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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Thank you to the publisher and Storygram Tours for the gifted copy.
TOO LUSTY FOR ME.
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I really wanted to love this one and I do think the second half got a lot better. There seemed to be more of a plot and the action was amping up enough to hold my attention more.
The romance did grow on me on some aspects. I like the general idea of having to seduce the enemy and Kaushika was a worthy foe. Seeing Meneka have some growth as she met other mortals and fell in love with Kaushika were some of the better moments here.
What wasn’t clicking was the fact the entire book and major theme revolved around lust. It’s just not something that worked for me and it kept taking me out of the story. Even amidst scenes I did like, and I enjoyed Meneka as a character, ultimately I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: multiple open door; innuendo throughout
- Violence: mild – moderate
TOO LUSTY FOR ME.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I really wanted to love this one and I do think the second half got a lot better. There seemed to be more of a plot and the action was amping up enough to hold my attention more.
The romance did grow on me on some aspects. I like the general idea of having to seduce the enemy and Kaushika was a worthy foe. Seeing Meneka have some growth as she met other mortals and fell in love with Kaushika were some of the better moments here.
What wasn’t clicking was the fact the entire book and major theme revolved around lust. It’s just not something that worked for me and it kept taking me out of the story. Even amidst scenes I did like, and I enjoyed Meneka as a character, ultimately I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: multiple open door; innuendo throughout
- Violence: mild – moderate
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
In The Legend of Meneka, the first element I enjoyed was the world building. There's not only a world of gods and goddesses, but also of sages and dance magic. It felt immersive and magical from the very beginning. But what stole the show was the relationship between Meneka and Kaushika. She won't back down and the banter, the barely concealed chemistry and tension are chefs kiss. While it's important to find someone who complements us, we also need someone who challenges us. Who isn't afraid of question us, to tell us when we need to take a moment, who believes we can be something more.
In The Legend of Meneka, the first element I enjoyed was the world building. There's not only a world of gods and goddesses, but also of sages and dance magic. It felt immersive and magical from the very beginning. But what stole the show was the relationship between Meneka and Kaushika. She won't back down and the banter, the barely concealed chemistry and tension are chefs kiss. While it's important to find someone who complements us, we also need someone who challenges us. Who isn't afraid of question us, to tell us when we need to take a moment, who believes we can be something more.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I am not sure you need approval. Least of all mine. It has been about your own."
The Legend of Meneka weaves itself into Hindu mythology and holds on tight. The romance here is a deep push and pull as our main character, Meneka, tries to find herself while also asking questions on what is means to seduce and be seduces and where the line between desire and lust runs together. While billing this as a romantasy book isn't technically correct, it almost feels like a disservice. Yes, there is some spice. Yes, it is a fantasy. Yes, technically this whole legend is entwined with a relationship between a man and a woman. To me, the story feels more like an ask of what devotion can mean so the romantasy label feels a bit ill-fitted.
"Pain is not always a consequence of doing the wrong thing."
World-building and visuals were near lyrical hear, and the glossary will be of use to you if you aren't familiar with Indian clothing of any sort or Hinduism. I highly recommend looking up visuals as it only enhances the reading experience. I think this book will have some readers digging deeper into Hindu mythology (looking forward to it in fact).
A small detail I found lovely, that sometimes doesn't fit but worked so well in this book, was the scents attached to many of the characters! It feels unrealistic sometimes, but here it simply added to both the atmosphere and world-building beautifully.
"We are immortal souls, all of us caught in the conspiracies of life."
A core part of Meneka's thought process for a majority of the book is doubt and confusion. This hesitation and reluctance holds her back so much, and while it might feel repetitive for sections of the book I found it all the more relieving at the end when she finally takes things into her own hands and acts.
The Legend of Meneka weaves itself into Hindu mythology and holds on tight. The romance here is a deep push and pull as our main character, Meneka, tries to find herself while also asking questions on what is means to seduce and be seduces and where the line between desire and lust runs together. While billing this as a romantasy book isn't technically correct, it almost feels like a disservice. Yes, there is some spice. Yes, it is a fantasy. Yes, technically this whole legend is entwined with a relationship between a man and a woman. To me, the story feels more like an ask of what devotion can mean so the romantasy label feels a bit ill-fitted.
"Pain is not always a consequence of doing the wrong thing."
World-building and visuals were near lyrical hear, and the glossary will be of use to you if you aren't familiar with Indian clothing of any sort or Hinduism. I highly recommend looking up visuals as it only enhances the reading experience. I think this book will have some readers digging deeper into Hindu mythology (looking forward to it in fact).
A small detail I found lovely, that sometimes doesn't fit but worked so well in this book, was the scents attached to many of the characters! It feels unrealistic sometimes, but here it simply added to both the atmosphere and world-building beautifully.
"We are immortal souls, all of us caught in the conspiracies of life."
A core part of Meneka's thought process for a majority of the book is doubt and confusion. This hesitation and reluctance holds her back so much, and while it might feel repetitive for sections of the book I found it all the more relieving at the end when she finally takes things into her own hands and acts.
The Legend of Meneka strikes at the heart of Indian Mythology about an apsara (celestial dancer) who was sent to seduce a sage but falls in love. But this story is more than just a romantic fantasy seeped in heartbreak and betrayals. It's a story about a woman realising her own power, not just the magic of her dance forms but her worth that is more than seducing her mark. Meneka's story just like a lot of female mythology characters isn't one that's known to all. We know about the sage who is popular in Hinduism but we don't talk about the woman he fell in love with. It's amazing to see literature give voice to these women and their stories.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re familiar w Hindu mythology, especially the churning of the ocean story, you know that Menaka (written in this book as Meneka, pronounced the same way) was a product of the ocean. The gods, Indra in particular, grows fearful of sage Kaushika/Vishwamitra’s powers and sends Menaka down to seduce and distract him.
