GODDESS starts out strong, and I was very invested in the story of the goddess Ganga cursed to become human and the consequences of that curse. However, once the story shifted to focus on her son Bhisma, I not only lost interest, but found the story and characters actively irritating. The story at this point becomes very much an exploration of the follies of man, and the tension between honor and justice and righteousness. We spend a lot of time in Bhisma's head as he struggles with moral quandaries while women suffer for his choices, which was very offputting to me.

That said, I think there is a lot of merit to this book and it is very well written, so while I'm not the right audience for it, I think there is absolutely an audience who will love it.

Vaishnavi Patel is back for yet another Hindu/Indian mythological retelling, this time tackling the epic Mahabharata in Goddess of the River.

This book follows the cult success of her debut novel, Kaikeyi which was a retelling of various facets of the other Indian epic, Ramayana told from the perspective of the titular character Kaikeyi, the stepmother of the protagonist, Lord Rama.

Goddess of the River follows a similar pattern of retelling the events of a well-known and beloved mythos, albeit from the perspective of a “lesser known” character. This time, it is the goddess, Ganga, the eponymous Goddess of the River (also for whom the river Ganga/Ganges is named) through whose eyes we see events unfold. The events covered in this novel are her origins from the heavens, and much of the early formative plots that lead up to the Kurukshetra war, which is the conflict aroud which the Mahabharata is centered.

Unfortunately, Ganga is a very limited perspective character, seeing as she is, you know, a river. Even though the story explores her time spent in Hastinapur (the central kingdom of what would later be the Kaurava faction) as the mortal Jahnavi, most of the tale is narrated via musings of Ganga as her river-bound form. To get around this issue, Vaishnavi Patel adds another narrative perspective, that of Ganga’s seventh son Devavrata, later known as the demigod Bhishma.

Goddess of the River explores two major philosophical ideas via the narratives which span decades leading upto the Kaurava-Pandava succession crisis leading to the inevitable world-changing Kurukshetra war. By choosing Lady Ganga as our eye into the world, Vaishnavi Patel allows for a deeper look at the core concept of motherhood and all the trials and tribulations that go along with it. In particular, being a mother in ancient India, with all the constraints that came along with being a woman and a mother in a rigid caste system for key characters guidied not only by Fate but also by the literal intervention of various Gods of the Hindu pantheon. The major sell of Goddess of the River is the delving into how maternal conflict shaped various key aspects of the epic tale through Ganga and other prominent maternal figures in the tale.

In contrast, the chapters that brought Bhishma’s POV dealt with the central premise of the internal ideological conflict between the key Hindu concept of Dharma (the morality borne of custom and tradition) and doing what is “right”. This conflict forms the major philosophical argument in the Mahabharata and plagues every major character in the epic, and their interpretations of this conflict shapes their actions, thereby shaping the flow of events in the epic. In Goddess of the River, Bhishma is the paragon of dharma, which led to the inevitable conflict and downfall.

What I did like about Goddess of the River is that Vaishnavi Patel has gone through great pains to strike a good balance between exploring nuanced characterization of the key players without relying on the easy out of good/bad dichotomy. She spends time talking about the flaws of “protagonists” like lionized and deified Arjuna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Bhishma, and even takes potshots at the vanity of Lord Krishna himself, while also celebrating positive aspects of more maligned characters like Shantanu, Dhritirashtra, Duryodhana, Karna, Lord Shiva and others. However, I found Lady Ganga’s ruminations to more more hamfisted, trite, and altogether, whiny. Her narratives lacked the nuanced heft and depth given to the other characters, even though she is the central idol of the novel.

My issue with Goddess of the River is the same with many of the now popular mythological retelling subgenre (see also Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, Atalanta by Jennifer Saint, and so many others), is that the prose style, while pretty, feels more documentarian than evocative. However, Patel makes it a point to be more straightforward in admitting that she took artistic liberties, and provides solid resources in the novel’s appendix for academic readings into the Maharabharata. This is a marked improvement and is in direct response to much of the criticism levied against her after the release of Kaikeyi. It is always a touchy subject when you give a “westernized” take on a tale that holds such strong religious and cultural connection to billions of Indians (and other people) worldwide. In that regard Vaishnavi Patel can hold her head high as she has done her due diligence.

