Based on a story in Greek mythology, this is perfect for fans of retellings. I was not familiar with Medea before reading this, but I quickly fell in love with her story. I loved learning more about Bengal and the East India Company. While not an easy story to read, it was a powerful one and one that will stick with me for a long time.

With the East India Company threatening Bengal, Meena, the Nawab’s daughter who feels unloved and alone, falls for Englishman James Chilcott. He promises to take her away from Bengal, and leave the Company, if she helps him. Soon she discovers that James is not the hero she hoped he’d be.

Savage Beasts is not an easy read on so many levels - first and foremost, the descriptions of the behaviour of the British towards the Indian people, but also in Meena’s behaviour. The lengths to which she is willing to go to save mainly herself, is at times uncomfortable to read or believe.

Powerfully written, but not a comforting story.

"Savage Beasts" by Rani Selvarajah offers an inventive retelling of the Medea myth, transplanting its ancient roots to the vibrant and tumultuous setting of 1757 Calcutta. The narrative follows Meena, the Nawab of Bengal's daughter, who suffers at the hands of her family and finds a glimmer of hope in James Chilcott, a figure tied to colonial ambitions. This setup promises a rich exploration of empire, race, and power dynamics, framed within a tale of love, betrayal, and survival.

The novel's strength lies in its ambitious setting and the complex character of Meena, whose journey from a marginalized princess to a figure of tragic agency mirrors the original Medea's arc. The backdrop of colonial India adds layers of tension and historical resonance, providing a fresh lens through which to view Medea's story.

However, the execution of this compelling premise is uneven. Characters outside of Meena often lack depth, and the antagonists sometimes verge on caricature, undermining the story's potential for nuanced conflict. The love story between Meena and James, crucial to the plot, unfolds with haste, leaving the emotional foundation of their relationship feeling underdeveloped.

Despite these criticisms, "Savage Beasts" delivers moments of poignant insight and vivid storytelling. Selvarajah's prose can be engaging, and the novel's exploration of themes like colonialism and personal autonomy in the face of oppressive structures is interesting. The blend of historical fiction with mythological retelling offers a unique reading experience, even if the narrative sometimes falters in its ambition.

For fans of Greek myth retellings and historical fiction, "Savage Beasts" provides a distinctive take on a classic story. While not without its flaws, the novel's ambition and the freshness of its setting make it a worthwhile read for those interested in seeing old tales through new eyes.

Savage Beasts is a retelling of Medea, however set in 1757 Calcutta, not Ancient Greece. We follow Meena, the cruelly treated daughter of the Nawab of Bengal, her father and her brother both abuse and belittle her, in some very unsettling scenes. Then one day Meena meets James, the nephew of a powerful officer in the East India Trading Company, who claims to be here to help the Nawab and betray his uncle. James shows Meena kindness when no-one else does, he quickly becomes a white man she can trust to save her when she trusts no other – but if you’re familiar with the tale of Medea at all, you will know to expect that Meena’s happiness and salvation is not what it seems.

Medea/Meena is a fascinating character, a woman who is underestimated and used by men – she is deadly and glorious and vengeful, and while you don’t necessarily support her actions, you understand that she is a woman pushed into them to survive.

With so many Ancient Greek retellings, I enjoyed the fresh take on this complex character setting it apart, for there are surely many Medea’s in this world, in other times and places.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

The novel opens with our protagonist Meena, princess of Bengal, who is trapped in a pretty cage of a palace with her cruel father and sadistic brother. Meena lives on edge in fear of punishment from her father and brother, but she is still compassionate and wants to believe in a peaceful world. This is why she believes James Chilcott when he arrives in Calcutta and says he needs her help.

Meena’s growth over the series from a scared but proud young princess to a confident young wife is visible, but despite her bravery, she continues to put her trust in the wrong people. Her worldview is shattered again and again by the people she is closest to, and the betrayal she suffers causes her to choose the nuclear option. This Medea retelling does a good job at depicting the myth, but not in a way where you can instantly tell what the ending will be. The ending is just as tragic as the original myth. It’s especially heartbreaking reading Meena’s recounting, as you witness her progression from shock and sadness to her final decision. If you like subtle retellings, this is for you.

I had a tough time engaging with this one. Made it through about 12% and realized that it wasn’t for me. It may have helped if I had known the original story that the retelling was based off of.

Perhaps it was just the wrong place, wrong time for me with this one.

This book is haunting, breathtaking, heartbreaking, moving, and so much more. Whenever I picked up "Savage Beasts', I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this retelling of Medea from Greek Mythology.

Firstly, this cover is absolutely STUNNING!

