respect her as an author and 3. that COVERRRR i mean come on now! what a cover!! which is why i was so absolutely excited to get this as an arc and so sooooo upset to have put this off for so long, but hey! better late than never 🫣
first off, i loveeee a book that doesn’t hand hold me at all i absolutely live for books that throw me into things and have my brain working on overdrive and the fact that patel explains literally none of the indian mythology or historical references in this 🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️ yeah baybeee. there’s a scene in the beginning where nisha, our main character reminisces on her time in kathak and the nataraja pose and that’s when i knew i was going to be in for a fabulous read because as a former bharatnatyam dancer, it really is that serious to me!
which, getting into the major themes of the book. i know the title was we dance upon demons but i did not expect dance to play such a huge role in this! dance being the gateway to her witnessing the lives and stories of the women of the past was so beautiful and her relationship with dance truly was like so beautiful and incredible and close to my heart. i did almost cry multiple times while reading about it! reading nisha’s absolute devotion to the abortion clinic where she works, and seeing all the day to day miseries (and joys!) that reflect real life abortion centers was just absolutely eye-opening to read about and the demons plot factoring into the broader messaging of hope and community was beautiful! i loved nisha’s relationship with her mother, the depiction of depression was so realistic, the author’s note at the end was harrowing, and really i’ve been sitting on this for a couple days hoping i’d get more to say in my glowing review but as it is with quite of lot of things i enjoy, i am rendered incapable of coherency. i just love this book normal amounts (lie)
thanks to netgalley and saga press for the arc!
three things drew me to this book 1. i love abortion ❤️ i love love love love abortion so much i forget it’s even a controversial opinion to hold 2. i have sincerely enjoyed vyshnavi patel’s previous works and respect her as an author and 3. that COVERRRR i mean come on now! what a cover!! which is why i was so absolutely excited to get this as an arc and so sooooo upset to have put this off for so long, but hey! better late than never 🫣
first off, i loveeee a book that doesn’t hand hold me at all i absolutely live for books that throw me into things and have my brain working on overdrive and the fact that patel explains literally none of the indian mythology or historical references in this 🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️ yeah baybeee. there’s a scene in the beginning where nisha, our main character reminisces on her time in kathak and the nataraja pose and that’s when i knew i was going to be in for a fabulous read because as a former bharatnatyam dancer, it really is that serious to me!
which, getting into the major themes of the book. i know the title was we dance upon demons but i did not expect dance to play such a huge role in this! dance being the gateway to her witnessing the lives and stories of the women of the past was so beautiful and her relationship with dance truly was like so beautiful and incredible and close to my heart. i did almost cry multiple times while reading about it! reading nisha’s absolute devotion to the abortion clinic where she works, and seeing all the day to day miseries (and joys!) that reflect real life abortion centers was just absolutely eye-opening to read about and the demons plot factoring into the broader messaging of hope and community was beautiful! i loved nisha’s relationship with her mother, the depiction of depression was so realistic, the author’s note at the end was harrowing, and really i’ve been sitting on this for a couple days hoping i’d get more to say in my glowing review but as it is with quite of lot of things i enjoy, i am rendered incapable of coherency. i just love this book normal amounts (lie)
thanks to netgalley and saga press for the arc!
March 24, 2026
I entered a Goodreads Giveaway and got a free copy of this book. I had read this author's other book Kaikeyi, and really enjoyed it, so I was interested in reading another book by her. Also, the cover is pretty awesome with that pop-art look, very eye-catching.
This book is about a modern young woman of Indian descent who volunteers at a women's clinic in Chicago area that performs abortions and other services. It takes place roughly in the 40 days of Lent, when the clinic is most under attack by anti-choice protestors and demonstrators. She has suffered some losses in her life, and in the beginning seems to be just hanging on, but then grows into her strength with the help of an old-world demon's influence.
If I could compare it to books I read in the last few years, I'd say it's kind of a combination of Sara Gran's Come Closer and Madame Restell by Jennifer Wright.
This book is about a modern young woman of Indian descent who volunteers at a women's clinic in Chicago area that performs abortions and other services. It takes place roughly in the 40 days of Lent, when the clinic is most under attack by anti-choice protestors and demonstrators. She has suffered some losses in her life, and in the beginning seems to be just hanging on, but then grows into her strength with the help of an old-world demon's influence.
If I could compare it to books I read in the last few years, I'd say it's kind of a combination of Sara Gran's Come Closer and Madame Restell by Jennifer Wright.
May 28, 2026
South Asian Author ✔
Story based in my hometown, Chicago ✔
Women's Rights & Abortion ✔
Demons ✔
Strong Female Characters ✔
This book was such a refreshing read! The second I saw a fantasy book written by a South Asian author, I knew I had to read it, but what I got was better than expected. This book touched on a very important issue that is unfortunately still being debated today, but the delivery blends context with South Asian culture and Hinduism, making it all the more impactful. Such a great read!
Story based in my hometown, Chicago ✔
Women's Rights & Abortion ✔
Demons ✔
Strong Female Characters ✔
This book was such a refreshing read! The second I saw a fantasy book written by a South Asian author, I knew I had to read it, but what I got was better than expected. This book touched on a very important issue that is unfortunately still being debated today, but the delivery blends context with South Asian culture and Hinduism, making it all the more impactful. Such a great read!
June 3, 2026
4.5/5 stars
this was INCREDIBLE.
a beautiful exploration into the brutal effects of todays society when it comes to bodily autonomy and the freedom of choice, told through a powerful perspective of one woman's journey as an employee at an abortion clinic. it so seamlessly weaves mythology and folklore, cultural and generational trauma, and the dichotomy of who has authority over women's' bodies. absolutely STUNNING.
this made me want to read everything this author has published. riveting, powerful, and is a definite must read. wow.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc!
this was INCREDIBLE.
a beautiful exploration into the brutal effects of todays society when it comes to bodily autonomy and the freedom of choice, told through a powerful perspective of one woman's journey as an employee at an abortion clinic. it so seamlessly weaves mythology and folklore, cultural and generational trauma, and the dichotomy of who has authority over women's' bodies. absolutely STUNNING.
this made me want to read everything this author has published. riveting, powerful, and is a definite must read. wow.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc!
June 21, 2026
For a demon book VERY real world, but fantastically done
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a good book. I loved the main character and just the plot overall. Definitely hit home on how abortion is viewed in the country and the demons we face. It's definitely a heavy story and sad, but also hopeful and inspiring.
May 20, 2026
Such a powerful read. This book is so beautiful in what it tells. I already love Patel’s writing so that was a given going into this story.
I went into this blind, as I do almost every book I read. When I saw the topic of abortion I was immediately hooked. This book was written carefully and beautifully. Taking all sides of people’s opinions, understanding why people who believe it’s wrong and seeing the harmful consequences to the mothers who can’t get one.
Side story but I work in an operating room and have had these cases. We handle emergency ectopic pregnancies and abortions. I have seen how having these procedures literally save the lives of our patients. I will always be pro-choice, especially since the new bans take away procedures that help.
So coming back to this book, our main character Nisha is an employee at an OB clinic that offers abortions. She not only has to deal with the stress of protecting patients getting into the clinic from the protestors surrounding the building, but in her personal life, she feels detached. She feels unaccomplished in life, not where she’s supposed to be. But one fateful visit to a museum invites a literal demon into her life that changes everything.
Throughout the story she also weaves Hindu mythology throughout. A lot less compared to her other titles but still relevant.
I cried at the end of this. I think this book hits harder for me because I see the possibilities of what would happen to the people who can’t get abortions who medically need them. Everyone should have a choice but because they take that choice away, even the people who need it to live are denied it.
Please read this, I hope people enjoy it as much as I.
I went into this blind, as I do almost every book I read. When I saw the topic of abortion I was immediately hooked. This book was written carefully and beautifully. Taking all sides of people’s opinions, understanding why people who believe it’s wrong and seeing the harmful consequences to the mothers who can’t get one.
Side story but I work in an operating room and have had these cases. We handle emergency ectopic pregnancies and abortions. I have seen how having these procedures literally save the lives of our patients. I will always be pro-choice, especially since the new bans take away procedures that help.
So coming back to this book, our main character Nisha is an employee at an OB clinic that offers abortions. She not only has to deal with the stress of protecting patients getting into the clinic from the protestors surrounding the building, but in her personal life, she feels detached. She feels unaccomplished in life, not where she’s supposed to be. But one fateful visit to a museum invites a literal demon into her life that changes everything.
Throughout the story she also weaves Hindu mythology throughout. A lot less compared to her other titles but still relevant.
I cried at the end of this. I think this book hits harder for me because I see the possibilities of what would happen to the people who can’t get abortions who medically need them. Everyone should have a choice but because they take that choice away, even the people who need it to live are denied it.
Please read this, I hope people enjoy it as much as I.
June 2, 2026
3.5
I predicted what was happening so early on it but still good!
I predicted what was happening so early on it but still good!
June 21, 2026
Minus the demons this was infuriatingly accurate and such a powerful read.
March 12, 2026
“Demons don’t behave like that. They don’t work for corporations, and they don’t keep their promises.”
