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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
if i pushed myself to finish it it would probably be a 3 star but i just don’t want to.
the worldbuilding is the most interesting part and it’s incredibly info dumpy, the romance isn’t romancing, and there’s no showing of the development in meneka’s magic.
when meneka and her love interest, kaushika, are actually together having a conversation im enjoying them but i’m almost halfway through the book and they’ve had 3 conversations. i don’t feel the pining or buildup, which is my favorite part in a romance :/
this book definitely has an audience, but that audience isn’t me and i hope the book has a great and successful release!
the worldbuilding is the most interesting part and it’s incredibly info dumpy, the romance isn’t romancing, and there’s no showing of the development in meneka’s magic.
when meneka and her love interest, kaushika, are actually together having a conversation im enjoying them but i’m almost halfway through the book and they’ve had 3 conversations. i don’t feel the pining or buildup, which is my favorite part in a romance :/
this book definitely has an audience, but that audience isn’t me and i hope the book has a great and successful release!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Thank you Kritika H. Rao, Avon Books, Colored Pages Book Tours, and NetGalley for the free book!
The Legend of Meneka is an exquisitely beautiful story that took my breath away. I love exploring fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of different cultures, and this novel delivered a rich, vibrant tale full of passion, magic, and romance.
Even though I wasn’t familiar with the original mythological story, I was completely swept up in the world Kritika H. Rao has crafted. Meneka’s yearning for freedom and love was so raw and deeply moving—it broke my heart time and again. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way, aching for her to find the peace and happiness she so desperately deserved.
Kaushika was an intriguing enigma, and unraveling the truth about him was such a satisfying journey. The gods and goddesses in this story were masterfully portrayed, teetering on that delicate edge between good and evil. Their complexity added depth and tension, reminding me that deities aren’t bound by mortal ideas of morality.
The writing is lush and spellbinding, pulling you into a world where every page shimmers with emotion and magic. If you’re a fan of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, or Circe, you need this book on your shelf. I cannot wait to dive into the next installment of the Divine Dancers duology. The Legend of Meneka is a captivating, empowering read that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, War
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a sensual, slow-burn romantasy retelling of an ancient Hindu myth; Krithika H. Rao did a wonderful job of melding that myth with her modern reinterpretation to give us a queer, feminist romance.
So, this is the version of the original myth I was told when I was younger: Meneka, an apsara (a celestial nymph and dancer), is sent by Indra to seduce renowned rishi Kaushika in order to distract him from his penance because Indira fears he's growing too powerful. Instead, Meneka she falls in love with Kaushika (Vishwamitra, as he is later known) and they have a daughter together. The story varies from here, but either Meneka leaves or she is banished by Kaushika, but ultimately she leaves him and their daughter behind.
In this story, apsaras aren't just seductresses; they're routinely weaponized by Indra and sent to Earth in order to seduce and ruin anyone he perceives as a threat. Meneka does so by weaving visions of what her targets desire the most, and yes, sometimes she has sex with them (the story starts with her having sex with one such queen). Is she a villain or a victim from birth? That's what a lot of Meneka's internal conflict hinges on as she begins to question her mission more and more.
Queerness is made explicit in a way that was only ever implicit or glossed over in Hindu mythology; Though not in the original, here Meneka is bisexual, and actually embarks on this mission to secure her freedom so she can be with the woman she loves, a fellow apsara— thus her being conflicted, but continuing her seduction nonetheless. We also get quite a few queer secondary and background characters.
And on a romance level, I loved the way the slow-burn was handled; Kaushika and Meneka are naturally suspicious of one another, though not quite enemies. They also stand for radically opposing ideals: Meneka is a seductress, something of a sybarite and a dancer, while Kaushika gave up his throne to perform severe tapas (penance), and embraces ascetism and yes, celibacy. He's something of a remote, austere figure, though obviously not unfeeling (but I wish we'd gotten his POV; we only get Meneka's). How Meneka gets through to him is a masterclass in not only seduction, but also a beautiful acknowledgement of shakti (directly translates to energy or power, it's personified in the feminine) and the divinity of sex and love, even if she twisted it for her own purposes in a way that had me ROLLING.
