Family tree for ARC readers

I am so excited to share with you my second book, Goddess of the River! It is a retelling of the ancient Hindu epic and religious text the Mahabharata from the perspective of Ganga, a river goddess, and her son. You will find many changes from the Mahabharata, so I caution readers unfamiliar with the epic from taking every detail and plot point of this novel as gospel; however the overall shape of the events remains the same. Goddess of the River, the Mahabharata, asks questions about dharma, justice, the responsibilities of the powerful, and the greater good. This story is very dear to my heart, and I hope it will find a place in yours.

Because Goodreads is a space for readers, I do not plan on coming back to this book's page once this is posted, whether to read or check comments. But if you want to talk about this book, or ask questions, the best ways to reach me are Instagram or my website contact form. I always love connecting with readers!

Finally, I advise readers to read the Content Warning at the start of the novel. Goddess of the River includes content from the Mahabharata that readers may find triggering, including but not limited to killing of infants, casteism, ableism, use of the word “cripple”, attempted sexual assault, and graphic warfare. More context is provided in the Content Warning, along with the location of the content in the novel.

Thank you so much for your interest, and happy reading!

PS. I learned a hard lesson with the publication of my first book: no matter how much time I take to discuss or explain my motivation and ideas, some people will still call me a disgrace to my religion and send me threats of bodily harm. If this is you, might I make a suggestion? Pop it right under here in a comment rather than seeking me out on social media. Thanks!102 s10 comments Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)2,493 3,778

4.0 Stars
After really enjoying the author's previous book, I was eager to read the next book they wrote. This is another standalone exploring traditional Indian myths through the lens of fantasy.

The narrative style was not entirely too my tastes, but I loved the underlying plot and themes.

Once again, this author has written a highly feminist tale filled with the struggle and oppression of strong women. The story is perhaps a bit on the nose but I was in the mood for that kind of story.

I would recommend this one to someone looking for an feminist fantasy tale that hits hard and doesn't flinch away from the darker sides of life.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.2024-sff fantasy28 s Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)2,502 4,140

4.5 stars rounded up

If you enjoyed Kaikeyi, you should absolutely pick up Goddess of the River. It's a gorgeously written retelling of an Indian epic, mostly from the perspective of a minor character. Ganga is a river goddess cursed to live a mortal life and give birth to the human forms of other spirits before returning to her true form. And all of this is caught up in power struggles for the throne and threats of war. It's often tragic and a somewhat slower paced novel but I found it enthralling. With such a large cast of characters, I think it's helpful to have Ganga as a grounding character that we know so well.

Loved it and would recommend! Just note that there are some content warnings to be aware of (the author also addresses these at the start of the book) with the biggest one being that towards the start of the story, Ganga drowns several of her babies. She believes it's saving them from the pain of a human life and releasing them back into their true forms, and grieves over it, but it still might be unsettling for some readers. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.26 s Books_the_Magical_Fruit (Kerry)730 44

This wasn’t a quick read for me. I was engaged in the story for the first third or so, and then it got bogged down so much that my progress slowed to a crawl. Still, learning about Indian culture and beliefs was fascinating, and I loved Patel’s characterization of women, especially through the eyes of Ganga herself. There’s an interesting duty versus justice theme that really makes you think.

I think if the plot summary has indicated how much war would be the focus, I would have chosen a different book.
3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for the complimentary copy. My review is entirely voluntary.2024-read-in arc myths ...more25 s4 comments River290 110

4/5

I do not want thrones, or riches, or renown. I want to be where I was loved.

I really enjoyed this book. The first half is very slow and meandering, encapsulating perfectly the river- flow of the story. tributaries, it branches off into the minds of other characters and explores many of those that come to pray at Ganga's river. Every smaller story, every side character, is skillfully placed as everything weaves back into the main plot eventually. It's masterfully crafted and so intelligently executed. I loved the slow but inevitable build into the war we know, from the very first chapters, is coming.

Will you be king of ashes?

Ganga's journey is such an interesting one to be able to witness. She's such a fascinating character to explore as she holds such dichotomy inside of herself; she is a goddess who despises the mortal world, and yet she is a goddess who knows what it is to be human. She can't help but be affected by the mortal world, even as she spurns it.
I felt at times that Ganga's perspective as a goddess was possibly too vast, too pulled back from humanity, but I no longer think that's entirely correct. Ganga has the unique perspective, for a god, of mortality. She knows what it is to be human and to be caught up in their fears and desires and dreams, she is more entangled in humanity than she would ever care to admit. And beyond that, she gives life to humanity from her waters, she washes away pain and tends to those that she can help. Her heart is forever being changed by humanity. This, I think, provides such a spell-binding narrative to explore, such an incredible character to pull our focus.

Through Devavrata, or Bhishma, we follow the folly of mortals, the ever-lasting struggle for power. We see, in all its despair, what has become of the Kuru line and we see the mistakes every person has made at every step for it to have ended up as messy and as complicated as it now is.
I really adored how complex each and every character truly was, by the end of the book there was not a clearly noble and righteous victor, there was not the sharpness of a line drawn between good and evil. It was far more complicated than that. Characters that I hated became tangles of emotion in my mind as they became much more to me than just one evil deed. Characters that at first glance appeared to be only cannon fodder in the battles to come became fractured people woven into the fabric of the politics of the court. Characters that had for most of the book been virtuous and good, muddied themselves in the chasms of war and soiled their gilded clothing with blood. Every person was more than what they first appeared to be on the surface and I think this was what I most admired about the book.

But gods should not need to enforce that which men should plainly know.

I appreciate the insightful nature of the storytelling even more as I look back upon it. Every element is crafted and placed so intricately, everything is moulded with such craft and care. I loved seeing how characters came back to haunt the narrative, how every person had substance and importance, how every action held repercussions. What I loved most was the cyclical nature of the story; everything came back to the beginning, ended as it began, everything felt whole and one. It was all so incredibly well thought out. I can't wait to read more of Patel's works!

I promise. I will return, and I will sit on your banks once more.

Thank you Orbit for an arc in exchange for an honest review.2024-reads arcs bipoc-author ...more26 s Booksblabbering || Cait??1,070 231

Ganga, the goddess of the river, is made mortal and cursed to bear the seven Vasus - the godlings, be their mother, to free them back into their ethereal forms.
She catches the eye of the powerful and greedy Shantanu, raja of Hastinapur, and sets off a course of events that has far reaching consequences in the Mahabharata.

Bhishma is the final godling, the one who survived to grow up in his mortal form, yet to avoid bloodshed, took a vow and renounced the throne.

Bhishma is an extremely frustrating character and Patel captures this perfectly.
He appears noble and loyal for honouring his vows above all else, but we can see how this steadfastness ends up causing more harm and chaos. This is even more grievous when you realise he’s fighting for a side he doesn’t believe in just to uphold his promise.

So he stayed alive to fight as humanely as possible, although that was a paradox.

Patel captures motherhood beautifully just in her debut of Kaikeyi. Especially coming from the point of view of a goddess who is initially so removed from humanity and her emotions.

”Do a person's wishes matter?" Karna asked. "Or is it their actions on which they should be judged?"

Whilst there were a lot of names and the family intricacies become quickly confusing and easily muddled up, I was mostly able to follow along. It helped that the main players in this story are identified and revisited. I don’t think this is a criticism of Patel, as this merely reflects the sprawling complexity of the Mahabharata.

I admit to preferring Kaikeyi as the prose was more thoughtful and touching. However, I must applaud Patel on rewriting the Mahabharata to focus on forgotten characters to provide a unique and compelling narrative.

Thank you to Orbit for providing an arc in exchange for a review!

