*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao is a beautifully woven tale that blends mythology and fantasy in a captivating way. The characters are rich and complex, and the plot is full of twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The world-building is vivid, and the story explores themes of destiny, love, and self-discovery with depth and emotion. If you’re a fan of immersive fantasy with a touch of magic, this book is a must-read!

The Legend of Meneka is a lush, intriguing take on Indian mythology, blending fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. I was drawn in by the premise of an apsara—a celestial dancer with the power to seduce and manipulate—caught between duty and desire. There’s a lot to appreciate in this book, but it didn’t fully land for me.

Let’s start with the positives. The world-building is absolutely stunning. Rao crafts a vivid and immersive backdrop filled with celestial courts, divine politics, and richly detailed mythology. I could almost feel the weight of the gods’ presence and smell the incense in the air. It’s clear the author poured a lot of love and care into creating this universe, and readers who enjoy stories steeped in cultural lore will appreciate it.

Meneka’s journey is compelling in parts, especially as she wrestles with questions of identity, freedom, and her role as both a weapon and a woman seeking something more. Her internal conflict adds depth to her character, and I liked seeing her growth as she begins to challenge the system she’s been a pawn in for so long.

However, the romance—which is the core of the story—felt a bit underwhelming. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Meneka and Kaushika had moments of tension, but it lacked the slow-burn intensity I was hoping for. Their interactions were more simmering than sizzling, and I didn’t find myself fully invested in their relationship. I also felt that Kaushika, while intriguing, could have used more development to make him stand out beyond his role as the mysterious, powerful mortal.

The pacing was another challenge. The first half of the book dragged for me, with a lot of introspection and setup that slowed down the momentum. Things did pick up in the latter half, but it required patience to get there. Additionally, the lyrical, almost dreamlike writing style was beautiful but sometimes made it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level. It felt like watching them from a distance rather than being in the thick of their experiences.

Overall, The Legend of Meneka is a unique and beautifully crafted story, but it didn’t completely win me over. It’s a solid read for fans of mythology-based fantasy who enjoy rich world-building and introspective storytelling. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I’d still recommend it to readers looking for a romantasy that stands out from the usual tropes and offers a fresh perspective rooted in Indian lore.

I struggled to get into this book and feel it just wasn't for me. I've given it a 4 star rating as I feel like it's beautifully written and it was more a personal preference issue.

The writing is beautiful but it takes some getting used to. It's like poetry as it's so unique.

I loved the tension between the two main characters and the world building was done so beautifully. I keep saying beautiful as that's what this book is. Sadly, I just couldn't get into it. I try to avoid first person books so that might be the issue with me and this book.

3.5 stars
Rao’s writing is wonderful as can be seen in her word choices, and detailed descriptions.
As for the plot, characterisation and dialogue, I enjoyed the aspects excluding those with Meneka’s and Kaushika’s romantic involvement.
4/5 for the scenes and plot elements about Meneka, the world setting and the mythology.
3/5 for most of those with the lust between M & K and the ending.
I would be interested in other books by this author.

Rating - 4.5 stars

I think this book would be perfect for fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.

Dare I say this is one of the fewest spicy romantasy books that I actually liked. I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected. I ended up finishing this book much faster than I thought I would because I found it hard to put this book down.

Meneka and Kaushika have my whole heart. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!!! So many of my favourite quotes are from their interactions with each other. Every time I go back to those quotes, I always smile, giggle and kick my feet because the tension and their relationship is through the roof. Specifically, Kaushika’s quotes? OMG I AM DOWN BAD FOR HIM. He’s just too damn fine for his own good.

The writing style of this book was so mesmerising and sensual, I was so in awe of the author’s choice of words in every single page. The world building is steeped in Indian mythology. There is a glossary that can help you get used to the terminology. If you love flowery, lyrical writing then you’re going to love this book. If I had a physical copy of this book, I would highlight nearly all the quotes because there were endless amounts of them that I loved.

I liked that Meneka had to deal with a lot of internal struggles throughout the book. I loved the way the author explored identity. In the beginning, she was quite naive, but by the end, I was just so proud of her character growth that it made me tear up a few times.

I absolutely loved how there was no clear villain amongst the characters, and everyone was morally grey. Everyone was equally capable of both good and evil and so their complexity made them feel like real people to me.

The idea is intriguing and enticing, but the execution is a catastrophe. I couldn't connect with the characters. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell short of my expectations. :(

Rated 2.5/5 stars

I…had very mixed emotions on this one. Initially I was impressed with the writing - it’s lyrical in a way that reflects the sensuality that comes with Meneka as an ‘instrument of lust’. It was easy to fall into that atmosphere, but ultimately it proved to be a hindrance to the actual romance later. It’s a strange one where the descriptive tone and its attempt to be reminiscent of mythology almost removes it from the audience entirely - it’s hard to care for the characters or what they’re doing when they feel untouchable.

