All heroes, monsters, and villains have beginnings. This is mine.
Seventeen-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.
Eighteen-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 mean to be a monster?”
Praise for A Drop of Venom
“Frequent moments of gore, misogyny, vengeance, and violence are juxtaposed by the star-crossed leads’ sweetly awkward dynamic and set against a mythic backdrop of dark magic and deadly monsters rendered via anachronistic third-person prose, making for a story that, while not easy to witness, is urgent and vital.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This thrilling, well-paced fantasy, with rich worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance, powerfully reclaims Medusa as a symbol of feminist rage. A gripping, magical tale of sisterhood and strength.” –Kirkus, starred review
“Patel conveys devastatingly the complexities of grieving and the healing process as Manisha struggles with self-blame. Through friendship, she learns that the fault of sexual assault lies with the perpetrators and how to stand up for victims. Moreover, the worldbuilding is executed fantastically. VERDICT This will appeal to fans of mythology. The book is equal parts perfect character development and page-turning plot; it would be an excellent addition to high school libraries and public libraries alike.” –School Library Journal, starred review
“With a powerful message that is as mesmerizing as its mythical monsters, A Drop of Venom is storytelling at its finest; tackling tough issues with both frankness and compassion.” –Farrah Rochon, New York Times Bestselling Author of Almost There: A Twisted Tale
“A vivid tale of myths and legends, Sajni Patel’s A DROP OF VENOM is a story of tragedy and retribution, and I drank it down.” –Kendare Blake #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns
“A Drop of Venom is visceral, unflinching, and completely captivating. In blending Indian mythology with the tale of Medusa, Sajni Patel has created something powerful, furious, and truly magical. I couldn’t look away.” –Sarah Underwood, New York Times best-selling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea
