An amazing historical fiction with a strong female character and incredible world building. You can aboslutely tell that a lot of thought and detail was put into this book to make sure that everything was accurate and could really showcase the amount of effort put into this book. My only problem is that I wish the writing was more detailed in some places. In most of the book, everything is so thorough and the writing is strong. However, in other places, it seems as though there wasn't as much time spent on perfecting it and proofreading it to make sure that the pacing was even throughout the story and it all made sense, and the pacing was a lot slower. Those points did tend to lose me more than the other fast paced sections.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Vaishnavi Patel, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

How old were you when you learned to hope? For Kalki, a young woman growing up in India under British rule, the answer is 19. Her father, a freedom fighter himself, taught her the songs and myths that would help her believe.

“I did not realize it then,” she reflects as she recalls a memory of her father telling her the story of Manu and Matsya. “But it was a call to believe, to have faith, to hope that a small action now would one day bring salvation, though that day might be distant or impossible to fathom.”

It’s this hope that drives her to commit her first act of rebellion.

Vaishnavi Patel’s “Ten Incarnations of Rebellion” speculates what might have happened if India never broke free from colonial rule in 1947. The book’s historic timeline diverges from ours in the 1910s. In this version of events, most of India’s foremost freedom fighters have died, and the book is set in a still-colonized version of Mumbai (renamed Kingston) which only vaguely resembles the city we know today.

It’s a place that’s missing its men and its older generation — either disappeared in the struggle for freedom or drafted into the war.

In 1960s Kingston, the freedom-suppressing tactics such as militarized restrictions, punitive camps and long-term curfews are commonplace. In our timeline, the British Empire used these tactics to suppress independence in other countries after learning from their failures on the Indian subcontinent, but Patel imagines what India would have been like if those strategies had been deployed there.

The novel follows Kalki year after year as she transforms from a naive teenager to a leader of the local Indian Liberation Movement, which is spearheaded by young women.

For readers of “Babel,” “Our Missing Hearts” or the young adult dystopian novels of the early 2010s, “Ten Incarnations of Rebellion” dares to ask the hard questions that are fundamental to the genres of dystopian/speculative fiction while also delivering an epic historical saga. What tragedies are justifiable for the greater good? To what extent can things be changed while working within a system? What are the alternatives to the oppression of the status quo?

This layered novel masterfully weaves a compelling original story with the 10 incarnations of Vishnu the Hindu god of Preservation who appears in various incarnations called the Dashavatara. Each chapter is titled with an incarnation, and the protagonist’s character arc roughly matches up to the spirit of said incarnation.

In some chapters, readers even get the story behind the myth.

Patel, who has published two other novels — both mythic retellings — shines in her attention to detail and the way she draws parallels between the myth and the tale she is weaving. Kalki learns to hope through the story of Vishnu’s first incarnation, Matsya, and is named after the final and promised final incarnation of Vishnu who has yet to appear.

The research and love that went into this endeavor is evident and pays off. “Ten Incarnations of Rebellion” is the kind of story that only grows richer with more knowledge of Indian history and thought, but beyond that, it’s a universal tale highlighting those doing what they can for change even while entrenched in a broken system.

Characters love each other through impossible situations, navigate uneasy alliances across complicated racial/caste dynamics and get up every day to fight for their freedom. Though the circumstances are different, it’s a needed beacon of hope in modern times that the things we do today to make the world a little bit better might matter too.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I truly wanted to love this book; it sounded so interesting to me especially with this alternate history! I love historical fiction and this was my first book with an alternate history. I really tried to like it but could not finish it and ended at about 40%. It just wasn't for me. I felt it was confusing and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I am sure others will love it that are into this type of book; for me, I will stay with historical fiction going forward. Great effort though of this author and I highly recommend people read it to build their own opinion if this is for them or not!

