Bestselling poet, writer, and Instagram sensation Nikita Gill returns with an innovative novel in verse, exploring Hindu mythology and legend.
Let her be a little less human, a little more divine Give her heart armor so it doesn't break as easily as mine
Meet Paro. A girl with a strong will, a full heart, and much to learn. Born into a family reeling from the ruptures of Partition in India, we follow her as she crosses the precarious lines between childhood, teenage discovery, and realizing her adult self. In the process, Paro must confront fear, desire and the darkest parts of herself in the search for meaning and, ultimately, empowerment.
Nikita Gill's vivid poetry and beautiful illustrations have captured hearts and imaginations--but in The Girl and the Goddess, she offers us her most personal and deeply felt writing to date: an intimate coming-of-age story told in linked poems that offers a look into the Hindu mythology and rich cultural influences that helped her become the woman she is today.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Survival is ugly. Healing is messy. Self-love is complicated."
I find it difficult just to put into words how brilliant Nikita Gills writing is, and how beautiful and powerful this book was. I had to sit and reflect for a good while after finishing this book.
Although slightly different to her previous works, The Girl and the Goddess is a more chronological story about the life of Paro, a young bisexual woman from Kashmir, told through poetry, Hindu mythology, and some illustrations.
The rich threads of Hindu Mythology that weave themselves into this book, and Paro's identity as she learns to navigate the world is some of the best storytelling I have seen.
Some of this poems felt extremely person to Gill, and some hit home very hard. There is a real sadness in some poems, but this whole book is bursting with love. I think this book will stay with me forever.
