The writing was beautiful, but it felt detached and I had a hard time going back to this book after taking a break. The pacing and the time skipping confused me at times; a clearer plot would've made the whole experience better. There are also many characters and it was pretty difficult to follow, especially if you're not familiar with the story of the Mahabharata.

Gorgeous. Mythological retellings are one of my favourites and Patel does this so well. Firstly, it's nice to have a break from the plethora of Greek/Celtic/Norse books floating around (many of which I love, but I digress)... Secondly, I can't speak to the "accuracy" of the retelling, but I do think that a certain amount of artistic license is to be expected with this these things, so that isn't something that personally bothers me. I am not saying it might be important to others, but I don't know enough of Hinduism to speak with any authority.

This story is woven together with some complexity. The prose is gorgeous (as I would expect from Patel), but the POV switches between characters and, while, this does help to deepen the story, I am not always a fan of the POV switch. In this case, I don't know if the story would have had more impact with a single POV.

This is my second of Patel's books that I have devoured and she has become a "must read" author for me.

This is very beautifully written, and I loved that I was able to learn so much about a deity whom I previously knew so little about. I think that I mainly struggled in the middle portion of the novel, where the timeline becomes a bit non-linear and we have a new POV - I definitely preferred the book when it was solely Ganga's POV. There are a LOT of complicated family relationships in here, which I found myself confused with at times but for the most part was able to muddle along and follow. War is a large focus point of this novel, which I wasn't expecting but didn't hate, I quite enjoyed the various politics it brought into the story. This is incredibly well-written and thought out, and while I definitely prefer Kaikeyi to this one, I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

3.75 stars, rounded up

look, I love a good retelling. and yes, sometimes it might feel that there are so many of them out there, but this one felt like a breath of fresh air.

the story of the Goddess Ganga is heartbreaking but also makes you think about honor and 'what's the right thing to do'. the book is split into 4 parts, and while all of them focus on the goddess, part 1 is the only one where all chapters are from her POV. I definitely preferred those but also appreciated the other perspectives the author brought in the latter parts of the book.

it's definitely not a fast-paced, plot-driven book which I didn't mind because it made sense to spend time with the story and its themes.

Rating: 3.75-4.25/5 ⭐
Review:
✨This is a tough review to write due to several factors.
✨This is a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the eyes of a minor female character, goddess Ganga. But there is also a third person POV from her son’s side.
✨I would say that both mother and son are complex characters. Both of them had been thrown into difficult situations that had led them to make difficult decisions.
✨Basically, they paid a huge price for their decisions, especially Bhishma.
✨This story I would say is frank. Like, it does not shy away from showcasing the harsh part of the world.
✨I like the writing and how the plot goes back and forth in time for the first three parts. And the last part is the part for me. Like that is where for me, most violence is written.
✨However, I started to warm up to the story nearing the half of the story. But, after that, it gradually caught my attention until the end. Especially the last part.
✨Actually I don’t have any favourite characters here, but I do understand the actions made by the characters, especially women characters, including Ganga.
✨The message I get from this book is you have to deal with the consequences of your choices and actions. Especially, if your choices deal with human lives.
✨This story made me interested in Mahabharata, but I do not know when I can read it. Thank you to the author for the references about Mahabharata.
✨Thank you to Little, Brown Book and NetGalley for this ARC! This review is voluntarily written by me.

Goddess of the River was a beautifully written story. The characters were vivid and fabulous. I hated Bhishma but he was also a great character as were many of the more minor ones. The story did drag in places, becoming slightly repetitive in certain sections, hence the dropping of the star however overall I found it to be a very enjoyable retelling.

as someone who's not familiar with hindu mythology, this was an amazing but complex and sometimes confusing read. there were so many characters to keep track of, which got a bit overwhelming at some point. initially it took me a bit to get into the story, but i was soon mesmerized by the beautiful writing and vibrant atmosphere that transcends the pages. this is definitely a slowburn kind of book. a bit later on when the focus of the book shifted to other plot points, i must admit i lost some of my interest, as it feels like the tone shifted completely and i don't like reading about war all that much (this is my fault, obviously). considering these points, i would definitely recommend this book if you're aware of these things before going in. i hope i can read her other book, kaikeyi, soon too :)

Thank you for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I really enjoyed reading Goddess of the River and would definitely recommend it to others, especially those who enjoy mythology retellings.