Rani Selvarajah's writing is visceral, vivid, detailed, descriptive, enthralling, and so full of heart. Her storytelling and world-building is absolutely spectacular, and I felt completely immersed in the world of the story from beginning to end. I found myself turning the pages chapter after chapter into the early hours of the morning.

This book is set in India during the 18th Century, and tells the story of Meena, a princess who is treated horrifically by those around her. She soon falls in love with a man named James, and both wanting and needing to escape, they flee. However, soon, things change. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this book truly has so much in it: betrayal, lies, secrets, love, anger, devastation, and so much more.

The author weaves devastating and brutal times in history with the story she has written, and she brilliantly transports elements of Medea's story to this different time and place.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction and / or Mythological Retellings, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC of this novel, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you

"Savage Beasts" by Rani Selvarajah is a greek retelling of Medea taking place in Calcutta 1757.

I would give "Savage Beasts" by Rani Selvarajah a 3-star review because, as I huge greek retelling fan I love this concept, Medea is someone who deserves retellings of her story but it just felt more historical fiction and not like staying true to her.

Rani Selvarajah's debut novel, "Savage Beasts," reimagines the Greek myth of Medea in 18th century India, specifically in Calcutta during the East India Company's advances. The story parallels Medea and Jason, here portrayed as Meena and James, as they navigate political intrigue and betrayal. However, the writing, marked by repetitive expressions and anachronistic character behaviors, detracts from the historical immersion. Despite an intriguing concept of colonial dynamics, the novel lacks a strong sense of time and place, making it challenging to fully connect with the characters. The book, though receiving diverse reviews, may still appeal to those intrigued by mythological retellings set in historical contexts.

As historical fiction goes Savage Beasts is one of the most engaging and original pieces of prose Ive read in awhile. Vivid descriptions paired with colourful characters whose stories seem to jump off the page.

Unable to provide feedback or unable to read review copy. If possible, I will update with an official review at a later time.

I still can't believe that this was a debut novel it was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. Some part of this book had my heart shattering completely

This book had me absolutely bawling!!!! The growth Meena goes through in this story is harrowing and the prose is magic. I'm so glad I got to read this debut even though I knew it was going to break my heart.

A reimagining of the Greek myth Medea, set in 1757 when the British were occupying India. This is Rani Selvarajah's debut novel.

Note that I am not super familiar with the Greek myth Medea, so I can't comment on how I feel it compares.

I appreciate that this book explores colonialism and how ugly it can be. Specifically the British occupation in India. I was disgusted by the way Meena was spoken to and treated by those around her, including her own husband. Selvarajah did a good job of showing how Meena was haunted by the trauma of losing her home and her family throughout her life, as well as how the continuous blatant racism she experienced, shaped her.

An interesting point that I haven't seen in other reviews, is what role James played. I would argue that he manipulated and took advantage of Meena's naiveté and it led her to do certain things that she otherwise wouldn't have . You could argue that Meena is ultimately responsible for her choices, but I feel this brings about many important questions. It makes this an excellent book club pick.

I also appreciate the feminism explored in this book. Meena's aunt Kiran is a source of support, strength and inspiration for Meena, even when she isn't present. She's a powerful figure that shows Meena that there is another way, that a woman can make a place for herself in the world on her own.

My big issue with this book is that it didn't hook me. It took me a long time to get through. The instalove between Meena and James left much to be desired. There was no build up or foundation to their relationship. And while that may have been the intent, in order to show how young, naïve and impressionable Meena was, it also resulted in me feeling no emotional connection to the characters.

But the ending of the book did deliver. It was riveting, dark and hopeful. It carried a powerful message of a woman taking back her power and worth.

Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This book sounded so interesting but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. Why did Meena choose to suddenly help a random white man? Why did she instantly believe everything he said? Especially considering who he was and this is set during the colonisation of India. And was it actually necessary to show all the men in India as barbaric to justify why Meena wanted to escape? Really? All of them?

I also found there wasn’t a great character arc or development for Meena and I just found it boring at times and wasn’t really invested in her story.

A retelling of Medea set in 18th-century India, this is a refreshing take on Greek mythology. The writing style was engaging and I found myself swept along by the prose. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I was a bit disappointed with this one. This was purported to be the retelling of Medea. If I must be true to myself, I found the characters did not live up to their potentials and it felt very flat and not nearly as good as it should've been..

It's not high on my recommend list. 3 stars.

A dark beautiful story of one woman's emotional struggle. Savage Beasts is a wonderful retelling of a classic.

A compelling and moving story, rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to Harpercollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sadly a DNF for me. I think it may have been a case of right book wrong time but I didn't get lost in the story straight away and life is too short for books that don't hook you straight away.

Savage Beasts by Rani Selvarajah is available now.

For more information regarding Rani Selvarajah (@Rani_writes) please visit her Twitter page.

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