This was truly a great read. A very intense and important book that will help expand the reader’s empathy, and understanding of the struggles reproductive healthcare workers are facing today. It also has a lot of Indian history, art, and dance mixed in. I’m absolutely going to be picking up more of Patel’s books later this year.
Right from the very first page, it’s easy to fall in step with the main character Nisha. I mean who wouldn’t love a character depressed with herself, and the world at large, waking up late and rushing to work. The contemporary setting grounds this fantasy story and brings Nisha to life. I fully believe there are many real-life Nishas in our midst. She is so real and she is dealing with SO much in this book.
The biggest highlight for me is how much research has been undertaken and how extraordinarily well put it is. Because of the research and first-hand experience that the author possesses, the reader is able to get a very deep look at all the factors surrounding abortion clinics - the different types of people that come to the clinic, the different types of care being provided there, and the different types of problems that arise around specific times. It also explores the various arguments against abortion from different angles. When I say extraordinarily well put, I mean the balance Patel has struck while dealing with all these heavy topics with depth while also not interrupting the flow of the story she wants to tell. It also sincerely doesn’t feel preachy and makes its case very logically. While discussing Patel’s writing strengths, I also have to mention that not only is she able to evoke affective empathy towards sadness but there is a community-based intervention scene that gave me so much warmth and hope.
There are some hurdles I did encounter in the book as well. The interludes were very nice and I loved seeing Nisha interact and learn from the past stories but after the halfway mark, it started hampering the plot progression. The supernatural and fantasy elements of the story also felt disjointed and the ending was definitely rushed. It didn’t affect my reading experience too much because I was hooked to Nisha’s journey and all the new stuff I was learning about, but it might affect readers wanting more fantastical stuff.
Overall, it’s still a very good reading experience and deals with the complex roadblocks that stand in the way of doing good on a wide scale and asks the question if local, direct action oriented approaches can successfully effect change? It is definitely a book that will linger with you long after you have turned the last page.
This was truly a great read. A very intense and important book that will help expand the reader’s empathy, and understanding of the struggles reproductive healthcare workers are facing today. It also has a lot of Indian history, art, and dance mixed in. I’m absolutely going to be picking up more of Patel’s books later this year.
Right from the very first page, it’s easy to fall in step with the main character Nisha. I mean who wouldn’t love a character depressed with herself, and the world at large, waking up late and rushing to work. The contemporary setting grounds this fantasy story and brings Nisha to life. I fully believe there are many real-life Nishas in our midst. She is so real and she is dealing with SO much in this book.
The biggest highlight for me is how much research has been undertaken and how extraordinarily well put it is. Because of the research and first-hand experience that the author possesses, the reader is able to get a very deep look at all the factors surrounding abortion clinics - the different types of people that come to the clinic, the different types of care being provided there, and the different types of problems that arise around specific times. It also explores the various arguments against abortion from different angles. When I say extraordinarily well put, I mean the balance Patel has struck while dealing with all these heavy topics with depth while also not interrupting the flow of the story she wants to tell. It also sincerely doesn’t feel preachy and makes its case very logically. While discussing Patel’s writing strengths, I also have to mention that not only is she able to evoke affective empathy towards sadness but there is a community-based intervention scene that gave me so much warmth and hope.
There are some hurdles I did encounter in the book as well. The interludes were very nice and I loved seeing Nisha interact and learn from the past stories but after the halfway mark, it started hampering the plot progression. The supernatural and fantasy elements of the story also felt disjointed and the ending was definitely rushed. It didn’t affect my reading experience too much because I was hooked to Nisha’s journey and all the new stuff I was learning about, but it might affect readers wanting more fantastical stuff.
Overall, it’s still a very good reading experience and deals with the complex roadblocks that stand in the way of doing good on a wide scale and asks the question if local, direct action oriented approaches can successfully effect change? It is definitely a book that will linger with you long after you have turned the last page.
Did Not Finish
May 20, 2026My reading is a disaster lately…
I really liked Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River, but I did approach this book with some caution. I DNFed The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, and it became clear to me that Patel’s stories that are mostly grounded in realism don’t work for me. She writes kind of dryly and straightforwardly, and I don’t know, I eat it up with the myth retellings. With real stuff? It’s coming across simplistic and heavy handed.
I’m all for the message, and I’m glad I bought the book since some of the proceeds go to support pro-choice orgs. But I guess I need to wait for Patel to do another myth retelling to read her!
I really liked Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River, but I did approach this book with some caution. I DNFed The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, and it became clear to me that Patel’s stories that are mostly grounded in realism don’t work for me. She writes kind of dryly and straightforwardly, and I don’t know, I eat it up with the myth retellings. With real stuff? It’s coming across simplistic and heavy handed.
I’m all for the message, and I’m glad I bought the book since some of the proceeds go to support pro-choice orgs. But I guess I need to wait for Patel to do another myth retelling to read her!
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026"Although there are plenty of novels and films about making deals with demons and stealing magic, there's not really any definitive how-to guide for battling real-life demons or saving your abortion clinic."
I wanted to love this but it just felt so flat. Nisha's character is very meh, and maybe that's the author trying to channel her depression, but I just had a hard time getting excited about reading this. I did enjoy all the info about Indian culture and I also liked Nisha's relationship with her mom, but otherwise I just couldn't make myself go back and pick this up again.
DNF at 45%
I wanted to love this but it just felt so flat. Nisha's character is very meh, and maybe that's the author trying to channel her depression, but I just had a hard time getting excited about reading this. I did enjoy all the info about Indian culture and I also liked Nisha's relationship with her mom, but otherwise I just couldn't make myself go back and pick this up again.
DNF at 45%
May 27, 2026
We Dance Upon Demons is a contemporary fantasy novel that zooms in on the reproductive rights movements. We follow Nisha, who works in an abortion clinic, as she unexpectedly comes into some demon power. It seems like the story takes place in our modern time, and has veiled mentions of real world events (Trump’s reelection, the rollback of Roe v Wade, etc.)
I expected to LOVE this book, but I feel pretty lukewarm upon finishing it. While I love the message the book delivers (access to abortion and other reproductive prevention/care is a fundamental right), the delivery itself comes off in an almost preachy, unnatural way. You’ll find a lot of reviews that mention the book just info dumps - that’s very accurate. It often comes in dialogue between clinic workers or volunteers, and it feels really clunky. There is also a lot of insertion of facts about abortion/clinics/etc, and while I agree it’s important information, it is not written into the book in an effective way.
I liked Nisha, but felt like I was held at arm’s length from her. We learn she had an abortion and then had a troubling experience with an ex because of it, but there’s no real examination of it. I would have loved some reflection from Nisha about how her abortion positively impacted her life; instead it’s just glazed over as a thing that happened. In a book centered on protecting reproductive rights, I feel like this was a missed opportunity.
My main gripe, though, is the fantasy element. It felt SO underdeveloped! The powers that Nisha gets access to are very interesting and should have led to something, but they really don’t. Most of the book felt weirdly low stakes, and I just wish the author would have spent more time developing the lore of the demons. There are attempts to do so, but those often felt like they were just barely scratching the surface. I wonder if a longer book would have been better.
The ending bothered me in three ways. First, there’s a big moment that is meant to be emotional that just doesn’t hit because the characters - especially the side characters - are underdeveloped. Then the aftermath of this big moment felt weirdly preachy and unnatural - it’s hard to explain without spoiling, so I’ll just say that Nisha’s processing of the event almost felt like another info dumps. Second, there’s a “twist” that is obvious from the moment you meet the character it involves early on in the book - and then that character had no depth, which cheapened the effect of the already-predictable twist. Third, Nisha spends the whole book wildly burnt out - and that’s such a REAL depiction of working in this space! Yet at the end, after going through some horrific trauma, she decides to essentially take on more work and magically seems happier. That seems like a dangerous message about burn out!
Okay, that was a lot of complaining so let me end on this: I didn’t have a bad time reading this, and I’d recommend it to someone who wants a quick read that talks about serious issues without really getting deep with them. I like Patel as a writer (love Kaikeyi!), and I will read more from her in the future - this one just wasn’t my favorite. I did like her author’s note at the end, and it seems like this was an important book for her personally to write. And hey, I’m all for more books depicting the fight for reproductive rights!
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; all thoughts here are my own.
I expected to LOVE this book, but I feel pretty lukewarm upon finishing it. While I love the message the book delivers (access to abortion and other reproductive prevention/care is a fundamental right), the delivery itself comes off in an almost preachy, unnatural way. You’ll find a lot of reviews that mention the book just info dumps - that’s very accurate. It often comes in dialogue between clinic workers or volunteers, and it feels really clunky. There is also a lot of insertion of facts about abortion/clinics/etc, and while I agree it’s important information, it is not written into the book in an effective way.
I liked Nisha, but felt like I was held at arm’s length from her. We learn she had an abortion and then had a troubling experience with an ex because of it, but there’s no real examination of it. I would have loved some reflection from Nisha about how her abortion positively impacted her life; instead it’s just glazed over as a thing that happened. In a book centered on protecting reproductive rights, I feel like this was a missed opportunity.
