"The Girl and the Goddess" is a poetic work by Nikita Gill that addresses topics such as identity, growth and maturity through the story of a girl named Paro and her process of self-discovery.
Gill's ability to fabricate a captivating and profound story from linked prose poems is exceptional. The story of Paro, born in a family that still bears the wounds of the Partition of India, is emotional and profound. As the story progresses, we see Paro confronting the fears and desires that accompany her during her growth and how she faces her own inner demons.

The Girl and the Goddess by Nikitha Gill is a beautiful and poignant collection of poetry that explores the journey of healing, self-discovery, and empowerment. The book is divided into three - childhood, teenage and womanhood, each representing a different stage in the narrator's life.

Gill's writing is stunningly lyrical and evocative, with vivid imagery that brings the reader deep into the narrator's world. The themes of femininity, identity, and resilience are woven throughout the collection, with each poem adding to the larger narrative of the narrator's growth and transformation.

One of the standout features of The Girl and the Goddess is the way that Gill seamlessly blends elements of mythology and folklore into the contemporary setting. This lends a sense of timelessness and universality to the poems, making them feel both ancient and modern at the same time. I personally feel very connected to the poems and it was very relatable- be it the way Indian households are described or the way the society or culture is brought to the pages. I am usually skeptical about free verse poems but I ended up loving this book because the verses were packed with power and meaning.

Overall, The Girl and the Goddess is a powerful and moving collection that will resonate with readers on a deep emotional level. Gill's writing is both understandable and profound, making this book a must-read for anyone who lovess poetry or is looking for a transformative and inspiring read.

I thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for giving me this wonderful opportunity. All opnions are my own.

This was a wondrous lyrical journey, and I will always hold it in my heart. Nikita Gill's skill sparks through the pages, and it kept my heart begging for more magic.

I fell in love with this book on the second page.
It's one of those books that will hug you and it makes you feel a certain way, even if you can't pinpoint why. I loved every second of reading this.

It follows the journey and life of Paro, which was heart wrenching and incredible. I loved it. I loved the magical realism. I loved the focus on Hindu mythology and how it's interwoven throughout. I loved hearing the stories and the Goddesses. I loved the cultural including of Pakistan / India, and what this means for everyday citizens living in Kashmir.
I loved how even though I look nothing like Paro, living drastically different lives, parts felt so familiar and comforting. I love how incredibly powerful this must be for so many people who do look like Paro, and see their own upbringing and family in this as a mirror image. How incredibly magical that must be.
I loved the book, the story, the little notes on what it means to be a big sister, feminism, finding yourself, being LGBTQ+, everything.

I didn’t really connect with the main character or the story in general and grew bored of the book at some point.
It just wasn’t for me.

The Girl and The Goddess is my first Nikita Gill, and is also the first time I'm reading prose written in the form of verse. This book would be an ideal gift for person in their mid-teens. I love how the stories from Hindu mythology were woven into the story of the protagonist. So many issues about being a woman were highlighted in a poignant and bittersweet way. I also loved how tarot and bisexuality was brought into the story. Finished this book in one sitting.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free poetry collection*

Nikita Gill's poetry collection is brilliantly weaving a coming of age narrative through poems together that deals with coming to terms with one's (bi)sexuality and one's heritage. Indian's past is explored and I also learned a lot.

Poems are well written, not all worked for me, but I admire how it all worked together!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, it was exactly what I was expecting and much more. I've never read anything by Gill before, so I went into this with a completely open mind. As I said, I really enjoyed it, however I can see why some people might not like it as much.

