We chat with author Kritika H. Rao about The Rise of the Celestials, which is a stunning tale of love, seduction, and betrayal in this enchanting and romantic conclusion to the Divine Dancers duology that started with The Legend of Meneka.
Hi, Kritika! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for the release of The Legend of Meneka?
I’ve been mostly good! It was really wonderful to see The Legend of Meneka out in the world, though 2025 was a pretty topsy-turvy year for me personally, and I’m still reeling from it. I’m excited about finishing another series—and I think this new book might be my favorite of the ones I’ve written.
The Rise of the Celestials is the second installment in your Divine Dancers duology and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Epic, romantic, magical, questioning, and satisfying.
For those who haven’t picked up The Legend of Meneka, what can readers expect?
Readers can expect a romantic fantasy that takes them to a mythological landscape thousands of years ago to a culture that was full of magic, eroticism, and spirituality. I think that combination is one of my favorite things about The Legend of Meneka—how contemporary it feels along with its dilemmas and emotions, and yet steeped in ancient mythology.
And for those who have, what’s to come in The Rise of the Celestials?
Meneka and Kaushika really discover the depth of their relationship, and all the things that still separate or unite them! Now that the first blush of love has happened, they start off their relationship seeing each other for who they are, but that doesn’t mean they know everything about each other; quite the contrary. Now they know how much they don’t know about each other, but they’re still in it, willing to make it work, and I think that’s really exciting. In the process of discovering Kaushika, Meneka discovers parts of herself too—and all the places and people she needs to be loyal to. She still wants to protect her City, but she knows Kaushika has designs against it; she still wants to be loyal to the gods and goddesses, but she can’t trust them anymore; she wants to be free, but she realizes that comes at a cost. It makes for a delicious quandary, which ends in a very satisfying HEA.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
I loved writing Queen Shachi. Goddess of heaven, married to Indra, mighty and terrifying and majestic in her own right. Shachi is like quicksilver and storm. In Hindu mythology, you rarely hear of her—just like Meneka; in fact, she is known more by her alternate name of “Indrani” i.e. Indra’s wife than she is known by her own name. So much of her conflict and anger comes from this very situation—she, who was once worshipped for her beauty, grace, and power, is forgotten in mythology. In this story, she claims her power back, and Meneka is her vehicle for it. I loved letting the Queen take center-stage in the book.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel? How did you overcome them?
Frankly, this book has been the easiest and most fun/joyous book I’ve ever written. It seemed almost to write itself, and each time I returned to it, I was filled with great relief. There are some books that just come fully formed to you, and when you type out the words, it feels like they’ve just been waiting. Celestials was like that, and because of it, this book will always have a special place in my heart. I have nothing but positive memories of writing it, and I think that’s a rare situation.
This is your fifth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned since your debut?
Oh boy, I’m not even sure where to begin. Key lessons hmm..I guess if I had to pick some for newer authors, they’d be:
- This is a brutal, fickle industry, and literally nothing can prepare you for it. So guarding your mental, emotional, and creative peace is paramount. Boundaries are key.
- If there is no joy in the writing, then this will be one of the hardest things you’ll do. So find ways to keep that spark because if it dies, then it can be incredibly hard to resurrect it.
- Don’t listen to the haters. Not every book is for everyone, and that’s okay, and probably a good thing. Create an image of who you are writing for (even if that’s some version of yourself), and remind yourself of that if/when you encounter doubt in your journey.
What’s next for you?
In 2027, I’ve got a Rages Universe short story collection coming out, which is cool. I’m also working on another project, which I’m giddily excited about, which will likely be out 2028-2029. I can’t speak about that too much yet, but once all the paperwork is done, you’ll hear me shout about it.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I’ve been re-reading my Murderbot, and I absolutely can’t wait for the next one coming out. The Rainshadow Orphans has a really sweet premise, and I’m intrigued by that one too. The Poet Empress by Shen Tao, and Entwined by H.M. Long are both books I’ve read, which came out this year, but they’re so good, I’ll likely do a re-read soon. It’s a good year for books, tbh.
