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The Legend of Meneka
(2025)(The first book in the Divine Dancers Duology series)
A novel by Kritika H Rao
A spicy romantasy steeped in Indian Mythology.
Across the realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic.But Meneka knows that is not all they are. They are weapons – warriors – seducing their targets for Lord Indra, the king of heaven, for his political gain.
When a mortal’s growing powers threaten Lord Indra’s supremacy, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity and strikes a deal. If she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will grant her what she most desires: her freedom.
But upon meeting the mortal Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated, despite his power threatening to destroy everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is, little by little, stealing her heart, or is he seducing her instead and to what end?
As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the man who is showing her what love can truly mean.
Kritika H. Rao's book 'The Legend of Meneka' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-03-17.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Praise for this book
"Sensual and thought-provoking, a romantic fantasy unlike any other." - Shannon Chakraborty
"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
"Lush, haunting, and utterly intoxicating, The Legend of Meneka reimagines an ancient tale without losing sight of what makes it timeless. Kritika H. Rao's writing is a feast for the senses, elegantly whisking you off to a dreamlike world where every corner glitters with magic, and the sensual and the sacred collide. With its themes of divinity and humanity and passion and power, this is an unforgettable story that leaves you aching for Meneka as she is torn between two realms and tries to snatch a star-crossed love back from the jaws of doom." - Thea Guanzon
"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
"The Legend of Meneka is seductive and sensual, an utter delight, with the yearning turned up to eleven and the choices difficult and heart-wrenching. Rao deftly weaves together romance, conflict, and magic, transporting readers to a world that glitters as surely as the blood in an immortal's veins. This is a downright feast of a book, and its heat will linger on your tongue." - Andrea Stewart
"The Legend of Meneka is a lustrously beautiful mythic romance, both empowering and seductive." - Tasha Suri
"Enthralling and highly imaginative. . . A richly crafted story." - Sue Lynn Tan
"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
"With sumptuous language and sultry, high stakes romance, this isa glittering gem of a book." - Hannah Whitten
"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." - Amélie Wen Zhao
"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
"Lush, haunting, and utterly intoxicating, The Legend of Meneka reimagines an ancient tale without losing sight of what makes it timeless. Kritika H. Rao's writing is a feast for the senses, elegantly whisking you off to a dreamlike world where every corner glitters with magic, and the sensual and the sacred collide. With its themes of divinity and humanity and passion and power, this is an unforgettable story that leaves you aching for Meneka as she is torn between two realms and tries to snatch a star-crossed love back from the jaws of doom." - Thea Guanzon
"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
"The Legend of Meneka is seductive and sensual, an utter delight, with the yearning turned up to eleven and the choices difficult and heart-wrenching. Rao deftly weaves together romance, conflict, and magic, transporting readers to a world that glitters as surely as the blood in an immortal's veins. This is a downright feast of a book, and its heat will linger on your tongue." - Andrea Stewart
"The Legend of Meneka is a lustrously beautiful mythic romance, both empowering and seductive." - Tasha Suri
"Enthralling and highly imaginative. . . A richly crafted story." - Sue Lynn Tan
"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
"With sumptuous language and sultry, high stakes romance, this isa glittering gem of a book." - Hannah Whitten
"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." - Amélie Wen Zhao
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