I love stories inspired by Hindu mythology, and The Legend of Meneka is the first I’ve read centered on Indra. While Vishnu, Ram, Krishna, and Shiva oI love stories inspired by Hindu mythology, and The Legend of Meneka is the first I’ve read centered on Indra. While Vishnu, Ram, Krishna, and Shiva often take the spotlight, this story explores an apsara’s role in Indra’s swarga.
Meneka, a celestial dancer, is tasked with missions to maintain Indra’s power, but she despises the illusions she must create to manipulate people to do her lord’s bidding. After returning from one such mission, she asks Indra to let her serve from swarga instead of earth. Denied, she recklessly takes on a mission to sway the formidable sage Kaushika. But Kaushika is not easily deceived, and the challenge becomes a journey of self-discovery.
I enjoyed Meneka as the protagonist - starting as overconfident and determined, she grows into someone who understands both herself and the complexities of the world around her and the magical political landscape of the time. Kritika Rao brings alive the celestial court, the conflicts between sages and gods in this beautifully written story about a divine dancer who creates illusions.
Though I have only read Legends and Lattes narrated by Travis Baldree, he is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and I enjoyed returning to him andThough I have only read Legends and Lattes narrated by Travis Baldree, he is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and I enjoyed returning to him and Viv in this prequel. More and more books have started to portray cozy fantasy, yet it is this series that I think of foremost as my introduction to the genre as it has creatures who are generally engaged in fighting, orcs like Viv, who are exploring a less-aggressive lifestyle. Viv is injured and hence left at the small town of Murk while her team continues to fight monsters.
Bookshops and Bonedust gave me insight into how Viv came to be. Though this isn’t the story of her discovering coffee, this is much before that, when she first glimpses a quiet life with books, baked goods and maybe a special someone. I liked the new characters in this book. I particularly enjoyed Satchel. Baldree did a fantastic job of voicing him. I couldn’t quite picture a homunculus and had to look him up to imagine him.
Bookshops and Bonedust is a book about falling in love with books and reading. This is one key aspect of giving it the cozy feel! The moments when Viv is discovering a new genre, making friends based on the books she is reading and how she is herself encouraging others to read was fantastic to watch. The anticipation for new books in the mail, the smell of new and old books, connecting with authors… Bookshops and Bonedust brought up so many aspects of reading and the challenges of owning a bookshop!
This review was first posted to my blog in discussion with Ariel here. :) Have you read this book?
Kriti | Armed with A Book
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