Pretty intense book that was nicely written though I didn't quite get the mythology connection as much even though I could see where it was going. Wish it was written in a different context as I probably would have loved it more.
4 stars

As with all of Vaishnavi Patel's books, this was a delight to read from start to finish. It was something of a departure from her previous more fantasy-based works, but just as compellingly and beautifully written.

Everything about this book was just so cleverly constructed and wonderfully written. I loved how each chapter ended with a different story that someone shared, and how they all tied back into the theme of that chapter and the book as a whole. I found that the progression of the story was handled incredibly smoothly, and I don't think I've ever seen repeated timeskips done as well as they were in this. Everything flowed brilliantly, the pacing was excellent, and even at the points where I thought I knew what was coming next, the journey there was never quite what I was expecting.

The alternate history in which the book was set felt very real and grounded from the outset. Even without the extensive reference list at the back of the book, it would have been clear to me just how thoroughly researched and well thought out this book was. Part of what stood out about the premise of this alternate India was just how plausible its existence seemed to be. It was easy to believe that, as the book proposed, the British Empire could have suppressed India's freedom movement and the resulting India would be one very much like the one of which you read here.

All of the characters - every single one of them - were amazing. Each of their roles in the plot became crystal clear as the story progressed, and they all felt significant not just as individuals and as characters but as deliberate plot devices and as part of a resistance movement. There was such a wide array of approaches to fighting for freedom and resisting British rule, explored through the different characters and their attitudes towards the liberation movement. It was particularly interesting to see where characters' perspectives changed, and why - or to be left to speculate.

That the focus of the story was on a resistance movement led by women - all of the men being at war or already dead - made for compelling reading, especially where they clashed and contrasted with other chapters of the Indian Liberation Movement, and where they didn't. Seeing their movement expand and change and unfold as the years passed was what cemented in my mind that the almost episodic narrative of the book was the perfect way to have written this. It worked so well I couldn't imagine it being any other way.

In short, this book is splendid in every way, and my only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. It is so incredibly rich in just plain quality storytelling, and I know that when I reread it (which I most certainly will) I will notice a hundred other brilliantly intelligent instances of foreshadowing and evidence of a tightly woven plot that I could not possibly fully appreciate from only one read through. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a masterpiece of storytelling, and I already can't wait to read it again.

eARC Review: Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel

This was a fantastic reimagining of Bombay/Mumbai in the 1960s through the questions of “what if the British never left? What if the Indian independence movement never succeeded?” Patel doesn’t sugar coat anything in this novel leaving the reader with a heavy sense of injustice and rage for the characters all the while GUTTED when events play out before the character’s eyes. 🤯

The story follows Kalki through ten years of brutal British occupation and colonization of Kingston, this world’s Mumbai. From a young girl just starting her adult life to a broken but still fighting woman, Kalki is put through everything in this tale that barely hits 300 pages. I won’t say much because the story itself deserves to be read without any indication from me about the plot other than I loved it and inwardly wept for the characters. 😭

As someone who studied literature during a movement for independence, I loved how Patel showcases how powerful it can be to the oppressed and how forcibly divorcing them from it doesn’t make them anymore compliable than it does stoke the fire for rage. 🔥

Again, go into this knowing it’s an alternate reality that deals with heavy topics like racial superiority, colonialism, segregation by caste and religion, and violence. Should you know about the Indian independence movement before reading this? I would say no, but the context of the story will be all the more gut wrenching and powerful if you did a quick read into it before diving into this. Patel also provides fantastic works of literature and scholarship into this period of history if you wish to continue reading more on it after finishing the book. 🇮🇳

HUGE thank you goes out to Del Rey and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late 😅) review; and to Patel for again BLOWING my mind with your fictional work. ❤️

Publication date: June 3!!

Overall: 5/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC Copy!

I really enjoy a fantastical historical fiction, and this was such an interesting alternative work that is set in India who is under British rule. This story spans over many years following the FMC while they are living under the rule of colonization, and all the struggles that they face under the evil and heartless rule of the monarchy. The worldbuilding was absolutely beautify and the writing was both lyrical and impactful. If you enjoy a heavily political fantasy world then you will really enjoy this book.

This book blew my mind. It follows one soul reborn across ten wildly different lives… each time finding themselves at the heart of a rebellion. Sometimes they’re a student, sometimes a soldier, even once a prince. The worlds change (think empires, AI dystopias, magical cults), but that same spark of resistance always returns.

The writing is beautifully poetic but sharp and every incarnation explores different kinds of resistance: personal, political, spiritual. Some stories hit harder than others (I’m still reeling from the one set in the glass god-city), but they all tie together by the end in a way that’s devastating and brilliant.