My main gripe, though, is the fantasy element. It felt SO underdeveloped! The powers that Nisha gets access to are very interesting and should have led to something, but they really don’t. Most of the book felt weirdly low stakes, and I just wish the author would have spent more time developing the lore of the demons. There are attempts to do so, but those often felt like they were just barely scratching the surface. I wonder if a longer book would have been better.
The ending bothered me in three ways. First, there’s a big moment that is meant to be emotional that just doesn’t hit because the characters - especially the side characters - are underdeveloped. Then the aftermath of this big moment felt weirdly preachy and unnatural - it’s hard to explain without spoiling, so I’ll just say that Nisha’s processing of the event almost felt like another info dumps. Second, there’s a “twist” that is obvious from the moment you meet the character it involves early on in the book - and then that character had no depth, which cheapened the effect of the already-predictable twist. Third, Nisha spends the whole book wildly burnt out - and that’s such a REAL depiction of working in this space! Yet at the end, after going through some horrific trauma, she decides to essentially take on more work and magically seems happier. That seems like a dangerous message about burn out!
Okay, that was a lot of complaining so let me end on this: I didn’t have a bad time reading this, and I’d recommend it to someone who wants a quick read that talks about serious issues without really getting deep with them. I like Patel as a writer (love Kaikeyi!), and I will read more from her in the future - this one just wasn’t my favorite. I did like her author’s note at the end, and it seems like this was an important book for her personally to write. And hey, I’m all for more books depicting the fight for reproductive rights!
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC; all thoughts here are my own.
June 14, 2026
Nisha is a burned out employee at an independent abortion clinic. Facing anti-choice protestors is the norm for her, but things amp up after she accidentally releases a demon named Muya and absorbs some of his powers. Muya wants his powers back, but there's another demon that wants it too and will harass her, everyone she loves, and her place of work in order to get it.
First of all, I have to mention that this author is a civil rights lawyer by day and an internationally bestselling author by night. How does she have enough time to do either one let alone both? That's impressive.
Anyway, I didn't know what to expect from this book because of the heavy focus on reproductive rights alongside the urban fantasy with demons and magic. Vaishnavi Patel did such a good job blending reality with fiction. At first I wondered why Nisha wanted to hold onto Muya's powers when she seldom used it until I realized it was all a metaphor. How it represented Nisha's apathy and how she's letting bad faith actors get to her when she is capable of making change. Even if the change is small, it's better than nothing.
Considering the heavy topics of reproductive rights and the ongoing battle of fighting off restrictions to these rights, this story proves that real-life people can be equally and/or more terrifying than demons. The Western demon - I'm sorry, I don't remember his name - was controlling the anti-choice protestors to do his bidding, but it wasn't like they needed much nudging to partake in such horrific actions in the first place.
My favourite part of the book was the reveal of an unexpected and very sweet romance between Muya and a certain character. There was such little focus on this romance, but it implies that he truly loved her in spite of his fatigue and contempt towards humans. My least favourite part of the book was how obvious it was that Nisha didn't realize who was a double agent.
Considering the topic of reproductive health, I'm not surprised the ending was bittersweet and realistic since the real-world fight continues. The only thing I didn't expect was the emphasis on bitter. But I wouldn't change a thing because it ties back into the message of not becoming apathetic because things won't change, let alone improve, if you give up at every tragedy. And how you can't do everything on your own. I appreciated how Nisha was forced to get over her self-defeatist attitude by relying on her community when she was overwhelmed and overburdened. The scenes in which the aunties and uncles showed up for the clinic and fought back against the protestors was more moving than I expected.
A very timely read and I'm really glad I got to read it.
First of all, I have to mention that this author is a civil rights lawyer by day and an internationally bestselling author by night. How does she have enough time to do either one let alone both? That's impressive.
Anyway, I didn't know what to expect from this book because of the heavy focus on reproductive rights alongside the urban fantasy with demons and magic. Vaishnavi Patel did such a good job blending reality with fiction. At first I wondered why Nisha wanted to hold onto Muya's powers when she seldom used it until I realized it was all a metaphor. How it represented Nisha's apathy and how she's letting bad faith actors get to her when she is capable of making change. Even if the change is small, it's better than nothing.
Considering the heavy topics of reproductive rights and the ongoing battle of fighting off restrictions to these rights, this story proves that real-life people can be equally and/or more terrifying than demons. The Western demon - I'm sorry, I don't remember his name - was controlling the anti-choice protestors to do his bidding, but it wasn't like they needed much nudging to partake in such horrific actions in the first place.
My favourite part of the book was the reveal of an unexpected and very sweet romance between Muya and a certain character. There was such little focus on this romance, but it implies that he truly loved her in spite of his fatigue and contempt towards humans. My least favourite part of the book was how obvious it was that Nisha didn't realize who was a double agent.