Altogether, I found myself liking Kaikeyi more than Goddess of the River, merely because I felt like the titular character of the first novel had more of an active role in the events of the tale, and was written with more nuance than Ganga. Nevertheless, with strong prose, and tackling subject matter that even veteran authors would shy from, from a unique perspective, Goddess of the River is another feather in Patel’s burgeoning catalog. She continues to be an author to keep a keen eye on. I continue to be optimistic about what tale she will tackle next!

I am somewhat familiar with Indian mythology but not enough to have enough background information for this to be familiar to me. I am glad I was able to be introduced to this mythos and story as well as the narrative writing style. I enjoyed the writing and the author's execution. It was nice to have something that wasn't just Greek Myth retold again. The characterization of women was very well done as well as familial ties that bind us. I appreciated the characterization of motherhood as well and the sacrifices women make as well as the hope and grief that come along with motherhood.

A few years ago, I joined the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club through Nowhere Bookshop. It was a way during the pandemic to lowkey have community, and the online aspect of the book club really appealed to me just in general as I have a hard time with the time commitment and days that many of the book clubs I've been a part of meet. As part of that book club, one of the monthly books picks was Kaikeyi. It was one of my favorite books that year. When I saw that Vaishnavi Patel had a new book coming out, I couldn't wait to read it. I knew without even reading the description that I'd be picking up a copy of Goddess of the River.

I am just as impressed with Goddess of the River as I was with Kaikeyi. For so many years, the myths and legends of a few cultures have permeated the space of reimagining the myths and legends and while I've liked some of the other retellings I've read, Patel's books have really stood out to me. I believe stories evolve through time and each time they're told, and the myths and legends we have written down are the first times the stories weren't allowed to evolve with the telling.

Many times, women are overlooked in epics and myths for the heroics of a few men. So many women's stories were set to the aside or only mentioned as a side or minor character. If they were mentioned, they were a way of motivating the men around them. Hearing Ganga's story as told by Patel was very moving and I just loved having the story told from her perspective. A mother forced to become a mother who has to make so many impossible choices. We watch as Ganga slowly evolves into a new being, and the changes that take place in her. There is so very much to this story, and it has all the elements of an epic novel. This novel is also a story of how many small (and large) decisions lead to the culmination of death and destruction later in the book, where we see the end of an era essentially.

As you can tell, I really enjoyed the book and my only regret is I didn't savor it. I look forward to the print copy being released and already have it on pre-order. I was literally just complaining the other day about how it irritates me when an author releases a book and people immediately are asking about the next one. So I won't do that here, but I really recommend those who enjoy mythic retellings, fantasy, and the supernatural that you check this book out when it's published. Even if you don't normally read that genre, I would still check it out as it's a great novel. I will likely also be looking at this one in audio format, as I think it would be an even better way of digesting the novel.

Please be advised I received an Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goddess of the River was a beautifully written book that expounds on a section of the Mahabharata text.
The content warning at the beginning was very appreciated, and I would tend to stay away from any books containing infanticide, the way it was handled made the story all the more heartbreaking and beautiful.
It is possible that this books hit me harder due to the fact that most of it was read while holding one, or both, of my very young children for naps and bed times.. The mother narrative throughout was very striking.
Reading an advanced copy made it so I didn't have access to the family tree at the beginning that I believe will be in the published version. Not having the family tree made it, at times, really hard for me to keep track of very similar looking names in the storyline.
"There are no good choices in this world, only the weight of those choices" - I think that line, as well as this book, will stick with me for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book description- powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son

This book was unlike anything I've read this year. That alone guarantees it a place in my December wrap-up. I am unfamiliar with the original story( Mahabharata), so I cannot criticize what the author may or may not have revised, omitted, or kept the same. Although it took me a few chapters before I was comfortable enough with the abundance of characters and the rhythm of the story, I grew to love this story immensely. Ganga, as the main female protagonist, was a compelling voice in the story. Her chapters were my favourite.

That cover is a 10/10! Magnificent artwork.

One last note before I end this review. Please pay attention to the trigger warnings appearing at the novel's beginning before deciding to read.


Expected Publication Date 21/05/24
Goodreads Review 23/04/24

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved Patel’s debut, Kaikeyi, and so I was thrilled to be given an ARC of Goddess of the River.

Goddess of the River is a retelling of the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, which narrates the events of a war of succession. This focuses much more on the events leading up to the war and how Ganga, the goddess of the river, and her son, Bhishma are tied up in it.

I liked how Patel explored humanity, duty, honor, and familial bonds. As I’d expected after Kaikeyi, the focus on forms of love outside of romantic love was refreshing, and I thought it was interesting to see the tension between doing one’s duty and doing what would be considered right. While Ganga’s and Bhishma’s mother/son relationship takes center stage, I loved to see all of the different relationships each of the characters had and thought they were fleshed out well (Karna and Krishna especially).

Though the actual war doesn’t get much screen time, Patel did a good job at creating an atmosphere that felt on the verge of conflict throughout the entire novel. Her ability to write retellings that are both very human and also very grand in scale is impressive, and I really liked the way Ganga’s story was handled here. The differences between Ganga’s narrations and Bhishma’s were also well done, and both storylines were compelling.

I loved this one a lot and—as much as I love Kaikeyi—think it’s a step up from Patel’s debut. Her writing is wonderful and while I think there are little things to pick at (the war itself could probably have gotten more space to breathe, for example) I had a great time.

Goddess of the River follows the story of Ganga, the goddess of the river, who is turned human and gives birth to seven children, one of which goes on to be heavily involved in a civil war among his family members.

This is Vaishnavi Patel’s second book and the second time she has reimagined female characters in Hindu mythology. Her first book, Kaikeyi, was one of my favorite books of 2022. Patel’s storytelling shines again in this sophomore book, but there were a few times that I felt confused about characters and timelines. There are a lot of characters, some with similar names and others with multiple names. And the timeline jumps back and forth through the middle part of the book, so it was important to pay close attention to what time each chapter was in. Overall, though, this was a super enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more of Patel’s books in the future!

Goddess of the River is going to be published on May 23 (my bday!). Be sure to check it out!

Thank you, @netgalley and @redhookbooks for this ARC!

I finished Vaishnavi Patel's second book, Goddess of the River, and I have mixed feelings about it. Her writing is still beautiful and poetic, but I didn't enjoy it as much as her first book.

The way the story is structured, with all the flashbacks and reveals in Parts II and III, made it hard for me to feel sympathy for the main characters in those sections. I didn't like that the point of view kept changing. It was hard to root for any of the characters except Ganga, and I think the book would have been stronger if it had stayed with her perspective as a mother throughout.

Even though I had some issues with the book, I'm still looking forward to Patel's third book. Her writing is so good that I can't help but be excited to see what she does next.

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel✨

I loved Patel’s debut novel, Kaikeyi, so much that I was thrilled to get access to an e-arc of her second book via @netgalley!!

Goddess of the River is a retelling of a portion of the Hindu epic of the Mahabharata. The story is from the perspective of Ganga, the river goddess, and her son, Devavrata, later called Bhishma.

As with Kaikeyi, Patel’s lyrical writing shines, and I was completely immersed in the story and world she creates. The story encompasses so much thematically including questions of duty, familial loyalty, and what is the “right” choice. By the novel’s end, there are no answers to those questions; nothing is straightforward or black and white, and I really enjoyed the ethical ambiguity throughout. I also loved the flawed characters and the jumping timeline that kept me engaged and added depth to the storyline.

While I didn’t feel that my lack of knowledge about the Ramayana impacted my reading experience with Kaikeyi, there were moments in Goddess of the River when I got a bit lost - particularly in the middle as several new characters were introduced. After reading, I found out that Patel released a family tree to help readers keep track of the characters - it’s included on the Goodreads page + I highly recommend having it up to reference as you read.

Patel includes information regarding her approach to the retelling at both the start and endnotes that may clarify a few changes made for folks familiar with the original epic. There are also trigger warnings, in the beginning, to review before jumping in, as there are heavy topics throughout the story.