yeah this was superb and excellent

ten incarnations of rebellion follows kalki, a young woman, as she lives under british-occupied mumbai. her father, a rebel, has disappeared, and kalki takes after her father in her resistance. while she begins with "small" acts, such as plastering lyrics to a forgotten song in her neighborhood, as she grows older and sees just how badly the british treat her people, she begins to take further action for a free and liberated india. each chapter is tied to one of vishnu's ten avatars. i loved the writing; this book is paced slow at the beginning, before moving quicker as the book progresses.

i thought kalki was just such a good character. she's strong, selfish, brave, caring, loving, and above all, passionate for what she believes in. i also really enjoyed the cast of characters; yashu, who's background as a dalit/untouchable was so well done, fauzia, kalki's friend and later romantic interest (i thought the romance was so well done and organic), kalki's mother, who saw her husband disappear but still stayed strong, and mr. kapadia, who took kalki on as a daughter of his own.

the worldbuilding patel has done is flawless, and you can really tell that she's done her research and thought out each step of this story. this book tackles colonization, the caste system, gender and sexuality, and the violence and oppression that comes with decades of colonization. bold, intense, and not afraid to pull its punches.

ten incarnations of rebellion is a fantastic book, so well-written and constructed. if you're a fan of fantasy or historical fiction, i definitely recommend picking this up. a highlight of my year and it just reinforces that i need to read kaikeyi stat.

thanks to netgalley and random house for the arc!

this was so lovely. the characters were lovely, the world was gorge and the prose was enchanting and felt like a painting before your eyes.

I had a hard time getting into this one at first. It felt slow and I was a little confused at points, but once I got into it it was really good. Patel tells the story of a version of 1960s India that didn’t have independence from Great Britain and the ways in which women fought for independence. I really like thinking about what could have happened and I think the way that Patel organized the book was super cool.

4.25⭐️
This was kind of a heavy read for me. Historical fiction set in a “what if” world where India was not liberated from the British Empire.

If you like Kristen Hannah books-I think this would be a good fit, and this was not as long!

The plot moves pretty quickly and there was something always happening to drive it forward.

I appreciate the author giving extra reading recommendations at the end and her perspective on some of the issues India still faces because of the British rule.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a bold, ambitious work of alternate history that imagines a version of 1960s India that never gained independence from British rule. Vaishnavi Patel crafts a deeply emotional and politically charged story centered on Kalki Divekar, a young woman who transforms from grieving daughter to revolutionary leader. Her journey is powerful and personal, grounded in themes of identity, resistance, and reclaiming one’s voice.

The novel is structured around ten chapters, each loosely tied to one of Vishnu’s ten avatars. As someone unfamiliar with Hindu mythology, it took me a little while to understand the significance of this structure, but it eventually added a compelling symbolic layer. The reincarnation motif speaks not only to Kalki’s growth but to the larger cycles of revolution, loss, and rebirth.

Patel tackles big, complex issues—colonialism, caste oppression, propaganda, and queer identity—through intimate, character-driven storytelling. Her writing is sharp and clear in many moments, though I sometimes wished the book were longer to give more depth to key emotional scenes and relationships. Still, I was moved by the dynamic between Kalki and her close friends, especially the romantic arc with Fauzia, which was beautifully done and never felt forced.

Even though I didn’t come into this with much historical background on India during this time period, the world Patel creates felt so vivid and plausible that I often forgot I was reading fiction. It left me wanting to learn more about the real-life history that inspired it—which, to me, is the mark of a powerful novel.

Overall, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a thoughtful, daring, and deeply relevant story. It’s not without its flaws, but its emotional impact and thematic ambition make it well worth reading—especially for fans of speculative fiction, historical reimaginings, and intersectional narratives.

Vaishnavi Patel always does such an incredible job of creating detailed and vivid worlds for her characters and this novel is a perfect example of that. The alternate history that Kalki and her companions live in during a still British-controlled India is so well-written that it really did feel like reading a historical account. Kalki’s growth both as a person and also as a leader of the liberation movement of the course of the book is so realistic and moving. There’s no sugarcoating the dangers and trials that come with a movement like this. Though it is a work of fiction set in a timeline that never existed, I could really feel her motivations and conflicting emotions through the book.

There are some nuanced and complicated reflections on the ideas of morality and the cost to advance a movement. Some plot points didn’t go exactly the way that I hoped, but I anticipate that I’ll be mulling over some of the nuances for a long time to come. The overall message about the lasting impact of colonization and oppression will also stick with me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5/5 stars

My heart goes out to Fauzia, trapped in the purgatory of 'more than friends but less than lovers.'


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An excellent book for fans of historical fiction. The characters are deeply compelling, though I did find myself wanting to dive deeper into the experiences of Yashu as they related to caste. Though this story carried a deeply feminist bend, the discussion of gender dynamics as they impacted the storyline felt a bit lacking as well. Kalki's progression as a character sings to the heart of those who struggle for freedom--how must we go about it, how are we distinct from the strategies of our oppressors, and what does it mean to live a life outside of fighting the good fight?

Thanks to NetGalley and the published for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a very interesting alternate version if India was not able to remove itself from British rule. The author put A LOT into this version. Multiple times the idea was brought up that even if the British are defeated it doesn’t mean India will magically turn into a haven for everyone. While the British caused most of the issues there are other issues to take their place such as religious differences, the caste system and other political issues. Having all of this play out is extremely important so this doesn’t come off as a simple fix. All of these issues are very complex and come through to the reader.

I loved the idea of an alternate history India which didn’t get liberated in 1947, instead becoming an even more oppressed place, with most of the freedom fighters dead and the people living their lives drowning in British propaganda. It’s the kind of speculative fiction that I would have loved to read but never found before.

The writing is as always lovely, but the narrative is a bit slow paced despite the themes of rebellion against the British. However, because it covers a decade of development of our main character Kalki, the events of her life can feel like they are happening at warp speed. The dashavatara stories told at the end of each chapter also didn’t feel very relevant every time. Much of the progress of the Indian Liberation movement is told in snippets instead of us experiencing it ourselves. And while it feels like I’m talking only about the aspects of books which aren’t very good, I actually enjoyed this very much.

The intimate portrayal of the friendship between Kalki, Fauzia and Yashu; the grief laden bond that Kalki shares with her aai; the determination of Kalki to safeguard the people of her city while enacting small acts of rebellion; the conviction of Yashu that freedom doesn’t mean just liberation from the British but also the liberation of the oppressed classes from the caste system; the idea of a movement built entirely by young women because all the men have gone to war - all these elements in the book make for great compelling reading, leaving a mark on me as a reader.

Overall, this is a book I’m glad has been written. A different kind of rebellion rooted in the betterment and safety of the lives of the people, while questioning the meaning and necessity of sacrifice leaves us quite a bit to think about. The audiobook narration by Mayuri Bhandari was perfect and I absolutely loved her rendition of Vande Mataram in between. Can’t wait to see what Vaishnavi writes next coz I don’t think I’ll ever miss any book of hers.

I feel that this book had potential and it initially drew me in, but overall I struggled to continue to keep interest in it.

This book was absolutely stunning. I am not a historical fiction girly but this hooked me in and didn’t let go. I haven’t cried for a book is so long, it was nice.
The story is set in an alternate timeline where India is still under British colonial rule and the steps our main character Kalki takes to get out of that rule. Of course Kalki did not start a revolution, people had already tried before her, but she continued the path to freedom and this story tells it all.
One thing I love most about this is that even though this is fictional, there is no falsehoods. The people of India were tortured, raped, killed, forced to live without their language and traditions. The book isn’t afraid to show the ugly truth.
We follow Kalki’s life from a child to a woman and how she has to sacrifice her personal pleasures to see the freedom of her people. It feels raw and real, it really had me invested.
I loved the writing as well, it was beautiful and easy to read.
I hope anyone who decided to pick this up enjoys it as much as I have.