Considering the topic of reproductive health, I'm not surprised the ending was bittersweet and realistic since the real-world fight continues. The only thing I didn't expect was the emphasis on bitter. But I wouldn't change a thing because it ties back into the message of not becoming apathetic because things won't change, let alone improve, if you give up at every tragedy. And how you can't do everything on your own. I appreciated how Nisha was forced to get over her self-defeatist attitude by relying on her community when she was overwhelmed and overburdened. The scenes in which the aunties and uncles showed up for the clinic and fought back against the protestors was more moving than I expected.
A very timely read and I'm really glad I got to read it.
June 2, 2026
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Date: 5/29/26 – 6/1/26
Having grown up in a very white Southern Baptist small town in rural Arkansas, I haven’t ever really been exposed to other cultures very much; it just wasn’t something that we did. I do, however, have a special interest in it; it kind of goes hand in hand with my special interest in ancient history, so as an adult, I decided to lean into it and explore that interest, and the two ways I do that is by watching documentaries and reading books set in or about those cultures. This ramble is to explain why I picked up Vaishnavi Patel’s books as they gave me the chance to explore Hinduism and India, but I ended up really liking them, so I have been reading all her new ones as they been released.
This one is set in modern times and tells the story of Nisha, a young women working in Chicago at a reproductive health care center amid the current political crisis. Struggling with depression, one day, Nisha decides to go to a local art museum for a little brain break and ends up interacting with an ancient Nataraja statue. This interaction will allow her to access latent magic both in the statue and her bloodline, magic that she then must decide what to do with. Can she use it to fight back and stand up for what’s right?
This book is more a character study of Nisha, her family line, and feminine rage/power, power that is often misunderstood and ostracized, but it is also in some ways autobiographical or at least, I feel it is after reading the author’s note at the end of the book. It also details Indian dance and how dance is used to preserve memory, history, and myth; Nisha uses dance to connect with her ancestors and discover her true self again, and I really enjoyed this aspect as I had no idea about that aspect of Hindu culture. I also really enjoyed learning more about the fight for women’s reproductive rights as I, again, haven’t had much exposure to that; it just isn’t something that is talked about in my family or small town. Segway, if you are neurodivergent and tend to get stuck in linear thinking, reading books like this, that explore topics deeply, particularly from perspectives different from your own, really help you break out of that thinking and helps you wrap your brain around it and get a more nuanced perspective. I find it really helps!
The only area that I felt this book was lacking was the flashbacks. Nisha does use them to rediscover her power/rage and fight back, but I feel they could have been more fleshed out history wise; obviously these women were fighting back in fundamental aspects of Indian history, but since I didn’t have the context for those times, the impact was a little lost on me. I wish that Patel had maybe included a couple paragraphs to help non-Indian readers orient themselves in the period before jumping into each women’s story. In the same vein, I wish that Patel would have expanded on the place of dance in Indian culture as well because I was excited to learn about it, maybe in her author’s note in the end where she discusses the research she did for this book.
All in all, this was an excellent book, not my favorite Patel, but still good. I recommend to anyone curious about it, although please note, some of these scenes may make your blood boil. 4.5 stars!!!!!
Date: 5/29/26 – 6/1/26
Having grown up in a very white Southern Baptist small town in rural Arkansas, I haven’t ever really been exposed to other cultures very much; it just wasn’t something that we did. I do, however, have a special interest in it; it kind of goes hand in hand with my special interest in ancient history, so as an adult, I decided to lean into it and explore that interest, and the two ways I do that is by watching documentaries and reading books set in or about those cultures. This ramble is to explain why I picked up Vaishnavi Patel’s books as they gave me the chance to explore Hinduism and India, but I ended up really liking them, so I have been reading all her new ones as they been released.
This one is set in modern times and tells the story of Nisha, a young women working in Chicago at a reproductive health care center amid the current political crisis. Struggling with depression, one day, Nisha decides to go to a local art museum for a little brain break and ends up interacting with an ancient Nataraja statue. This interaction will allow her to access latent magic both in the statue and her bloodline, magic that she then must decide what to do with. Can she use it to fight back and stand up for what’s right?
This book is more a character study of Nisha, her family line, and feminine rage/power, power that is often misunderstood and ostracized, but it is also in some ways autobiographical or at least, I feel it is after reading the author’s note at the end of the book. It also details Indian dance and how dance is used to preserve memory, history, and myth; Nisha uses dance to connect with her ancestors and discover her true self again, and I really enjoyed this aspect as I had no idea about that aspect of Hindu culture. I also really enjoyed learning more about the fight for women’s reproductive rights as I, again, haven’t had much exposure to that; it just isn’t something that is talked about in my family or small town. Segway, if you are neurodivergent and tend to get stuck in linear thinking, reading books like this, that explore topics deeply, particularly from perspectives different from your own, really help you break out of that thinking and helps you wrap your brain around it and get a more nuanced perspective. I find it really helps!
