The Legend of Meneka
Divine Dancers, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Sharmila Devar
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By:
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Kritika H. Rao
About this listen
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.
©2025 Kritika H. Rao (P)2025 HarperCollins PublishersCritic reviews
'An utterly compelling tale woven from hauntingly sensual prose that will transport readers to a fantasy world steeped in romance and intrigue'
Molly X. Chang, the Sunday Times bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods
'Sensual and thought-provoking, a romantic fantasy unlike any other'
Shannon Chakraborty, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
'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, Sunday Times 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
'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 and The Foxglove King
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