The Legend of Meneka
"Sensual and thought-provoking, a romantic fantasy unlike any other." -- Shannon Chakraborty
"Utterly intoxicating . . . whisking you off to a dreamlike world where every corner glitters with magic, and the sensual and the sacred collide." -- Thea Guanzon
Seduction is her weapon. Love is her destiny.
Kritika H. Rao weaves a luscious, exhilarating fantasy inspired by one of the most famous romances in Hindu mythology-- the story of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling for her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalties and being true to herself.
Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon--a warrior--Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.
When a mortal sage's growing powers threaten Indra's supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal--if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he challenges everything she's ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is--little by little--stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.
Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. Perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, and Circe, this first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.
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Kritika H. Rao is a speculative and children's fiction author, who has lived in India, Australia, Canada, and The Sultanate of Oman. Whether writing for younger audiences or adults, Kritika's stories are influenced by her lived experiences, and explore themes of self vs. the world, identity, and the nature of consciousness.
"Sensual and thought-provoking, a romantic fantasy unlike any other."
-- Shannon Chakraborty, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
"With sumptuous language and sultry, high stakes romance, this is a glittering gem of a book."
-- Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For The Wolf
"The Legend of Meneka is a celebration of all that makes a story truly, wildly, and ecstatically epic. Rao's prose hums with starlight and her dazzling reimagining deftly blends ancient philosophy with the story of a woman emerging into her own power. As befits a retelling of one of the most celebrated celestial nymphs in Hindu myth, this book is nothing short of resplendent." -- Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
"Sultry, powerful, and deeply felt, this is a wondrous tale of two lovers on opposing sides of a growing war between the human and the divine. Meneka is a driven and cunning protagonist who embodies all the strength of feminine intelligence and power, and I was entirely drawn into the world that Kritika H. Rao unravels out of ancient Indian myth and literature. Rao's writing is utterly compelling, and I believe she will continue to be a powerful figure in speculative fiction." -- Hannah Kaner, #1 internationally bestselling author of Godkiller
"The Legend of Meneka is a lustrously beautiful mythic romance, both empowering and seductive." -- Tasha Suri, World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Jasmine Throne
"Enthralling and highly imaginative. . . A richly crafted story." -- Sue Lynn Tan, bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, on The Surviving Sky
"Intensely imaginative and heartbreakingly human . . . This is a story that is hard to put down." -- Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter, on The Surviving Sky
"Effervescent, passionate, and romantic, The Legend of Meneka is a brightly-burning flame of a tale set in a world gleaming with magic and helmed by a woman on a journey to self-discovery. With prose that reads like hymn, Rao beautifully brings to life Indian mythology in a novel sure to set fire to the fantasy landscape." -- Amelie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom duology
"A powerful and spellbinding reimagining, The Legend of Meneka brings the story of the legendary apsara from Hindu legends to new and vivid life. Kritika H. Rao displays a deft and well-studied hand, composing a sweeping romantic tale re-examining the role of the temptress." -- R. R. Virdi, USA Today bestselling author of The First Binding