The only area that I felt this book was lacking was the flashbacks. Nisha does use them to rediscover her power/rage and fight back, but I feel they could have been more fleshed out history wise; obviously these women were fighting back in fundamental aspects of Indian history, but since I didn’t have the context for those times, the impact was a little lost on me. I wish that Patel had maybe included a couple paragraphs to help non-Indian readers orient themselves in the period before jumping into each women’s story. In the same vein, I wish that Patel would have expanded on the place of dance in Indian culture as well because I was excited to learn about it, maybe in her author’s note in the end where she discusses the research she did for this book.
All in all, this was an excellent book, not my favorite Patel, but still good. I recommend to anyone curious about it, although please note, some of these scenes may make your blood boil. 4.5 stars!!!!!
May 18, 2026
3.5⭐️ rounded up. Thank you NetGalley & Saga Press for the ARC.
This is a story that will always remain relevant so long as pregnant people continue to be demonized for holding on to their bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Through her protagonist Nisha, author Vashnavi Patel elegantly outlines the hypocrisy of common arguments held up by anti-choice disguised as pro-life protestors. She also includes characters like Nisha's ex Aaron, who was a steadfast anti-choicer but has since been educated, and a one-off mention of their religious college friend Michelle who actually identifies as pro-life by advocating for gun control, expanded healthcare & free childcare, and would rather protest outside a prison against the death penalty than protest a clinic. Maybe another reader would find all the social commentary preachy but this has never been an issue with me when I consume books that handle such themes.
Patel's depiction of Nisha's depression is empathetic, emotional and feels authentic. The moments of numbness and debilitating struggle to just get out of bed for the simplest of functions hits hard. Nisha used to be an active practitioner of classical Indian dance, but fell out of it because she doesn't want to "taint that joy" with her depression. It's therefore so heartfelt when she slowly but surely rediscovers her passion for dance again and falls back in step, also symbolizing her re-connection to her culture. It's a given at this point that Patel lovingly interweaves her protagonists' Indian heritage in her novels, but what has impressed me since Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is her readiness to also rightfully provide valid criticisms of her community too—such as conservative views rooted in Islamophobia, antiBlackness, xenophobia, and classism.
I have to give a shoutout to the portrayal of Nisha's mother, who raised her as a single unwed parent. I adore how understanding she is to her daughter's mental illness and even stated that her struggles & Nisha's struggles are not in competition. It's remarkably forward-thinking for an Asian parent of her generation. She went as far as defending Nisha from other judgey Indians by stating Nisha doesn't need a man as she's got better morals, preach!!
All the above were such highlights, that the only undercut was how I find that the fantasy portion of WDUD rather underwhelming. There was just ... not enough of it all. You have a burnt out protag frustrated with the current fascist state of her country and fearing for the safety of her co-workers and people they're meant to help, suddenly get demon powers. The ability to affect what knowledge others hold is actually super cool and rife with potential on how you can get creative with it, but isn't utilized to the max. Also the fact that Nisha only started learning how to use them a little past the 50% mark. And Muya the demon who is the source of said powers was... around. There. Sometimes.
Nisha having a connection to the women before her who held Muya's powers and being able to view their lives was interesting at least; it reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender. But while I liked the life stories of these women interspersed between chapters, I wish there was MORE than just Nisha learning about their pasts and the messages gleaned from them. Like if she could channel and actually communicate with them, Avatar-past-lives-style.
Honestly while I'm invested in Nisha as a character and I love that her Indian community rallied to help her and her clinic at the end, I was so underwhelmed during too many instances in the middle that I got bored at times and was tempted to skim to the resolution. The death of one particular character also just felt so immensely unfair after all the shit the clinic went through. A realistically bleak story I can get, but not one that struggled to hold onto my interest.
This is a story that will always remain relevant so long as pregnant people continue to be demonized for holding on to their bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Through her protagonist Nisha, author Vashnavi Patel elegantly outlines the hypocrisy of common arguments held up by anti-choice disguised as pro-life protestors. She also includes characters like Nisha's ex Aaron, who was a steadfast anti-choicer but has since been educated, and a one-off mention of their religious college friend Michelle who actually identifies as pro-life by advocating for gun control, expanded healthcare & free childcare, and would rather protest outside a prison against the death penalty than protest a clinic. Maybe another reader would find all the social commentary preachy but this has never been an issue with me when I consume books that handle such themes.