Bookstagramarc-15 s Akankshya112 16

I was intrigued by the premise of this book to feature River Ganga as the protagonist in a retelling of the Mahabharata. Anybody who has read the epic knows that she is featured prominently at the beginning, and then fades promptly into the background. While reading, I was a little irked at all the fantastical changes added to the story to bring her into prominence throughout - but, on reflection, this book was a good journey. A core part of Mahabharata is the complex morality of decisions and the problems that arise from them. Ganga's story was beautifully melded into the epic and tied to the characters' actions, while also exploring the divinity of the gods involved in the story.

I am always slightly uncomfortable when modern prose is added to retellings of old myths and epics, so I had to stomach some of that. Mahabharata is one of the first epics that I have read, and I will always have a soft spot for its retellings. As the retellings always do, the book ends with a discussion on dharma, righteousness, and fate. This is definitely one of those books that finishes strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC! Hope to read more from the author :)advanced-reader-copy12 s Aparna VermaAuthor 2 books954

Writing a retelling of the Mahabharata is difficult enough, writing one within 400 pages even more so, but Vaishnavi navigates her retelling with grace, curiosity, and, love. There is so much love — genuine, twisted, worn, forgiving — between Ganga and Bhishma that drives the story through the morally complex questions of the Mahabharata. I absolutely loved Ganga’s evolution in the story, and the parallels drawn between the opening chapter to the final page.

5/5 11 s Erin3,257 476

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book description- powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son

This book was un anything I've read this year. That alone guarantees it a place in my December wrap-up. I am unfamiliar with the original story( Mahabharata), so I cannot criticize what the author may or may not have revised, omitted, or kept the same. Although it took me a few chapters before I was comfortable enough with the abundance of characters and the rhythm of the story, I grew to love this story immensely. Ganga, as the main female protagonist, was a compelling voice in the story. Her chapters were my favourite.

That cover is a 10/10! Magnificent artwork.

One last note before I end this review. Please pay attention to the trigger warnings appearing at the novel's beginning before deciding to read.


Expected Publication Date 21/05/24
Goodreads Review 23/04/24

netgalley8 s aurora *?????15 227 Want to read

I NEED THIS NOW YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND AIUSDFGAOSIUDKFGA8IUSFGJASDIFYHAYFIUASDFGsldifgafyaoudf8 s Amanda at Bookish Brews338 237 Shelved as 'to-watch'

vaishnavi patel has this indescribable way of writing myths as both so very human and so much larger than life all at the same time, i can't wait to read this one8 s Robin487 177

"But did his intentions matter, when they did not stop calamity?"

Goddess of the River is nothing I have ever read before. The writing is masterful in how it truly mimics the characteristics of a river, meandering through time and between lives of the people it feeds. It ebbs in and out of the stories of a bevy of secondary characters. And though it is the story of a river, but it is also the story of the sacrifices and devotion of motherhood.

It explores the folly and consequence of remaining immovable in your vows, of not standing up for what is correct and moral in your inflexibility. It explores whether an act with selfless intentions may be rendered selfish by consequence.

I know very little of the originating text, but trusted Patel enough to allow her prose to sweep me away on this journey. This is a story full of trauma and heartache and violence. But it is also the story of people doing what they think is best, no matter how hard that decision may be.

If you your mythological fantasy to lean more into the philosophical, the epic, and the morally grey, I think that you will love The Goddess of the River as much as I did.

Thank you so much, ORBIT, for sending me a copy!!
arc asian-heritage-and-identity different-spin ...more14 s ash370 460

impressed yet again with Vaishnavi Patel!

