We Dance Upon Demons

by Vaishnavi Patel

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Adult Fiction

Audible Audio

First published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

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[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Rebekah McCallie Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Pippin Took, the Shire Hobbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped. I think I expected feminine rage, but got feminine depression and disillusionment instead. 3.5 stars rounded up to combat all the anti choice hate this is sure to receive.

I liked the second half a lot more than the first.

I found the first 50% pretty heavy handed in its pro-choice preaching (and that is coming from a person who is staunchly pro choice, donates to PP, and considers herself a political activist). It was incredibly didactic and info dumpy to me, but maybe that is because I am well versed on the issue, so I knew it all already?? I don’t want info shoved down my throat. I want the author to trust the reader a little bit.

Aai, her mother, was 100% the best part of the novel for me. Her love, strength, and loyalty was beautiful. I also loved the flashbacks about the previous women throughout history.

I had a hard time connecting to Nisha. It was difficult to root for her, perhaps because of her deep depression. Still, it made for a colder, more distant reading experience.

Sometimes it was hard for me to understand what was happening in an action scene. Vaishnavi Patel wrote in very broad, vague strokes.

Still, this is an incredibly important topic and I was so happy to see this book getting published. If you are pro choice, but haven’t deep dived the topic yet, you might gain a lot from this and really love it! I hope you do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advanced reader copy.

[zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was different from the other vaishnavi patel books ive read (i have yet to read 10 incarnations) but this was everything i didn't expect it to be !!
rtc

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic and, unfortunately, relavant story. Really enjoyed how the story progressed and the ending was my favorite part of the book. Highly recommend!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Nisha works in an abortion clinic post-Roe v. Wade. Consumed by depression, having to navigate the viscous anti-choice protestors outside the clinic each day, Nisha escapes to an Indian art exhibit where she accidentally releases a demon trapped inside a statue. He wants his power back that Nisha has unknowingly stolen, but so do other demons...Nisha now faces threats both human and otherworldly.

We Dance Upon Demons is truly relevant to the issues faced in the US following the fall of Roe. The importance of reproductive freedom, life saving healthcare, a woman's right to choose--this story is extremely impactful in showing us the horror that people face by working at or going to abortion clinics.

Nisha is an extremely authentic character. I could feel her burn out, her depression, her desire to make the world a better place. I think this is something we can all relate to, the sheer tiredness of fighting when everything seems impossible.

"I may never remember how to swim to the surface of my mind again. But it is possible. Someone has done it."

I loved how Indian culture and mythology was woven into the story, and particularly Nisha's love of dancing and how she used this to connect to other women that have had the demon's power before.

[Sashika Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sash: A thoughtful and informative read. I specially enjoyed the discussions of dance and desi community dynamics, which added to the personality of the story. It also offered a refreshing look at mother- daughter relationships.

[T Davidovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Dance Upon Demons is my third novel by Vaishnavi Patel, and all three of them have left me wildly different feelings. I obsessed over Kaikeyi, suffered through Goddess of the River, and this one is somewhere in between. It could have been better, but since I liked the second half of the story, my ultimate verdict is a positive one.

There are really two stories going on here. One is about a woman named Nisha who works at a struggling clinic that offers abortions. Another is about that same woman being threatened by demons. The parts about the clinic were, for me, way more interesting. When it came to Nisha dealing with demons, she kind of spends too much time acting like she's imagining the supernatural. Even once she accepts that it's not her imagination, she still behaves as though there are mundane solutions to her problems, and sometimes, she just doesn't do anything at all, except worry.

On the few occasions she explores supernatural solutions to her problems, the extent of her powers aren't clear. She seems to have influence over knowledge and ignorance, which allows her to cause people to forget things. I think. I could be wrong. It's not the kind of magic that has obvious rules and limitations, which is fine. The point of it is more to explore Nisha's character and growth, which means that for this book to succeed, Nisha needs to be compelling, and she is, but I still wanted more from her. I liked her, but she could have benefited from a little more character consistency. Her excuse is that clinical depression has made her behavior illogical sometimes. I get it, but I really couldn't follow her motivations. It doesn't help that demons keep showing up at random moments to disrupt her routine. Without that routine, I couldn't get a good sense of her personality. I can list facts about her that the novel does manage to deliver when establishing a status quo in the first chapter, but there's something missing underneath. Maybe blame her poor mental health, but to me, depression is more of a convenient justification for inconsistency rather than something the book does a good job of exploring.

Admittedly the book does attempt to explore depression. It's just not very effective. There are too many other things going on, and the novel is not long enough to go into depth. Nisha isn't just dealing with depression. She's dealing with demons. She's dealing with regular (very boring) visions into the past about other women who've interacted with demons. She's dealing with her ex. She's dealing with her own mysterious backstory. She's dealing with work. She's dealing with family. She's dealing with racism and sexism. She's dealing with societal expectations, finding purpose and hope, and navigating a fraught political landscape. Most of it is interesting, but not all of it can be.

About a third of the way through the book, Nisha realizes she might want to make a Faustian Bargain to save the clinic. (I won't spoil if she decides to go through with it or not.) At this point, the demon and clinic plotlines converge. The convergence happens slowly, but once they do, things pick up a lot. The story offers actual goals to root for. There are secrets to uncover. There's a clinic to save. There's magical powers to master. There's an actual villain to hate. If the protagonist only grabs you fifty percent of the time, it's fine. The plot should take care of the rest. Some of the twists might be a little easy to predict, but they still land. When one of the villains is revealed, there's a great line about how the villain still loved Nisha. Nisha has to reckon with what it means to be loved by someone so horrible. Even though I predicted this particular big reveal, Nisha's reaction to it means it's still an impactful twist.

I think the idea of bargaining, arguing, fighting, and working with demons to save an abortion clinic is a clever premise. These clinics have a complicated relationship with religion at the best of times. Nisha has Indian heritage, so she is dealing with both Hindu and Christian demons, which offers an interesting dimension to explore religion and abortion. The story refreshingly avoids some of the pitfalls of shallow feminist novels that always feature rageful white women defeating really cartoonish depictions of patriarchy. There's a lot more nuance here. Not every villain is obviously villainous. Not every question is easily answered. Righteous feminine rage only plays a small role in what motivates Nisha.

As a fellow non-Christian who once worked with a similar abortion provider, I really appreciated this story's honesty about certain issues like burnout, talking to conservative friends and family, and reckoning with some of the racism that used to (and sometimes still does) motivate pro-choice advocates. It's not a perfect book, but I enjoyed myself.

~Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a Digital ARC. All opinions are my own.~

[Anodyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nisha is burnt out and majorly depressed young desi woman, volunteering at a small independent reproductive healthcare clinic in Chicago. Reeling from the sudden reappearance of her ex-boyfriend as the clinic’s new resident – despite having been ghosted by him after he and his anti-choice picket caught her entering a reproductive healthcare clinic back in college - she flees to the Art Institute to regroup, where a chance encounter with a Nataraja statue finds her granted some unknown power. With that, she not only has to deal with the vicious ramp up of anti-choice protests in the run up to Easter, with all the violence and threat that entails, but also the machinations of the demon whose power she now holds and other entities who seek that power too.

In comparison to Patel’s epic-based work, the pace here is breakneck, effectively mirroring how out-of-control things feel for Nisha (and, indeed, for anyone experiencing similar rapid-fire erosion of rights under current governments). This adds a frenetic energy to the narrative that really matches Nisha’s panic, and how she’s just barely holding things together. It makes the interludes of the women Nisha connects to through dance feel like little lacunas of relative calm; their stories, while typically fraught with a similar central conflict, are self-contained tales within the larger narrative that give breathing room and reflection of the lessons they impart. The twists of the narrative aren’t particularly opaque or hard to predict, but I didn’t find this detracted in any way; the story is, overall, more driven by Nisha as a character, her struggles and development and what she has to go through to resolve the circumstances she’s in than the reader figuring out the mysteries she’s faced with.

There’s a relatively small cast of characters that the narrative doesn’t delve too deeply into, while still conveying them and their relationships succinctly. That fits really well with the close perspective and Nisha’s mindset, which heightens the narrative tension by feeling just a little claustrophobic. Nisha is traumatised by her recent accident and feels like a failure, and so she’s withdrawn a lot from her culture and the community that comes with it. Equally, a lot of the narrative is about who she can trust – from the demon whose power she’s absorbed to the ex-boyfriend who claims to have completely changed his views, to her Aai, who she is terrified she’s disappointed and equally terrified of endangering. Overall, Nisha is very much isolated, and that does come through in the reads we get on other characters. Despite this, there are still very bright spots where some of the secondary characters of the present day get to shine though and have their moment in ways that are often very touching. The clearest characters we see are those in the past Nisha connects with through dance, because we actively get their perspective; it's particularly interesting to see both the commonalities between them and the differences in values they impart. There’s a very profound sense of community and empathy that build through the narrative, and I think that’s one of the core appeals of this novel - community just showing up with nothing to gain and no expectation of it. There’s even just enough humanity shown by recurrent anti characters to drive home that they very much are human, despite otherwise repulsive views and actions.