It’s definitely not a light read. It jumps around a lot, and some timelines can be confusing but it’s so worth it. Feels like Cloud Atlas meets The Broken Earth with a dash of Time War energy. Big ideas, big emotions, and a soul you can’t help but root for.

Highly recommend if you like rebellious epics with heart.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion - Vaishnavi Patel

I slept on Patel’s Kaikeyi for far too long and when I finally read it, I deeply regretted not reading it sooner. The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is moreso a historical fiction read vs. historical fantasy but each chapter ends with each of the incarnations of Vishnu, providing the reader doses of Indian mythology along the way.. Set in an alternate version in which India does not successfully gain independence from British colonialism in the 1940s, we see our main character Kalki as she struggles with a desire to join the fight for freedom while also keeping her friends and family protected from the violent ruling of the British government.

The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a beautifully written, well researched story of colonialism and Indian independence. Similar to the female empowerment fueled historical fiction of Kate Quinn, we see Kalki and her friends establish multiple cells of an insurgent movement, run by women, throughout the city. We also see glimpses of a sapphic love story and sexual awakening, a rare occurrence for 1960s India.

I really enjoyed this story and appreciate the author’s note which provides further reading recommendations about the true events that led to Indian independence in 1947. The author notes that she has worked years to perfect this story, immersing herself in research and reading while honoring her grandparents who lived and breathed through the fight for Indian independence from British rule, and it shows.

The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is out now! Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is an alternate history wherein India did not gain independence in 1947 and remained under British colonial rule. It follows a young woman, Kalki, and her journey towards freedom.

I love Vaishnavi Patel’s writing. It is smart and deeply emotional. One of my favorite things she does is ask hard questions about right and wrong and lets you sit with it. I came to love Kalki and her friends and the story left me both devastated and hopeful.

Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Well, what a fucking disappointment! This is the first time I have finished reading anything by Patel, and her writing style was the major thing that kept me reading. Patel has a way of portraying emotion and character motivations that intrigues me enough to check out her backlist. My favorite character(s) was/were Yashu and sometimes Fauzia. Kaalki is the protagonist and the least interesting out of the three. This entire novel takes place over 9 or 10 years in Kaalki's life as she leads a rebellion-turned-revolution. As the reader, we were given a preface to inform us how Patel decided to create an alternate history novel asking how would India gain independence from the British if their presence was more violent and had another revolution decades after the first attempt. I am not familiar with India's independence movement, but the book kept referencing to real-life independence movements across the world in the 1960s.

This is where my problems start: the novel prides itself with their use of nonviolent protests and look down on the necessity of violent protests and actions, which confuses me immensely when other independence movements, that the book referenced, moved forward when violence was enacted against their colonizers. While I liked Patel's writing style, I felt as though she was telling the reader what these characters saw and felt instead of just showing us. I was told certain events happened and wished the story was told in multiple POVs. I would have loved to read this story in Yashu and/or Fauzia's POV instead of Kaalki or as an addition. Kaalki was passionate for India's independence but not knowledgable enough to understand how a rebellion turns into a revolution. Thankfully, she had other people around her, but I was not a fan of the constant messaging of non-violence over violence.

The pacing was quite slow and the general structure was quite repetitive. I like the inclusion of each avatar of Vishnu explained, but none of those inclusions were seemless and instead were shoe-horned towards the end of each chapter. Patel could have made summarized epigraphs in the beginning of each chapter or spread them out in different parts in each chapter. Overall, this story would have been really good, but the thematic work and messaging brought my rating down. Also, very wild to me that a character who attempted to rape someone got a redemption at the end.

I loved Kaikeyi and jumped at the chance to read another book by this author. Not gonna lie, this took me a bit to get into. But once I did, I was hooked. Its such a unique story and stucture. Its definitely a brain on book. The setting was rich and vibrant. This book makes me wanna pick up the last Patel book that I haven't read yet.

I will say this is not my favorite work by Patel (Kaikeyi was just SOOO good!), but I do think it is a creative expanse on her writing. Another thing impacting my rating is the fact that I forced myself to finish it when I wasn't in the mood to read it. Sometimes you just have to admit when you should've DNF'ed!

I picked this up because I really liked Kaikeyi and wanted to read more by this author. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is an alternate history of India fighting for freedom from British rule. I know virtually nothing about Indian history, so I don't think I got the full impact of the book. (The author is aware that many readers may not be familiar with history and provides a good reading list/bibliography.) This book centers the story around women and their efforts in the Indian Liberation Movement, and that is a refreshing perspective. The relationships between the characters are believable and realistic. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but the pacing sometimes seemed a little off and some of the plot "twists" were a bit predictable.

I somehow missed that this book was an alternate history until the end - so I may have been a little confused about some of the dates and references, but finding it out made it even more interesting. The premise is that the British Occupation of India lasts longer and is more cruel than in reality. The book focuses on 3 young Indian women growing up and trying to succeed during this time, both within the British rules for their lives, and fighting it as part of the Indian Resistance. Their relationships are interesting, with each other and others, and the plot is fascinating. This is a smart book and also entertaining. Although it is an alternate history, there is a lot of truth and history in it, and some good lessons for the present.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ ten incarnations of rebellion.


ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4.75/5

in an alternate version of occupied india, a group of young women turn the tide of history to save their land. with a sprinkle of hindu mythology, kalki’s life is told with incredible grace; this is the story of how women led the charge against the british occupation in their struggle for freedom.
honestly, i don’t even know how to express my deep love for this beautiful book. i am a changed woman; my heart has evolved because of it. vaishnavi has such an incredible way of expressing emotion—spoiler alert: there is quite a lot of it—and it genuinely moved me to tears on more than one occasion 🥺. she is a master in storytelling, with her amazing voice and stunning prose. what a work of art this piece is, and how lucky i am to have read it cover to cover. not to mention all the characters 🙏🏼 each and every single one of them was fleshed out so beautifully, so deeply, that it literally felt like i was in the book itself, interacting with them, feeling their joy and love and sadness and pain and awe as much as my own. wow, am i in awe even now. no book has made me feel like this in such a long time <3 i will forever be thinking of kalki and fauzia and the rest. 🫶🏼

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a fascinating look at an alternative history for India- one in which the British might have used tactics learned after their defeat in true Indian history. The story focuses on Kalki, who is the heroine and leader of the Indian Liberation Movement in her city. She recruits her friends to join her and this is the story of what might have happened. Although fictional, there are of course threads of truth about British colonialism in this story. There is also great LGBTQ representation, which was unexpected but appreciated!

I found this story very emotional and difficult at times, but overall very thought-provoking. I haven't had the chance to read this author's other books yet, but I look forward to doing so!

This book made me cry and I loved it.

They way Patel navigates rebellion is truly awe inspiring. I loved the MC and ever character in this book. It's a story I won't soon forget.

not my favorite but interesting concept! gorgeous writing and layered characters, i just didn't get attached to the story and think the timeline didn't do it any favors

Kalki did not plan to be a revolutionary. She lived her life missing her father, who had gone missing years ago. She had her friends, Fauzia and Yashu.

As the British rule over Kingston, her home, became unbearable, Kalki led every growing rebellions against the British. The story details ten vignettes of rebellion and how Kalki's leadership amassed the people and fighting back against the injustices against the British.

I thought the book started off a bit slowly, but it quickly picked up the pace and sucked me into the story and their lives. By the time it was over, I was wishing I could read more.

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I already knew I was going to love this book based on the previous books Vaishnavi released but wow did this book grip me in a way I had not expected.

Aside from the great writing, the organization of the book was *mwah* chef's kiss 🤌. With the main character being named Kalki which is also the final avatar of Vishnu had me waiting to see how she would be the final reckoning for independence in this fictional version of a colonized India in the 1960s.

We had representation of lgbtq+, castes, and religions throughout the entire story making it easy to find all the characters lovable (other than the british obviously).

And the plot twists! The first one I kind of predicted but then forgot about so when it happened, it still made my jaw drop. And the second one, I had an inkling but couldn't quite put my finger on and when the reveal happened I was flabbergasted to say the least.

The timeliness of this book while all the current events of the world are taking place has not been lost on me and it really can be anybody with a determination and dream to change history.

I absolutely loved this novel! This might be my favorite historical fiction novel EVER. This book poses the interesting question of what would happen if the British never left India, and Gandhi's nonviolent revolution failed? I loved the concept from the moment I heard it, and the execution was incredible. From the beginning, the reader is drawn to the main character, Kalki. She is a very compelling and strong female lead, mirroring many of my favorite FMCs in popular 2000s dystopian fiction. While Kalki is strong-willed and an obvious choice for a leader of the revolution, she also has flaws in her thinking. These are not highlighted directly in the text, but rather shown by her less wealthy friend, Yashu. Yashu is from India's lowest caste, the Dalits, and she provides a grounding context to the story that many leaders during the actual Indian freedom movement failed to consider. Vaishnavi Patel begs the question of what would happen if a free India looked like a united India, rather than the divided and fractured one that came post-Gandhi's revolution? What would happen if Hindus and Muslims continued to live side-by-side, if people from all castes would listen to each other's varying pathways to freedom? A story of collaboration over competition, TEN INCARNATIONS OF REBELLION is one that's sure to stick with me for a long time after turning the last page.

I have read and loved this author's fantasy novels. I so wanted to love this one, but I just could not get into the story. I tried multiple times and in multiple formats and didn't find myself wanting to pick it up, so I am moving on. I will still read whatever she comes up with next.