i sometimes stay away from novels that depict deities and gods because authors can rarely capture the vastness and entirety of their beings but Patel has obviously put much thought and skill in writing Ganga. Patel deserves praise for this reimagining of Mahabharata and her interpretation and depiction of Ganga's relationship with her son Bhishma. their characters were pretty solid and the worldbuilding was great. i may have been confused with the many characters at first but i trusted the author to offer me the necessary information in due time, which Patel did. i am not familiar with the original myth but i still enjoyed the story and felt that the narrative and themes were cohesive. i d the themes on duty, justice, and responsibility and how the characters embody these. the plot can be a bit hard to follow at some point because it jumped several years back and forth but i got used to it eventually and even thought that the parallels drawn between past and present were clever and offered insight into the characters and the world they inhabit. the writing was truly remarkable because this story would not have worked with any other style.

so how faithful it is to the original, i cannot say, but i can say that this is a well-written novel. i'd recommend this to people who enjoy myth retellings and atmospheric novels. i look forward to Patel's future work! arcs7 s Kate124 3

Another hit by Vaishnavi Patel, bringing her own, feminist spin on Hindu mythos to us. Giving this one a 4.5 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

In the same vein as her first novel, Goddess of the River gives its female characters new life by empowering them to take agency of their own stories and actions. You watch the Ganga grow from your stereotypical scorned, bitter women to a very complex, worldly goddess that sees the shades of grey in the mortal world. This story is also told from the perspective of her son, and how, a river, they drift apart and come back together over the course of the son's lifetime.

The only reason this did not get a 5 out of 5 stars was because you jump backward and forward in the story's timeline from chapter to chapter (especially in the middle of the novel), and this meant I kept flipping back to the chapter start and previous chapters to fill in gaps. However, by the time I got to the end of the story, I recognized why the story was told this was, as certain plot points and character reveals were kept mysterious.

Overall a really interesting reach with rich descriptions. arc7 s Lilisa484 70

This is a retelling of the story of goddess Ganga and her son from the Indian epic - the Mahabharata. Ganga (the Ganges River), the river goddess is cursed and becomes a mortal until such time when she is released from her curse. She marries King Shantanu of Hastanipura and Devavrata (Bhishma) is their son, who takes an oath which unwittingly leads to the inevitable civil war between the Kauravas and Pandavas. This was an interesting, and at times, difficult to follow because of the number of characters and the timelines. If I wasn’t a bit familiar with the story of the Mahabharata, I think I would have been quite lost! I d the portrayal of the relationship between Ganga and her son. I thought the author did a nice job of presenting Bhimsa’s anguish and his conflicted mindset - keep his oath and know that he would be on the losing side of righteousness or break his oath and follow the path of righteousness. I enjoyed the author’s first book Kaikeyi a tad better. I that with her books the author is bringing stories from the Indian epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata - to readers around the world. Overall I gave this book a 3.5 rating rounded up to 4. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.2024 around-the-world-2024-lilisa fantasy ...more6 s1 comment Penelope64 1 follower

I am not sure I have ever been as excited to see an ARC arrive as I was when “Goddess of the River” made it to my door. I adored Patel’s first book “Kaikeyi” and was thrilled to see the same devotion to character and storytelling in this follow-up.

There is something magical in how Patel writes — a dream quality of language that perfectly marries the mythical stories she is re-shaping. 6 s meggy (readsinbloom)30 9

“Goddess of the River” is a story about humanity. A story about the oaths someone makes and the duty that they have to follow them. A story about what it means to be human. A story about mother and son.

Vaishnavi Patel did so many amazing things in this story. Her writing moved me, and was very insightful. I loved her characterization of Ganga, the goddess of the river who has become human. Some of my favorite parts of the story was in the beginning, when she is struggling with her newfound humanity. The middle of the story bogged down some for me. I think this book would have benefited with a glossary that could serve as a reminder for who some of the characters are. However, the story picked back up at the end. And I am in LOVE with the ending chapter of this book. Ganga as a character was so captivating. I loved her point of view, as a Goddess. This book tackled some tough decisions and it was intriguing to see the thought processes of the characters.

Overall, “Goddess of the River” was a read outside of my normal genres, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying myself while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and RedHook Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look out for “Goddess of the River” releasing May 21st, 2024!9 s1 comment Cáit42 21

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