A fascinating tale of alternative history! I was pleasantly surprised and continue to love VP’s writing :)

This book was such an interesting read! the story takes place in an alternate universe where India was never became independent from British colonial rule and our main character who will risk everything to free her country from it. I loved seeing the acts of resistance throughout the book & just how important this story is overall.

I really look forward to reading more by this author!

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a gripping speculative novel set in an alternate India where independence was never won. Over ten years the protagonist, Kalki, builds a secret liberation movement in her hometown, growing it from a spark of hope into a full-blown rebellion. The world-building is rich and unmerited making this a powerful story of resistance and resilience.

Five stars, without question.

Do you remember the show The Man in the High Castle? That is what this book somewhat reminded me of but if India never secured their independence from Britain. An alternate relaity/timeline. Now I will say I never finished that show but Vaishnavi Patel's writting is something that I will never miss. I loved Kaikeyi and I really enjoyed my time with Ten Incarnations Rebellion.
She started writing this seven years ago and you can tell this took time. Vaishanavi Patel's dedication and passion for this shows and gave us, the readers, with an amazing story of rebellion.
This book hit on relationships that would not be accepted, mythology, history which kept me captivated the entire time and had me finishing it in one sitting. I found that, in my personal opinion if Vaishnavi Patel writes it, you know the characters will be strong and will always have good development, the plot will always be well thought out and executed. All in all another hit and I can't wait to see what she does next.

This book explores an alternate reality in which India was never liberated from the British and is still under their rule. It follows a young woman - Kalki Divekar who grows up in Kingston - a city that the British built and control. Her father who was considered a rebel and fought for India's independence disappeared years ago and is presumed dead by Kalki and her mother. As Kalki grows into a young woman she feels the pull to fight for India's independence just as her father did. However she is not sure how she can do this in Kingston without being caught and struggles with what impact she can make as a woman fighting for independence. Kalki along with her female friends and an old friend of her father's realize they can make an impact in a different way - by working from the inside. Most of them work for the British in the government offices and they realize this gives them unique opportunities to affect change and perhaps turn the tide in Kingston and achieve liberation.

I found the premise of the book extremely interesting with the what if question of India never being liberated from the British and what that would look like in the 1960s (timeframe when the book took place). Even without know much about the history of India myself the book drew me in and I finished it quickly. The characters were well developed and the plot moved along at a good pace. I found the character of Fauzia to be one of the best and most nuanced even though she wasn't the main character. It was also nice to see a main character that wasn't perfect - that had flaws - Kalki often struggled with the decisions she made and was selfish at times which made her seem more realistic. The side characters were enjoyable and written in a way that you cared about their stories too and how they ended up. Overall, this book was a satisfying historical read with a bit of speculation thrown in and was well researched. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book for my honest review.

This book was such a fascinating read. I love Kallie’s fierce independence and such a strong character. With her friends alongside of her she made her mark! Her rebellion activities were so thought out, I loved this book!

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for- Ballantine for this advance reader copy. This is my honest review of this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance copy of this novel that takes place in an alternate timeline, where a people are still under the yoke of oppressors, and the life of one young lady who will risk everything to free her people.

Being American means not only not understanding our own history, but the history of other people. For a people who threw off the chains of being a colony, used by a Motherstate to increase it's wealth and power, we are quick to exploit others for our own gain. We are rebels, who love rebels in movies, music and books, but vote to limit our own freedoms in numerous ways, from the color of our house, to what one can do with our bodies. As such the world is a mystery to Americans. Dragging yourself up by the bootstraps means little to people who can't afford shoes, who have known nothing but oppression for generations. Their wealth traveling far away, never too be used for them, only to fill treasuries in countries they can never travel to. Sometimes the only thing left is to fight. Which gets to the heart of this book, a story of a young woman passing through ten stages of her life, each one teaching her something about rebellions, and the lengths and depths she will go to gain freedom. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel is a novel set in a different time where India was never given its freedom from England, where the heavy handedness of the oppressors has made it impossible not to fight back, and what this might cost a young woman, so brave and different in many ways.

