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nim_reads_a_lot 's review for:
The Legend of Meneka
by Kritika H. Rao
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.