3.5 stars. Vaishnavi Patel delivers a powerful and thought-provoking reimagining of myth and history in The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion. With lyrical prose and a fierce, feminist lens, Patel masterfully explores themes of identity, resistance, and transformation through vivid characters and a gripping narrative. This novel is both intimate and epic, blending the mythic with the personal in a way that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually compelling. A bold and beautifully crafted work that solidifies Patel as a leading voice in contemporary speculative fiction.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this digital e-arc.*

I read this book back in January and I think I have thought about this book at least weekly since then. In 1960s Kingston, a city built on the ashes of Bombay in a world where the British continue to occupy India, a young woman named Kalki must struggle to survive and hope for a better future.

Told in ten chapters that both mimic major events in Kalki’s life as well as the ten avatars of Vishnu, the writing really blew me away while reading. There are some truly powerful moments and I stopped to reread several passages. While this is a reimagining of historical events, the themes of resistance and fighting oppression feel incredibly timely today, along with the importance of believing in hope.

Kalki herself is such a strong and well developed character. I really felt her emotions as she begins to secretly plan a renewed independence movement. I really loved how each moment in Kaliki’s life built up a rebellion and a fight for independence. The ensemble characters were also incredibly well written and reading about what each character has endured made me emotional at times. Overall, this was a fantastic book from Vaishnavi Patel! The characters have depth and story is well plotted while discussing themes that are very relevant today.

Add this one to your TBRs, because this is a strong contender for one of my favorite books of 2025.

This is my first time reading Vaishnavi Patel and I was NOT disappointed. I loved the organization of the story over the 10 years of our protagonist’s life. This story was bold, creative, and chock-full of girl power. I also felt that the alternative historical context propelled the plot forward and raised the stakes just enough to pull me in. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this story. I look forward to reading more of Patel’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A few months ago, I was invited to preview Vaishnavi Patel’s new novel Ten Incarnations of Rebellion. Though I wasn’t sure I would have time to read it before it was released, I found the premise intriguing – alternate histories are often interesting but I wasn’t sure I was familiar enough with the actual history to truly appreciate an alternate history. However, after I started listening to the Empire podcast (starting from the beginning because that’s just how I listen), I decided I had to read it and I’m so glad I did (and did so with those first handful of Empire episodes so fresh in my memory). Exploring a version of India where British colonial rule cracked down more in the early 20th century and partition didn’t happen in the wake of WWII, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion follows one young woman’s journey in her rebel father’s footsteps as she begins taking action against the British in an alternate version of Mumbai that Patel calls Kingston.

At nineteen, Kalki Divekar engages in her first outright act of rebellion against the British in Kingston though she’s been itching to do something ever since her father disappeared before the British could arrest him as a traitor. Hesitant and cautious at first, each successful transgression, each chance taken that pays off, causes Kalki’s anger and drive for independence to grow exponentially. But not everything goes according to plan and the British with their propaganda are adept and turning the people of Kingston and India against each other, preventing them from building a united force that could actually defeat them. But as Kalki’s confidence and skills grow, so do those of the movement that she finds herself playing a key role in growing and guiding. Kalki and her friends are determined that it’s a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ their efforts will ultimately succeed but will they and those who have been fighting alongside them live long enough to see freedom and independence?

One of my favorite things about Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is how Patel structured it. Broken into ten chapters, each begins with a lesson Kalki learns and ends with a myth that ties it all together as well. This structure helps keep the novel’s pace moving as well as thematically on point. The description mentions that the structure is also a “mirror the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu,” and, though I am not familiar enough with Hinduism to appreciate all the nuances that Patel almost certainly worked in through the stories chosen, I understand enough to know how much it helps reinforce the novel’s solid foundation.

Once again, I have to return to the fact that the novel is an alternate history. While it helps to be familiar with the history of India in the 20th century (and I’m incredibly glad that I ended up listening to those Empire episodes when I did, given how little history of India we learn as part of the US history curriculum), I don’t think it is necessary to be fully familiar with that history to follow and appreciate the world Patel has created, it does add layers to a strong narrative with compelling characters. It’s strong enough to stand alone, in part, because of the research that Patel conducted and which she alludes to in her author’s note. While the timeline is altered from India’s actual history, so many of the events and tactics of the rebellion are still rooted in true events and fights against colonialism and oppression that they carry their weight.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is available tomorrow, June 3, 2025.

A very interesting alternative reality book.

What if Britain had remained in power rather than India becoming independent? This book follows that premise. We have a young woman, hoping to bring down the British Coloniel Rule from the inside. Each chapter represents one year in her life and so much happens within each chapter!

An intriguing book that takes on life, death, happiness, and tragedy. Much deeper than many of the books I read. Well thought out and makes you think about many what ifs in history and in life.

Wow! This book was phenomenal. It started a little slow but by the end it had ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and then made me feel hopeful. An alternate history of what would have happened if India had failed to gain their independence from British Colonization. The book follows Kalki, a young Indian girl who has only ever known British rule. We see her learn many hard lessons as she grows into a woman who cannot stand by and let her people continue to suffer. There is love and loss, there are triumphs and failures, and we see plenty of despair, but also hope. This was definitely a five star read and I highly recommend it. I will read anything that Vaishnavi Patel writes.

Not the typical historical fiction I go for, but I'm glad I decided to give this a read. This story was really unique and really emotional too. This story was sharp and took a stab at addressing weighty themes. It was a powerful, ambitious read. It made me reflect on what it means to be free, what we are willing to do/sacrifice for that freedom.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[I also recommended this on the June 3rd episode of All the Books]

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion takes place in an alternate version of 1960s India, where British colonists’ brutal crackdown successfully quashed earlier attempts at independence. We meet Kalki as a teenager. Her father’s fight for freedom forced him to flee their home, and Kalki hasn’t heard from him since. Despite his rebellion liking costing his life, Kalki is following in his footsteps, in her own way. While her mother pleads for her to keep herself safe, Kalki is passionate about the fight to free India. We follow her as she gets older and learns how to best contribute to this struggle—and what she’s willing to sacrifice to the cause.

I was a little intimidated to pick this one up, for whatever reason, so I started listening to the audiobook and reading along, initially meaning to just immersive read for the first chapter to get into it. Instead, I ended up reading the whole book like that, and I loved the experience: the audiobook is excellent, and I felt like I understood the story more deeply by reading and listening simultaneously.

This is a stunning read about the realities of fighting for freedom. While this is not the real history of India, in the author’s note, Patel explains that it is all inspired by real-life events. You can really see that complexity in the text: while there may be heroes and villains, most characters are complicated. Good people do terrible things. Terrible people act as allies in key moments.

It also shows the real sacrifice, struggles, and rifts in revolutionary movements. There are many arguments within the resistance about which actions are appropriate, especially when it comes to violence: is killing your oppressor acceptable? What if they’re just a low-level employee? What if it’s in self-defense? Can you bomb a building with no one in it? How much acceptable risk is there if there may be someone in that building? There are no easy answers, and Kalki herself changes her mind multiple times about where her line is.

Throughout the narrative are traditional Indian stories from religion and mythology that offer context and guidance as Kalki makes difficult decisions, including about when violence is necessary and what kind of leadership is needed in peace times.

That’s not the only disagreement between freedom fighters. When we meet Kalki, she and her friend Yashu have both been invited as star students to a government function. While Kalki is sickened by it, Yashu explains she and other people in her caste have had more opportunities under British colonialist leadership than they had prior to it. She’s skeptical that overthrowing the current regime would benefit people of lower castes. It’s a conversation they will return to many times in years to come.

As I read this book, I was reminded of how many SFF dystopian stories we have about young people overthrowing an oppressive government and how few of them are set in our world—as if we have no examples of powers worth opposing. This feels so needed, not just as an understanding of how horrific British colonialism was in the past and its impacts today (though this is an alternate history of India, the government’s actions are all drawn from real history), but also as an example for the kinds of conversations and choices necessary to oppose corruption in our world.

Part of the reason I was originally drawn to Ten Incarnations of Rebellion was because of its queer content, and while that’s true, don’t expect a heartwarming queer romance. Patel is unflinching about the sacrifices and casualties of rebellion, and no one emerges unscathed. I did, however, enjoy the moments of queer solidarity and friendship included. (Side note: I thought of Kalki as bi and demiromantic and/or demisexual: “I’m slow to everything except anger.”)

When you pick this one up, don’t skip the author’s note at the end of the book. Patel explains how she was inspired by India’s freedom fighters, including those in her own family, and how colonialism has left a wake of destruction that still damages today. She also says that she was interested in the complexities of fights like this and how “selfishness and selflessness that go hand in hand in revolution”—Kalki is so devoted to the cause that no relationship with anyone else can come close. As the author’s note says, “Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a love letter to those who fought and an exhortation to keep fighting. The struggle is never over.”

A fantastic alternate history of an India that didn't throw off British rule in 1947. This novel takes place in 1960s Bombay, now named Kingston, and features an unforgettable, flawed, brave heroine, Kalki Divekar, as she joins the fight for independence in her hometown by building a network of women revolutionaries. The story is told through ten periods in Kalki's life that mirror the ten incarnations of Vishnu, and Patel meticulously crafts the story, showing rather than bludgeoning the reader (I'm looking at you, Babel) with the many evils of colonialism. This is a big story told compactly, full of life, power, and hope. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a digital review copy.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 6/2/25. Review will be posted to Amazon on release date.

Kalki Divekar is the daughter of a member of the Indian Liberation Movement who finds herself with the unique opportunity in her adult life to try to achieve the thing her father had been fighting for his whole life, India being free from British colonization. Along side her childhood friends,Fauzia and Yashu, they embark in a decades long dance of acts of resistance that are filled with danger and almost guaranteed death if found out.

This book was so beautifully done. Each chapter was a year in Kalki’s life and what she learned through the ILM movement. While the author has said that this is her imaging of what would have happened if the British were able to enact the techniques of control they learned after being forced out of India, this felt so real and moving. There were multiple times I cried reading this book which to me is a gauge into how much a book affects me. I was cheering for our characters and holding my breath during tense moments. In a time where we’re being asked to confront the harms being done in the world, I hope we are all able to be like Kalki, Fauzia, and Yashu-brave, determined, and demanding that what is right is done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this pre-approved ARC e-copy of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel.

Set in an alternate universe where India was never liberated from the British, the Ten Incarnations of Rebellion follows Kalki, a woman who sparks a resistance movement that mirrors stories from the Dashavatara.

I have read all of Vaishnavi Patel’s books to date, and this is her most stunning novel yet. The characters, stakes, and writing are all so vivid that it is impossible not to become attached and invested. The way the chapters are formatted only amplify the emotional impact of the story, which is already strong.

This is a marvelous and moving piece of speculative fiction. If you enjoyed this author’s other works, I highly recommend this one, as it is Vaishnavi Patel’s truest work of art.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion takes place in an alternate India that was never liberated from the British, and follows Kalki Divekar, the daughter of a rebel, across ten moments from her life as she and her friends foster in a new rebellion.

Alternative historical fiction is always difficult to execute, but Vaishnavi Patel stuck the landing for me with this one. While the book was a bit slow to start, mostly due to needing to establish much of the setup outlined in the synopsis, I quickly grew to love Kalki, her friends, and their cause as the book hit its stride. While events in the story are deeply emotional, the book doesn't concern itself more than absolutely necessary with frivolous emotions, opting instead for stylistic flair through things such as Kalki reciting a myth. I think this can make it difficult to connect more meaningfully with the characters and the story, especially as there's not a wealth of time spent developing them past what's absolutely necessary, but as an artistic decision I do feel these kinds of choices really rounded out the points Patel was trying to make about resilience, about community, and about the greater good.

I think this is a great pick for folks who like historical fiction and can tolerate a bit of a belabored pace, and it's certainly a valuable read on rebellion and the fight for independence.

An alternate history where India was not liberated history and the story of those who kept fighting for that freedom, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a massive undertaking on Vaishnavi Patel's part. One that she pulls off stunningly. The pressure and scale of revolution grows with the characters, beginning with seemingly small acts in their teenage years to growing their own revolution as they themselves grow through their twenties. Each chapter is almost a snapshot of each year that Kalki chooses to press for the freedom of her home and its people. Patel captures so well the way that what feels huge at one age changes within a year. It allows a lot of space for change that the reader doesn't see, which at times I found frustrating, but overall offered a wider understanding of time and how long the struggle for independence continued. A novel that is so deeply driven by personal relationships will always be close to my heart and no part of this novel works without the vibrancy of the friendships and families within.

𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑹𝑬𝑩𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝒃𝒚 𝑽𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒏𝒂𝒗𝒊 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍 is my latest story of rebellious women and revolution that I was able to read and and listen to thanks to @ballantinebooks via @netgalley & #partner @prhaudio. This epic, alternate history story comes out June 3rd.

