I'm a lover of any and all books that are based on or inspired by mythology/folklore/fairytales and The Legend of Meneka is no exception! Kritika Rao did a fabulous job with this masterpiece from the world-building to character development and her lyrical way of writing really drew me into the world of Meneka. The way Meneka grows from being an obedient servant to her Lord and eventually wanting more, her freedom, to do as she pleases is very well written and in-depth.

While I loved Meneka and Kaushika as main characters there is a lot to be said about the side characters, the friendship that Meneka found in the hermitage while pursuing Kaushika was one of the reasons I loved this book so much. Meneka thought she had no one and that they would dismiss her once they found out what she was and why she was there but they looked past that and accepted her as she is. Not enough books shine a light on friendship and to accept people as they are and I think Rao did a fantastic job integrating that into The Legend of Meneka.

Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes mythology, romantasy, or empowered FMC. The only thing I didn't like was that parts seemed info-dumpy, but it didn't confuse me enough to not enjoy the book.

This follows the story of Meneka, an apsara in Indra’s court, sent to seduce the sage Kaushika since he has been posing a threat to Indra’s power in the heavens. Labeled as a romantasy, there are a lot of expansions of the original story, adding so much agency and story to her as a character and apsaras and their identity. There’s a lot of exploration of what seduction and sensuality mean and look like especially when it’s one’s identity or primary purpose like it is for an apsara.

It’s really interesting to read a mythological story written through some of the more contemporary romance lenses and it provides such different access to the story. Very excited to come back to this book given how much ai enjoyed it and will be waiting for book two to release!

The Legend of Meneka is an exquisitely beautiful story that took my breath away. I love exploring fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of different cultures, and this novel delivered a rich, vibrant tale full of passion, magic, and romance.

Even though I wasn’t familiar with the original mythological story, I was completely swept up in the world Kritika H. Rao has crafted. Meneka’s yearning for freedom and love was so raw and deeply moving—it broke my heart time and again. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way, aching for her to find the peace and happiness she so desperately deserved.

Kaushika was an intriguing enigma, and unraveling the truth about him was such a satisfying journey. The gods and goddesses in this story were masterfully portrayed, teetering on that delicate edge between good and evil. Their complexity added depth and tension, reminding me that deities aren’t bound by mortal ideas of morality.

The writing is lush and spellbinding, pulling you into a world where every page shimmers with emotion and magic. If you’re a fan of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, or Circe, you need this book on your shelf. I cannot wait to dive into the next installment of the Divine Dancers duology. The Legend of Meneka is a captivating, empowering read that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend!

This was a sensual, slow-burn romantasy retelling of an ancient Hindu myth; Krithika H. Rao did a wonderful job of melding that myth with her modern reinterpretation to give us a queer, feminist romance.

So, this is the version of the original myth I was told when I was younger: Meneka, an apsara (a celestial nymph and dancer), is sent by Indra to seduce renowned rishi Kaushika in order to distract him from his penance because Indira fears he's growing too powerful. Instead, Meneka she falls in love with Kaushika (Vishwamitra, as he is later known) and they have a daughter together. The story varies from here, but either Meneka leaves or she is banished by Kaushika, but ultimately she leaves him and their daughter behind.

In this story, apsaras aren't just seductresses; they're routinely weaponized by Indra and sent to Earth in order to seduce and ruin anyone he perceives as a threat. Meneka does so by weaving visions of what her targets desire the most, and yes, sometimes she has sex with them (the story starts with her having sex with one such queen). Is she a villain or a victim from birth? That's what a lot of Meneka's internal conflict hinges on as she begins to question her mission more and more.

Queerness is made explicit in a way that was only ever implicit or glossed over in Hindu mythology; Though not in the original, here Meneka is bisexual, and actually embarks on this mission to secure her freedom so she can be with the woman she loves, a fellow apsara— thus her being conflicted, but continuing her seduction nonetheless. We also get quite a few queer secondary and background characters.

And on a romance level, I loved the way the slow-burn was handled; Kaushika and Meneka are naturally suspicious of one another, though not quite enemies. They also stand for radically opposing ideals: Meneka is a seductress, something of a sybarite and a dancer, while Kaushika gave up his throne to perform severe tapas (penance), and embraces ascetism and yes, celibacy. He's something of a remote, austere figure, though obviously not unfeeling (but I wish we'd gotten his POV; we only get Meneka's). How Meneka gets through to him is a masterclass in not only seduction, but also a beautiful acknowledgement of shakti (directly translates to energy or power, it's personified in the feminine) and the divinity of sex and love, even if she twisted it for her own purposes in a way that had me ROLLING.

The sex:

Look, Kaushika was a king before he gave it all up to become a rishi, so what that means is..... the man wasn't always celibate, but it's been a HOT minute since he got any, so Meneka finally getting him to crack is EVERYTHING. There are only a couple sex scenes, but what we get is quite hot— ranging from barely-controlled to just downright feral.

Overall:

I'm not a fantasy (romance or otherwise) reader at all, but I adored the romance between Meneka and Kaushika, as well as the way Krithika Rao built on this mythological world. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a more plotty romance, and of course to any romantasy reader, and I'm looking forward to book two in this duology!

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: January 21st

"The challenge floods in me to be with him, a mark who is as powerful as I am, maybe more. I want to seduce him suddenly, not because of Indra, but for myself. I want him to know I am seducing him, to know me and my danger and want it anyway, in the same way that I want him now."


This is a retelling of a famous Hindu myth about an aspara sent to seduce a sage who challenges the gods, but one that centers Meneka (the aspara), and it is sweepingly magical and glorious. Stunning character development, as Meneka truly comes into her own power and knowledge of herself. The romance between Meneka and Kaushika is deep and impactful as they connect so strongly on so many levels - emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and of course physically. Meneka is an aspara, after all, and there is no shame in sensuality.

There is absolutely not an ounce of humor in the writing or story, but it never felt dour or grim for it. The lore and explanations of Hinduism is deep and saturates the plot, but it never feels heavy-handed or like an exposition dump.

Rating: 6/5 absolutely incredible, already one of my top books of the year
Spice: 3/5

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Retelling
- Hinduism, Indian mythology and culture
- Vengeful and meddling gods
- First in a series
- Queer-normative world
- Found family
- Spy FMC
- Betrayal and hidden identities

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Kritika Rao for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

This book has an great writing style! This will be personal opinion/preference but the first half of the book did not grab my attention and there were many times where I did not want to finish it. I understand that the world and concepts (especially if you are not familiar with Hindu culture) is needed for world-building but it was just very slow and dry. Once I got halfway through, the overall plot and characters finally felt like they were being built upon. I do see this book being more enjoyable for a different set of audiences but I do not see myself continuing with it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was drawn to The Legend of Meneka based on the beautiful cover and strong premise. However, while there are some great ideas here, things fell short.
The writing is absolutely the story’s greatest strength, along with strong world building. Rao’s prose is lush and engrossing, and invited me in, even as some other aspects of the book fell a bit flat. This is combined with a clear passion for Hindu mythology, conveying the cultural aspects in a way that is comprehensible for those who are unfamiliar while still prioritizing those familiar with it.
Other aspects weren’t as strong, however. The characters, in particular, felt very underdeveloped. I appreciate the attempt to give Meneka a complex arc, but I don’t think she was depicted as all that well-rounded. And while lust makes sense given who Meneka is, it was the primary component of her “romance” with Kaushika, so I felt very disinterested in it overall, as there wasn’t a ton of substance.
The plot was also fine beyond that, and I just didn’t really care all that much. The pacing was decent, which is something, but I can’t say this book was super-memorable in either of the major aspects that matter.
While I don’t feel all that moved to continue this series, I am impressed enough with Kritika H. Rao’s writing style, and wouldn’t mind trying something else from her at some point. And while I was underwhelmed by this book, I think it might be worth your time if you don’t mind a diverse romantasy that isn’t too deep, character development wise, but has strong world building and a generous dose of sensuality.

This book had an intriguing premise, but it struggled to hold my attention in the early chapters, where the pacing felt sluggish. It wasn’t until the midpoint that the narrative started to gain traction and become more engaging. The exploration of Hindu philosophy through the characters' experiences was thought-provoking and added depth to the story. That said, Meneka proved to be a challenging character to relate to, as her inflexible mindset made her growth feel stunted for much of the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book and that it is based on Hindu Mythology. Also loved that Meneka uses the power of lust that she is gifted with to her own advantage.

I also enjoyed how Meneka grows and comes into her own power and you can see her questioning her beliefs throughout the book and reshaping her world view.

