Goddess of the River, Vaishnavi Patel
Goddess of the River, Vaishnavi Patel
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Goddess of the River

Author: Vaishnavi Patel

Narrator: Sneha Mathan

Unabridged: 11 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Redhook

Published: 05/21/2024


Synopsis

A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi.

A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.

Ganga, joyful goddess of the river, serves as caretaker to the mischievous godlings who roam her banks. But when their antics incur the wrath of a powerful sage, Ganga is cursed to become mortal, bound to her human form until she fulfills the obligations of the curse.

Though she knows nothing of mortal life, Ganga weds King Shantanu and becomes a queen, determined to regain her freedom no matter the cost. But in a cruel turn of fate, just as she is freed of her binding, she is forced to leave her infant son behind.

Her son, prince Devavrata, unwittingly carries the legacy of Ganga’s curse. And when he makes an oath that he will never claim his father’s throne, he sets in motion a chain of events that will end in a terrible and tragic war.

As the years unfold, Ganga and Devavrata are drawn together again and again, each confluence another step on a path that has been written in the stars, in this deeply moving and masterful tale of duty, destiny, and the unwavering bond between mother and son.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Evestar91 on January 09, 2025

Do you know how a river forms?... I came because they prayed for me, all those years ago, and I was young and naive. I heard their prayers when I was but a tributary of the cosmic ocean, deep and endless. ... I did not know then that when humans pray for nature, they pray for something to control. Go......more

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 sp......more

Goodreads review by Books_the_Magical_Fruit (Kerry) on January 24, 2025

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......more

Goodreads review by Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) on May 06, 2024

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 agai......more

Goodreads review by River on June 01, 2024

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-like flow of the story. Like tributaries, it branches off into the minds of other characters and explores many......more


Quotes

“A deeply raw and honest retelling, Goddess of the River bravely dives into the moral complications of war and responsibility, painting these larger-than-life characters as human, flawed and brilliant.” —Aparna Verma, author of The Phoenix King

“Like the best stories, this engaging portrait will move you to take another look at the things you think you already know.”—The New York Times on Kaikeyi

 “A powerful, feminist retelling of the epic...Patel resets the balance of power, creating an unforgettable heroine who understands that it isn’t necessarily kings or gods who change history.”—Washington Post on Kaikeyi

“[A] thoughtful, feminist reclaiming of one of the most despised queens of Indian mythology from the epic poem the Ramayana.”—Paste Magazine on Kaikeyi

"A powerful examination of a woman maligned by myth and men. Patel’s imagination takes a hammer to the image of a stonehearted villainess and reveals the woman within, whose choices sparked immortal legends. Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate, this is the story I’ve been yearning for all my life."—Roshani Chokshi, author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride on Kaikeyi

"Sneha Mathan gives a dramatic performance of this story about Ganga, the Hindu mythological goddess of the river. Mathan's resonant voice adds emotional depth to her portrayal of Ganga, who experiences mortality before she is transformed back into a goddess who is unable to shed her bonds with the human experience--or the mortal son she has been forced to leave behind."—Audiofile Earphone Award Winner