Kaikeyi is a brilliant tale about motherhood, sisterhood, and what it truly means to be a woman. Kaikeyi follows a woman (Kaikeyi) famous for her controversial role in the famous Hindu epic, Ramayana. This book follows Kaikeyi from her childhood and throughout her adulthood, as she struggles with finding her purpose, royalty & being queen, and most importantly, fighting for her place as a woman in a world full of men.

I think this book brought an amazing and insightful perspective into who Kaikeyi really is. In Ramayana, she is hated by most characters and readers alike. She is only mentioned in Ramayana in her relation to Rama, but women are so much more than our connections to men. We are real, flawed, nuanced people and Kaikeyi proves this throughout her journey.

Overall, this book is absolutely beautiful. Important stories like Kaikeyi's deserve exceptional writing and Vaishnavi Patel has done nothing less of that. She gives Kaikeyi a voice, and in doing so, she opens up a space for women of color to connect with, empathize with, and feel inspired by Kaikeyi. I'm overwhelmed with the emotional connection I have to this book and it's hard to put it into words but I will say this- it is simply breathtaking. Thank you so much to Vaishnavi Patel & her publishing house for the ARC! I am so excited for this book to release tomorrow and so excited for readers to fall in love with Kaikeyi & story as I did.

This was such a fresh, lyrical retelling of the Ramayana. Kaikeyi is routinely vilified and it was so refreshing to see her story be told in such a beautiful way. Fans of myth retellings will absolutely love this!

I remember reading about the Ramayana a lot as a kid and this definitely piqued my interest and Vaishnavi makes the story feel fresh once more with her retelling and from Kaikeyi's POV! I liked how she was written and definitely the voice is a strong point here. I'm hoping we see more of Vaishnavi's books in the future!

What a super interesting retelling of the story of Kaikeyi, told from a feminist stance. I really liked the exploration of Kaikeyi as a complicated character and trying to make the best of some tough circumstances. The asexual element was great too, adding another element of diversity to the storyline.

I think I am a bit of an unpopular opinion here, so please take this review with a grain of salt.

I loved the concept approach to retelling the story of Kaikeyi with feminist perspective. I think Patel did a fantastic job of recasting Kaikeyi as a complex and nuanced woman just trying to do the best she can with the circumstances she was given. I also adored the asexual representation, which added a layer of queerness to this already modern and diverse storytelling.

That said, I wasn't blown away by the writing style! I found this story to be heavily focused on the "telling" instead of the showing. Some of the key character decisions didn't really make sense to me... and I never really fell in love with Kaikeyi and was uncomfortable with the extent of her manipulations. I also felt some of the complexities between humankind and the gods to be unnecessarily convoluted... although that may be due to my unfamiliarity with the folklore. Overall, I think this reads like a debut novel but I genuinely look forward to Patel's future work as she grows.

I've always loved mythology ever since I was little (one of my favorite gifts I received for my birthday was a book on Greek mythology), but like many, I've neglected learning more about mythologies outside of a Eurocentric view. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I'm so excited to say I think it will be one of my top books of 2022, as well!

Kaikeyi is the oldest daughter, a yuvradnyi (crown princess) to her twin brother's yuvraja (heir apparent), of the raja of Kekeya, and a mother who has been banished, forgotten as easily as if she was a mere servant. Life among seven brothers and a father who sees her as nothing more than bait for a political marriage, is both privileged and hopeless. She wants to be just as good a warrior, just as good a politician and student, as her many brothers. With the loss of her mother, she is plunged into despair and turns to her beloved scrolls for advice. There, she discovers a secret, a place that she can enter into with meditation, a place where she can see all the many tethers that make up the relationships around her. With practice, she will be able to manipulate those tethers, to stroke them into calmness, or suggest someone confess to her a secret.

Years later, Kaikeyi is bargained away as a third wife to the raja Dasharath, who desires nothing more than an heir--but it is in a bargain of her own making. In exchange for her hand, she asks that should she produce a son, he will be made the sole heir to the kingdom, no matter if his other wives eventually have sons as well. He accepts, before her father and twin and their entire court.

At her new home, Kaikeyi cultivates relationships with servants, courtiers, and her fellow radnyi. But still she does not have a son. Desperate, Dasharath calls on the gods for help, and they answer, offering magical kheer for the wives to drink in order to produce heirs. Little do they know that the gods have set into motion a plan that will bring bloodshed and betrayal in its wake.

But Kaikeyi has one last trick up her sleeve. When her marriage to Dasharath was still young, she saved his life in battle. In payment he granted her two boons, oaths to the gods that whatever she wanted he must grant. Now, Kaikeyi can choose to use these boons to save her kingdom and her family, but at the cost of being forevermore a villain in her own tale.

Based on the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana (which is one of the largest epic poems in the history of the world), Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel explores a much-maligned character, that of the stepmother to the hero of the story, Rama. He is an avatar of the god Vishnu and is an incredibly important character in Hindusim. While in the epic Kaikeyi is somewhat given the excuse of being swayed by her maid, the humpbacked and conniving Manthara, in this version, she makes choices of her own free will, for better or worse. She is full of strength and doubts, goodness when she is afraid she is nothing but wicked and forsaken by her gods. Kaikeyi is truly a character that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Full of fascinating deities, magic and heartbreak, Patel has breathed new life into a character who before existed little beyond her betrayal and her womanhood. Perfect for fans of Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and Circe by Madeline Miller--welcome Kaikeyi into your collection of favorite mythology villainesses!

I'm a bit embarrased to say I've never explored mythology retellings outside of Greek ones but I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up. I'm not a fan of mythology in general, not to say I don't enjoy it once in a while, because I'm not informed enough on it but kaikeyi's story drew me in from the first pages. There was really not a moment where I found it dull, dragged on or confusing so it was definitely entrataining for me. The depiction of mysoginy was really well done too, as well as all other topics it discussed. It made me smile, cry, and question my own beliefs on things so I would totally recommend it for anyone interested by the premise!

KAIKEYI is a retelling of the Indian epic the Ramayana from the perspective of the maligned Kaikeyi. Prior to KAIKEYI, the retellings I read were inspired by Western lore, so I more or less had an idea of what to expect. I decided I didn't want to have any idea of what might happen, so I dove into this book without any knowledge of this epic to avoid any preconceptions. After I finished KAIKEYI, I looked up the Ramayana and summaries of it and the characters. I feel I made the right choice (for myself) to read the book first because the main events are generally the same. (As opposed to some retellings which rewrite a lot of the original story.) I thought I'd mention my personal approach to reading KAIKEYI in case you might be in a similar situation regarding knowledge of the epic.

That said, KAIKEYI is a tale that interweaves feminism, fate, faith, and familial love. My favorite theme by far in this retelling is the feminism Kaikeyi strives to cultivate as Radnyi in the kingdom of Kosala. The author does a fantastic job showing the reader the injustices women face and how tactfully Kaikeyi reacts to improve their lives. Patel shows us that misogyny can be so ingrained in a culture that even loved ones are blind to their own prejudice. Thus, Kaikeyi uses her own experienced injustices as motivation to slowly reshape society's opinions of women, one council meeting at a time.

Fate and faith play off of each other--can there be one without the other? The gods appear to have abandoned Kaikeyi, yet she does not fully forsake them. Only as an adult does she cryptically learn why the gods won't speak to her. Though she cannot fully ignore that the gods know her fate, Kaikeyi chooses to focus more on the world in front of her; that is, what she can control and who she can help. Patel also explores how unequivocal acceptance of a religious authority's views can lead to the inability to examine things for oneself, resulting in inflexible thought and stagnation. Faith doesn't mean blind acceptance of teachings from generations with values that may no longer align with modern society's burgeoning awareness of equality and equity. One can remain faithful and respectful of the gods without relegating a group of people to endure a lifetime of prejudice. As an aside, it is interesting that free thought is important in religion given that Kaikeyi can use her magic to influence others. It begs the philosophical question of whether or not this is acceptable since she uses her abilities to affect good change rather than subverting those around her.

Familial love plays a large role in KAIKEYI in so many important, nuanced ways. Kaikeyi is one of three wives to the Raja of Kosala who choose to respect rather than compete with each other. Through their mutual admiration, we see how women lifting other women up benefits literally everyone, however directly or indirectly. Parental love also plays an important role showing that love or lack thereof can harbor confidence or hurt. However, it is not a cure all and Patel shows that corruption of the mind can sometimes trump familial connection. Another important takeaway is that familial love doesn't have to take precedence over self worth. We see this play out between Kaikeyi and her twin brother, Yudhajit; they love each other dearly, but ingrained prejudices asborbed by her brother result in trying moments.

KAIKEYI is a very character-driven story in which Kaikeyi grows more confident in herself and her abilities and works to implement equitable change. Thus, the world-building and magic as a whole aren't as prominent, though the Patel takes care to describe Kaikeyi's surroundings. I personally felt the pacing was a bit slow, with the crux of the story occuring near the end, which affected my rating. Objectively, I suppose this fits the overall style of the story which feels much like an abridged epic. However, I really enjoyed the themes present within KAIKEYI and feel they remain pertinent today. I also enjoyed reading about Kaikeyi's journey and what guided her choices to result in many viewing her with scorn.

[Review will be up on my blog on April 25, 2022 at www.aliteraryescape.com]

I had super high hopes for this book and i am beyond glad i read it. I got so attached to the characters and the story sucked me in. I couldn't stop reading!!!

Patel's choice to empower a maligned character from a famous epic came at the right time for me.

With not just a feminist lens, but also one that strips away the patina of gender roles and expectations, she takes us through Kaikeyi's determination to be active in choosing her own path, in not buckling to the patriarchal ties that would have her just be a wife and mother: being seen but not heard, being taught but not consulted.

At every stage in Kaikeyi's life, we are aware of the societal expectations and barriers that hinder her from exploring what she is interested in and capable of learning. We also see the ways in which she chooses to subvert and challenge them.

Patel has done a phenomenal job in how she has told this story. The way she has layered the growth of her main character is exceptional and just develops from strength to strength, while examining human fallibility, desire and the lack thereof, duty, friendship, belonging, service, and selfishness.

The inclusion of the beliefs and the presence of the gods and their enemies, and how they exist in the teachings and the ways of life of the people is another well done aspect that makes the world-building bloom.

This is brilliantly written, with a dedication to detail and character development that is sometimes sacrificed in the face of plot.

This novel explores the epic Ramayana from the perspective of Ayodhya's infamous queen, Kaikeyi. Born in the kingdom Kekaya as a princess meant for a great marriage alliance, Kaikeyi soon realizes that the gods do not answer her call like they do for her father and brothers. As she fights for power as a third wife to a childless king, Kaikeyi soon realizes that the gods have plans for her destiny. Years later, when threats face her kingdom from outside and within, she must make a decision that will seal not only her fate but that of those she loves.

As someone who grew up reading the Ramayana, I was intrigued by the idea of a retelling from Kaikeyi's perspective. I appreciate that Patel makes it clear that this is meant to be a work of fiction, and not a faithful retelling of the original story. With that in mind, I really enjoyed reading about the roles of women in ancient Indian society. I think their lives are often relegated to the background, and reading about how they maneuvered in a world where they were born with very little power was so interesting. Kaikeyi was such an inspiring character, and I loved her relationships with other women, like Kaushalya and Sita. Their support and understanding for each other, as well as their moments of vulnerability throughout the novel, were really impactful. The ending of this novel was heartbreaking. but it made so much sense in the context of the story and I think it was well done.

I highly recommend this novel for all fiction readers who want to explore new ideas and perspectives! Thank you so much to Redhook Books and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I love how the literary world has collectively decided that misogyny in mythology.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC I enjoyed reading this book and looking to more exciting stories from this author.

I had a feeling i would love this and happy to annouce kaikeyi surpassed my expectations. i'm in love with her character. Vaishnavi Patel is incredible. This book is incredible. I need to formulate my thoughts better but know that I loved every second of this. Love to see hindu rep in fantasy FINALLY

I received Kaikeyi as an ARC from NetGalley. And I want to call out Vaishnavi Patel from the start to say thank you for writing this powerful book. It wrecked me! (In a good way.)

Kaikeyi drew me in from the first page. I'm not even sure how, but it worked. Maybe I was vested in Kaikeyi because she had so many brothers (I have so many sons and relate). But I think her appeal is more universal than one element—she feels like she doesn't have power or control over her life (and she doesn't) and she still tries to work toward her goals. We all feel misunderstood and at odds with those we love at different times in our lives. (*Cough*—possibly even yesterday.)

Also there are a ton of cool factors in this book. The concept of the gods blessing and cursing or ignoring mortals was fascinating. The dynamics of the gods' influence made me gape several times. And the way the women worked together! Oh, wow—I loved it! Such a different perspective. (See me trying not to spoil it for you?)

I wasn't sure about how Kaikeyi gave us a "spoiler" of what was coming the first time. Did it work or didn't it? But as the story kept spinning, and she'd give another key "spoiler", they increased my dread. And dread I did! Hats off to you Patel for making it work in such a brilliant way.

So, yes, I was crying for Kaikeyi. That woman! Do I recommend this book? Wholeheartedly! It's going on my list of all-time favorites.

I was not familiar with the Ramayana—so don't let that hold you back. Patel has included everything you need to know to enjoy this book.

Please go out and get Kaikeyi! Read it, adore it, and talk about it.

ps- Isn't the cover gorgeous?

Rating: 2.5
I really liked the beginning, the concept of the Binding Plane and the relationship between Kaikeyi and her twin brother. But the story itself got boring fast and the writing made it feel detached and unemotional.

DNF @ 20%

Unfortunately I'm just not connecting with this book. With direct retellings that stick pretty close to the source material, I always know to expect a slower paced, character driven story. With these types of books, I really look for the characters and the prose to stand out. but that wasn't the case for me.

For a retelling that aims to rework the characterization of a "vilified queen" (I am not familiar with the Ramayana so my assumptions are based off the synopsis and marketing for the book), it did not succeed in garnering much sympathy from me. Kaikeyi makes brash decisions without consideration for the people around her, and even though she starts off the book as a child, she suffers the consequences of her actions yet doesn't learn from them. She gains access to a power called the Binding Plane, which allows her to influence people telepathically. Instead of using this power for good, she continuously manipulates the people closest to her and burns all her bridges. In her anger and frustration at being forced into patriarchal standards, she retaliates against the women in her life that support her.

Kaikeyi's character is, hands down, my favorite element of Kaikeyi. As a side character in the Ramayana, she is given her voice. What is her true story? Because we all know that the women who seek changes in society, to upset the power of men, are always villains in history. Her story is one of sacrifice and fighting against sexism. Driven by family, Kaikeyi consistently rises to the challenges, to fight for what matters, and try to do what's right.

I found myself being moved by the decisions she has to make. Her capacity to love, to learn, and to fight. Her rise to power and passion for women's rights. Kaikeyi's character development had to be my favorite element. It's about how we have to question what's around us, to find agency in our own ways and on our own terms. However as a whole, Kaikeyi asks readers about our place in the world. Are our actions truly our own or are we walking on a path obscured from us?

It's been a very long time since I've had to read or learn anything about the Ramayana, so I was excited to read Kaikeyi, pitched as a feminist retelling in the vein of the popular Circe. Of the two, I found Circe to be more moody and atmospheric and Kaikeyi to be more engaging and slightly faster-paced (which, if you've read Circe, isn't saying much on the pacing but it's steady here; I was legitimately upset to put the book down in the last >10% to get some sleep). I can't debate the intent or content, what Patel has chosen to alter or expand–I don't have that level of knowledge on the source material. I did enjoy the book very much and even when I knew what was coming truly felt for Kaikeyi.

What an absolutely stunning, heartbreaking, and triumphant debut!

In Kaikeyi, we get a feminist reimagining of the Ramayana, but instead of focusing on the character of Rama, we get the life story of his stepmother: the vilified third queen of Raja Dasharath, Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was born as the only daughter amongst seven sons, and she was never afforded the same rights and privileges as they were; she was seen as lesser in every way. But Kaikeyi was not ready to accept that fate for herself or for the other women in her country. She learns a skill that will allow her to make changes from within the patriarchal power structure, and when she is married off she does everything in her power to protect her people and improve their lots in life. But when a sinister force makes itself known, Kaikey must decide whether she wants to save herself or thrust into jeopardy everything that she's managed to painstakingly build.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. This book was compared to Circe in its advertising, and while I do see the similarities, I think Kaikeyi is a bit of a richer narrative overall. Kaikeyi's plot had a lot of depth and complexity of feeling, and it was only enhanced by the culture of the story. Patel's descriptions were lush but not overpowering, and I felt like I could really see what she was describing. The cast of characters was large, but every single one was distinct and fully developed. I also really liked the inclusion of court politics.

The shining light of this series was the character of Kaikeyi herself. We see her go from an ignored child to a powerful woman and ruler in her own right, and while her journey was heartbreaking at times, it was inspirational. Kaikeyi managed to make real strides in a male-dominated society despite being ignored by the gods that seemed to listen to everyone but her. She made her own way, and even though she could have stopped at amassing power for herself, she made sure to pay it forward. Throughout the book, we see her shoulder massive burdens, and she often blames herself for the failures and shortcomings of others. I'm very happy that we got to witness her work through those tendencies, no matter the cost. It takes a certain kind of person to push forward when everything around them wants to hold them back, and Kaikeyi was that kind of character. It was refreshing to see.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I fully plan on getting my own physical copy as soon as I can, so I can experience again the new classic that is Kaikeyi.

Kaikeyi is a mythology stemming from India and was utterly new and unheard of by me. It was a little bit of a slow start as I learned all the names of those we would be hearing of throughout the story, but once I had settled in, it was hard to stop reading.

I’ve read mostly Greek mythology so this was a wonderful change of pace. All of the characters and their dynamics with one another were interesting and many times I found myself unwilling to stop reading as their journeys unfolded.

Kaikeyi has officially become my favorite mythological female!

4.5!
- I will post to Instagram and goodreads soon.