Goddess of the River comes out May 21, 2024 - one month from today!! Definitely worth adding to your TBR if you like mythical retellings! Thank you @netgalley @redhookbooks @vaishnawrites for the e-arc 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

After reading Kaikeyi and LOVING it, I jumped at the chance to read Patel’s sophomore novel.

Synopsis:
This is a retelling of Ganga, the goddess of the river, and the curse that befell her. She’s forced to live a human life until she fulfills her curse, and then leaves her mortal son behind.

My Thoughts:
I knew nothing of Ganga, Devavrata and the mythology around them. Patel does an excellent job of reimagining of this piece of Hindu text. Patel’s writing is just so beautiful and flows really well.

I will say I struggled keeping some of the characters straight, but that’s probably more to do with my unfamiliarity with this story. It was dark at times and a heavy emphasis on war. Though I didn’t love it like I did Kaikeyi, it was a great read I’m sure I’ll continue to think about.

What You’ll Find:
🫥 War
🤰Mother/Son relationship
👫Dual POV
🌊 Mythology retelling
✍️ Beautiful writing

Check the trigger warnings on this one. They are hefty.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goddess of the River is a great novel that explores motherhood, war, loyalty, and sacrifice. It explores dharma, justice, the responsibilities of the powerful, and the greater good but also duty and loyalty versus doing the right thing. I also enjoyed how the author characterized women and the treatment of women by powerful men. It speaks about power and how it can corrupt people and how its consequences can affect generations to come. It's truly a marvelous story that is a retelling of Mahabharata, the ancient Hindu epic and religious text.

The writing and themes are 5 stars ✨without a doubt. However, I only liked Ganga and Krishna. Ganga, the Goddess of the River, has a wonderful journey and character development, and yet, she remained absolutely amazing from the start to the end. Krishna, also a god, was someone who guided the mortals toward the right path, someone who guided humanity as a whole toward the best possible outcome. He didn't interfere with mortals per say, but he did help those in need. And he never, never, never judged or punished Ganga for who she is. However, apart from these two brilliant characters, all other characters were basically powerful men who liked to punish and kill and conquer others. I just didn't expect these many men with too fragile egos and too much power for their unjust minds. Don't get me wrong, though; this is what the book was about, so everything was fitting to the story and the retelling.

There's no romance in it, and I didn't miss it, either. This isn't what this story was about.

If you long to read an epic retelling with brilliant writing and characterization, and something without a romance, you should definitely read this.

(This is the full review of the shortened one that was posted on Instagram)

This was a beautiful tale of a goddess finding her humanity through her love for her son. I love Patel’s take on the Hindu epic, the Ramayana’s “villain” Kaikeyi, and was so excited to see her take on the Mahabharata. 🪷

This is the second Mahabhrata retelling/inspired book I’ve read this year, the first being Sons of Darkness by Gourv Mohanty, and man is it a fascinating epic. My favorite YouTube channel, Overlay Sarcastic Productions, said something along the lines of, if The Iliad and Odyssey are considered door stops because of how big they are, then the Mahabharata is the entire door then because of how large it is. 😅

It’s been such a treat getting to see the different angles that the two books have taken on this Hindu epic. The best way I can describe each of them is that Mohanty’s Sons of Darkness is the mind of the epic that’s constantly plotting, while Patel’s Goddess of the River is the heart that continuously aches at the destruction humanity can wreck on itself. 😞

Goddess of the River follows Ganga, the goddess of the river Ganges and her son, Devavrata, later on known as Bhishma. It’s a beautiful tale of a mother and son’s bond and how even a god can learn to have a love for humanity through their own growing sense of what it means to be a human. 🩵

I really liked that Patel showed Ganga from the start as a goddess instead of just a humanized version of one. She’s apathetic towards humans, and could really care less about the beings who called for her from the cosmic universe. Even after being cursed to live as one, she’s still holding humans at arm’s length, but I loved her growing humanity through the love that she has for the eight Vasus as they are reborn as her children. Her relationship with the last Vasus, Devavrata, was honestly beautiful and you can feel the love that she has for this last child of hers and how devastated she is when she has to leave him behind. 💔

Devavrata, and later on as Bhishma, is an interesting character. You get his backstory through Ganga’s eyes but the lead up to the war through his adult eyes. While this back and forth was rather odd, but when the two became one in the book (as I am not familiar with the Mahabhrata in the first place), I thought it was a natural progression once I got used to it. He’s tormented by his previous decisions and actions, and I can see how the Hindu belief of dharma and karma really influence a person’s view of the world. I do wish we had gotten one last scene of him with his mother at the end of the book and how his decisions as a mortal have affected him. ✨

As much as I did enjoy the book, I did find the ending a bit rushed and thought that it could have benefitted from one last family reunion scene with Bhishma and his siblings and Ganga. But this is a personal opinion, and something that I feel like would have rounded out the plot better. 🐚

All in all, I loved getting back into HIndu retellings with this book, and am definitely excited to see more from Patel in the future! Big thank you goes to Orbit Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Patel, for crating such a beautiful story about motherly love and how one decision can change the course of a whole family. 🥀

Publication date: May 25!

Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️

If there's one thing fantasy books have taught me, it's that when a god comes down to the earth, they normally change it dramatically. That's what I expected of Ganga, though her being trapped by Shiva was unexpected. Even more unexpected was the fact that a mortal managed to curse her, and trap her once again in human form.

One of those books that I had on my TBR list, and then when I got to it, it was a clean slate, where I had no idea what I was reading, only that I knew past me had wanted to read it. So I was expecting more fantasy, more whimsy, instead of a retake on the classic Mahabharata epic (which is now also on my TBR list) with some creative license.

Knowing nothing about the original text, I was left curious to know more. Also, this is one of those books that asks questions of humanity, that linger with you long after the final page. What is more important, to stand by your vows and your duty, or to try to do the right thing in every situation? Can there be honor in that, if you don't have a firm code you live by? What does true justice look like?

A provocative, thought stirring story, this is something I would love to see in more high schools, or read in settings that can easily lead to discussion. Because I have so much I want to talk about after reading this book!

I was truly excited to start this book and it did not disappoint! I quite enjoyed Vaishnavi Patel's first book, Kaikeyi and couldn't wait to get my hands on her newest book. While it did take me a little while to get into it, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Vaishnavi Patel put an incredible twist on this retelling of one of the branches of the Mahabharata. The imagery created though her thoughtful description of characters and places was extremely well done and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the story. I feel that many readers would benefit from some sort of map/family tree in order to keep track of the characters as there are many and the names can be confusing, however the book and story are very well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it right to the last page! I look forward to reading additional works from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Goddess of the River" presents a poignant reimagining of Ganga, the river goddess, and her mortal son's tragic tale. It delves deep into the essence of humanity, navigating the gravity of oaths and the ensuing obligations. At its heart, it's a tale of human intricacies, exploring the profound connection between mother and child. Against the grand backdrop of the Mahabharata, it follows Ganga's cursed fate at the hands of a formidable sage and the transformation of her divine son, Bhishma, into mortality. Throughout the narrative, their choices leading up to momentous war are meticulously examined, revealing their significant impact on unfolding events.

I should mention that my unfamiliarity with the original story this is based on made everything presented here entirely new to me. This might explain why I found it challenging, partly, to keep track of all the characters. The abundance of characters and frequent shifts in time periods can be quiet disorienting! The inclusion of a family tree in the published version will likely be immensely helpful for many readers. However, the author skillfully delves into each character with just the right amount of depth imbuing them with heart and complexity.

In summary, the narrative primarily revolves around family dynamics and the individual toll of war. While the pacing may slow down occasionally, the characters are richly developed, leading to a deeply satisfying emotional conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys myth retellings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Before deciding to read this book, I advise you to review the trigger warnings.✨

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel is one of my favorite books. I love books that explore characters from religious texts or mythology in new ways, so I've been looking forward to Vaishnavi Patel's latest, Goddess of the River since it was announced. I was incredibly lucky to be approved to read the ARC and could not wait to start it. In short, Goddess of the River is everything I hoped it would be and I think it's going to end up on many "Best of 2024" lists - it will 100% be on mine!

Goddess of the River is a condensed retelling of the Mahabharata that primarily focuses on Ganga, the titular river deity. Ganga is the mother of a group of mischievous godlings who enrage a sage who then curses Ganga into human form. The story springs from there and and spans generations building to a war that greatly impacts Ganga's son, Devavrata. The story is complex with dozens of characters and complicated family lines to understand. Because of that, it is not an easy read, but it is well worth the effort it takes to firmly grasp all the intricate political divides and relationships.

The characters and how the story is woven together is one of the novel's many strengths. Ganga, in particular, is a wonderfully complicated character with beautiful growth throughout the book. The second main POV character, Devavrata, is often frustrating but equally complex. Even the supporting characters feel like fully realized people who have both good and bad traits. No one is 100% good or evil and everyone makes decisions that affect others in good and bad ways. The moral complexity, themes, characters, and relationships drew me in and had me fully absorbed in the story!

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel is beautifully written and epic in scale. I came away from the book feeling a sense of awe.

The story starts with the river Ganga descending from a supernatural realm to Earth. She faces challenges in nourishing the lands occupied by humans, who tend toward destruction and violence. Ganga takes on a physical female form and catches the eye of the King of Hastinapur, who wants to marry her. Despite her own reasons, Ganga agrees, leading to tough decisions. She gives birth to a son, Bhishma, burdened with the kingdom's future. The story focuses on Ganga and Bhishma's struggles to restore balance, with themes of morality, duty, and righteousness explored through interactions with Hindu gods. Ganga grapples with maintaining her goddess energy while guiding her mortal son through family conflicts. She also faces the challenge of helping humans while keeping a distance from their moral dilemmas. The story raises questions about Ganga's ultimate fate and her relationship with humanity.

While I enjoyed the book, my main concern lies with the abundance of characters introduced midway through the story. Keeping track of all the gods and the conflicting factions proved challenging. Nonetheless, as the story progresses, the book provides clearer insights into each character's role, making it easier to follow. A reread would likely resolve this issue.

Wow! The intricacies of the story along with the various characters that populate it are incredible. I was completely blown away by this novel.

I would first like to thank NetGalley, Vaishnavi Patel, Redhook and Orbit Books for the ARC!

As an individual of Indian origins, the river Ganga holds an invaluable place in geographical and spiritual aspects of life for those from the subcontinent. Ithihasa describes the river as a divine feminine force which shapes the lives of several crucial characters that are spoken of with great reverence. She also had an invaluable role in one of the greatest Ithihasas that belong to the subcontinent, the Mahabharatha. Vaishnavi, had a himalayan task ahead, to capture those stories, and weave her own take of the voices of two crucial characters from the Mahabharatha, Ganga and Bhishma.

The plot begins with the descent of Ganga, from a supernatural realm to the Indian subcontinent, and the shift in her flow. We hear the voice of the river, detailing the challenges of trying to nourish the lands occupied by humans, who in turn appear to gravitate toward destruction and violence. As she encounters other supernatural beings in this new realm, an unexpected twist of circumstances lead to her manifesting in a physical female form. In her female form, she comes across the King of the neighboring lands of Hastinapur, who in turn falls in love with her and wishes to marry her. Ganga agrees for reasons beyond emotions, which places her in a direct trajectory of harrowing and difficult decisions. Through the myriad of difficulties, she gives birth to a son, Bhishma, who ends up burdened with the future of the kingdom. The remainder of the story alternates between Ganga and Bhishma, and the incredibly difficult path they take in an attempt to restore an overall sense of balance. We briefly interact with the author’s take of two powerful Gods of the Hindu Pantheon, who address impossible questions of morality, duty and righteousness. How will Ganga retain her own goddess energy while guiding her mortal son through an impending war within the family? How does a goddess help and heal humans, but also maintain a stoic distance from their moral dilemmas? Will Ganga ever be able to return to her formless state, and become one with the universal forces or will she forever remain tangled in the webs woven by human beings?

As a reader, there are topics encountered in this work which are extremely harrowing, disturbing and unpleasant, and readers are fairly warned about in the Disclaimer in the beginning. I am in awe of the efforts taken on by Vaishanvi, as this particular work required 1000s of pages of research into a story that is an integral part of an entire civilization. An absolute five-star work of art!