I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao is a first person-POV retelling of the Hindu legend of Menaka, an apsara, and Vishvamitra. Meneka was created to seduce those her lord, Indra, deems dangerous. When a sage named Kaushika proves a threat to Indra’s reign, Meneka is sent to seduce him in return for her freedom once her mission is complete. But she soon finds herself falling for her mark and questioning if she is being manipulated by the other celestial beings.

I was not familiar with the story of Menaka and had never heard of Vishvamitra before reading this. I have some knowledge of the more popular Hindu figures, but most here were fairly new to mean. Kritika H. Rao does provide a glossary at the beginning of the book to explain the terms used throughout the novel and they are helpful if this is a reader’s first time encountering them as many of the terms are not explained in the text. Rao takes the path of immersing the reader in the world by letting them learn unfamiliar terms via the glossary or from context rather than an aside unless Meneka herself needs an explanation.

Meneka and Kaushika’s romantic arc is one full of push-and-pull, as Meneka stays at his ashram and gets to know him and the other people there, as well as their beliefs, but he initially keeps his distance. Initially, Meneka tries to see what he lusts after and cannot find anything, surprising her. It isn’t until later that she finally sees Kaushika is attracted to her as well, but that he has a good handle on controlling himself. By that point, she is attracted to him as well despite her mission and her relationship back in the heavens with another apsara, Rambha.

As noted in the author’s note, there is a layer of eroticism that never goes away even if there are only a handful of sexual scenes on the page. The original story of Menaka involves her seducing a man and this aspect is never brushed aside or minimized. Meneka has had other lovers and so have many of the other characters, including Rambha, and members of the ashram where Meneka stays. I really appreciated this because Rao makes it clear that sex is not dirty or shameful and that female sexuality is powerful. In a time where it feels like more and more people want to hide that sex even exists, we need works that are not erotica that celebrate the freedom to choose our partners no matter the gender.

I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology tellings and readers looking for a fantasy that celebrates human sexuality

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

For about the first 30% of this book, it felt as though the story was trying to find its stride. Meneka was a very shaky MC at the start too.

But once I passed that 30% mark, I really started to enjoy this book. I started to understand the characters and their complexities more and the story really grabbed my attention.

I really liked Meneka’s arc as she starts to learn about herself and what she wants. I liked the friendships Meneka made and the platonic love between the friends. I had a great time learning the folklore and mythology in this book.

That being said, I’m not totally sure on how happened at the end of this book and it does not feel like a complete arc. For example, Meneka is back in the exact same spot as she was at the beginning of the book, which is frustrating as it feels like any progress we made was just wiped out.

And speaking of feeling incomplete, I have no idea what Meneka and Kaushika’s relationship is. They didn’t fully trust each other, but they’re in love, but they betrayed each other, but it’s fine? And now Meneka will be lying to him again back in the same spot as at the beginning of the book? Not to mention I don’t really trust Kaushika after some of the decisions he made. Just a very messy relationship overall, not sure how I feel about it.

To conclude, there are some parts of this book that were very enjoyable and some parts I didn’t really care for. But if you enjoy a complex MC with wonderful character growth, read this book for Meneka!

As someone unfamiliar with the legend that this book is based on, I was pleased to find it following a new-to-me plot structure and cast of characters. I particularly appreciated that value was placed on different, gentler traits than I so often find in contemporary romances. Being dark and damaged wasn't necessarily desirable, which was refreshing.

On a related note, dancing actually does save the world, alongside the power of love, but in a literal, not-too-sappy sense than usual. On a somewhat related note, the book does not shy away from sensuality but Rao takes the time to examine the relationship between lust, love, and devotion.

The only real complaint that I can come up with is that the male lead, Kaushika, does not seem to have a great deal of personality. Fortunately, Meneka has lots, which doesn't really make up for Kaushika's shortcomings, but helps a bit. I'll be interested in seeing where Rao takes this in the sequel.

Maneka is an apsara pledged to Indra, helping him to ensure that the mortal rulers of the world don’t stray in their devotion to him through their magical dancing and seduction. After one mission she is wracked with guilt and asks to be released from going on missions to serve him in heaven. Taking it as a sleight, he tells her the only way she can win her freedom is by ensnaring a mortal sage who is responsible for swaying large numbers of his followers. Meneka sets out to destroy the sage, she must grapple with what is right.

I loved getting this unique perspective on East Asian mythology. The magic system was like nothing I’d ever read before. Meneka and Kaushika’s arc was a little predictable but overall still very enjoyable. The supporting characters were also pretty well fleshed out.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. DNF. I will not be finishing this. I am not feeling connected to the plot or characters. I’m also feeling confused about the world. I’m only rating and reviewing so it doesn’t hurt my feedback ratio.

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm not the biggest fan of romantasy! It's based in Hindu mythology, giving a story to Meneka, an apsara, who the author felt needed more than a footnote written about her in a revered sage's story. Comparing books to other books lets me down 9 times out of 10, but in this case, the comparisons in the book blurb to Daughter of the Moon Goddess & Circe are very fitting.

We follow Meneka as she is sent by Lord Indra, ruler of heaven, to seduce and stop a powerful sage, Kaushika, as his powers and his influence threaten Indra. The writing is beautiful. This is a retelling that empowers Meneka, and I was surprised to find out that much is written about the sage represented as Kaushika in this book, but Meneka's story has never been fleshed out. I really appreciated the author's note at the end, and I found myself looking up more information on Hindu mythology in between chapters because of how immersed I was and wanting to know more!

I will definitely be picking up the second book of this duology when it comes out!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Legend of Meneka on January 21, 2025.

What an absolutely breathtaking story! I was immediately captivated by this world, its lore, and the characters and beings who inhabited it. We learn so much about the struggle between mortals and immortals, gods and the humans who threaten them. I loved Meneka's growth throughout the story as she challenges the beliefs she was raised with. When confronted with a new perspective and way of life, it can be difficult to break down the walls and prejudices we grow up with, but Meneka threw herself fully into understanding the mortal world and its players.

While her journey may have started with deception, her compassion and empathy soon emerge to help her bond with the humans around her. She even becomes vulnerable with Kaushika, the powerful, magic-ridden human she's been tasked to destroy. Their relationship starts with distrust and suspicion but ends with a truly gorgeous (and steamy) romance. It helps that Kaushika feels like a well-rounded character as well, with flaws aplenty and growth that shows how love can change you.

All in all, Kritika H. Rao wove a beautiful tale of love, devotion, betrayal, and forgiveness. You will not want to miss this one!

I feel bad because I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in Rao’s first series but I was struggling to connect with this one and I think it was the writing style.

i love a good romantasy, and as an indian myself i was looking forward to a good retelling. The prose was fantastic, but I found Meneka herself a little bit flat and Kaushika had no chemistry with her at all. 3.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for ht earc.

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.