Circe goes YA in this unapologetically feminist retelling of the Medusa myth steeped in Indian mythology, a YA epic fantasy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.
All monsters and heroes have beginnings. This is mine.
Sixteen-year-old Manisha is no stranger to monsters—she’s been running from them for years, from beasts who roam the jungle to the King’s army, who forced her people, the naga, to scatter to the ends of the earth. You might think that the kingdom’s famed holy temples atop the floating mountains, where Manisha is now a priestess, would be safe—but you would be wrong.
Seventeen-year-old Pratyush is a famed slayer of monsters, one of the King’s most prized warriors and a frequent visitor to the floating temples. For every monster the slayer kills, years are added to his life. You might think such a powerful warrior could do whatever he wants, but true power lies with the King. Tired after years of fighting, Pratyush wants nothing more than a peaceful, respectable life.
When Pratyush and Manisha meet, each sees in the other the possibility to chart a new path. Unfortunately, the kingdom’s powerful have other plans. A temple visitor sexually assaults Manisha and pushes her off the mountain into a pit of vipers. A month later, the King sends Pratyush off to kill one last monster (a powerful nagin who has been turning men to stone) before he’ll consider granting his freedom.
Except Manisha doesn’t die, despite the hundreds of snake bites covering her body and the venom running through her veins. She rises from the pit more powerful than ever before, with heightened senses, armor-like skin, and blood that can turn people to stone. And Pratyush doesn’t know it, but the “monster” he’s been sent to kill is none other than the girl he wants to marry.
Alternating between Manisha’s and Pratyush’s perspectives, Sajni Patel weaves together lush language, high stakes, and page-turning suspense, demanding an answer to the question “What does it truly mean to be a monster?”
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/133206531-a-drop-of-venom
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My Review: 4/5 Stars
A Drop of Venom is a nice blend of Greek and Indian Mythology. Manisha brings to life a whole new version of a Medusa retelling. Hitting tough subjects and even tougher scenes, the author handles it very well. The story follows Manisha and Pratyush. When she is young, her family and kind, the nagin, are in a war that is resulting in so much death. When a battle is done, her mom and sisters send Manisha to hide among the enemy until it is time to return home. For years she serves as a priestess. Until the day, she is sexually assaulted and left for dead. Instead, she rises and embraces a new part of her. One that will do whatever it takes to protect herself and other women in this man ruled world. Pratyush was born a slayer. And when his parents die at the hands of the monster, the king sweeps him for Prayush and his sister. Knowing what he is. He is trained to hone in his natural talents and fight monsters for the king. But he never forgets where he came from or why his parents hid away to begin with. And when he meets Manisha, he finally has a reason to stop and settle down. If only the king would let him. And when he is sent to kill the monster turning men to stone? He is not ready for what he finds. I really loved the blend of the mythologies in this story. I thought that was really well done. And I love Manisha finding her strength after facing such trauma. Despite the horror and struggles, she chooses to take another step forward every day. This is just the beginning of what I expect to be three books and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
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