Kalki Divekar is a resident of Kingston, the new seat of power for the English after the destruction of Bombay during the uprising. Kalki has grown up without a father, who had to leave his wife and daughter for his actions against the British. They are poor, but Kalki has both brains, and a flame within her from her father, one that burns for freedom. Kalki starts small, printing an old song about rebellion and spreading it throughout the city. Slowly Kalki brings in others and begins to realize that there are many different religions and people in her community, each seeing freedom in different ways, ways that might not work together. Also Kalki slowly comes to the idea that maybe her ideas of freedom might not be accepted, including who she might have feelings for. The group expands slowly, moving from gathering information, helping others to sabotage, and much more. During this time Kalki has to make decisions, hurt people she loves, and sometimes much worse.

A book immediately grabbed me, even though I know little about India and the English occupation, well outside of the movie Gandhi, which is a poor excuse I know. I liked the story and how it was told. Patel breaks the story down into ten parts, showing Kalki growth as a person, from wanting to do something, to leading a group, and much more. Kalki is an interesting character with a lot going on, but sometimes she acted a tad naive, and even foolish about certain things. I am sure this is because of the sheltered upbringing she had, but still a few times one wants to go, really girl. The story unfolds along with the situation and one is never overwhelmed with information. This was a story I knew little about going in, but I quite enjoyed, even when I was wincing in many places.

Few books look at burgeoning revolutions and I found the way this book covered it quite riveting and informative. Starting with little things, gaining skills, finding others, learning as they went and becoming quite good at what they were doing. A book that might have a lot of uses in the coming years. And one that I enjoyed quite a bit. I look forward to reading more by Vaishnavi Patel.

4-4.5/5
This a fascinating alternative fictional history to British India, reimagining and asking us, what if the Partition didn't happen and Jinnah & Ghandi both were murdered? I thought this book rly interrogated and demonstrated different approaches to combating colonialism well and how they must work in tandem, especially for the unique case that was British India. For example just as we have different types of colonialism (settler colonialism, resource colonialism, internal, surrogate, etc) one method of resistance might not work well in isolation over the other -
e.g deploying violent tactics may or may not be effective at certain times specifically w/ British India but violence set the ground work for other methods.

However while I believe the novel set out to do the above, I did feel as though the novels moral messaging became deeply muddled along the path and I felt as though, at certain very specific times, the novel was almost condemning the violence despite that violence laying the groundwork for all of the other effective methods? I think this is mostly because the MC was extremely extremely whip-lashy & frustrating at times in her narration. I do appreciate that she was deeply flawed. But her thought processes didn’t feel like the smoothest transitions to follow and she changed her mind many many many times from scene to scene making this moral messaging unclear. That being said, I really loved and appreciated that the book showed that just non violence doesn't work!

Additionally, I really love the amazing, masterful manner and research that went behind this book to consolidate the message with virtues and stories within Hindu mythology. I loved that structure SO MUCH. this authors versatility is truly astounding and impressive. It was very beautiful to read.

My only other slight qualm is the Muslim rep. I do believe Muslim rep is not as subjective as other religions but yes we all have our experiences. To make a muslim character forsake a declaration of faith in a very certain instance upon death is not right. I don’t like that there’s this expectation in media for muslim characters to forsake the most fundamental important aspects of our identity and faith for the sake of greater causes. It’s the goal of EVERY Muslim to read it upon their last death. A feat we would sell our souls to achieve. Of all things, why have the character forsake that? Why not have them do that AS well? I had to put the book down when I got to that section. Death is one of the most important things to a Muslim. And our declaration of faith is the foundation of our faith. I know why the author did it it- it’s quite clear from the book - and I don’t agree with it. Though others may disagree, I felt very strongly about this. I appreciate the author did a lot of research for the history of Muslims and the rep. But I won’t pretend that other Muslims will not have issues with making the Muslim characters marginalized in the same manner. I find that often ALWAYS happens when a non Muslim includes Muslim characters.

I still really enjoyed this book and highly encourage to readers to pick this one up

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion was an interesting read. Not my favorite novel by Vaishnavi Patel, but fascinating nonetheless.
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book!

This book talks about so many important things and I really enjoyed reading about them. It was well paced and it kept my interest

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Historical Fiction + Speculative

This is such an intriguing historical fiction that takes place in an alternative or imaginative world where India is still under British colonial rule. While it may not fall under the fantasy category, its imaginative setting in the 1960s certainly qualifies.

The story follows a young female protagonist called Kalki Divekar over a decade of her life, with each chapter representing one year. During that decade, the readers see how much this character has matured with all the struggles and obstacles that she and her people face against the evil forces of colonialism.

The appealing thing about Kalki’s character is taking responsibility when tragedy comes home. Along with her friends, she plans to destroy the empire to get the freedom they have always desired.

The book is neatly structured, and the author did an impressive job with the world-building. The author conducted extensive research and transformed real events into alternate versions. The story focuses more on female characters, who drive the rebellion. This is something more unique for this story than the usual male-dominated rebellion stories.

Despite the strong pros here, there are some drawbacks. At times, the pacing felt uneven. I feel some events needed more development to enhance the story. Although the female protagonist is strong, I couldn’t connect as much as I wished with her, which might be a personal preference. However, regardless of any con, the book has an important message and discusses relevant political and humanitarian themes even in our times, which makes it still a worthwhile read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

ten reincarnations of rebellion is one of the most unique and breathtaking books I've read. it tackles alternate india set during the independence era, and truly took my breath away in all ways i didn't expect it to. vaishnavi patel's writing is at its best in this, and she's quickly becoming one of the best authors with a strong voice and conviction. a masterpiece.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel is an unforgettable journey of resistance, sacrifice, and self-discovery, set in a world that feels both fantastical and painfully real. This novel imagines a 1960s India still under British rule, a daring alternate history that explores the lengths one woman will go to change the course of fate.
Kalki Divekar is an incredible heroine—brilliant, fierce, and haunted by the brutal reality of a city built on oppression. The way Patel weaves mythology with history is absolutely stunning, especially as the story unfolds through ten pivotal moments in Kalki’s life, mirroring the Dashavatara. These moments not only shape her but also echo the deep themes of empowerment and resistance.
The book shines in its character-driven narrative, with Kalki’s evolving relationships with Yashu and Fauzia anchoring the emotional core. Their struggle for independence feels both personal and universal, filled with tension and hope. The pacing is deliberate, building slowly to a crescendo that makes the stakes feel both enormous and intimate. If you’re a fan of thought-provoking narratives and character arcs that challenge the very idea of heroism, this is definitely a must-read.

This was super great.

It is “…an alternate history that might have been had the British Empire’s freedom-suppressing tactics been more successfully employed in India…The novel takes place in a still-colonized 1960s version of Mumbai, rife with militarized restrictions and cultural repression, that has been renamed Kingston and bears only a passing resemblance to the city of today.”

I was worried that I’d miss a lot because I’m not as familiar with India’s history as I should be, and maybe I did, but this was still super interesting. I loved seeing the rebellion take shape from the perspective of our protagonist, Kalki, who is imperfect and compelling.

Fbis is my second Vaishnavi Patel book, and I’m definitely a fan.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books!

There is something about Patel’s writings that always transports me. I appreciate a new insight into history for an area that is under represented. I truly enjoyed this and I moved through it quickly.

4/5

Told through ten chapters spanning a decade of its narrator's life, Vaishnavi Patel’s Ten Incarnations of Rebellion reimagines an India that never obtained freedom from British Imperial control, teeming on the edge of rebellion if one can only lend a spark. Kalki Divekar grows up longing for freedom, an inheritance of sorts in the years following her father’s disappearance and his legacy as a freedom fighter. In the wake of further violence, Kalki initiates a rebellion in small acts, alongside her two close friends Yashu and Fauzia, never imagining the personal sacrifices required to liberate India from the British and gain their independence. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is Vaishnavi Patel’s masterpiece, a timely work of historical fiction that questions the vehicle of rebellion—peace or violence—and the transformative nature of leading a resistance movement. Patel instils necessary nuance to this conversation as Kalki leads a grassroots movement focusing on crippling the British brick by brick, while other rebellion movements moved further afield nevertheless lend their judgement. The conversation of a liberated India extends to the unique religions, and the caste system which has long divided the community, and been a vehicle for manipulation by their oppressors. The personal cost of independence, the kinds of sacrifices we deem worthy, are divisive, and Patel explores this as Kalki confronts her limitations and her own morality. This ambitious novel is unrelenting in depicting resistance’s personal costs, and sacrifice as an intrinsic component to liberation. Vaishnavi Patel has written something long enduring and Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is one novel I’m not ever going to forget.

The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion
By Vaishnavi Patel
Pub Date: June 3, 2025

Imagine for a moment, how India would be if they had not gained their freedom from Britain in August 1947. Would a 1984-like alternate tale be told? Would their lives be controlled by imperial rule, constant surveillance, language erasure, and cultural suppression? Would they all lose hope for their ‘Independence’? As a challenge to this life, a small group of women come together to re-initiate a rebellion their fathers and grandfathers had started. A rebellion against the most powerful military entity in the world.

Vaishnavi Patel elegantly weaves this alternate-tale of Indian life in 1960’s Kingston (Mumbai) with carefully aligned lessons from Vishnu and the ten major avatars of the Hindu texts. These lessons, learned by Kalki Divekar at each key moment of the rebellion, mirror the long-honored Hindu religion of India. She must sacrifice, break her own moral values, and betray those she loves to survive to fight and to gain enlightenment for the rebellion.

The bravery of Kalki, Yashu, and Fauzia allow this rebellion to even happen. There are no young men left to rise and fight. They have all been drafted to war, on the side of Britain, to never return. The women of the Kingston cell must fight alone with the elderly and the hidden support from a few British allies on the inside.

These young women use their education, their skills, and even their feminine wiles to obtain jobs and access within the British offices and take the empire down from the inside. They must take risks no young adults should ever do and their losses are enormous.

I love the chapters where Kalki steels the print copy of the Indian National Anthem (Vande Mataram) and posts the lyrics all over Kingston and then later when the song is sung as a battle cry to Independence at the hanging of one of the heroes.

I love the descriptions of the city of Kingston. I could visualize the ‘Queens Necklace’ of lights connecting one end of Back Bay to the other side as Kalki rides in the rickshaw on her way to her first crime of the rebellion.

Kalki is the ultimate hero as the survival of the team and the success of the rebellion are more important than her own life and freedom.

Five Stars! Available June 3rd!

Net Galley and Ballatine Books have provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion started out very strong and compelling, but it quickly lost steam after the first chapter. Everything about this seemed to hit the mark—unique alternate history, rich world building, fantastic side characters, good balance of action—but the main character falls flat. So much of the story is spent in her head as she has vivid flashbacks of her father that it’s hard to feel grounded in the present conflict. I would have liked to see Kalki make more decisions for herself, and not just because it’s what her father would have wanted.

This fabulous and gritty novel about a world in which the British stayed in power in India until the 1960s is a brilliant examination of colonization, creating a resistance movement, and the costs that go along with doing so. Kalki's father is hauled away by the Brits for "treason"--agitating against the British rule in India, and as she grows up, Kalki herself is gently groomed and follows her own path to becoming the leader of the Kingston (Bombay/Mumbai) guerilla cell against them. Hers is a harrowing life, albeit studded with moments of joy and triumph, and Patel doesn't hold back on the dangers and consequences of Kalki's actions or those of her comrades. There are a few unexpected twists, and a few spots and ideas that could have sued some fleshing out, but overall, this is a book I want to give to everyone to read.

Instantly went and pre-ordered my copy after finishing. I cannot wait to re-read this book. I expected nothing less but it was absolutely amazing.