Despite the magic and demons, We Dance Upon Demons is very much grounded in reality, and given the subject matter and current political climate, there is a limited extent to which the outcome can feel victorious or cathartic – this is very much not an escapist story. However, within those bounds, Patel delivers a stunningly powerful narrative that shows the power of standing together, teeth bared, against bad actors and those who seek to trample reproductive rights. I hope in a decade or so this will be the kind of novel that feels dystopian, but it is incredibly impressive how well this novel crystalises the current moment in time.

[Bijuri]

September 30 at 11:44 PM: RTC
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October Review: 4/5 stars
This was such an interesting and engaging read. Vaishnavi Patel weaves mythology into modern settings in her latest novel, and while I was less interested in the former and more interested in the contemporary aspects of this story, I still appreciated both.

To me, the non-fantastical elements of this book are what made it really shine. It felt like a lot of the scenes mirrored experiences from the author's own life, which made those parts of the story very compelling. I hope we get to read more books inspired by Vaishnavi Patel's work and advocacy, especially because Patel does not ignore the complexities of imperfect relationships amidst systemic issues.

The following is more of a comment than a complaint, but at times, it almost felt like the demons and magic in this book were merely symbolic tools used to navigate the struggles of the main character. There were points (after the initial introduction of magic but before the very end) where I honestly wasn't sure if the demons actually existed, or if they were meant to be interpreted as figurative, metaphorical. The people the demons worked with certainly did exist, which is why others could see them, but for a large part of the novel, I felt like the conclusion would involve a commentary about fighting your own personal demons (doubts, struggles, et cetera), so to speak. Ultimately, I didn't mind that the fantasy aspect of this novel was so abstract, but that was because I was along for the ride and interested in Vaishnavi Patel's writing about reproductive rights.

Essentially, if you pick this up and expect the worldbuilding or magic system to be more concrete, it is not that kind of contemporary fantasy. But it was refreshing to read something different and unexpected, and I hope the publishing industry takes note of that. All in all, I found this novel to be incredibly necessary and important, and I look forward to recommending it to others.

ARC provided by Saga Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Current Review: 3/5 stars
This was such an interesting and engaging read. Vaishnavi Patel weaves mythology into modern settings in her latest novel, and while I was less interested in the former and more interested in the contemporary aspects of this story, I still appreciated both.

To me, the non-fantastical elements of this book are what made it really shine. It felt like a lot of the scenes mirrored experiences from the author's own life, which made those parts of the story very compelling. I hope we get to read more books inspired by Vaishnavi Patel's work and advocacy, especially because Patel does not ignore the complexities of imperfect relationships amidst systemic issues.

The following is more of a comment than a complaint, but at times, it almost felt like the demons and magic in this book were merely symbolic tools used to navigate the struggles of the main character. There were points (after the initial introduction of magic but before the very end) where I honestly wasn't sure if the demons actually existed, or if they were meant to be interpreted as figurative, metaphorical. The people the demons worked with certainly did exist, which is why others could see them, but for a large part of the novel, I felt like the conclusion would involve a commentary about fighting your own personal demons (doubts, struggles, et cetera), so to speak. Ultimately, I didn't mind that the fantasy aspect of this novel was so abstract, but that was because I was along for the ride and interested in Vaishnavi Patel's writing about reproductive rights.

Essentially, if you pick this up and expect the worldbuilding or magic system to be more concrete, it is not that kind of contemporary fantasy. But it was refreshing to read something different and unexpected, and I hope the publishing industry takes note of that.

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Most people don't change the world, and yet, most people still matter."

Nisha works in an abortion clinic in Chicago. The forty days leading up to Easter are the most difficult as there's extra protesters during Lent. To make things even worse, her ex-boyfriend Aaron now works at the clinic with her. He used to be an anti-abortion protester so she doesn't trust him.

Some patients have to come from neighboring states. They all have their own stories and different reasons for being there. Some women are seeking medically-necessary abortions, some are rape survivors, or too young to be mothers. Some fear an abusive partner or being fired from their job. The clinic provides abortions to women who need them as well as helping women who choose to stay pregnant.

Nisha pretends to be okay outwardly, while inwardly she struggles with depression. Her mother had her out-of-wedlock and she wonders if her mother considered abortion. Her Hindu community is very conservative, so she keeps what she does for work secret. She keeps doing her job even though it's incredibly stressful and feels like it accomplishes too little. However, she tries to remind herself that if you save a single life, you save the world.

She jokes about Indian Standard Time meaning Indians are always late. I've heard this same joke used in reference to Native Americans as well as Mormons. I guess everybody uses the standard time joke.

As if her life isn't hard enough already, Nisha starts seeing demons, which feels like overkill when humans are capable of doing tremendous evil all on their own. However, Muya, the demon of ignorance, might be willing to help her. He has the power to make people forget things, which could come in handy. Nisha also discovers that she's able to experience the lives of her ancestors using dance.

Nisha is a very sympathetic character, understandably weighed down by depression and suspicious of others. She isn't perfect, sometimes lashing out at people who want to help her and continuing to hold grudges after receiving sincere apologies, but her faults make her a more realistic character. She receives threats against her life, but her depression makes her immune to these threats, so it's at least good for something.

This is a very timely book with references to ICE raids and the current state of abortion access in the U.S. While this book is pro-choice overall, some pro-life characters are depicted in a positive light. The complexities of this controversial issue are fully examined. The pro-life and pro-choice positions aren't strict black and white opposites. There are many shades of gray between them.

There's vague references early on to an accident in Nisha's past, leading the reader to expect a big reveal later on. While we learn more details about this accident later, there ultimately isn't a big reveal tied to it, which felt a bit disappointing. However, this is the only flaw I could find with the book. Overall, it's excellent and well worth reading.

[Christine Fitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot and some of the cultural elements of this book were great; but there was a lot of info-dumping and preaching to the choir that I felt really buried what worked here for me. For context, I used to work in the repro justice space, so I'm really familiar with everything from pro-choice and anti-choice arguments, to the day-to-day of repro work, to what it feels like to walk through protesters everyday, to what it feels like to have family friends judge you for the work you do, to what happened in the clinic world when Dobbs dropped. I'm also really familiar with what burnout from living in the midst of all that looks like, being constantly on alert and activated. And I lived and worked in a red state, so I feel like I felt that even more than the MC does here.

I think even without that level of intimate knowledge, I would feel like the narrative is burdened by some clunky dialogue and inner monologuing about abortion and the political climate surrounding it. There's a lot of dropping of facts and explaining to other supporters (or sometimes no one) about the pro-choice point of view or the science behind it, or how "pro-life" isn't really all that pro-life, etc. Meanwhile, some of the Indian and Hindu cultural elements were dropped in the narrative with no explanation at all. It made me wonder who this book was for - I kind of doubt anti-choice folks are picking this one up or would be swayed by the arguments it presents; maybe it's for desi folks who are on the fence or lack knowledge about pro-choice politics and science?

In addition, there was one major plot point I saw coming from the minute that character was introduced in the beginning of the book. And I felt like the ending, where the MC beats her burnout by saving her clinic from burning to the ground and fighting off a shooter, and then decides to go to law school and fight even harder than ever seemed pretty unrealistic. Burnout isn't something you can work or fight your way out of; you have to rest and make serious changes to how you're managing your energy and I feel like the MC doesn't ever do that. For example, maybe she could stop volunteering in the same field she works in on the weekends, or develop more than one friendship and lean more on her support system in her free time.

BUT even with all that said if you're pro-choice, care about repro rights, like fantasy, and are interested in stories from Hindu culture, you might like this one! Maybe it just hit too close to home for me.

I received a digital arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CWs - Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Car accident, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

**A big thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!**

3.5/5 stars (rounded down for Goodreads & NetGalley)

I expected a lot more out of this one, but it kinda disappointed me! I went into this hoping to read something a little different from my lighter, romance reads to push me out of my comfort zone, and it definitely did just that! But I didn't love it as much as I wanted to based on the premise...

THE GOOD:
This was such a fascinating combination of topics that allowed me to learn a lot more about the inner workings of abortion clinics as well as Indian mythology!!! It really exceeded in helping me feel a little more well-read when I tend to read very simple, basic romances on a regular basis.
You can tell the author did her RESEARCH and knows what she's talking about! I enjoy reading books that teach me things, and I definitely feel like this offered me a deeper look into subjects I'm not as familiar with (and, ohhhh, the irony that one of the things that was mentioned in the book almost came to pass while I was reading it - VERY timely).
I loved the representation of depression as someone who also struggles with it! It was nice to see it represented in a way that I could 100% understand, and it made Nisha more unique and relatable to me!

THE BAD:
The pacing felt very slow to me to the point where I didn't feel any urge to pick it. Pair that with high stress at work and depression, and it's a recipe for me to take a veryyyyyyy long time for me to get through this. It only really picks up at the very end when I finally felt like we were getting somewhere!
I will admit that I set this down for several days at a time before I brought myself to pick it up again (hello, aforementioned depression!), but whenever I read a section, it felt like I was just reading the same thing OVER and OVER again. Nisha's thought patterns felt very repetitive to me, and I sat through most of the book thinking, "didn't we just go over this?"
The stakes didn't feel high enough until the later parts of the book and definitely the conclusion, so I found it hard to really want to keep reading until then! Most of the time I was wondering what's the point of all this!
I felt like it didn't wrap up well enough? This is probably more of a personal preference, but I felt like so much happened, and the ending didn't fully offer me a conclusion. I was actually surprised when I got to the author's note because I felt like there was more to the story still!

THE TL;DR:
This book's premise is unique, timely, and frankly, just intrigued me from the start. I appreciated being exposed to new ideas and perspectives since I normally don't read this kind of book, but I expected to end it feeling more empowered. Instead, I ended the story with a solid "meh" feeling. It was worth the read because I feel like I had an inside look into the abortion debate, and I think the author did a great job portraying that, but I expected more impassioned feminine rage that would inspire me and make me FEEL something!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Dance Upon Demons is a deeply moving book centered on the fight for reproductive freedom. The book is told from the point of view of Nisha, a young Indian woman who works at a reproductive clinic in Chicago that offers abortions in a post-Roe world. The narrative centers her struggles with depression and burn-out as she fights to keep the clinic open against threats both human and demonic, as well as her relationship with her mother, her Hindu community, and her beliefs.

The greatest strength of this book is its depth: Vaishnavi Patel writes novels that are incredibly well-researched, informative, and poignant; featuring compelling main characters navigating complex relationships with their family and community. The main focus of this book is on reproductive freedom and abortion rights, and I was blown away by the author’s sheer knowledge and passion on display (and, as a researcher, I was extremely impressed by and grateful for the author’s recommended reading list at the end of the book!). The book incorporates the topic with nuance; covering everything from the complexity of legal protections for clinics even in blue states to the emotional and psychological toll countless protests and attacks take on providers, from the complexity of the political discussion to the conflicted emotions and reasons of people seeking medical care. I found Nisha’s journey to be incredibly moving and, while not always easy to read, her fight for the clinic and for reproductive rights was easily my favorite aspect of this book.

My only nitpick about the book is that it might have tried to do too much in too little time. The book is barely over 300 pages, and yet it has a lot of pieces: Nisha’s relationship with her mother, her fight for the clinic, her relationship with an ex-boyfriend, her relationship with dance, her sudden magic and the demon who comes with it, the stories of women from the past and their relationship with the same magic, and the other supernatural forces who might be working against her. It’s a lot, and the fact that the book is rather short means that the pieces don’t always fit together all that well. The demon, magic, and women of the past aspects feel disconnected from the rest of the book in a way that never quite came together for me. Though I feel that they were well written, I would have loved more time to intertwine these ideas into the rest of Nisha’s journey.

This book is an easy 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up. This book is an absolute success and I definitely recommend picking it up!

Thank you to Saga Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kiersten Bjork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi, returns with a heart-pounding new standalone contemporary fantasy novel, "We Dance Upon Demons" (Saga Press, Simon & Schuster).

Set in the present day following the events of the pandemic and the most recent political turmoil, "We Dance Upon Demons" introduces us to Nisha–a burnt-out reproductive healthcare worker who finds herself face-to-face with demons–literally and figuratively.

Each day, Nisha faces a never-ending battle with protestors outside her clinic, law enforcement refusing to take threats to the clinic seriously and a dangerously charged political climate ready to explode–not to mention her depression that makes just getting out of bed a daily fight. In an attempt to escape for a bit, Nisha finds herself in front of a statue in the Indian art section of her favorite local museum during a break from work. Between one moment and the next, she comes to and finds herself on the ground, the statue having beckoned her to reach out and touch it, and now a strange new power is coursing through her body.

Soon enough, Nisha begins to see demons–those who seem to want to help, and those who want her power for themselves–and is faced with a new fight, against an enemy that it seems only she can see. Will she be able to save her clinic from the demon-powered movement desperate to see it closed? Will she sacrifice everything for those she cares for? Will she come into her power before it’s too late? As Nisha faces attacks from friends and foes alike, she must determine who she truly is, and if she has what it takes to stand firm for all that she believes in: not just for those around her, but for herself too.

In "We Dance Upon Demons," Patel has crafted an incredibly potent, timely story that speaks to our current moment. We can see so much of today’s struggles and societal challenges in what Nisha faces, and in her writing, Patel not only brings the finer points of the reproductive healthcare fight into the light, but makes it incredibly human. Even the smallest moments of Nisha interacting with patients arriving at the clinic for a wide range of needs are told in powerful ways–the smallest of details making the characters, who are only present for a line or two, into relatable, recognizable human beings. They could be anyone you know–they could be you–and Patel’s writing does each and every one of them justice.

One of the things I loved about this book is that, while Patel is addressing heavy themes throughout–from reproductive healthcare to depression, racism to trauma–she has woven it together into a story that still maintains its hope. Despite the darkness, there is light. Despite the demons, there are good, kind people who are ready to dance upon those demons. Even on her darkest days, Nisha finds moments of truth, moments of enlightenment from the women who came before her, and moments of connection with the demon whose power she now finds in her possession.

The fantastical elements of demons and magic that are incorporated are interesting, especially as Nisha learns how to use her new power–a power to lift the veil of ignorance–and the religious and cultural touchpoints infused into the narrative breathe an especially vibrant life into the tale. There are also great moments of humor and relatable scenes between Nisha and her mother, her coworkers, her former love, and other friends and family that are such honest, beautiful depictions of relationships. This is a book that strikes a chord in your very soul as you read it. It’s powerful. It’s moving. It’s a piece that will stay with you long after the final page.

If you love a book with a passionate female lead, contemporary fantasy set in today’s world, demons with intriguing magic and a powerful journey of discovering your power, then "We Dance Upon Demons" is for you!

Thank you to the Malmo/Saga Press, Simon & Schuster teams for providing me with a copy!

[Charlotte Kersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m making a confident prediction right now that basically every review of this book is going to say that it is deeply timely - whether that makes it a particularly powerful, impactful read or way too real and therefore upsetting for readers is probably going to be the thing that is most divisive. As far as my experience goes, my ARC of We Dance Upon Demons came at the right time - in my deep throes of helpless anger about the erosion of reproductive rights and intensification of misogyny and Christian nationalism in the U.S. This book has its finger on the pulse and it has a LOT to say, some of which I really, really needed to hear.

In this reading experience, you’re exposed to the violent, exhausting daily reality of keeping a reproductive health center afloat in the post Roe v. Wade era. The hatred and danger from protestors are written with unflinching detail, and Patel gives a lot of space to the matter of antis - their varied arguments against abortion, their different tactics, their hypocrisy and hatred, and the endless struggle that healthcare workers face to provide services in the face of their virulent threats and harassment.

One of the things that surprised me the most about this book was how much I related to the main character Nisha’s experience in her job based on the time I worked as a sexual assault advocate. I was moved to write to the author about it and I described it like this to her: “the experience of pouring yourself into something you’re passionate about/raging at the horrible injustice that is the reality of the situation/vicarious trauma/burnout/trying to tread water and help people while fighting a massive current intent on sweeping everything away.” Nisha is deep in this struggle, in addition to coping with trauma from a leg injury, feelings of guilt and inadequacy about her perceived lack of professional achievement in the competitive Indian immigrant community, and stress due to the sudden appearance of her anti ex-boyfriend as a doctor at the clinic. So she’s dealing with a LOT and all of it feels very real, with her gradually building up her sense of agency and self-worth over the course of the book in a way that never feels fake or too easy.

I really needed to hear the book’s ultimate messages right now: we can learn from the resilience and resistance of those who have fought for rights and justice before us, and fighting the world’s battles by ourselves is a recipe for exhaustion and demoralization, while tapping into relationship, connection, and community are much more powerful. We can never know the difference that our actions make as they ripple out into the world and impact others’ actions, too.

Reading this book was absolutely a 5 star experience for me because of its (truly) empowering rage and passion for its subject matter. I will say that I don’t have incredibly strong feelings about the fantasy elements, which sometimes felt slightly too disjointed. I loved the concept of the flashbacks to Nisha’s ancestors and their lessons/battles throughout Indian history, but they felt a bit too short and surface level for me and they were narrated in such a distant way that I didn’t find them as impactful as I think they could’ve been with a different style. Otherwise, I took so much hope and encouragement from this book and I’m grateful for Vaishnavi Patel’s powerful work in writing it.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.

I LOVED this book!! I downloaded this eGalley on a bit of a whim, I'd never read Patel before and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it looked interesting, so I gave it a shot. I'm so glad I did! (Now I need to go read her previous book, too!)

Nisha, the protagonist, works at a women's health clinic where abortions are performed, and she cares DEEPLY about the clinic and patients, but she also suffers from depression, so her reactions to other life events (almost being murdered, for example) are much more muted than the average person's response would be.

Muya, the demon, is annoying because he keeps saying "listen to me, I'm trying to help" but he never explains much, which normally is a very annoying plot device. However, he is a demon, and it is in a demon's nature to be deceptive and inconsistent, so it works. Throughout the story, you don't know if he can be trusted or not. That uncertainty added a constant low level plot tension (to a story that already had plenty of tension!).

These elements combine to create a story that is familiar but also feels delightfully fresh, different, and unpredictable. I love that this story has so many layers, and they all work so well together. It's the story of demons, and the story of pro-choice activism and women's health, and the story of struggling with depression, and the story of the strength of the mother daughter relationship, and the story of growing up Indian in the US, and the story of the power of friendship. If you look close, you can probably find a few more layers. (I thought there might be a romance storyline, too, but there was not.)

This probably goes without saying, but I feel I should note: an anti-choicer is not going to have a good time reading this book. If this topic fires you up and you want to learn more, there are many books suggested in the author's note. I added several to my TBR.

Patel uses a lot of cultural and religious terms that I was not familiar with, but she also includes plenty of context so that the meaning was always obvious. I didn't NEED to look up any words, but I did look up a few anyway, out of curiosity.

Words I looked up
Aai - “mom” in Marathi
Rakshasas - supernatural beings in Hindu and Buddhist mythology often characterized as malevolent spirits or demon-like creatures
mandir - Hindu temple
burfi - a milk-based sweet similar to fudge
Prarthana - Sanskrit term meaning prayer or supplication.

[Niccola Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give it 5 Stars. 5 Coffee Cups. 5 Whatever the hecks you wanna use. ( I like coffees so..)

I was left with so many questions because this work makes you think; BUT HAVE absolutely NO NOTES. This is the book we need, in the year of our lord, 2026. Wow. Patel's work is in incredible. In a completely divergent delivery, this book feels as important to me as the book, What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape by Sohaila Abdulali (2018) and the message it gives us.

I loved Patel's writing style and the way she introduces us to her characters. The stories woven in between what is happening in modern day, and what happened throughout history with the help of Muya, fit perfectly. The syntax was intelligent and exciting. I wanted to know what happened next... Immediately. I did not want to put this book down. I really enjoyed Nisha's character. I understood her as a woman, as an activist. The compassion fatigue, the depression that kills you at night but you still get up in the morning and do what needs to be done. The I don't care attitude when it comes to self preservation because you are so focused on the betterment of others. The complex topics covered in this book are seamless. From mothers and daughters, to the weight of being perfect and "failing", Womens health and rights, who you can and cannot trust, family, culture, and so much more.

This book is heavy is a sense that, you can add demons and magic and fantasy, but the fact remains this is a very real problem and no amount of magic will save us. It has to be humans. As an activist the hardest pill to swallow is the hate you feel for humans while knowing the way to fix this is humans. Living in a post Roe world where my rights change from state to state is a crazy and scary feeling. I hope this book reaches as many hands as possible.

I could continue but I feel like maybe... you should just read the book. ;)

A massive thank you to Net Galley, Vaishnavi Patel, and Saga Press (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) for letting me get a digital ARC copy of this book. I hope it gets the love and support it deserves.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nisha is a community outreach and volunteer coordinator for a reproductive healthcare clinic in Chicago in a post Dobbs Decision political landscape. In the Forty Days of Lent, anti-choice protesters increase their efforts to intimidate patients and get the clinic shut down. At an Indian exhibit at the Art Institute, Nisha awakens a demon. The next month is filled with turmoil and chaos, interspersed with moments of discovery, reflection, and joy. Intellectually she knows that everything that follows isn't the demon's fault, but the demon's influence certainly plays a factor.

We Dance Upon Demons balances strong storytelling with important messaging about reproductive rights, particularly focusing on immigrant and minority experiences. Vaishnavi Patel pulls on her own experiences as a patient escort to deliver the immediacy of the issues facing clinics like Nisha's throughout the US. Nisha is young, and like many young people is idealistic at the beginning of her career, hoping to change the world for the better. The touch of fantasy helps keep us connected to the characters and the plot while giving us a little bit of safe processing distance from the difficult topic of the loss of reproductive rights.

One of the most powerful messages of the book is that we, as ordinary people, can make an impact on the lives of others. "You are just one in a long line of women who were able to succeed despite the odds. You might be nothing special, but an average woman is good enough." Patel weaves stories of other ordinary South Asian women through history who have encountered the demon, helping Nisha learn lessons from their fortitude in the face of terrible decisions. She relies on the strength of her community - that of ordinary desi women - to forge her path and make her choices.

I'm a huge fan of Vaishnavi Patel's writing, from her reimagined South Asian mythologies to her books where she instills ordinary people with vision fueled by components of their faith like this and Ten Incarnations. Nisha is a well-developed character of whom we get to see many facets. It's a reminder that we are all ordinary, complex people, and we have the ability to navigate the challenges we face.

Thank you to Saga Press for an eARC. We Dance Upon Demons is out 5/12/2026.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read! Ok maybe fun isn’t the best word here…maybe fundamental? I dunno but I enjoyed this one and struggled to put it down. This is social commentary with magical realism elements and just a pinch of horror. There are literal demons, death and destruction but the bulk of what makes this book horrifying is Nisha’s daily life working at a women’s health clinic, which also provides abortions. If that doesn’t sound like it matches your cosmology, then maybe skip this one (but also tbh I think you should read it and maybe gain perspective). I live in the southeast US and I’m very aware of the implications on society since Roe v. Wade fell. I really enjoyed Patel’s knowledge about how it must feel to work in a place where you’re harassed simply for providing necessary (and often life saving) medical care. I thought she did an excellent job at not defaulting to Westboro Baptist Church stereotypes. While the anti-women’s rights activists do fit many of those stereotypes, Patel builds excellent dimension for a couple of them which didn’t help me to empathize with them, but maybe sympathize a bit.

We Dance Upon Demons is the story of Nisha, a young woman in her mid to late 20s. She had lofty goals of moving into law to try and put a dent into social injustice, but after a debilitating accident she’s sort of stagnant. She touches a statue one afternoon which frees a trapped demon and imbues her with a lil bit of his powers. She now is forced to deal with Muya who seems to aspire to annoy her more than anything else, and other agents of chaos. Simultaneously her workplace continues to be a target for anti choice demonstrations.

I definitely vibed with this one. It made me realize I have a shortage of South Asian authors on rotation which I plan to rectify. The characters in this one are well written and the relationships complex (are you eating well?) which only mirrors reality. The demon aspect was fun to read about and the horror bits are blunt but honest. There’s no shock factor gore here, just real life. If you like books that muse on various intersections in society while keeping you entertained with the supernatural, then I’d definitely recommend.

[LeAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's honestly difficult for me to express how much this book truly nailed this cultural moment.

'We Dance Upon Demons' blends fantasy, modern horror, thriller aspects, and sociological lit fic into a sometimes charming, sometimes depressing, brutally honest amalgamation. It follows Nisha, who works at a healthcare clinic focused on women's needs as a community outreach and patient escort. If you've ever been to or even driven by a clinic like this, you will already know how disturbing much of the "pro-life" (anti-choice) protesting outside can be. Already suffering from depression and burn out, Nisha's life gets even more complicated when she accidentally absorbs magic from a demon while visiting a museum, the Hindu demon Apasmara specifically.

Through her connection with Apasmara, she receives visions from women he connected with in the past, gaining wisdom and insight from these ancestors as another demon attempts to pry his newfound magic from her. When this adversarial demon attempts to threaten the clinic and those Nisha loves most to steal her newfound power, she's forced to come to terms with her life.

That being said, while the "fantasy" elements are crucial to the plot, they also serve as an important metaphor as the real evil at play here is in the too capable hands of human beings.

Women's Rights in the US, particularly surrounding pro-choice, is a deeply personal and honestly enraging source of frustration for me, especially given the current administration. It's clear the author feels the same way and her personal connections to work at clinics that provide abortion healthcare like the one described in the book give real life credence to how important this work truly is.

So many times while reading this book, I felt so seen by Nisha's own feelings of disillusionment and feeling like no matter how hard she tries, things don't get better. This book points out the power in small wins, community and found family, and love over cruelty and hate.

This book is not to be missed!

My sincere thanks to Saga Press & NetGalley for this early ARC! I can't wait to purchase my copy on Tuesday!