The romance itself for me personally was ok and more lustful than pure heartfelt romance, but ofcourse that does go with the story. I do wish it was a bit more fast paced but overall I still really enjoyed this book and am glad I read it! Can’t wait to read more from Kritika H. Rao in the future.

I wanted to like this book more than I did - it felt a little slow and dragging in the beginning and it wasn’t until about the halfway point that it picked up momentum. I enjoyed the bits of Hindu philosophies that we see through the characters eyes. However, Meneka herself was hard to appreciate as a character for a large part of the book, as she was so stuck in her beliefs.

I will be picking up the second book in the duology, as the characters became more interesting as the book went on.

I really enjoyed this book and i can't wait to see where the author goes in the future with their writing.

I actually really enjoyed this! I’m not super familiar with Hindu mythology, but this was a very accessible read.

So let’s see we’ve got, “I’ve been sent to destroy you, but oops we’re falling for each other,” warring gods, religious questioning, magical training, secrets that must come out, self-reflection and questioning, and a sensual love story. The world-building is lush, and the language is lovely.

I really haven’t read a super similar story at all, so it’s hard to provide comps. But if you’ve read Songbird & the of Stone, I would say Meneka’s journey of religious questioning and self-discovery is very similar to what Mische goes through. I liked how conflicted we can see both Meneka and Kaushika are, and how much they struggle with their paths and truths. Their connection is a slow burn, very sensual one.

The ending both satisfactorily concludes the arc of the story and leaves open the possibility for more books in the future. (I see it’s a planned duology, but there’s no cliffhanger.) I’d recommend!

Many thanks to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I feel like I’ve scheduled several Asian folklore fantasy stories all for review within a few weeks. It’s so funny how some of these trends work where certain types of stories all seem to come out around the same time, and then you won’t see hide nor hair of them again for months and months. (Obviously “Asian” fantasy is a bit of a nonsequitur since there are so many very different cultures, histories, and peoples that make up a huge swath of land.) This will be three out of four of my last reviews in this “category!” I’ve had a lot of positive experiences however with many of these stories in past, all the more exciting for the fact that I often know very little about the original fables and characters the story is drawing from. So, too, with this book. I went in with just the basic summary and was excited to see what we got!

Unfortunately, I’m 0-3 for really clicking with any of them. They’ve all had some definite strengths, and then very different stumbling blocks. But let’s start with the positive. Right when I picked up this book, I knew that barring anything egregious, I was going to at the very least enjoy the process of reading this book. Even within the first few pages, the author’s style of writing is made clear: lyrical, whimsical, and perfectly fitting the type of fairytale-like fantasy story that she was developing here. The pacing could get slow at times, but even during these lulls, the writing itself was still a joy to experience. It perfectly matched the emphasis on beauty that is so central to many of the themes of this book.

However, as I’ve already alluded to, the pacing of this book was a major drawback. It started off well enough, but then it quickly stalled. While the writing excelled at drawing out picturesque scenes and turns of phrase, it struggled to convey any sense of action or movement on the page. Instead, I felt several places removed from the story. This can’t all be laid at the foot of the pacing, however. There was also a tendency to slide into a “telling” rather than “showing” style. As Meneka’s powers grow, the reader was simply informed of these changes, rather than organically witnessing how these changes affected her or manifested in meaningful ways.

I also struggled to enjoy Meneka herself. Conceptually, she works as a character and it makes sense for her to be stuck in a rather depressed, negative headspace. However, as the book continued, it became more and more frustrating to retread this ground, with much of her inner thoughts turning into what felt like a constant buzzing of whining. Beyond that, for all the focus on weaponized beauty and manipulated love, the actual romance at the heart of this story landed with a thud. I didn’t feel any true connection between these two and simply couldn’t become invested in their story.

Overall, this was a bit of a let down for me. However, given the strength of the writing style in general, I’ll definitely check out some of the author’s other books. (Without knowing it, I already had one of her former titles on my TBR list, so I’ll probably start there). If you’re a fan of this author, this is probably one to check out. However, if you’re needing to get picky and are a reader who prioritizes characterization in your books, this might not be the best one for you.

