An exploration of the stories in the Mahabharata from the perspective of the river goddess, Ganga, and her son, a cursed immortal in the body of a prince. Ganga is similarly trapped on earth and struggles with how to raise her son to ensure he will not fall into human ways of violence. Her perspective is fascinating as she develops from a god--removed, contemptuous--to a human--longing, deceitful--to a god again, and challenges what it means to be a god among humans for eternity. Bhishma is caught between the virtue of the gods and the virtue of men/a kingdom. These struggles drive the plot into a complex war among a family that desperately wants to love each other.

This is a story that reads like a river in itself. I read it so fast it would be impossible to catch everything, but in tumbling along I felt less of a need to keep the details straight of exactly what time period it was and exactly who was who. This was necessary, because there are a lot of characters and the time period switches often. Patel does an amazing job exploring each character just enough that they feel they have depth and heart, and gives each person a decision that someone could relate to at one point in their life or another. Each of these instances could be a story of its own, and I feel like the book would do well read one chapter at a time to give enough breathing room for all the moral wrestling. The themes of duty and justice are well explored, questioned, and explored again, without the author inserting herself in trying to untangle them.

Story-wise, I found myself wanting way more between Ganga and her son Bhishma. Their interactions were my favorite and there was so much longing between the two of them that I also started longing for their reconciliation. To me that was the heart of the story, but it seems to serve more as a plot element and Bhishma never even knows he is a god. The single line in the book where Bhishma admitted to himself that he had wanted Ganga to fight to keep him, despite saying he wanted to rejoin the mortal world, broke my heart. The book never follows up with Bhishma after he reclaims immortality and becomes a Vasu again, and I felt like I needed just a sentence or two to feel that the ending closed the loop.

One nitpick is that I couldn't understand Krishna's perspective at all, but he was mentioned so often and so critical to the plot that his approach to duty/justice seemed important. It was not clear to me what he felt his role was/why he felt his actions just in the end.

**I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Redhook Books in exchange for an honest review**

**NO SPOILERS** Goddess of the River is a masterfully written retelling of one aspect of the Mahabharate, a Hindu epic tale exploring duty vs justice. We follow Ganga who is cursed to live among the mortals and her son, who she tries to raise to be above the corruption of mankind. While I am not familiar with the Hindu religion or the folklore surrounding it, you do not have to be to enjoy this book.

This book is written in the first person POV of Ganga, goddess of the river, and third person POV of her son in later parts of the book. I found the beginning parts of the book to be slower reading for me than the ending parts. You must also pay attention to the title of each chapter because we move forward and backwards through time and it is important to understand what timeframe you are in to understand the flow of events.

This book is not for the faint of heart, it has aspects that can be triggering to many people so be sure to review any warnings prior to reading. The concepts are a lesson, they are beautifully laid out, but heavy. If you are looking for a light and easy read, this is probably not the book to reach for. However, if you want something with depth, meaning, that will pull at heart strings and make you think about loyalties, duty and how to determine what is right, pick this book up immediately!

This book is beautiful, but dark. It touches on good and bad aspects of humanity. I would highly recommend this if you can get past the trigger warnings. Definitely one of the top books I have read so far this year. It is not necessarily happy so be forewarned that it is not flowers and sunshine. Giving this book a 4.5/5! Rounding up to 5 stars!

I’m so torn on how to rate this. I suppose it’s a 4.5 but I will have to give it a 4 since it’s not quite a 5. The thing about this book is that I think I was subconsciously referring to how I felt reading Kaikeyi and so this one didn’t quite feel exactly up there in comparison. But it did come very, very close.

Just like the Ramayana, I was also obsessed with the Mahabharata as a kid. I owned abridged copies of both and read them repeatedly as though I was studying them. The thing with the Mahabharata is that as you grow older, it becomes so much more enthralling. It is not an obviously right-or-wrong story and there isn’t a single character who isn’t morally grey on at least some level. I believe that’s the part that just draws you to it. The gods, powers, kingdoms, and royalty are so far from today’s world, but the flaws in each character make them relatable enough that they don’t seem unreachable.

The Goddess of the River did so good with conveying just that. It’s not a usual interpretation to narrate this epic with a focus on Bhishma and Ganga, but one could argue that it all started with them. I will admit i took me a while to get invested with this particular tone of the characters, which is why I had to take down half a star. However, the initial chapters of Ganga as a mortal and her children were so well-written; the story of Ganga is so heart-wrenching, it’s almost beautiful.