Patel's depiction of Nisha's depression is empathetic, emotional and feels authentic. The moments of numbness and debilitating struggle to just get out of bed for the simplest of functions hits hard. Nisha used to be an active practitioner of classical Indian dance, but fell out of it because she doesn't want to "taint that joy" with her depression. It's therefore so heartfelt when she slowly but surely rediscovers her passion for dance again and falls back in step, also symbolizing her re-connection to her culture. It's a given at this point that Patel lovingly interweaves her protagonists' Indian heritage in her novels, but what has impressed me since Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is her readiness to also rightfully provide valid criticisms of her community too—such as conservative views rooted in Islamophobia, antiBlackness, xenophobia, and classism.
I have to give a shoutout to the portrayal of Nisha's mother, who raised her as a single unwed parent. I adore how understanding she is to her daughter's mental illness and even stated that her struggles & Nisha's struggles are not in competition. It's remarkably forward-thinking for an Asian parent of her generation. She went as far as defending Nisha from other judgey Indians by stating Nisha doesn't need a man as she's got better morals, preach!!
All the above were such highlights, that the only undercut was how I find that the fantasy portion of WDUD rather underwhelming. There was just ... not enough of it all. You have a burnt out protag frustrated with the current fascist state of her country and fearing for the safety of her co-workers and people they're meant to help, suddenly get demon powers. The ability to affect what knowledge others hold is actually super cool and rife with potential on how you can get creative with it, but isn't utilized to the max. Also the fact that Nisha only started learning how to use them a little past the 50% mark. And Muya the demon who is the source of said powers was... around. There. Sometimes.
Nisha having a connection to the women before her who held Muya's powers and being able to view their lives was interesting at least; it reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender. But while I liked the life stories of these women interspersed between chapters, I wish there was MORE than just Nisha learning about their pasts and the messages gleaned from them. Like if she could channel and actually communicate with them, Avatar-past-lives-style.
Honestly while I'm invested in Nisha as a character and I love that her Indian community rallied to help her and her clinic at the end, I was so underwhelmed during too many instances in the middle that I got bored at times and was tempted to skim to the resolution. The death of one particular character also just felt so immensely unfair after all the shit the clinic went through. A realistically bleak story I can get, but not one that struggled to hold onto my interest.
May 29, 2026
4 stars
This was a fantastic yet hard book to read. If you're angry at the direction the world is turning to, this book will make you even more enraged, at times hopeless, others will have you clinging to idealism with all your heart and soul.
It follows Nisha, who works at an abortion clinic, as she fights to keep the clinic afloat while also dealing with her own trauma following a car accident, and a breakup with someone who turned out to be a pro-birth protestor. One day, she is visited by a demon, who claims she holds part of his magic, which in turn means there are other demons seeking to rip that magic from her. Now, Nisha must not only learn to balance the bleak reality of the direction the world is heading to, she also has to understand this new power and learn from the women who held it in the past.
As a woman, I was heavily invested in this book. Sometimes, I wanted to chuck my kindle across the room from how infuriated it made me, but I kept going back to it because the story rested heavily on my mind, heart, and soul, and I desperately needed to know there is still hope. Finding out how personal this book was for the author too comforted me. The social commentary was very much essential, and although I understand the role the fantasy aspect plays, I honestly believe it was not necessary for the book to function on its own. Still, I appreciated it.
This is a book that will stay with me for a long time, and I will urge everyone I know to read it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my early copy.
This was a fantastic yet hard book to read. If you're angry at the direction the world is turning to, this book will make you even more enraged, at times hopeless, others will have you clinging to idealism with all your heart and soul.
It follows Nisha, who works at an abortion clinic, as she fights to keep the clinic afloat while also dealing with her own trauma following a car accident, and a breakup with someone who turned out to be a pro-birth protestor. One day, she is visited by a demon, who claims she holds part of his magic, which in turn means there are other demons seeking to rip that magic from her. Now, Nisha must not only learn to balance the bleak reality of the direction the world is heading to, she also has to understand this new power and learn from the women who held it in the past.
As a woman, I was heavily invested in this book. Sometimes, I wanted to chuck my kindle across the room from how infuriated it made me, but I kept going back to it because the story rested heavily on my mind, heart, and soul, and I desperately needed to know there is still hope. Finding out how personal this book was for the author too comforted me. The social commentary was very much essential, and although I understand the role the fantasy aspect plays, I honestly believe it was not necessary for the book to function on its own. Still, I appreciated it.
This is a book that will stay with me for a long time, and I will urge everyone I know to read it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my early copy.
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