I wanted to love this but ultimately just felt very mild about it unfortunately. But if you’re looking for a romantasy that feels distinctly different- more focused on lust as a concept and tool to be used, than the grand whirlwind romances of today’s hype - then this might be one to check out.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for providing an ARC through NetGalley. This was a fresh and unique reading experience for me. With little prior knowledge of Indian mythology, I went in blind, unsure of where the story would take me.

To start, I struggled with Meneka as a character, particularly in the first half of the book. She often came across as overly self-pitying, without fully owning up to the consequences of her actions. This "woe is me" attitude made it difficult to connect with her initially.

Additionally, while the story is billed as a "spicy romance," the enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt underdeveloped. The tension between Meneka and the male lead lacked the spark. Their chemistry, while present, didn’t quite deliver on the promise of intense, slow-burning passion that the genre typically excels in.

The first half of the book was slow, and I found it challenging to immerse myself in the story. It took time and perseverance to reach a point where I felt fully engaged, but it was clear that the plot was building toward something.

However, Where the author truly shines is in the world-building. The descriptions of the settings and the world around the characters were vivid and beautifully crafted, painting a lush and immersive backdrop for the story. I also appreciated how the narrative explored themes of faith. The protagonists’ spiritual journeys were thoughtfully handled, presenting challenges to their beliefs without undermining the importance of religion. Their unwavering convictions and resilience were compelling, showcasing a universal exploration of faith that could resonate with readers from any background—not just those familiar with the mythology of the Apsara.

Overall a good read, it isn't something I would rush to read again, but it is one I would recommend for those interested in reading stories from different cultures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the Arc. Whilst this book was well written I struggled to get into it. The mythology was interesting, refreshing, and set it apart from other Romantasies, but I found it hard connecting to the characters, particularly Meneka. It was ok and had some positives , but not for me.

Steeped in rich Hindu mythology with gods and apsaras and sages, this book sounded right up my alley but unfortunately the execution fell a bit flat. The female MC seemed a bit 2D and lacked personality. The romance between Meneka and Kaushika also felt a bit forced - like they went from actively not liking each other to basically screwing within a chapter with very little build up…

Also looootttts of inner monologue.

The mythology was really interesting and I definitely need to read more of it.

Thank you for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of fantasy inspired by different cultures and was very curious about this one. As someone who’s not familiar with Hindu culture and mythology, I was grateful for the glossary and the more I read, the more I understood.
I enjoyed the story and found the mortal and celestial magic very interesting. Meneka really was on a difficult mission and I thought her inner conflict was described well. I liked how she started questioning things and finding herself.
Even though I liked the tension between Meneka and Kaushika, I think they needed a more emotional connection. I could understand that they were attracted to each other, but missed love on a deeper level. That might be the case because many things were told rather than shown (maybe a chapter from Kaushika’s pov would’ve made the reader get to know him better).

However, I still enjoyed this book and loved how colourful the writing was. The plot twist at the end was well done and made me curious about book 2, which I’d definitely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the arc!

🌟🌟/5

I really, really wanted to like this. A romantasy steeped in Hindu mythology is an amazing concept, but the story did not do it justice.

The Good:
The mythology aspect of this was really well done. I loved how to author's take on apsara lore. The worldbuilding as the magic system were well done. The author brings the setting to life through her prose. I also appreciate the fact that the world is queernormative.

The Not-so-good:
As someone who's familiar with Hindu mythology, I did not face much trouble with the infodumping. However, readers unfamiliar with it might get confused while reading. Meneka's internal turmoil was overdone to the point that she came off as whiny and annoying. The writing was repititive in many parts. My biggest issue with the book is the 'romance'. Meneka and Kaushika's relationship is fueled by lust. There is no chemistry between these two, and that is why when Meneka discovers that love is magic (literal magic, mind you) in its own right, I'd have flung this book across the room if I'd had a physical copy. NOT THE FRICKIN POWER OF LOVE AGAIN. These two were neither enemies nor lovers at any point. The lack of chemistry made the smut scenes terrible.

The ending was...weird. I wish the author would've made the book longer and wrapped up the story in one book. Even the climax was unsatisfactory. I don't want to dive into spoiler territory, but the way these people handled devas-all powerful forces of nature-without any great repercussions, was just...😐.

As you can see from my review, personally, the cons heavily outweighed the pros. We don't see enough Hindu mythology inspired book so I had to get an arc for myself. Unfortunately, this was a big miss. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel.