I’m so glad to have read something from another culture’s mythology. The writing was expelled, though it did take me a bit to into it. I can see that it’s a debuts, but I’m so excited to see how this author continues to write and grow. I’ve seen a few criticisms about how it’s not story accurate and can be a hateful portrayal, but I don’t know enough to comment on that aspect. I’ve seen a lot of people fall in love and I’m one of them. This makes me want to go and learn more of the mythology of this culture.

I liked it! It was imaginative, immersive, and entertaining. The characters were complex and nuanced which really added to the overall rich, immersive feeling of this story.

Unfortunately, this book was primarily a disappointment. I really wanted to love it, and it had SO much going for it:

1) Kaikeyi is a beautifully complex character who is traditionally considered the woman who made sure Rama fulfilled his purpose on earth. Yet, frequently, as the tale of the Ramayana is shortened for easy consumption, her character like many is flattened - and in her case flattened into a cookie cutter selfish villain. I'm dying to see a detailed representation of her roots and motivations. (In fact, I'm not even sure we know her name, since the word Kaikeyi is just a derivative from her kingdom of Kekaya meaning daughter of Kekaya.)

2) Vaishnavi is a wonderful writer, keeping a beautiful balance between description and dialogue, between poetry and prose. She holds the reader's attention captive.

3) The magical system Vaishnavi added to the plot was beautifully thought out.

Yet, unfortunately this is where the positives of this book end. Vaishnavi sets out to make a feminist retelling of the Ramayana. Yet her plot construction is weak and she falls for two major issues:

1) Poor research. While Patel clearly did significant research into certain areas of her plot, she fails to acknowledge any of the existing feminist aspects of the characters, or any of the power they possess in the original narrative. In fact, she plainly takes away the existing power and equality in the narrative, just to give back a few bits of it and claim a feminist retelling. A few such points:
- Ahalya who Patel uses as her example of someone treated terribly, in traditional Hindu literature is actually a lesson to the population that sexual assault and rape should not remotely affect the reputation of a woman - Ahalya is considered one of the sapta pativratas the seven purest women in the history of Hindu literature.
- Women in Hindu literature were encouraged to learn how to fight. Kaikeyi is an example, yes, but at various points Sita (also from the Ramayana), Satyabhama (from the Mahabharata), Uloopi (from the Mahabharata) etc are all shown to be well versed in wielding of weapons on a war ground. Patel's decision of remove these skills from women, only to give them back to Kaikeyi in some mistaken portrayal of feminism, is simply an act of taking power away from women.
- Kaikeyi is shown as the only one among her siblings to study the softer arts. While this may be true in Kekaya (I wouldn't know), Hindu itihaasas have long shown that any great man should know all 64 kalas (arts) including even arts that we consider feminine today such as hairstyling, makeup etc. Rama, Krishna, Arjuna etc are all shown to be experts in all 64 arts. To take these softer aspects away from men is also a blow to feminism.

2) Lazy writing: She takes the easy way out, reversing the good for bad in an attempt to redeem a character traditionally considered a villain. Hurting good people, and breaking moral codes makes people villains, the beauty of a retelling comes from explaining the characters actions and drawing out sympathy. Maleficent the movie, was a great villain retelling. Patel bypasses the hard work by just changing the rules. Did Kaikeyi hurt good people? Let's fix it. Those people are now bad. Did Kaikeyi break moral codes? Those codes were evil, designed to put her down by evil gods who hate women and commonfolk. She villainizes Rama, and turns Ravana into a sweet, well-meaning friend who was loyal to his wife (Ravana in canon had multiple wives and raped many women).

Ultimately, while I'm sure Vaishnavi Patel's retelling will appeal to those who have never read the Ramayana. Those who have, will likely be turned off and disappointed by her shortcuts. A disappointment made ten times worse by the fact that as a writer, this young woman has genuine talent. I only wish her storytelling could keep up with it.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC.

CONTENT WARNING: violence, misogyny, death, grief

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

I have to admit, I don’t know much about Indian mythology, but this was a great introduction. This is a story based on the Ramayana, but there’s a decidedly feminist spin, and I couldn’t help but love it. The fact that it was a “villain” story made it even more amazing.

We start out by learning about Kaikeyi and her early life. She’s gods-touched, which sounds like a good thing but isn’t necessarily. Kaikeyi is fiercely independent, growing up with no mother, an emotionally distant father, and 7 brothers. All of this leads her to develop some modern views about what women can and can’t do, and flouting traditions that are strongly held whenever possible. While she’s portrayed in the Ramayana as a villain, we get a lot of insight into who she really is, what led her to make the decisions she made, and the connections that she has to others.

Her feminist ideas clash strongly with the misogynistic customs of her time (from what I understand the Ramayana was written sometime between 500-1000 BCE). And it doesn’t always win her friends and supporters, although she did make a major difference in the lives of the people she came in contact with—some for the better, some not so much. While words like “asexual” weren’t tossed around much when I was growing up (outside of biology class), it’s not a new concept. And Kaikeyi is a prime example—if she was around today, she’d identify as asexual, but that wasn’t really an identity that was respected in those days, when a woman was responsible for giving her husband children and taking care of the home.

Since I haven’t heard any part of this story before, I went in knowing nothing and was quickly won over to Kaikeyi’s side. She’s an easy character to love, but I had to keep in mind that I viewed the story from a modern lens, when women can do anything a man can do, own their sexual identity, and participate in all areas of society. However, Kaikeyi didn’t live in modern times—she had to adhere to the customs of her own time, despite finding them incredibly restrictive.

I fell in love with the writing almost at the same time as I fell in love with Kaikeyi. It’s lyrical and beautiful, and provides enough background information (without info-dumping) that I never felt lost or confused. There are various hints of foreshadowing right from the start, so I wasn’t expecting a happy ending for Kaikeyi, but I still hoped. Kaikeyi is a thoroughly modern woman, aiming to enact positive change for all the people of her kingdom, no matter the backlash.

It was beautiful to see Kaikeyi grow and change over the course of the story, and it incorporated elements of … I’m honestly not sure what to call it. Magic? Divine influence? This took place in a setting where the gods are real and walk among the people, accomplishing their own objectives with little thoughts of the mortals they manipulate. It was amazing to see how it all came together, and I enjoyed every moment of this book, taking my time to savor it rather than flying through.

If there’s one debut you pick up this year, let this be it. It does for Indian mythology what Madeline Miller has done for Greek mythology, bringing it to life in the most gorgeous, heartbreaking, and vivid way.

Kaikeyi is definitely one of the best books that I have read so far! The characters and plot were well developed. Sometimes I have trouble visualizing the stories in books very well but that is not true of Kaikeyi. I found the story to be very atmospheric and richly detailed. I took my time reading this book because I wanted to savour it. I can't recommend this book enough. I consider it a must-read!

Thatnk you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC. I've already bought the book from BOTM!

Kaikeyi is a feminist retelling from the point of view of one of the characters in Ramayana, an epic poem from ancient India. The story is narrated by Kaikeyi, a young daughter of a Raja and a princess who believes she was forsaken by the gods. One day, while going through old texts she used to read with her mother, Kaikeyi finds a text that helps her unlock her own magic. Thanks to that special power, Kaikeyi’s journey takes a completely new turn and the consequences of her choices might end up ruining everything she holds dear.

This was such an exciting, captivating read! I wasn’t familiar with the poem beforehand so the story was completely new to me and I absolutely loved it. The plot was riveting and kept me reading up late into the night. I loved Kaikeyi as a character too, but the further I got into the book, the more she became to feel Mary Sue-ish to me. If she had any flaws at all (which is debatable), they were very much in the vein of flaws mentioned during a job interview - being too confident or too strong-willed. At some point it began to tire me because I was hoping for more growth from her. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and its world. Patel’s style of writing was perfect for this story: descriptive enough to allow me to follow along without knowing the original, but still beautiful and riveting. Despite my issue with Kaikeyi’s characterization, as far as retellings go, this one is definitely one of my favorites!

TLDR: Kaikeyi is an amazing retelling of a beautiful story, focusing on the themes of feminism, duty, family, and justice.

OHHH BOY GUYS!!! THIS BOOK! I was not expecting to be as blown away as I was!
It's early for me to say, but I can tell you this may end up being one of my favorite books I read this year, definitely one of the best I've read so far.

I confess I am not familiar with the Indian epic Ramayana and the vilified queen Kaikeyi, but what Vaishnavi Patel has done here is to have breathed some good old fashioned feminist life into a woman reviled (at least, in this book, can't speak for the original tale) with absolutely gorgeous writing, perfect pacing, and impeccable world-building that completely blew me away. I couldn't look away from Kaikeyi's story as she finds herself and her own agency in a world where men make choices for the women in their lives and how she thrusts forward to find a path for herself. Kaikeyi was a character who has so much depth and is so well developed, and the overall character development as we see her go from Princess to Wife to Queen to Mother to Villain is just *chef's kiss*. I truly felt so angry every time we see Kaikeyi dismissed or forced into situations and there is a prominent theme of feminism and self-determination that made me cheer for not just Kaikeyi, but every woman in this story. I loved the theme of women coming together to support each other with the relationship between the Queens and the Women's Council. This story is both empowering and absolutely entrancing and I couldn't stop reading. I also had the opportunity to read the audiobook, and I have to say the narrator does a fantastic job. Written in the same vein as Circe, Kaikeyi is an epic tale of fate and family, and one woman's quest to determine her own path and to do what is right regardless of the sacrifices she has to make.

Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook Books for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The spiritual successor of Circe by Madeline Miller, and told in a similarly lyrical writing style.

If I had one single complaint, it would be that the book was not longer. Some of the most exciting moments go by a little too fast. I would have liked to have seen a lot more during the scenes where Kaikeyi is acting as her husband’s charioteer during battle, and when she meets a god in the autumn grove. These moments are thrilling, but fleeting.

I will never again say a negative thing about Kaikeyi apart from that. It is instantly a favourite of mine, and I can’t wait to buy my own copy.

This book features a strong female character from a story in Indian mythology, a figure who is, arguably, unfairly made to be the villain. I am most familiar with Greek myths, which through many tellings, are watered down, and the version told by the patriarchy is what remains with us in many cases. I can see this is a trait shared with Indian myth. A woman is often where the blame is cast. But what happens when the evil stepmother is as much a victim as the hero?

It’s such a relevant time for a release of this kind of book, with the backdrop of the Greek mythology boom, call for diverse characters, the emergence feminist retellings, and the popularization of villain origin stories, this is a very exciting release.

Rich with culture unfamiliar to me, Kaikeyi serves as a small education about Indian mythology, customs and culture. I wish I was familiar with more of the things mentioned in the book, but I think a small glossary to describe certain words would be beneficial to readers like me, as well as a pronunciation guide.

The feeling that this novel left me with is one of awe, but also sorrow for Kaikeyi’s constant struggle, tragedy, and realization that everything she has done to prevent the events of the novel, have actually caused them. This is a character I will not forget.

Kaikeyi fills a void missing from mainstream book and television recommendations in my sphere. I will be seeking out more books like it. This is a powerful commentary on feminism, on oppression, on sexism, and I hope it receives the same praise as Circe, which is heralded as a classic of our time. Vaishnavi Patel has found a lifelong reader in me, and I can not wait to see what she publishes next.

I wanted to formulate some intellectual review on KAIKEYI but my brain is just repeatedly blaring READ KAIKEYI READ KAIKEYI READ KAI —-

Being Bangladeshi Bengali, I’ve had tertiary proximity to the Ramayana epic - in that I was familiar with it and have heard about it since I was a child but, as a Muslim, did not analyze it further than just that. Despite only having nominal knowledge about the original epic, I think Vaishnavi Patel crafted a wonderful queer (Kaikeyi is ace though there is also possible interpretation of Kaikeyi being non-binary - though the author has said that she did write Kaikeyi as cis), feminist retelling of the most vilified woman in Indian mythology and I couldn’t love it more (I just love morally grey women!)

Not only does this novel feature a strong woman warrior, but it also features SUCH strong bonds of friendship and love between women that, for all intents and purposes, would have been competitors. I'm so tired of authors pitting women against each other and I'm so glad that it wasn't the case with this book.

The magic system was simple and compelling and the growth that Kaikeyi has over the course of the book is incredible. It's definitely a slower paced book (which isn't for everyone!) but I adored the feeling of slowly being immersed in this story and by these characters.