Unfortunately, Menaka has an incredibly tragic ending in the myths: she and Kaushika fall in love for real and she gives birth to a daughter — Shakuntala, who later grows up and married King Dushyant, who she has a son with named Bharata (ie where India’s alternate name comes from). Anyway, Kaushika is NOT happy with the deception even though they both actually love each other now, and he curses her to always be away from him.
Kritika Rao’s book divulges from the original myth and gives Menaka agency that she never had before. Menaka was always at the whim of a man, whether it be Indra or Kaushika. Menaka discovers her freedom, with the help of Kaushika.
I do have to warn people that this is not a YA, it’s advertised as a romantasy so expect a handful of steamy scenes.
Additional note: Hindu myths are often narrated with a high level of detachment, with emotions taking ZERO priority in the narrative. When authors write retellings of these myths, they have to introduce feelings and emotions into the stories that don’t exist in the original texts. If you’re ever confused about a character’s motivations or thoughts and feelings, just know that the source material doesn’t give you much to work with.
Unfortunately, Menaka has an incredibly tragic ending in the myths: she and Kaushika fall in love for real and she gives birth to a daughter — Shakuntala, who later grows up and married King Dushyant, who she has a son with named Bharata (ie where India’s alternate name comes from). Anyway, Kaushika is NOT happy with the deception even though they both actually love each other now, and he curses her to always be away from him.
Kritika Rao’s book divulges from the original myth and gives Menaka agency that she never had before. Menaka was always at the whim of a man, whether it be Indra or Kaushika. Menaka discovers her freedom, with the help of Kaushika.
I do have to warn people that this is not a YA, it’s advertised as a romantasy so expect a handful of steamy scenes.
Additional note: Hindu myths are often narrated with a high level of detachment, with emotions taking ZERO priority in the narrative. When authors write retellings of these myths, they have to introduce feelings and emotions into the stories that don’t exist in the original texts. If you’re ever confused about a character’s motivations or thoughts and feelings, just know that the source material doesn’t give you much to work with.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Legend of Meneka is a fantastic read, a wild adventure full of love, hope, devotion, and wild emotion. The novels overall message is that love comes in every shape and form, and all of it is divinely inspired and worthy of celebration. It spins a grand tale of learning to love oneself as much as one loves others. That love comes with its own difficulties and is a practice as much as an emotion.
The story begins with a young beautiful celestial who struggles against what she is told is her nature, of lust and devouring appetites. Meneka is a gentle and tender being who loves as deeply as she questions the world around her. She struggles to understand and see herself for who she is, much like any other person. As she grows into herself and learns more about the truth of the works around her she finds herself in emotional turmoil trying to reconcile the many parts of herself, which, i find deeply relatable and that many readers will love and feel with her.
Meneka and Kaushika's romance is organic and bursting with raw chemistry; their personalities oppositional yet complementary. The transition from enemies to lovers progresses naturally and healthfully. I enjoyed that this romance though the pair squabble and fight never enters abusive territory. They both learn an grow from one another and bring out the best in each other. Each page makes the reader yearn with Meneka for ger budding forbidden love for her target. At times the innocent and pure pining from her to Kaushika reminded me of my own first crushes and made me blush at times.
I loved how this story ended and it brought together all of the emotions and to me ends with hope and love. There is a wide variety of queer characters; nonbinary, trans, gay men, gay women and I loved all of them. The representation is organic and tender, the characters are all their own people and matter to the plot instead of being tokens or cheap punches.
The only reason I marked this 4 out of 5 is some of the smut is written a bit clumsy for me personally. Phrases like "just there" , "my entrance", "my folds" , "tongue savaging" zonked me out of the scenes that took several hundred pages to build. They weren't bad and I was excited to read them after so much thoughtful build up and masterful pining.
Otherwise a great read!
The story begins with a young beautiful celestial who struggles against what she is told is her nature, of lust and devouring appetites. Meneka is a gentle and tender being who loves as deeply as she questions the world around her. She struggles to understand and see herself for who she is, much like any other person. As she grows into herself and learns more about the truth of the works around her she finds herself in emotional turmoil trying to reconcile the many parts of herself, which, i find deeply relatable and that many readers will love and feel with her.
Meneka and Kaushika's romance is organic and bursting with raw chemistry; their personalities oppositional yet complementary. The transition from enemies to lovers progresses naturally and healthfully. I enjoyed that this romance though the pair squabble and fight never enters abusive territory. They both learn an grow from one another and bring out the best in each other. Each page makes the reader yearn with Meneka for ger budding forbidden love for her target. At times the innocent and pure pining from her to Kaushika reminded me of my own first crushes and made me blush at times.
I loved how this story ended and it brought together all of the emotions and to me ends with hope and love. There is a wide variety of queer characters; nonbinary, trans, gay men, gay women and I loved all of them. The representation is organic and tender, the characters are all their own people and matter to the plot instead of being tokens or cheap punches.
The only reason I marked this 4 out of 5 is some of the smut is written a bit clumsy for me personally. Phrases like "just there" , "my entrance", "my folds" , "tongue savaging" zonked me out of the scenes that took several hundred pages to build. They weren't bad and I was excited to read them after so much thoughtful build up and masterful pining.
Otherwise a great read!