I really liked that the story always came back to Ganga and focused the consequences of her actions or her words to humans. I think this worked really effectively especially because you are introduced to so many different characters so being able to see how different points of view and plot points relate to Ganga was really helpful. I also enjoyed that the story didn’t just focus on the war but also the events leading up to and after the war and how the behaviour of different people and Gods could change the lives of so many. There are lots of insightful messages scattered throughout the book that allow the reader to reflect which is in keeping with the overall moral of the story. I love that the story included themes of morality and justice from the perspective of a range of characters both human and God which was really interesting to see, especially how different characters justified their actions often believing them to be morally correct based on their vows. The boons given by the Gods were also really interesting in how they impacted the war by giving humans different skills/powers and the impact that these had on humanity and the course of various characters lives (despite some Gods not wanting to be involved). I did find the beginning and end the most interesting and it did dip slightly in the middle for me in terms of character development and new plot points however it definitely recovered in the last third of the book and I would definitely still recommend this to others.

Thank you for letting me read and review this ARC, I am sorry it has taken me so long to write the review.

I was so excited for this story, as I grew up on Roman and western mythology and wanted to know more about other mythology, and this seemed to be a good place to start - however the author fully admits that aspects of the tales have been changed, and I appreciate the honesty of this.
I also appreciated the trigger warnings in the book, it allowed me to be in the right frame of mind to read the book and enjoy it for what it truly is - a wonderful telling of classic mythology from the POV of the River Goddess and her surviving son.

The story speeds through different times, and keeps the pace up while not feeling like it is missing aspects of world or plot building - which is probably helped as this is a well known myth, but I still really enjoyed it. This is one ARC that has made it to my 'buy when published' list.

Having grown up reading myths and legends (and eventually the entirety) of the Mahabharat, I was quite excited to pick up Goddess of the River . I enjoyed Vaishnavi Patel's previous work; however, this is where her writing truly shines. Her words simply flow off the page and drown you (sorry I had to lol) in a mythical world. The descriptions make you feel like you are walking along the banks of the river Ganga, with the goddess herself and experiencing her story. Patel's writing captures the intricacies of the original epic pretty damn well, and adds its own unique flavour to a familiar story. I loved how Ganga was characterized and especially how she reacted to becoming a human.

The story progresses speeds through time and progresses through many events that form a crucial part of the war that the original epic is centred around. Patel puts forth a unique perspective of that war, and of humanity, and of a life-changing conflict, in showing us said war through the eyes of Ganga.

For me, Goddess of the River is one of my favourite adaptations of a story that I have grown up with and always loved. I adore Vaishnavi Patel's writing and I cannot wait to read whatever she puts out next.

This book was very well written. I am a big fan of Kaykeyi, and I was very eager to read this book. Unfortunately the book includes some things that are rather triggering to me at this point, so I had to put it down. I am very bummed about that. The author is very open about the trigger warnings of this book, so I recommend checking them out.

4.25/5 stars.

A retelling of the Mahabharata from the point of view of Ganga, the Goddess of the River, and her only surviving son was not what I thought I would have been reading this year but it was so beautifully written that I am so glad that it snuck its way onto my TBR.

Disclaimer: My mythology knowledge comes from the Western world, Greek, Roman and Egyptian was what I was brought up on and read most but this is exactly why I'm so excited to see what other places have ingrained in their culture because I do think that they have so much more to offer.

The way that Vaishnavi Patel manages to build tension to the war and the pending violence through the novel is incredible, it left me uneasy and on edge and it was just so gorgeously done that I have nothing to say but good things about the pacing. It was reflective and tense and it just forces readers to think.

As it's based on pre-existing literature, I don't think the characters could be more fleshed out but I know that it's derivative of the original text rather than a direct take so I do feel as though I should look more into the Mahabharata but this isn't absolutely necessary.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown, and Vaishnavi Patel for the joy of getting to read this book.

Disclaimer: My thoughts expressed here are relevant to this book exclusively and not the original text of Mahabharata.
———
Ever wonder what if Mahabharata was written through Ganga, the river goddess, and her only surviving son’s perspectives? Goddess of River is that book. It’s a retelling of one of India’s greatest Sanskrit epics that leaves a reader wondering if holding on to one’s oath is worth the cost.

The story is told through Ganga and Bhishma’s (née Devavrata) alternating POVs. It goes way back to when Ganga was cursed to become a goddess tied to Earth by Lord Shiva. Though she dislikes being stuck in a place, she had the company of eight godlings, the Vasus, who were closer to divinity than anyone on Earth. As time grew, Ganga became fond of the Vasus and looked after them as a mother would.

Soon trouble found the Vasus when they stole Nandini, a cow blessed by Lord Shiva and the daughter of Kamadhenu, from a sage named Vashista who cursed them and Ganga, who came to their defence. Ganga was cursed to become a mortal and had to give birth to the Vasus as a mortal would, and only when they died, would they return to their original form.

Ganga became the queen of Hastinapur when King Shantanu asked her hand on their first meeting. She gave birth to each Vasu but only the last Vasu, Devavrata aka Bhishma, survived.

A curse can be interpreted in many ways and Ganga’s interpretation in the story was unexpected. It might shock a few while reading the book but that wasGanga’s interpretation.

From there on, the story walks us through different stages of Devavrata’s life leading to his infamous vows. He renounces the throne of Hastinapur, chooses the life of an ascetic till his death so his father could marry the woman he wanted. It was this vow that shaped the path to the downfall of the Kuru line.

The writing was reflective and philosophical. It engaged me with questions to ponder whilst reading. Even though it slowed my reading pace, I liked that the book was making me pause and think about morality and dharma. I had discussions with mom and dug more info on Bhishma online.

This story, especially Ganga and Shiva’s strenuous relationship, was a contradiction to the tales I listened while growing up. It was confirmed by the author that she changed it for the plot.

In many ways, I could sympathise with Ganga and others choice in the book, but Bhishma’s hold on his vows never sat right with me at times. It was commendable how true and unwaveringly brave he was to uphold his vows, but they came with a steep price. Bhishma himself was having this internal conflict, and his vows weighed him down. By the end of the book, I wanted to rant about him and his vows in length.

Overall, I liked what the author did with the epic. It’s the story that’s depicted through Ganga, who is not main voice in Mahabharata, adding a fresh voice to the narrative.

Ugh, the WAY I was excited for this novel - and part 1 was everything I had hoped for. A retelling of Indian mythology, something I had zero previous experience of, from an author who wowed the world with her previous book.

Part 1 had the writing and clarity and unapologetic beauty I was hoping for. The rest of the book… well, I guess I’ve never been much into battle stories, and that is essentially what Parts 2 and 3 was. The majority of the retelling ended up focussing more on Hastinapur than on Ganga.

Goddess of the River is an epic based on an epic, and maybe in a less rushed, stressful time of my life I would experience the novel differently. For now, the first part is really the only part I could enjoy.

Vaishnavi Patel has now officially joined my auto-buy author list, because once again she managed to surpass my greatest expectations. <i>Kaikeyi</i> is one of my favourite books, so of course I was more than a little excited when <i>Goddess of the River</i> was announced. And as close to perfection as <i>Kaikeyi</i> was - this new release matches it equally.

Once again Patel retells a story from Indian myths, the Mahabharata to be precise. <i>Goddess of the River</i> focuses on Ganga, the titular goddess of the river, and her doomed son. One might think it impossible to write engagingly about a character that is, well, an actual river for most of the time, but Patel manages just wonderfully. I adore Ganga as a character - she is both otherworldly and deeply relatable. I admit I was at first a little confused when the story shifts towards her son Devavrata, because a lot of characters are involved in his plot and it took me a while to understand what was going on, who was who and so on. I don't know the source material, so there's that. But it all starts to make sense quickly enough, and Devavrata is a wonderful character too - very frustrating at times but that is part of his story. What I generally really enjoyed was the absence of a clear black-and-white morality in (most of) these characters involved. They aren't really likeable, but they all have likeable aspects, and it was fascinating to read.

I was completely absorbed in this retelling from the very first page. Patel's writing is stellar once again, the themes are on point. Motherhood is once again one of the big themes, and it was so interesting to explore when the mother in question is an actual goddess and the son a mortal. Morality and duty, the concept of karma and dharma, are central to the story. Just all around an incredibly well-crafted novel and a reading experience I won't forget.
4,5 stars, easily rounding up.

I really enjoyed this book, but I found I got a bit lost in certain places. There are an awful lot of characters to keep track of and it jumps around in time quite a bit between Ganga and Bhishma’s sections, especially because some things happen in Bhishma’s sections before they’re later explained in Ganga’s sections.

I really enjoyed how this went into morality and how Bhishma was following his flawed idea of being righteous and the mistakes he makes by sticking to this. All the characters had some very hard choices to make and it really hit hard that sometimes there are just no good choices.

This book went deep into war, both the actions and anger of the characters that brought the war about and the relentless suffering and destruction that the war ravages on the characters and the world around them.

This was a really well thought out book, I don’t think the characters could have been simplified, given the source text, but maybe if it was written more chronologically, it would have been slightly easier to follow.

when I read Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel, I knew I wanted to read all of her books going forward, and Goddness of the River did not disappoint. this book is a wonderful example of Indian mythology in a fictional tale. this book follows the journey of Ganga, a mother and her son. there are many characters in this book, which could be confusing to readers who haven't got a vast knowledge on Indian mythology, however it is very helpful that the main characters in this story are identified and constantly revisited.

4/5

I really enjoyed this book. The first half is very slow and meandering, encapsulating perfectly the river-like flow of the story. Like tributaries, it branches off into the minds of other characters and explores many of those that come to pray at Ganga's river. Every smaller story, every side character, is skillfully placed as everything weaves back into the main plot eventually. It's masterfully crafted and so intelligently executed. I loved the slow but inevitable build into the war we know, from the very first chapters, is coming.

Ganga's journey is such an interesting one to be able to witness. She's such a fascinating character to explore as she holds such dichotomy inside of herself; she is a goddess who despises the mortal world, and yet she is a goddess who knows what it is to be human. She can't help but be affected by the mortal world, even as she spurns it.
I felt at times that Ganga's perspective as a goddess was possibly too vast, too pulled back from humanity, but I no longer think that's entirely correct. Ganga has the unique perspective, for a god, of mortality. She knows what it is to be human and to be caught up in their fears and desires and dreams, she is more entangled in humanity than she would ever care to admit. And beyond that, she gives life to humanity from her waters, she washes away pain and tends to those that she can help. Her heart is forever being changed by humanity. This, I think, provides such a spell-binding narrative to explore, such an incredible character to pull our focus.

Through Devavrata, or Bhishma, we follow the folly of mortals, the ever-lasting struggle for power. We see, in all its despair, what has become of the Kuru line and we see the mistakes every person has made at every step for it to have ended up as messy and as complicated as it now is.
I really adored how complex each and every character truly was, by the end of the book there was not a clearly noble and righteous victor, there was not the sharpness of a line drawn between good and evil. It was far more complicated than that. Characters that I hated became tangles of emotion in my mind as they became much more to me than just one evil deed. Characters that at first glance appeared to be only cannon fodder in the battles to come became fractured people woven into the fabric of the politics of the court. Characters that had for most of the book been virtuous and good, muddied themselves in the chasms of war and spoiled their gilded clothing with blood. Every person was more than what they first appeared to be on the surface and I think this was what I most admired about the book.

I appreciate the insightful nature of the storytelling even more as I look back upon it. Every element is crafted and placed so intricately, everything is moulded with such craft and care. I loved seeing how characters came back to haunt the narrative, how every person had substance and importance, how every action held repercussions. What I loved most was the cyclical nature of the story; everything came back to the beginning, ended as it began, everything felt whole and one. It was all so incredibly well thought out. I can't wait to read more of Patel's works!

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely gorgeous retelling/reimagining of the goddess Ganga’s tale, the lead up to Mahābhārata War told from the perspective of Ganga and her son.

It plays very loose with the epic, so it’s easy for anyone not familiar with Hindu poetry epics to get into. A few familiar names may pop up, and at times there are a few difficult themes, but overall it was a very beautiful book. A gorgeous, sweeping story of a mother’s love, the responsibility of power, justice, and the greater good.

I highly recommend.

So many characters 😢 Whenever I thought ”This is it, this is everybody” someone new would be introduced again, and then again… It was a bit difficult for me to keep track of who did what, but I usually struggle with this so it’s not the book’s fault.

There were some very emotional scenes, and the writing was stunning. I wish the book was a bit more atmospheric though.