KAIKEYI is out in EXACTLY two weeks (April 26th!) and y’all best have this pre-ordered or I may just have to take a page out of Kaikeyi’s book and throw a spear through your chest

My favorite book of the year! Kaikeyi is going on my self next to Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad and Margaret Miller's Circe.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel is a retelling of the Ramayana, one of the great epic tales from ancient India, from the perspective of the "evil stepmother". At 39 I'm beginning to take that trope a little personally, and I am here for every retelling that redeems the vilified or forgotten adult women of legend. Patel has created a fierce, brave, yet compassionate woman in Kaikeyi, who tenaciously fights for control over her own when everyone from gods to kings would deny her that. I was rooting for Kaikeyi from the very first sentence. There's action and magic, devoted family and heartbreaking sacrifice. The setting is rich and vivid. Patel has a knack for giving the exact right detail to bring the scene to life, whether it's the stiff pleats of a jeweled sari or fried sweets dripping with syrup. Learning through fiction is my favorite, and I loved learning about the gods and creatures of Hindu mythology.

Patel uses fantasy to ask a very important real-world question. How does an ambitious and driven woman find happiness in a society that considers her evil for asking for anything more than what she is given by men? It's a question Kaikeyi spends her life trying to answer. Patel elegantly shows how denying opportunities and respect to some while lavishing them on others inevitably leads to desperate decisions and tragedy.

I can't believe this is Patel's debut, and I plan to follow her writing for years to come.

Wow I loved this book so much!! I really like mythology retellings especially ones with feminists' themes and this is my new favorite! As soon as i started I was hooked and really invested in Kaikeyi's story. Even though it was a slower build, the author did an amazing job pacing it and keeping it interesting throughout. The writing was fantastic and so beautiful. I did not know much about Kaikeyi or Indian mythology going into this, but I learned so much and was not confused at all throughout the story. I loved Kaikeyi and I think the author did a great job showing her dimenison, and how she may be flawed but at the end of the day she was standing up for what's right. The feminist's and women empowerment themes in here were so awesome!! A lot of mythology retellings put women on the backburner and show them as weak or submissive, and I loved how the women were at the forefront of the story. It was really refreshing to see the women supporting each other and standing together. At first the concept of Kaikeyi's husband having two other wives seemed weird to me but I loved how the three wives became great friends and didn't let a man come between them. I thought the ending was really well done and beautiful but I'm so sad it's over! Overall this was a phenomenal story and I can't wait to read what the author comes up with next! It deserves all the stars!

Wow that was awesome! I very much enjoyed this book. I have no prior knowledge of this story so unlike other retellings (ex. song of achilles) I had no idea what was going to happen to anyone. Once I got to part 3 I was STRESSED until the end. I hate reading physical books but I did with this book because I didn’t want to get distracted because I was so into the story last night. I was tempted to stay up and finish it. Now that I’m finished I want to get lost in a black hole of Google to learn more.
I picked Kaikeyi as my April BOTM choice but I also received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher on NetGalley. It was nice to switch between reading and listening. The narrator was great. This is out 4/26, if you like fantasy or retellings definitely read this.
This will be posted on my Instagram @katebrownreads as well!

When I was younger, my parents told me the story of the epic Ramayana; later, I watched the 100+ episode series based upon it with my grandparents, making this one of the epic stories in my childhood.

As someone who wasn't only read Cinderella, The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast as childhood stories, it made me so excited when I saw a Ramayana retelling - or should I say, Kaikeyi's story. In my youth, I always thought of Kaikeyi as the "villain" and now, reading books from the 'villain's pov is more enticing, and I liked seeing what influenced Kaikeyi and the magic realism (not sure if that's the right phrase?).

Kaikeyi is a feminist queen. Literally. She made the (first) Women's Court in her kingdom, advocated for their rights and gave them jobs, and was logical and cunning. In a world where women aren't heard, she made their heads turn in battle, court, and as a "god-touched" mortal.

The storytelling style and writing style were a bit difficult to like at first, as someone who reads the majority western-style writing but I'm glad to finally read and enjoy a book that doesn't follow the 3-story act (These Violent Delights also does this !!) and I originally went in knowing Kaikeyi was queer and then finding out she's asexual...which made it speak to me even more (#acepride).

Overall, to any desi person who grew up with Ramayana or even the Mahabharata as your epic stories instead of Grimm's fairytales or the Illiad, and even to those curious/excited to read about feminist queens, I highly recommend!