Bold, lyrical, and fiercely feminist. This isn’t a quiet rebellion—it’s myth, memory, and fire in every chapter. The prose is so lush it borders on poetry. You don’t just read this, you wade through it. If you like layered, unflinching stories, this one demands your full attention.
“What is a goddess if not a woman who refused to die quietly?”

This book takes place in an alternative history were India is still under British colonial rule in the 1960s. Very different from the author's two prior works, and while it was well done, just not my vibe. Most importantly, I did not feel I know enough about India, both before and after it was under British Rule, to really know what was imaginative versus what was based in fact. This just led me to not feel very connected to the book. Because of this, I just felt like I wasn't the right reader for this book.

There is so much to this book that I don’t even where to start. It’s a beautifully crafted reimagining of the struggle for independence in India in a reimagined Bombay called Kingston. The story follows Kalki, a strong-willed and brave young woman determined to take on the mantle of her father’s work to push for Indian independence. There’s so much complicated morality, trying to determine the “acceptable” costs of war, and balancing desires and love with the longing and commitment to independence. An absolutely necessary read in the context of the world today, especially to better understand the tensions of various political movements and concurrent priorities that end up clashing together.

Thoughts

I have read a few books about the Partition but none about the British colonization of India, and while the author says this is not a historical novel, I did have me googling things and learning more.

It was a heartbreaking book. Reading it is difficult at times because there is just so much heartache. However, that is understandable living in an occupied country.

From the beginning I was hooked because as you may know if you have read her other books, her writing is phenomenal. It is just a breeze to read. And the storytelling was amazing.

There was one character that did not make sense and I feel like was put in to only serve one purpose but it didn't even make sense then. I just wish she was more flushed out and had more of a storyline in it.

But overall I think it was terrific and definitely worth the read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC.

While this story is more fantasy and not based on historical fact, it reads as historical fiction, which I generally love. I found the story itself interesting, but the book was very hard for me to get through and felt very dense in places. The character development I felt was lacking. There were several times I was confused about what was happening or who we were supposed to be rooting for. It just didn't grab me the way it could have.

A quiet, simmering fire of a novel. Like rebellion, it burns hotter the longer it smolders. This is structured through pivotal moments in Kalki's life, mirroring one of the Hindu stories told in each. This speculative alternate history explores what it means to fight, to lose, to lead, to sacrifice, and most importantly, to endure. It asks the question: What is rebellion? A speech? Violence? A quiet, invisible act of kindness? I cried multiple times, not just from tragedy but from the sheer emotional resonance.

Kalki is a protagonist I felt in my bones. She’s not always lovable. She’s angry, passionate, flawed, and deeply human. Watching her grapple with the weight of oppression and the burden of resistance felt both heartbreaking and empowering. The way the Hindu lessons are threaded throughout the chapters is so effective. They shape how Kalki sees the world.

The alternate version of India (still under British rule) is textured and believable. It’s clearly well-researched, and Patel doesn’t pull her punches when writing about colonial violence, systemic division, and the everyday desperation of survival. But the heart of the novel is in the community: mutual aid, friendships, chosen family, and women leading a movement not for glory, but for each other.

There’s a side character’s redemption arc I wasn’t thrilled by. It felt a little too convenient for how much harm they’d done, but I understand what the author was reaching for. The message is clear: rebellion changes people, and change is the greatest act of rebellion. I didn’t love the execution, but it was peripheral enough that I could let it slide.

This isn’t a loud novel. It’s not bombastic. But it lingers. The pacing felt perfect, measured, and deliberate, and I was fully immersed, hanging onto every word. And the author’s note? Don’t skip it. It reframes everything and is worth reading to get the full picture.

If you liked Babel, if Andor is currently kicking around your brain, or if you’re just in the mood to remember that stories can be a kind of revolution, this is one for you. Not as sweeping or stylized as Babel, maybe, but just as urgent. Just as necessary. Highly recommend.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.