When a girl's story is recounted through her journey from Kashmir to London and strengthened by parallel depictions of how closely the humans and the mythological beings are tied through a thread of commonality that builds and proudly crowns this world with fierce feminism, you should be ready for the strong voice this novel-in-verse is bound to resonate with. Dipped in the pains of partition and immersed in the struggle of womanhood, yet showing feisty resilience and resistance against constant othering in the name of cultural virtues, while highlighting the trans and queer voices often overlooked, as well as an emotional push and pull between home and a better place or the plausibility of home being a better place — and the ultimate peace of belonging without adulteration. This piece of fiction is beautiful with its infusion of Hindu mythology, honest with the societal expectations, rightfully overwhelming with the painful history of partition, and gorgeous with the stunning illustrations — but overall, a fusion of prose and poetry for every girl and every goddess, and for those who believe the two are synonymous.

TW: incident of child sexual abuse.

Woah this book is amazing. I adore novels told through verse and Nikita Gill's is no exception, this novel is so empowering and fascinating at the same time.
The Girl and the Goddess is a journey through the main character, Paro's life as she learns different stories from Hindy mythology and legend and their relevance to her own life. Each story contains essential life lessons that can be relevant to everyone.
I knew a couple of the legends from my own learning but I loved revisiting these stories and discovering new ones told by the Gods and Goddesses themselves. Paro's character grows so much throughout this novel as she explores her friendships, relationships and sexuality.
I highly recommend this enchanting novel to anyone interested in mythology and legends. The Girl and the Goddess is a vivid and beautiful coming of age story.

I wanted to love this book, I really did, but something about the way Gill wrote this just rubbed me the wrong way. I am also Indian, and I am a Bengali. The myths she wrote on, are stories we grew up with, but maybe I'm just too jaded, because although I am a feminist, the aggressive undertone of all the writings really felt chaffing.

I am one of those people who believe that a woman should be respected because respect should be afforded to all living things, irrespective of their gender and sexuality, and not because I believe that womanhood is synonymous with godhood. Maybe this book is just not for me, which, I will agree with wholeheartedly, but I am also a woman, and rather than feeling empowered, I feel more numb the more I read this. It is not a hard book to read, per say, but the blandness of it permeates through and stains your vision, until you're compelled to put it down.

I felt for the Paro, in a way I would perhaps feel for a faceless name on the news, sympathetic, but at the same time I could've moved on and not remembered her or her story. I only wish that the writing was more compelling, because I could hardly blame the character for the way they're portrayed by the writer.

Nikita Gill is always an empowering poet to read and this book is no exception. I love how the drawings really enhance the content and add another layer of depth to the poet's words.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ebury Press for this ARC.

So before I wrote this review I checked my notes from reading it and at the end I've put 'just wow' so that might give you some insight as to the time of this review!

This book is written in prose and interspersed with Hindu mythology and illustrations. It follows the life of Paro; from before she was born, her childhood and up to her time at University.
It's hard to describe this book because I feel that it's something that you have to experience yourself but I will say that it's an empowering, feminist, queer, body celebratory, heritage embracing emotional rollercoaster.

The book deals with a lot of heavy subjects including racism, sexual assault, sexism, societal expectations (especially for Desi women) whilst also threading through visits from gender fluid Hindu deities who tell Paro (and the reader) a story that is relevant to whatever struggle she is going through at that time.
I LOVE Hindu mythology so I loved this part just as much if not more than that main story, as well as the absolutely fierce unapologetic and awe inspiring deities.

My heart absolutely ACHED for Paro, and especially life as a queer individual in India. Until reading this book I was unaware that Section 377 in India was only repealed in 2018!!!

'Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is a section of the Indian Penal Code introduced in 1861 during the British rule of India. Modelled on the Buggery Act of 1533, it makes sexual activities "against the order of nature" illegal.'

This book made me cry and ngl I'm getting emosh writing this review because it's all coming back to me. All I can say is Nikita I love you, I love this story and I will be recommending it to everyone.

CW: homophobia, biphobia, misogyny, sexism, racism, religious bigotry, sexual assault, rape, child abuse, paedophilia, violence, xenophobia, islamophobia, hate crime, genocide, violence, body shaming

Beautiful and revitalizing poetry that will make you realize why Gill is such a staple on Tumblr and their quotes is used in so many posts about love.
Couldn't put it down!

I didn’t realise this book was a novel in verse until quite far into the book. I enjoyed the story, learning about Paro, her childhood and experiences. I, however, struggled to connect with the characters and the plot, and felt like I was just drifting through the book with no connection to it. Saying that, the themes and some elements were stunning - weaving a story of childhood, sexuality and coming of age.

I also loved the pictures included and they added to my enjoyment and looked stunning even on my Kindle. 

Overall, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I normally do with Nikita Gill’s writing, but it was a fresh way of writing a novel, and I still loved it.

This book was as beautiful as I thought it would be. The fact it was a novel in verse surprised me, but I loved that it did! It was so rich, thoughtful and awakened me, but at the same time deals with some dark topics perfectly.
I loved this author before I read this, but I have a much deeper love and appreciation for her now.
An easy five stars, and a book I’m so excited to have read, and then bought.

This was the book I really needed to read. And Nikita Gill.never disappoints.
Her poems and stories are so beautiful and well crafted.
I just was in tears most of the time.
Please do read this book.

A delicate, bold, powerful masterpiece.

Nikita Gill has been one of my favorite poets for a long time now, but with this book, I'm pretty sure she up the game - not only hers but for the entire genre. This showcases her craft the best way possible, it really is a masterpiece. The way she tells the tale of Paro through hurtful, intense, and lovely reveries keeps the reader at the edge of his seat.

I legit couldn't put this book down until I've finished it. This is amazing.

Got lucky enough to have this masterpiece in the middle of a festival of goddesses!

This was my first Gill, and I’m thoroughly impressed.

More than poetry, it was more like a verse novel. You follow Paro, a Kashmiri girl, from her childhood to womanhood who is taught the ways of life by gods and goddesses themselves.

The book deals with several dark topics, all too real and relatable. Paro, like a true goddess, fights every monstrosity that society throws at her- war and separation from loved ones, misogyny, sexism, patriarchy, bigotry, body shaming, child abuse, sexual assaults, homophobia.

I’ve never read quite something like this before and I’m still a bit stunned, actually. The world is sinister and full of asuras, yet when you need it most & least expect it, a goddess comes, she takes you by hand and leads you out of the poisonous fog that blurs your vision all while she recounts a story-her story.

I’m absolutely in awe at the way Author has woven Indian mythology’s most popular and celebrated legends of our gods & goddesses like Durga, Draupadi, Shashti, Lakshmi, Kali, Sita, Ganesh, with a mortal’s constant endeavors as they try to make sense of themselves and this unforgiving world.

It also becomes quite unnerving as you hear the same tales from a goddess’s perspectives-a woman’s perspective-a perspective we tend to often erase to suit our own palette.

My personal favorite parts were “How to leave a paradise”, “The Sailor” and every story those god and goddess told, especially Shikhandi’s.

I can’t help but love Nikita for (not at all subtly) pointing out the deep-rooted, often glossed over connection between Indian mythology with homosexuality. I’d just had a huge discussion/debate on this two weeks ago with my cousin and grandmother- with a goal is to-one homophobic less at a time.

I wish this book was in my regional language, so I could make every woman in my family read it.

PS. Those stunning illustrations!💖

Thanks to NetGalley and Ebury Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so beautiful and unique. I loved that it was written in verse and only the god's stories were actually written in novel style. It took me a while to realise that this book was more autobiografic than an actual story. And still, all of this made me love this book even more. It is such a strong and important book and very informative about Hindu religion (at least it was for me, because so far I mad heard of only two of these gods and godesses mentioned in here). I can't believe how magical and beautiful this book was - despite it digging into some very serious topics.
I love how empowering this book was, especially on feminism. And I was very happy to know there actually is a trans sexual god in the Hindu religion. How body positive this book. It's perspective on bisexuality.
There was literally nothing I did not love about this book and I have nothing but respect for that author. I am looking forward to read more by her!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley, but I don't think I can do this book credit. It was an amazing magical experience and I can't wait to read it over and over again.