This book!! Once I saw the title and the cover I knew I had to read it as I LOVE myth and epic retellings. I read the Ramayana years ago in high school and was really excited to see what the story would be like with Kaikeyi as the protagonist. When I was approved for an early copy I might have squealed a little bit. Patel did not disappoint and I read the entire book in one day.

I loved this book! The characters are interested and multi-faceted. The plot keeps you going and makes you want to know what is going to happen next. This is the first epic retelling that I have read set in India and I really enjoyed it. I loved the feminist themes and found it very interesting to consider the story from Kaikeyi's lens as a strong woman in a patriarchal society. I loved the female relationships in this book and how they did not fall into common tropes like jealousy, mistrust, and competition. Kaikeyi and the other characters felt like real people with individual hopes, dreams, quirks, dislikes, and personal relationships outside of the immediate characters.

Although I have read the Ramayana, it has been a long time and I didn't remember a lot of the plot points or characters. I definitely recommend reading a quick plot summary of the Ramayana at some point because I think you might miss how unique this point of view is without the context of the original story. Because of this Kaikeyi reminds me of Circe by Madeline Miller (also excellent!) but is also absolutely its own story.

Overall, I absolutely loved Kaikeyi and cannot recommend it enough. If you are particularly into myth/epic retellings like I am, you need to read it now. 10/5 stars. Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed Kaikeyi! The story was captivating and intriguing, but there were a couple things that confused me. At first, the issue with Rama and Kaikeyi seemed to be about women taking a more prominent place in society, and then it merged into a battle between good and evil, with Rama being evil and then somehow good? Maybe that was me not being familiar with the myth of Kaikeyi before this book, but I found it confusing. Other than that, I loved the world Patel wrote in.

This is absolutely a top favourite of the year. Massive in scope and time, it is written in the simple way that mythological retellings often are. The characters and the story shine through, with the atmosphere and world-building taking a backseat in a delightful way.

I am not familiar with the myth that this story is based on, but I felt that no prior knowledge was required. Kaikeyi was an incredibly nuanced character, every decision she made was rooted in the story and even if frustrating, it all made sense.

I was rapt by the story and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel was a wonderful debut novel with Circe vibes in so many good ways. I don't think I ever had read story of the queen from the Ramayana.

This quote made me LOL, my kind of book humor: “I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.”

Summary: The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods... Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her... Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.... wonderful writing and debut." ...

"...an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come."

Thank you Netgalley, publisher, & author for this novel/ e arc of this novel. 4.5*+. Part 2 & 4 were my favorite parts of this novel.

One thing is for sure- Vaishnavi Patel knows how to keep a reader on the edge of her seat.

The epic of Ramayan is one that I too was told by my grandmother whenever I would go to visit her. And like Vaishnavi Patel mentioned in her author’s note, Kaikeyi is someone who has one, maybe two mentions in the entirety of the epic.

I know how this story ends, and it was never her story at all. Which makes this book all the more fascinating and important to me. Tragedies, I’ve come to realize as I grow older, are worth telling, even when it ends all too sadly. Vaishnavi constantly reminds us of this, as she regales the tale of Kaikeyi’s life and I’m kept worrying about the inevitable future as I walk with Kaikeyi through her childhood, her marriage, motherhood, and then… well you’ll see.

The author paints a beautiful story from completely crumbs, and I was utterly enthralled the entire time. My heart hurts for Kaikeyi, and all the decisions she has had to make, and the consequences she has had to bear for them since. I was watching something beautiful fall apart in real time, and the sadness and frustration I felt was so poignant. I’ve grown up with the Ramayana. I think I might have become a different person if I grew up with the story of Kaikeyi. Before this story was his, it was all hers. I loved every part of this book, from beginning to the end. This is the story I deserved to read as a girl coming into her own.

I am crying as I finish this review, seconds after I read the last sentence. If there is any book you read this year, let it be this one.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are in anyway a fan of Madeline Miller’s work, like mythology, familiar with the Ramayana or even just interested in character driven retellings of powerful women, then please pick this one up. It is so worth it.

I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.

ARC provided by the publisher Redhook and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An all-around epic fantasy debut; Kaikeyi has cemented Vaishnavi Patel as the freshest new voice, claiming a spot as the best debut in fantasy this year.

Amidst my packed schedule with wedding planning and life in general, I still make time to work on my TBR mountain. This month is steer my focus mostly towards ARCs of 2022 releases that I want to read and review before their release date. Being a mood reader this is no easy task as I need to be in the right state of mind and mood to pick up a book. Though I didn’t take me long to decide to pick up Kaikeyi as it is one of my most anticipated releases and debut in 2022. During the start of 2022 when all the books set to release was announced none of them caught my eye like Kaikeyi. At first it was the vibes I got from reading the synopsis that compelled me to want to read this debut. Thankfully from my ratings above it is proven that this book is the debut to watch out for. Before I dive in to the review and start rambling on why readers should pre-order Kaikeyi right now, I would like to appreciate the fantastic cover of this book done Orbit designer Lisa Marie Pompilio. This simple cover of the main character’s silhouette emphasizing on the accessories worn by Kaikeyi really caught my eye the first time I saw it. It gives of major queen vibes that is the perfect teaser to the contents of this epic standalone debut.

If the gods had already ordained my evil deeds, then I had nothing to lose by defying them now. So, I would defy them.

Kaikeyi is an epic Hindu mythological retelling and standalone debut by fantasy’s brightest new voice Vaishnavi Patel. The story of Kaikeyi is based on the Sanskrit epic from ancient India commonly known by devotees of Hinduism titled Ramayana. The story of Ramayana is one of the most famous epics that has been widely adapted and told in a variety of versions and languages besides Indian, such as Cambodian, Indonesia, Filipino, Thai, Lao, Burmese, and Malay (source). In the well known epic of Ramayana the story focuses on Rama’s story and his many adventures during his exile. For this book the story shifts the perspective to one of the most interesting and villainized character in the epic, Kaikeyi. The story focuses on Kaikeyi rise to power starting from her birth and upbringing with a fantastical twist involving scheming gods with a sprinkle of Hindu legends throughout the book. From the very first line Vaishnavi Patel perfectly introduces the main character and sets the the tone of this epic saga filled with promise of a good story. As reflected on my star rating it fulfilled that promise indeed.

The vast world building will take readers on an adventure across multiple kingdoms from Kekaya to Kosala and many other magical sites. During the first half the story mostly focuses on political machinations to show how Kaikeyi rose to power and how she establishes her legendary status as a radnyi that became an icon for women in the story. The later half of the book there is more variety in the story as it contained a lot of adventuring scenes filled with encounters with gods and magical creatures. The sensory descriptions adds to the immersion and making the story even more vibrant. Kaikeyi is truly an epic fantasy that is immersive in which readers can easily get pulled in the moment they start reading it without it being too overwhelming. Every inch of this world I adore as it is lush, intricate, and interesting. Patel extends this to their characters as well by giving attention to the details that makes their characters stand out. From the colour of their saris, the jewelry decorating every inch of their body, the kohls under their eyes, etc these details adds a lot of the characters persona giving them a flourish to assert their standing and power. I look forward to reading these details while reading as it gives the characters movement and drama in certain scenes. The magic in Kaikeyi is subtle, simple, versatile and well balanced by giving it a consequence if overused. Readers will learn about the magic together with the main character throughout the book. It is a well planted plot tool that is significant without it being an easy exit route for the character and the progression of the story.

In helping another woman, I had in fact helped myself.

Vaishnavi Patel’s writing is vivid, descriptive, lyrical and powerful. Patel’s prose is meaningful and carries a resonance that echoes throughout the story. The themes of familial love, self worth, independence, family, and many more that are weaved in Kaikeyi by Patel are executed wonderfully. Though I would like to point out the core theme that becomes the red string of Kaikeyi is the feminist discussions and gender equality. Kaikeyi spearheads the movement for women to fight for their independence to be recognized and respected on equal standing as a man. The scenes where Kaikeyi decides to ignore the out dated values and going against the gods to pave the way for women is inspiring to me. The way Patel weaves these feminist themes isn’t at all one noted and preachy. Patel shows the progression of the society slowly through the acts of their characters to mold the world into the a more modern society that is believable. I’ve encountered in other books that tries to weave feminist themes into their stories would fall flat in execution. Kaikeyi certainly is the standard as it sets a magnificent example on how to execute it well into the story complete with believable narrative that is entertaining and gripping.

The driving force of this novel is the main protagonist Kaikeyi. Readers will follow Kaikeyi from her childhood until adulthood, long story short there will be a lot of time jumps. But no worries Patel writes the transitions of time smoothly and it isn’t at all hard to follow. Kaikeyi’s life is filled with trials and tribulations from the banishment of her mother, the challenges of becoming radnyi of the court at a young age, arranged marriage, and many more. Kaikeyi’s development as a character is believable as she is one of most well fleshed out characters I’ve read so far this year. She truly outshines all the other characters in the story as readers will get a chance to see all facets of her amazing characterization. Patel breathed life into Kaikeyi showing not only the good parts of her character but also the imperfect sides that is vulnerable and dark. The pacing of the plot of the story follows the development of her character making the eventual reveal in the climax of the story even more satisfying. Patel stays true to the myth with the narrative that is widely known but what made it interesting is that Kaikeyi addresses the villainization of her character that is done in most depictions that exist today. Readers will get to read how Kaikeyi gives her perspective into what ‘truly happened’ debunking rumours and other supposed false interpretations of her actions. I find this interesting whenever I read the start of the chapter being opened by Kaikeyi giving her personal take on certain happenings in the story. Though I have a small gripe regarding the scenes nearing the end because even though it was accurate certain things about it needed more time to marinate to give it a more stronger ending.


I am at peace, for I know the truth. Before this story was Rama’s, it was mine.

Final thoughts, Kaikeyi is phenomenal debut that will take you on an epic fantastical journey defying gods and prophecies reimagining a well known story in Hindu myth, Ramayana, from the perspective of a well fleshed out strong female character. It is a story that sets an example for a feminist themed stories with wonderful execution, vivid and lush world building, simple and effective magic, and overall amazing story telling. This saga exceeded my expectations and delivered that spark I hoped for when I first read the opener of this book. Personally I am thoroughly excited for this book to be released and for everyone to read it, especially readers that know the story of Ramayana. By far Kaikeyi is one of the strongest debuts this year and cannot wait to read more books written by Vaishnavi Patel. This debut solidifies Patel’s masterful skill in story telling as a fresh new voice in adult SFF. I highly recommend this book for those who like books such as She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan as I see parallels between the characters that tackles their destiny to achieve greatness defying the expectations set upon them. Pre order Kaikeyi if you haven’t! You will not regret it.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

This story has such a strong character who seems to be what legends are made of. Well, that’s exactly what Kaikeyi is, an almost mythological figure so different from the women of her time. Born as a princess in a family of all males, she excels at skills that were only suitable for men such as driving a chariot, throwing a spear, and archery. But as the only daughter, it is her duty to marry to form alliances with neighboring kingdoms. Reluctantly, Kaikeyi becomes the third wife of a raja with the promise that if she bears him a son, her son would be the crown prince. Kaikeyi, having read the scrolls that she studied with her mother, discovers she has a gift in that she can put thoughts into others and is thought to be god-touched. While she prays to the gods (and goddesses) she feels that her wishes are never heard. Kaikeyi seeks to control her destiny and be very independent. In her new home, she finds sisterhood with the other wives, and elevates herself as an advisor to her husband. Kaikeyi, having raised her brothers, is a natural to raise the four princes born to the wives. However, it is Rama, not her biological son Bharata who is being primed for being the next raja. Only Kaikeyi knows that Rama, who wields a lot of influence over others, is a god and that all is not right in her kingdom. When Kaikeyi tries to save her new home, she faces opposition to the social changes that she wants made to help those around her, especially from Rama and the Sages. There is an unknown evil that is amiss.

Well crafted, this is not your typical novel or story but full of adventure and magic. It is about family, loyalty, courage, and value of self. Not familiar with all the legends or mythology of India, it was interesting to see the relationships of the characters to their gods, their beliefs, and how this shaped their destiny. A complex but intriguing story, Kaikeyi is well worth the read. Once started, I couldn’t put it down and I felt the joys and the heartaches right with Kaikeyi as she experienced it. Well done.

Many thanks to #netgalley #kaikeyi #vaishnavipatel for the opportunity to read and review this book.