Goddess of the River

“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

"In her retelling of the Mahabharata, Patel has once again narrowed her version of a famous epic onto one compelling, female protagonist. Fans of the original as well as fans of mythological fantasy and retellings will enjoy Ganga’s fierce independence and well-told journey as well as the twists and turns that spell out Bhishma’s destiny in this complex story."—Booklist

"Patel distills the mythic fall of the Kaurava family into a deeply personal and painfully human tragedy...beautifully crafted."—BookPage

“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

"Mythic retelling at its best: entrancing, troubling, and complicated. Kaikeyi is marvelous."—R. F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel on Kaikeyi

"A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity’s most foundational stories."—Shannon Chakraborty, national bestselling author of The City of Brass 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