The sex:
Look, Kaushika was a king before he gave it all up to become a rishi, so what that means is..... the man wasn't always celibate, but it's been a HOT minute since he got any, so Meneka finally getting him to crack is EVERYTHING. There are only a couple sex scenes, but what we get is quite hot— ranging from barely-controlled to just downright feral.
Overall:
I'm not a fantasy (romance or otherwise) reader at all, but I adored the romance between Meneka and Kaushika, as well as the way Krithika Rao built on this mythological world. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a more plotty romance, and of course to any romantasy reader, and I'm looking forward to book two in this duology!
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: January 21st
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: January 21st
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
"The challenge floods in me to be with him, a mark who is as powerful as I am, maybe more. I want to seduce him suddenly, not because of Indra, but for myself. I want him to know I am seducing him, to know me and my danger and want it anyway, in the same way that I want him now."
This is a retelling of a famous Hindu myth about an aspara sent to seduce a sage who challenges the gods, but one that centers Meneka (the aspara), and it is sweepingly magical and glorious. Stunning character development, as Meneka truly comes into her own power and knowledge of herself. The romance between Meneka and Kaushika is deep and impactful as they connect so strongly on so many levels - emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and of course physically. Meneka is an aspara, after all, and there is no shame in sensuality.
There is absolutely not an ounce of humor in the writing or story, but it never felt dour or grim for it. The lore and explanations of Hinduism is deep and saturates the plot, but it never feels heavy-handed or like an exposition dump.
Rating: 6/5 absolutely incredible, already one of my top books of the year
Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Retelling
- Hinduism, Indian mythology and culture
- Vengeful and meddling gods
- First in a series
- Queer-normative world
- Found family
- Spy FMC
- Betrayal and hidden identities
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Kritika Rao for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was drawn to The Legend of Meneka based on the beautiful cover and strong premise. However, while there are some great ideas here, things fell short.
The writing is absolutely the story’s greatest strength, along with strong world building. Rao’s prose is lush and engrossing, and invited me in, even as some other aspects of the book fell a bit flat. This is combined with a clear passion for Hindu mythology, conveying the cultural aspects in a way that is comprehensible for those who are unfamiliar while still prioritizing those familiar with it.
Other aspects weren’t as strong, however. The characters, in particular, felt very underdeveloped. I appreciate the attempt to give Meneka a complex arc, but I don’t think she was depicted as all that well-rounded. And while lust makes sense given who Meneka is, it was the primary component of her “romance” with Kaushika, so I felt very disinterested in it overall, as there wasn’t a ton of substance.
The plot was also fine beyond that, and I just didn’t really care all that much. The pacing was decent, which is something, but I can’t say this book was super-memorable in either of the major aspects that matter.
While I don’t feel all that moved to continue this series, I am impressed enough with Kritika H. Rao’s writing style, and wouldn’t mind trying something else from her at some point. And while I was underwhelmed by this book, I think it might be worth your time if you don’t mind a diverse romantasy that isn’t too deep, character development wise, but has strong world building and a generous dose of sensuality.
Honestly, this is a neat reimagining of a fundamental Hindu myth from the feminine POV, and it interrogates who is telling the original myths, while also recognizing the issues of control and consent that comes with Meneka's missions. This is a neat read that comes out this spring, and is definitely worth a readthrough when it comes out.
The Legend of Meneka is not just a book with a beautiful cover. It’s a sweeping epic retelling (with some artistic license) of the Hindu religious story of Meneka who is an apsara for the king of the gods, Indra. Apsaras are seductive dancers who lure men and women to their ruin at the behest of Indra. (Almost like Greek Sirens but minus the boats.) So, if Indra is not happy with you due to a grave disobedience, the apsara is sent and your life plans go awry as this beautiful woman dances and casts illusions in front of you.
Meneka is having an identity crisis, however, and is struggling with being devoted to her Lord and duties but feeling guilt about the lives she is ruining. We read a few times how she never sleeps with her marks but they are all ruined just the same. She wants out and desires a life in heaven hanging out with her handler, Rambha who is like a master apsara that Indra loves the most. To get her freedom from this work she ends up agreeing to seduce Kaushika who is a powerful sage that is threatening Indra by teaching many against worshipping him. The problem is, that this sage is tough to defeat as he is very powerful. It also doesn’t help that he’s handsome. So begins Meneka’s adventure which leads to some magic, miracles, and mayhem.
I am an Indian American woman who was not raised in the Hindu religion and I had to do a deep dive of research in the middle as I was enthralled by the lore and characters the author details. You don’t need to do this but I felt it helped this detail-oriented reader visualize things a bit better. I loved how the story, while told from the POV of Meneka was still written with a cadence and language that reminds you of religious text. It had a beauty to it that was truly like the celestial beauty of Meneka. (Also, I love it when a book uses the word petrichor.) I was caught up and carried along which is always my goal when reading.
This book had no clear hero or villain as Meneka struggled to figure it out herself. It has a lot of names and locations and magical systems that can be confusing but any good fantasy reader will do just fine. It looks to be a series and I am excited as there was a bit of a cliffhanger. Don’t fret, as the story has a resolution but it will be great to see how some big things are resolved in the next book.
I definitely recommend this for those who want to hear a new grand story written by a BIPOC author.
I was provided this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I loved every minute of it.
Meneka is having an identity crisis, however, and is struggling with being devoted to her Lord and duties but feeling guilt about the lives she is ruining. We read a few times how she never sleeps with her marks but they are all ruined just the same. She wants out and desires a life in heaven hanging out with her handler, Rambha who is like a master apsara that Indra loves the most. To get her freedom from this work she ends up agreeing to seduce Kaushika who is a powerful sage that is threatening Indra by teaching many against worshipping him. The problem is, that this sage is tough to defeat as he is very powerful. It also doesn’t help that he’s handsome. So begins Meneka’s adventure which leads to some magic, miracles, and mayhem.
I am an Indian American woman who was not raised in the Hindu religion and I had to do a deep dive of research in the middle as I was enthralled by the lore and characters the author details. You don’t need to do this but I felt it helped this detail-oriented reader visualize things a bit better. I loved how the story, while told from the POV of Meneka was still written with a cadence and language that reminds you of religious text. It had a beauty to it that was truly like the celestial beauty of Meneka. (Also, I love it when a book uses the word petrichor.) I was caught up and carried along which is always my goal when reading.
This book had no clear hero or villain as Meneka struggled to figure it out herself. It has a lot of names and locations and magical systems that can be confusing but any good fantasy reader will do just fine. It looks to be a series and I am excited as there was a bit of a cliffhanger. Don’t fret, as the story has a resolution but it will be great to see how some big things are resolved in the next book.
I definitely recommend this for those who want to hear a new grand story written by a BIPOC author.
I was provided this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I loved every minute of it.
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I actually really enjoyed this! I’m not super familiar with Hindu mythology, but this was a very accessible read.
So let’s see we’ve got, “I’ve been sent to destroy you, but oops we’re falling for each other,” warring gods, religious questioning, magical training, secrets that must come out, self-reflection and questioning, and a sensual love story. The world-building is lush, and the language is lovely.
I really haven’t read a super similar story at all, so it’s hard to provide comps. But if you’ve read Songbird & the of Stone, I would say Meneka’s journey of religious questioning and self-discovery is very similar to what Mische goes through. I liked how conflicted we can see both Meneka and Kaushika are, and how much they struggle with their paths and truths. Their connection is a slow burn, very sensual one.
The ending both satisfactorily concludes the arc of the story and leaves open the possibility for more books in the future. I’d recommend!
Many thanks to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own
So let’s see we’ve got, “I’ve been sent to destroy you, but oops we’re falling for each other,” warring gods, religious questioning, magical training, secrets that must come out, self-reflection and questioning, and a sensual love story. The world-building is lush, and the language is lovely.
I really haven’t read a super similar story at all, so it’s hard to provide comps. But if you’ve read Songbird & the of Stone, I would say Meneka’s journey of religious questioning and self-discovery is very similar to what Mische goes through. I liked how conflicted we can see both Meneka and Kaushika are, and how much they struggle with their paths and truths. Their connection is a slow burn, very sensual one.
The ending both satisfactorily concludes the arc of the story and leaves open the possibility for more books in the future. I’d recommend!
Many thanks to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated