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Goddess of the River

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Goddess of the River

Written by: Vaishnavi Patel
Narrated by: Sneha Mathan
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About this listen

 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. Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction South Asian Creators Royalty Destiny

What the critics say

“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
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Another gorgeous retelling from Vishnavi Patel, GODESS OF THE RIVER is a tragic story of a goddess learning what it means to be a human and a mother, and the consequences of righteousness and pride.

Ganga a brilliant character. Lively and compassionate, she learns as a human but never loses her status and prowess as a powerful goddess. Her sons are steadfast, resilient, and flawed in their own right but still highly empathetic. As in Kaikeyi, the characters are written in a lyrical style that makes them feel like larger than life heroes, which I love for this sort of story.

Much of the plot takes place over the span of decades and is a little slower, though fair warning that it's pretty dark in some places. Certain sections are hard to read and while they may have been necessary for the story, I don't think I was quite prepared.

The writing itself is absolutely gorgeous and immersive. I loved all the tales told within it and seeing how things progressed to the grand finale. The gods felt truly magnificent and it reminded me of the mythology books I used to read when I was younger. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

Gorgeous and Tragic

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