The Legend of Meneka

Meneka is an apsara who’s fed up with endless seduction for the good of heaven. She’d like to retire, but the god Indra gives her an impossible task to complete first. Meneka must sway Kaushika from his sage’s path and remove the threat to Indra’s heaven. But Kaushika instead brings Meneka spiritual insight, and her sexuality only solidifies his faith and power. Now, both the mortal and celestial realms are on a collision course toward war. Rao’s (The Unrelenting Earth) new duology again plays with Hindu mythology, this time delving into it directly. Meneka’s discomfort with her role, paired with her deep devotion, transforms the narrative into a dialogue about believers defining new relationships with the divine. The novel’s pace is defined by the slow-burn romance, and the characters have layered motivations and make naturalistic choices. The cliffhanger ending opens the way for chaos in the sequel.