Rating 7: Whimsical and lyrical writing carries this book a long way, but not quite far enough to overcome some of the short-comings in the characterization.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Jan. 22

An interesting story of a celestial dancer who's magic is seducing. And for Kaushika, a rouge human mage who gets wrapped up with Meneka. Someone is threatening the lands Meneka loves and she'll do whatever she needs to protect it. Unfortunately for her feelings become complicated when you start to fall for your enemy. I loved how different the author wrote these characters, they definitely had their back and for with a good amount of tension between the two. There was a little spice, but given the nature of her magic, I'm glad that the spice did not overtake the story. If you enjoy romantasy, you'll enjoy this! The story did move a bit slowly for me and I wish we had a bit more details pertaining to the magic, but overall I enjoyed it!

This romantasy was a retelling of Hindu mythology and I really enjoyed it. It is out in Jan. The story was a beautiful depiction of dualities and juxtapositions, and I'm already looking forward to book 2.

I adored this book!! As a South Asian queer woman who grew up with enchanting stories like Meneka's & Vishwamitra's (Kaushika's), but never saw them in the mainstream stories around me, I was so delighted to find a sexy, lushly told book that actual felt familiar and representative of everything I've wanted in a romance and/or fantasy.

Although Meneka starts out as a naive character with a lot to learn (and unlearn), I was so compelled by her kind-heartedness and deep empathy. I loved seeing that the author incorporated fluidity to the sexuality and gender of the characters and their view of the concepts, as that is something that I have always loved and admired within Hinduism's stories and lore.

Watching Meneka find herself while battling competing loyalties and faiths was so endearing as it is a struggle many of us face in the real world. I was obsessed with our brooding male lead Kaushika, but also loved the many characters Meneka engages with along the way—particularly Romasha who was such an interestingly complex character by the end (iykyk).

Finally, perhaps my most favourite part of the book was the discussions, ruminations, and intense internal conflict ALL the characters face over their relationship with their faith and the philosophies of Hinduism. I loved the inclusion of the Bhakti tradition (devotional faith) as it is such an underrated form of worship and perhaps one that feels less rigid. I found every depiction of the various devas, apsaras, mortals, and figures from Hindu lore to be absolutely fascinating and perhaps what I loved the most was the depiction of Shiva as the Innocent One. As a not so religious person myself, I was deeply surprised (but also delighted) by the sense of awe, revere, and love I felt—not so dissimilar to Meneka's own feelings in the book—when Shiva appeared at last.

I could go on and on about this book but I truly believe it's the romantasy I've been waiting my whole life for and I sincerely hope more people will pick it up. For those of you who come from a background of Hinduism—I think this one will be a real treat <3

This book was super interesting. The premise was different from other typical romantasys. I really struggled to get through the first 50% it was very slow moving and a lot of inner dialogue which isn’t my favorite. I felt that a lot of the unnecessary descriptions could’ve been cut out. Once we got to the meat of the book and action and tension began to build was I hooked. It is a 3.5 stars for me. I liked the romance and the premise but I felt that it was underdeveloped and super super slow for a romantasy.

I want to thank NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Legend of Meneka is a captivating retelling inspired by Hindu mythology, offering a phenomenal blend of engaging storytelling and richly developed characters. The writing is smooth and easy to understand, drawing readers into an intricately built world. This book is a treat for fans of mythology retellings, and Rao's storytelling promises great things to come.

I liked the magic system! The base of the book being Hindu mythology made for an interesting diversion from the European mythology we often see.

Therein ends the things I liked. Meneka was whiny and repetitive to the point where I wasn’t really interested in whether she was happy at the end. I also think this would have worked better as a single book - I certainly won’t be back for the second book in the duology.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC.

This was a beautiful retelling of a Hindu myth, which has left me curious to learn more about Hinduism mythology. I struggled with what rating to give the book because I really wanted to give it 4.5 stars but that isn’t an option but ultimately I decided on a 4 stat rating. What kept it from being 5 stars for me was a kind of rough and halting start. I understand the need for explanation of things for background for folks who don’t already know the myth and movements in the dances but I just felt it could have been done in a more flowing way so it didn’t feel more like a random footnote mid line. I can’t wait for the second book in the duology, I feel like it will be a solid 5 stars and I can’t wait to see how it ends since I am refusing to learn more about the original story so I can be surprised.

Watching Meneka grow into her own person is so realistic and heartbreaking when she learns new truths about herself and others. The way the author slowly revealed more and more details about each characters past really made you feel like you knew them since it was how any new relationship is created as more trust is found between people. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who is is looking for a mythology based romantasy outside the norm.