Also, the imagery when a young Bhishma came to meet Ganga — the descriptions and their interactions were so wholesome and enthralling, I loved them so much !!
The gradual change in Bhishma from being a dreamer who just wanted to be with his mother, to his father’s influence taking over in his extreme loyalty and dharma, was written so well. I loved how we saw both Ganga and Bhishma’s POVs and they shifted in timeline to connect to the war itself.

My heart was breaking for Ganga the entire time, and I was so frustrated with Bhishma it almost hurt. I just have been so invested in the Mahabharata since I was a child, and this retelling was so good with its focus on two characters that are so underrated in their role in the war and its onset, but are so complex as people, and in their own relationship dynamic too.

There was a disconnect for me with the first couple of chapters, but The Goddess of the River quickly grew into a poignant, beautiful, extremely clever retelling, and I continue to look forward to all of Vaishnavi Patel’s future releases!

I had the pleasure of reading the author's first novel, Kaikeyi, last year and was absolutely blown away. Naturally, I was over the moon to be chosen for this ARC of her second book!

"Goddess of the River" is a masterful exploration of the concept of justice versus duty. I do not have an extensive knowledge of the original Mahabharata, so I cannot speak to its underlying themes or the immense amount of work that must have gone into this retelling. However, I can tell how elegantly this was achieved in the end product.

Unfortunately, this story did not sink its hooks into me in the same way as Kaikeyi did. I had a difficult time tracking all of the characters - I assume the inclusion of family trees in the published copy will aid readers in this understanding. This affected my ability to connect with the story, though the plot itself was easy to follow and beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vaishnavi Patel for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goddess of the River is another excellent book from Vaishnavi Patel. This is a retelling of the story of Ganga, and as far as retellings go, this was one of my favorites. Patel wrote a really fantastic book. I was immediately pulled into this one and I already can’t wait to reread it.

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an enchanting story. I loved this author’s first book so this was on my top tbr. And it did not disappoint. Such a loving and moving story with a strong mother and her son.

This was... fine. I didn't love it nor did I hate it, but god did I want to love it. I don't know if I can pinpoint exactly what it is that kept me at a distance, kept me from becoming as fully invested as I was in Kaikeyi. It could be that there were too many characters that it was hard to keep things straight at times. It could be that there was a lot of expository dialogue, which seemed to push emotion at an arm's length. It could also be that my unfamiliarity with the source material was my downfall this time around (even though, like Kaikeyi, I knew nothing going into the reading). Any of these things is perfectly plausible, though I couldn't tell you whether one, none, or all of them was the answer.

The fact is I wanted to love this and didn't. I think there's certainly a lot of merit here. The author really paints a vivid picture of a land mired in the grips of warlust as viewed through the eyes of a goddess. I also liked the discussions of duty and honor and what they really mean. Truthfully, I think my issue is more of a case of me than the book having any particular issue. I just had difficulties getting and staying emotionally invested with both the plot and the characters. I still think the book is worth a read (though please, please, PLEASE look up trigger warnings; the author does a great job of illustrating them at the beginning of the arc copy, but it can definitely be a slap in the face if you're not prepared for it), it's just not one I'm planning on going back to.

This was such an interesting read, I always love retellings and this one was no exception! I loved the character development and the plot was very easy to follow and stay engaged with.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

I was such a huge fan of the authors previous book, Kaikeyi, and had high expectations going into this and it did not disappoint! Goddess of the River is inspired by the Hindu epic tale the Mahabharata and is told from the perspective of the river goddess, Ganga.

Goddess of the River was truly an emotional journey and I loved following all these complex characters. I found this novel to be beautiful and engaging and overall I really enjoyed it! However, I will say that at times I did struggle to be fully invested in Bhishma’s chapters.

I will definitely purchase a physical copy when they’re available and will be recommending this to others!

Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Ganga, once free to dance and flow among the cosmic, now cursed to a mortal body and bare her eight Vasus. However, before she could carry the last of her duty, her last child was taken away to be raised as a worthy heir. Then when the heir makes an oath to never take the throne, consequences that lead to a tragic war ensues.

Vaishnavi portrayed the thoughts and emotions of a god really well. It’s hard to write from a perspective completely unknown to you but she does a great job capturing the thoughts and actions of an immortal.

Also having had study Greek and Roman mythology, Vaishnavi does well to write the similar storyline and feeling of mythology and the relationship between gods and humans.

I overall enjoyed the story. It did feel like I was floating along for the most part, but it’s a nice read.

4.25 Rounded down to a 4! Overall, such an enjoyable read.

As someone who absolutely adored Kaikeyi, I knew that this book would be an instant read for me. I'm relatively unfamiliar with the Mahabharata, and I think this was one of my main weaknesses as I read through the story. I can't fault Vaishnavi Patel for this - though I do think that this is something American audiences may find a bit difficult, and so I didn't dock any stars for this. For anyone who is looking to pick this novel up, I'd recommend pulling up a list of characters from the mythology and having it accompany you as you read.

Now, for the actual review portion! I thought this novel was beautiful, and I think that Vaishnavi Patel has such a strong affinity for writing enrapturing prose. She certainly excels with that here, as she did in Kaikeyi. My sole critique for this is that I struggled to fully immerse myself in Bishma's chapters. It wasn't that Bishma was inherently uninteresting, it was just that Ganga was SO riveting that I struggled to pull myself away. I think other readers may also encounter this feeling, since the book feels strongly tied around resolution of Ganga's plot lines. Overall, this was a lovely read and I can't wait to see what else Vaishnavi Patel releases!

As always, all my thanks to both Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this ARC!

I have enjoyed mythology and mythological retellings from various cultures be they Greco-Roman, Norse, or eastern Asian; however, I will admit that I have not read much of Hindu myths or retellings of them. The description of Goddess of the River grabbed my attention as soon as I came across it and the story is an epic of a retelling. Since I am not familiar with the source material, I will say that I do not know how faithful the author was to that source, but this tale was engaging, with a first person (or first god) point of view, and a cast of characters both good and not-so-good that invite the reader's interest. As with many myths, there are morality messages built in and life lessons laced through the characters' experiences. And the story does cover a vast array of life experiences from parental love, loyalty, greed and war in a succinct way. There was just enough story and emotion to captivate me as a reader but not a huge tome filled with dry detail. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythic retellings. Since there is so much more source material in Hindu myths from Ramayana, Bhagavata, and Mahabharata, I am hopeful that Vaishnavi Patel will continue to share her enchanting take on more of these fables of her culture.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Redhook Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I’m not familiar with the original Mahabharata, so I can’t speak to how this fairs as a retelling. The writing is clear and engaging that makes it easy to stay invested, however I did feel like the story was dragging a bit in the middle. The beginning and ending were definitely stronger. I was also a lot more interested in Ganga’s POV than Bishma’s. Bishma’s chapters introduced a larger cast of characters that made it personally hard to follow for me, but that could just be due to me being unfamiliar with the original story. Overall would give this 3.75 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Redhook Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

So many Indian children grow up hearing stories of the Mahabharata, but they are often told as an abstract concoction of morals and values. Goddess of the River breathes life into a centuries-old epic, offering a refreshing, female-centric view of a male-dominated conflict. This book is absolutely spectacular. I read it in a single sitting. It follows the story of Ganga, the most revered river in India, and her travels into and out of the mortal world. Goddess of the River is half poetry, half storytelling, and is a love letter to the women whose names are thrown carelessly around these stories without consideration for their hardships. Thank you, NetGalley, and to the publishers of this novel for providing me early access in exchange for my honest review!

I was intrigued by the premise of this book to feature River Ganga as the protagonist in a retelling of the Mahabharata, Anybody who has read the epic knows that she is featured prominently at the beginning, and then fades promptly into the background. While reading, I was a little irked at all the fantastical changes added to the story to bring her into prominence throughout - but, on reflection, this book was a good journey. A core part of Mahabharata is the complex morality of decisions, and the problems that arise from them. Ganga's story was beautifully melded into the epic and tied to the actions of characters, while also exploring the divinity of the gods involved in the story.

I am always slightly uncomfortable when modern prose is added to retellings of old myths and epics, so I had to stomach some of that. Mahabharata is one of the first epics that I have read, and I will always have a soft spot for its retellings. As the retellings always do, the book ends with a discussion on dharma, righteousness, and fate. This is definitely one of those books that finishes strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC! Hope to read more from the author :)

A worthy follower to the author's earlier work on a mythological character from the Indian epic Ramayana. This time the author picks the story of Ganga from the epic Mahabharata. I am quite familiar with the story but this was still an enjoyable read.

I feel blessed to have access to an advanced reader copy of Goddess of the River.

