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A review by burnedoutbookdragon
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
That's how you do a mythological retelling!
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: South Asian/Indian
SUMMARY:
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel is a reimagining of the story of Ganga, the river goddess, who is cursed to live as a human. After being forced to marry King Shantanu, Ganga bears him a son, Devavrata, but is compelled to leave him behind just as her curse lifts. Devavrata, unaware of his mother's curse, swears never to claim his father’s throne, a decision that sets in motion events leading to war. Patel’s novel weaves themes of duty, destiny, and the complex bond between mother and son in a tale exploring Ganga's struggle for freedom and Devavrata's tragic legacy.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved this book! We start with Ganga in her purest form as a river goddess called down to Earth. There is incredible character growth in Ganga. She distrusts and judges the humans because she does not understand them, even when she is forced to live among them as one. It's not until she has her son that we see her learn more about humanity. This book was a masterclass in philosophy. There were so many themes to explore and ponder, like what does it mean to be honorable and keep your word if doing so harms others? Does freedom mean you get to do whatever you want?
The only thing I didn't like was it was a slow read but that wasn't a deal breaker. There was so much to take in. This book is something I will revisit because I know I'll learn something new each read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is perfect for those who love mythology retellings like Circe and the philosophical context found in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: South Asian/Indian
SUMMARY:
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel is a reimagining of the story of Ganga, the river goddess, who is cursed to live as a human. After being forced to marry King Shantanu, Ganga bears him a son, Devavrata, but is compelled to leave him behind just as her curse lifts. Devavrata, unaware of his mother's curse, swears never to claim his father’s throne, a decision that sets in motion events leading to war. Patel’s novel weaves themes of duty, destiny, and the complex bond between mother and son in a tale exploring Ganga's struggle for freedom and Devavrata's tragic legacy.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved this book! We start with Ganga in her purest form as a river goddess called down to Earth. There is incredible character growth in Ganga. She distrusts and judges the humans because she does not understand them, even when she is forced to live among them as one. It's not until she has her son that we see her learn more about humanity. This book was a masterclass in philosophy. There were so many themes to explore and ponder, like what does it mean to be honorable and keep your word if doing so harms others? Does freedom mean you get to do whatever you want?
The only thing I didn't like was it was a slow read but that wasn't a deal breaker. There was so much to take in. This book is something I will revisit because I know I'll learn something new each read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is perfect for those who love mythology retellings like Circe and the philosophical context found in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.