This is not historical fiction, and yet there are aspects of historically accurate themes in this tale of Indian resistance in a British occupied nation. In this version, the women have been left as the men have all but been taken to fight, but they are not all compliant. Kalki has been born into this system, but her father left behind seeds of resistance that grow up in her.

I absolutely adored Kaikeyi, and was excited to see what else Patel would bring, and I was not disappointed! This is an epic story that uses timeless themes of occupation, repression, sacrifice, revolution, and asks the hard questions of what we are willing to give for freedom. There was no lack of cultural critique of the oppressed in ways of inequality, and even in the varying methods of resistance. I found that aspect kept it from being didactic and even more open to universal applications and thought. It is easy to see the evil in the oppressor (as we should) but sometimes our smaller divisions have similar effects.

I feel like this is a richly drawn novel that cannot be adequately summed up by a short review, but I do want to say how much I loved Kalki and her progression through her journey. It was not a direct line, it was fraught with risk, it was filled with questions & few answers, but I loved where she landed. She was realistically flawed and still found her power.

I really appreciated having the narration of Mayuri Bhandari to help me hear the pronunciations and to do a bit of singing! It is so helpful to hear names and places correctly while reading about places away from my spheres.

I am fascinated by alternative histories. I always have many questions! Overall, this was a moving tale of strength & fortitude while balancing humanity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Big thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion was everything I expected and more. As a speculative historical fiction novel around the events of India's Independence movement, I had some historical background to go off of, but Patel did a phenomenal job of bringing to light the tactics employed by Britain across the globe in this novel that I was less familiar with. The result was a novel that was emotionally charged on every single page and nearly impossible to put down.

Vaishnavi Patel's story has motivated me to dig deeper into the history of British Colonialism and it's impacts within my own family as well as globally. If a story can do that, it's forever a 5 star review from me! I will not be forgetting Kalki's (or any of the other character's) story any time soon.

This is a great historical fiction novel set in an alternate world where India is still under British colonial rule. It follows Kalki over the course of her life with each chapter reflecting a year. The overall formatting of the book was very interesting to me and despite the important themes that were brought up throughout the novel - it felt as if it was trying to do too much at once? I don't really have the right words to express that. However, don't let that deter you from giving this a go. Vaishnavi Patel is a great writer!

Alternate histories are always very hard to pull off and the author does a fairly commendable job here. Due to the ties with Indian mythology and Indian history, the book may not appeal to everyone but I loved the premise and the innovative concept of using the 10 incarnations of Vishnu.

I really wanted to love this one, but sadly it isn’t working for me. Kaikeyi is one of my favorite books, so when I saw another book by this author I jumped on the chance to read it. I definitely think this is more a me problem than a book problem.

This is well written and the prose is beautiful, exactly what I would expect from this author. The story is interesting and the characters seem well developed.

I think if you’re a fan of historical fiction, enjoy the idea of a reimagined history, and don’t mind a slower plot or long chapters this could work for you.

I’m DNFing at 55% - long chapters & slower pacing rarely work for me and this is one of those cases where I just can’t seem to get into the story.

I will absolutely be reading more from this author in the future and really do think she's very talented, this was just the wrong book for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. I don't know how to rate this book. I was super excited to read this because I loved Vaishnavi Patel's previous books. This book covers super important topics, and I think Vaishnavi Patel has a lot of important stuff to say about the fight for freedom and independence. However, while I really like our three main characters, the actual book itself is kind of slow in the beginning, and it is only towards the end that I started to feel something. I guess I just expected more from the author because I truly believe she is a good writer, but in this book, everything just feels so distant, and the pace is a bit strange due to the book being divided into ten long chapters which cover ten years of time. While I am familiar with the myths of the Dashavatara, I am uncertain whether the choice to structure the book was a good choice, because in some chapters the connection was clear, while in others it was not as clear. I still think this is an important book to read.

Over to others. This is a richly imagined novel of alternate history that's broken into ten chapters meant to represent the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Kalki's father disappeared while leading a rebellion and now she's taken up the cause. It's 1960s alternate India and Patel weaves in Indian cultural beliefs and mythology to tell her story. Unfortunately, I felt much of this was going over my head, probably because I was struggling to relate Patel to what I know of India. That's on me, not her. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm sure this will resonate with many.