This is a an retelling of the Hindu epic Mahabharata focusing on Ganja.

The book is beautifully written and captures the emotions of the complex characters and their relationships to one another. I was teary eyed at multiple parts of the novel.

Ganga and Bhishma’s perspectives compliment each other so well. It felt like reading a close friend diary or reading their mind.

Similar to Vaishnavi Patel’s first book, Kaikeyi, I appreciated the focus on women’s experiences that is has been previously overlooked.

I know I will be purchasing a copy when they are available and look forward to revisiting this story many times in the future!

Reviewed on Goodreads & StoryGraph

The author's first book, Kaikeyi, was a 5-star read for me so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this novel. Disclaimer that my background knowledge of Hindu mythology is extremely limited so I cannot speak as to how closely this book follows the source material.

Goddess of the River was a stunning novel that follows the river goddess, Ganga, as inspired by the historical epic of the Mahabhrata. Ganga's story is both tragic and inspiring as she is forced into a mortal body, births several children before her son Devavrata/Bhishma, and observes the memories and actions of the humans on her banks. Bhishma is the secondary main character of this story and we see him explore his background as the child of a deity while being faced with the political turmoil that comes with being the son of a king. As the story develops readers are treated to Ganga's perspective as she watches her son live a mortal life while interacting with other deities, family members, and fate that forces him into choices that steer him away from his core morals and beliefs.

As someone who is mostly unfamiliar with these mythological figures I did have some trouble keeping the characters straight as I read (though this is no fault of the author and more due to my lack of background knowledge). The story was very readable and I felt sympathy for the characters as even the gods were given very human traits and emotions. The story utilized flashbacks and memories of some of the visitors to Ganga's shores and it may have been helpful to somehow title these chapters as such so that readers could better understand what was what. Overall, I continue to be impressed with Patel's writing and her way of retelling classical epics in ways that are as beautiful and relevant today as they were in the past. When Greek mythology tends to be the most prevalent in modern western literature, Patel has opened my eyes to stories that I was never even aware of and makes me want to learn more.

4.5 stars, will absolutely be purchasing a hard copy when it is available.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved, loved, loved this book so much! The Mahabharata has always been a personal favorite of mine when it comes to mythological texts, and given the quality of Kaiyeki, I was certainly excited to hear about this title! And my excitement was well-rewarded, because this book delivered in just about every category. The dual perspectives of Ganga and Bhishma provide a fantastic contrast to one another, while also serving to let this story actually deal with the main events of the Mahabharata's narrative. The characters are all richly defined and interact with each other marvelously, the world is fantastic, and the liberties the author takes with the original text really serve the story well, especially given the fact that the character of Ganga really isn't all that important in the original Mahabharata. Overall, an utterly fantastic read that I am so happy to have gotten the chance to preview!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. I literally screamed when I got the email that my request had been approved. The Mahabharata is my favorite epic. I have been obsessed with reading all the different versions and retellings of the Mahabharata so of course I was excited for this. I loved Kaikeyi's story by Vaishnavi Patel and I think Vaishnavi Patel has done such an amazing job at telling us the story of the Mahabharata through Ganga's and Bhishma's perspectives. I loved both of their characterizations, as well as Shiva and Krishna's characters. I think Goddess of the River is a truly valuable addition to the Mahabharata retellings, it makes you ask new questions and truly adds more perspective and understanding of what dharma is. I also think Ganga's emotional journey was written so masterfully, I was literally in tears reading this, it just made be feel so much. Her experience with mortality and understanding humans was such a delight to read. And even though I know the trajectory of this story, there never was a boring moment, In fact it was quite refreshing just like Ganga is. While Goddess of the River might not be faithful to the letter, I really like the changes and I think the addition of magic has actually helped it be faithful to the spirit of the Mahabharata. I like the changes and I think they really add something to the story. I also loved how Vaishnavi Patel shows us the complexities of both sides, because even when I was reading the Mahabharata, both sides were complicated and made me question what dharma truly means. I think Goddess of the River has a good answer to my question.

I think this might even be my most favorite book of the year even though its just Feb. This book was just that good. Vaishnavi Patel has improved so much as a writer, Kaikeyi was amazing so I can't even believe that it is possible to improve so much, but this is definitely one of those books that you'll love forever and keep thinking about, and rereading. Like wow, I am stunned. And still crying. Even though I am normally a person that never sheds tears. There is so much love and feeling in this book. I love it so much!!!