2.75⭐️ rounded up

A historical fiction based in an alternate 1960's history where India remained under British control. It's time for the Rebellion.

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 11 hours and 42 minutes
🎤: Mayuri Bhandari
In relation to the audiobook, I found it to be done very well. It was clear and concise, and the narrator did an excellent job creating an emotional atmosphere within the novel. I didn't have any problems with their dictation or the way they spoke and I was able to listen at the same preferred speed during the duration of the novel.

Themes:
🥀: Rising up against colonization
🥀: Resistance in the face of oppression
🥀: The true meaning and cost of freedom

Representation:
☀️: South Asian Cast
☀️: Queer main and side characters
☀️: Chapters mirror the 10 Avatars of Vishnu

Tropes:
💗: Found Family
💗: Child picking up the mantle of the parents rebellion

🥵: Spice: 🚫 light kissing only
Potential Triggers: check authors website/social media

Short Synopsis:
Kalki has grown up in Kingston, which was built out of the ashes of Bombay by the British. Living her entire life under British rule, where Indians thought of as the "lesser" people, Kalki is used to flying under the radar. Having lost not only her father, but friends and loved ones to British occupation, Kalki decides that it is time for her to pick up the rebellion from the elder generations. Starting with small acts of resistance, Kalki soon builds a group who also feels it's time to make a stand. Freedom, at last.

General Thoughts:
This book is actually a very hard one to rate. While I feel like the themes and subject matter are extremely important, and that everybody needs to have books with this type of content on their TBR, this novel fell so extremely flat for me. In this instance there's not any one large issue that created problems for me, but a subtle building of numerous issues overtime that just led up to a poor reading experience for me.

I did really enjoy our main character Kalki. She was strong and really presented a lasting emotional response. The way she struggled with her own thoughts and ideas versus what was better for the greater good came across as very realistic. Her strong sense of loyalty to her family, as well as to her cause was commendable and unwavering.

I also really enjoyed the way that this story was formatted and written. Each chapter covered a pivotal point in Kalki's life over the 10 year duration of this novel. They were also modeled after the 10 Avatars of Vishnu. I found this an extremely unique and fresh way to blend Indian culture and heritage with a novel that is set in an alternate history.

This book did really present some challenges for me. I had a very hard time with the overall pacing of this novel. I found myself constantly bored and searching for something else to do while reading this book. I was constantly pulled out of the story by lulls in any kind of action that we were receiving. I also felt like a lot of what could've been action sequences were done behind the scenes instead of detailed to the reader. For example, numerous times we were told that the fight for independence was closing in on an end. However, I didn't see any of the major disruptions made towards the British that were resulting in this inevitable "win". We were just told it was coming.

This story did pick up slightly towards the last 25% of the book. But at that point I had been so disinterested for the majority of the book that it was hard to muster up the energy to be excited about the ending. I will say that the ending, despite the lack of energy, was emotional.

That is not to say this novel cannot be enjoyed by others. Readers who are OK with a slower pace as well as less detailed action sequences in a historical fiction might find this to be right up their alley.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a free audiobook through the Penguin Random House audiobook influencer club and a eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks first and foremost to NetGalley and Kathleen at Penguin Random for pre-approving me to read and review this eARC.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion's publication date is next week, and I'm thrilled to share my perspective on this novel, as I have read and thoroughly enjoyed other works of Patel's.

This novel is an alternative version of historical events wherein India does not gain independence until the 1960s, and much of the history we know today about that era in Indian history is erased and/or re-written. Patel asked what might have happened if India had remained under British rule for a couple extra decades - how may that have shaped the India we know today, and the India of yesteryear. Patel explores themes of family, grief, revenge, justice, revolution, love, queerness, gender ideals and roles, and much more in Ten Incarnations. These themes are explored in depth, often from varied perspectives. This worked incredibly well, as did the unexpected folks along the way whose minds were shifted by Kalki and her crew, or by the way they saw the British treating Indians on a daily basis.

While none of the reveals were surprising for me, this could be a really fun engagement for many readers, as the bread crumbs Patel leaves aren't overly obvious, I don't think. (I blame having a spicy brain with pattern recognition always on 1000)

There wasn't quite as much depth to some of the characters as I'd have liked, particularly given this novel is primarily character-driven. I didn't feel as connected to the characters, their aims, their dreams, their arcs, as I'd have liked to have been, but not every novel is a perfect fit for every reader.

Nonetheless, this novel is a solid imagining and revisiting of historical events that took place, revolution and rebellion, and themes of resistance and oppression, including in some ways that continue to impact India and the rest of the subcontinent.

The lower ranking doesn't reflect the impact that this novel has and can have, but simply how well it worked for me. This novel is slower-paced than I prefer, and is a bit more politically dense than I'd prefer, lowering the intrigue factor for me significantly. Regardless, I'll continue to read from Patel, and look forward to hearing how others feel about this novel!

CWs: graphic - colonization; moderate - death, death of a parent, sexism, police brutality, sexual harassment; minor - homophobia, sexual assault, torture

This is a bold and imaginative alternate history that reimagines 1960s India under continued British colonial rule. The novel follows Kalki Divekar, a young woman from Kingston as she becomes a central figure in a covert resistance movement. Structured around ten pivotal moments in Kalki’s life, the narrative weaves together mythological symbolism and political rebellion.

Vaishnavi Patel has done it again. I devoured this book in one sitting. The use of the ten avatars of Vishnu as a way to arrange the story was so unexpected but a literary delight to read (don't worry, you don't need any existing knowledge to enjoy this book). This story is full of female rage and rebellion, and my personal favorite, destroying colonialism brick by brick. The romantic subplot was well-done and had me screaming and crying. I couldn't recommend this story more and I adored it.

If you liked Babel by R.F. Kuang, or V for Vendetta, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion weaves a related story. One of an alternate history of India where the British manage to hold on to their colonial rule. Where they - as any colonizing force in history does - take a patronizing stance toward those they subdue in the name of "this is better for them than what they were doing on their own before we came to help them find the light." Not a quote, that line, but more a sentiment.

What we get to read are the ten moments in Kalki's life that mark her finding, participating in, and eventually leading a resistance-turned-rebellion. What we get to read are all of the smaller moments of selfishness and selflessness and love and heartbreak and betrayal that shape Kalki and Fauzia and Yashua. These three women take the embers of resistance and fan the flames, creating smoke and fire.

This is one of those books that is hard to read because it is rooted in history and the present. What we see here has happened, is happening, and will happen again. But what we look for is a reason to push back, to dream for better.

Who gets to measure the cost of freedom and determine if it is worth the price? Does it matter our motivations for taking part (or not)? In the end, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion leaves us with the story of women who take on power, brick by brick, and dare to try for freedom.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion has a lot of heart and is very well done for showing the cost of rebellion and resistance. Vaishnavi Patel writes beautifully and her characters are very well built. I found the alternative history here very believable as well. For me it got slow at times, but overall I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for a historical alt history that focuses on the people involved.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book narrates an alternate history of events that would have happened had India not gained independence in 1947. India's prominent leaders and proponents of the freedom struggle have all been killed off and India is under a strict authoritarian administration under the ruling British. I loved the premise and concept of the novel. In some ways it reminded me of the recent Booker winner by Paul Lynch Prophet Song. I like the way the author has demonstrated just how harsh, exploitative, self-serving and violent the colonial rule was. It is hard to imagine that Governments which are supposedly pillars of democracy propagated such undemocratic, fascist policies in their empires. My one big grouse was that I found the writing too simplistic in places and it read like a teenage adventure novel. Some of the plot was also pretty cliched. Nevertheless, I liked the way the author has tried to link the various chapters to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The first line of each chapter also highlights how the main protagonist evolves and matures in her thoughts and actions as she leads the rebellion against the British rule. I loved the author's note at the end of the novel and the recommended reading. I would recommend this novel to anybody who has an interest in India, its history and culture. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book focuses on a female lead rebellion/resistance group which I enjoyed reading about immensely. I found the story to be powerful and impactful. It takes place in a fictional India but the themes throughout are present in every day life. Broken into 10 chapters and 10 stories we are able to follow our main character as she experiences pain, heartbreaks, grief, inspiration and hard learned lessons. I think this book offers light and hope during a current political time period where everything feels dark and draining. My only criticism is that there were alot of flashbacks and it could be a little confusing and jarring at time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.
I really enjoyed Kaikeyi even though I did not know a lot about Hindu myths and stories, so this caught my interest and I finally got to it the other day. AND then I could NOT put it down. I had just had some long reflections and discussions with people after finishing off a Star Wars related tv series called Andor that showed events before Rogue One and I found myself reflecting on rebellions, what they cost, how we justify our actions during them, what we hope to achieve, what keeps us hoping after all, and this book was PERFECT for continuing to think about these things. The ten episodes combined with more Hindu stories, the up close examinations of how do you know if you have done enough? Too much? When things go wrong how do you deal with that? What are you REALLY willing to give up? Just such a good book. It's speculative in that it is an alternative history, in which India did not gain independence after WWII. I really recommend this one to anyone with an interest in history, war, revolution.

This one just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay. I can absolutely see how powerful and important this story might be for someone who is more familiar with India’s history under British rule. There’s a lot to appreciate in how the author brings history and mythology together, but I struggled to connect.
I felt like I was dropped into the middle of something without enough context or time to really get invested in the characters or what was happening. It’s a strong story and I admire Kalki’s ambition, but maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace to appreciate it the way it deserves. I don't think it's a bad book at all, just not the right one for me right now.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc.

This book has definitely earned a spot in my Top Books of 2025. Giving this a 5 out of 5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

In an alternate universe/timeline where India does not gain independence until the 1960s, Patel imagines an India that was kept under colonial rule and how the British abuse the indigenous peoples. I think this concept is genius in that it not only ties in VERY well with the current political climate in the US, but due to other historical events that are happening at the same time, it gives Patel the room to really breath some new life into the Indian Revolution Movement by having women take a larger role in the movement, showing a non-violent approach to freedom while also still maintaining the dual roles of violence in revolution.

The main character Kalki is a morally grey character, and I love how you see her internal monologue about whether the benefits of revolution are worth the costs. Freedom isn't black and white, and so to see a character who struggles with decisions and her role in them is really refreshing. Her friends in the story act as great foils to her, and each challenges Kalki's beliefs and checks her privilege throughout the story.

Each chapter is also tied to an Indian myth/fable, which just further enriches the story being told.

Another absolute grand slam by Vaishnavi Patel!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I really enjoyed this story. Touted as a story of historical fiction, it is really an amalgamation of “alternative fiction”, magical realism, fantasy and mythology. It is its own genre, if being honest here. Just the dedication alone, “To The Freedom Fighters”, piqued my interest, and each chapter starts very strong. The only thing that keeps me rating this higher is the writing. It was such a riveting concept and heartfelt story, but its writing was clunky at times. BUT she really had an idea—a story—here that could have been perfect if her editor had done a better job. I completely fault her editor, and I hope they fix it before final publication, because it deserves to be read and discussed. It’s still worth the read even if no changes are made.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this gem in exchange for an honest review. It is available for all on June 3rd, 2025

Vaishnavi Patel imagines an India that didn’t gain independence in 1947. Instead, in the world of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, India remained a colony into the 1960s after Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, and others were killed. Dissidents and revolutionaries are transported, jailed, or executed. The population are subject to extreme censorship, rationing, power cuts, and more. It’s not safe to talk to people you don’t know about a free India. In spite of all this, Kalki Divekar dreams of independence.

Each chapter of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion advances the story one year. Each year, Kalki grows more rebellious. Her father has been gone from Mumbai (called Kingston here) for years. He fled when the authorities came after him. Her mother is very cautious; she doesn’t want anything to happen to Kalki. But in spite of the very real dangers, Kalki starts to take small risks. Her first act, taken at the age of 19 in this alternate 1962, is to find a censored song, make copies of it, and then anonymously post those copies all over the city. The act terrifies Kalki’s mother, raises her friends’ eyebrows, and thrills Kalki.

Kalki’s growth over the novel is incredibly moving. In spite of her father’s rebellious activities, Kalki lives a relatively privileged life. She has a great education. She finds a good job (even if her supervisor is slimy). She could live an ordinary, safe life if she didn’t have such a (justified) fire for freedom. The British need to go; India should have the independence that was stolen from them. But at 19 years old, Kalki has a lot to learn about what freedom costs. The stakes rise over the years and as Kalki gets deeper and deeper into fighting for Indian independence. It’s one thing to post songs or even pass along information. It’s another thing entirely if your plans might require people to give up their lives, be imprisoned, or get exiled to another continent.

Each chapter also features a story from Hindu lore. These stories feature characters like Krishna, Manu, Vishnu, Rama, and others outsmarting seemingly invincible villains, fighting impossible odds, and paying terrible prices for mistakes. I enjoyed these a lot. Not only did I get to dive into another culture’s stories (and I can never get enough of new stories), I also appreciated them as commentary on Kalki’s actions as she becomes a revolutionary. There’s plenty of action in this novel—including an incredible prison break—but many of the chapters center on choices Kalki has to make. Is it ever acceptable to commit an act of violence against the British if it also leads to the loss of innocent lives? Can a just revolution leave the Dalits behind? What kind of future India are they fighting for? What sacrifices are necessary to achieve freedom?

This book is stunning, honest, and beautifully written.

Kalki Divekar is the daughter of a freedom fighter who has fled in order to protect her and her mother. Years later, Kalki forms a new chapter of the Indian Liberation Movement within the city of Kingston and enlists the help of women who have access to wide reach of information. Her goal is to minimize the casualties of her people and, because of this, fights in a different way.

Vaishnavi Patel did an amazing job of blending history into this speculative piece. It's raw and can be hard to read at certain times, but it doesn't take away from the writing.

There are significant time jumps when a chapter begins, and the 10 chapters this book has are LONG, however I found time flying by as the chapter progressed.

I recommend this book to anyone that's into historical fiction/speculative historical fiction.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion brings us through a journey with the main character Kalki. India is struggling against British rule and Kalki is determined to follow in her father's footsteps and fight for freedom. She learns a lot of lessons along the way about family, friendship, leadership and taking risks. There is so much tension and she has to make high impact, split second decisions that mean life or death.

While I love the creativity of this reimagined history, I didn't get absorbed into it the way I wanted. I think Vaishnavi Pate is an amazing creative writer, I just couldn't get into this one.

Thank you @NetGalley and @Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the ARC of this book.

Full of feminine rage, anti-colonialism, queer identity, religion, and politics, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is the book we all need right now.

What if Ghandi and the other Indian rebels failed? What would 1960s India look like still under the British Raj? For Kalki Divekar it is having a father in the rebellion and a mother who just wants to live a quiet life. Indian faiths and customs are no longer allowed in order to for the "savage" population to learn how to live properly. Growing up in Kingston (built on Bombay), born under a wide array of circumstances Kalki and her friends see the devastation wrought by the British. They decide to restart the Kingston chapter of the Indian Liberation Movement, but they do it their way, the way of women. While those on the outside believe it isn't enough, these rebels will show everyone what they can do.

Each chapter is told over the course of a year, with some specific events described but it never felt rushed. With each year Kalki embodies one of the ten avatars of Vishu. It is clear that above all else Vaishnavi Patel is a storyteller of the highest caliber. The themes of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion are heavy. There were times that I had to put the book down because I wasn't sure I was emotionally ready. That would only last a minute or two because I was so heavily invested in the characters and the story. I don't think any review that I could write would do Ten Incarnations justice. Much like The Kiterunner or The Handmaid's Tale, I truly believe Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is headed for classrooms and literary circles.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Will update with more links as they are published.

With politics in the United States being what they are, I have thought a lot about what might happen if ordinary citizens like me found ourselves in a situation requiring insurrection against an oppressive authority. Because of this, and because of the extraordinary storytelling and creative construction of Ten Incarnations of Insurrection, I was able to put some flesh on the bones of that deep fear. The story is told in ten chapters, each chapter reflecting one of the ten avatars of Vishnu. Vaishnavi Patel imagines what might have happened if the British were still holding India in the 1960s. In Mumbai (here named Kingston City), it is the women who must rise up as so many men are fighting elsewhere or dead. Patel takes us through the gradual intensification of our protagonist Kalki’s involvement in the insurrection. As Vishnu’s avatars become more complex, so do Kalki’s experiences.

One of the most brilliant aspects of the book is the way that Patel shares Kalki’s mixed feelings about her rebellion. At times she is ready to advocate strong action, even violence, but at times she also struggles with the knowledge that people were dying but it seemed like little progress had been made. All of her actions are deeply embedded in Indian culture, which was interesting and informative.

I loved reading this book and learned quite a bit - not only about Indian culture but about the ways different people face turmoil. Perhaps it is because the story is told through the eyes of women, this book ends up being much more about relationships and individual struggle than a series of action scenes.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've highly enjoyed every other book I've read by the author, so I was very much looking forward to picking up the Ten Incarnations of Rebellion. This book takes a different tone and setting-- moving away from ancient India to an alternate 1960s India where the British are still violently occupying South Asia. This book follows Kalki as she grows from a late teen to a young adult and becomes further involved with the Indian Liberation Movement in her city, and it was a powerful read. The sacrifices and impossible choices that resistance entails, as well as never knowing who to trust and sometimes being forced to trust unlikely people all strike true chords in our own reality. While the chapters are long, I found myself having a difficult time putting the book down. A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

i genuinely have nothing but high praise for vaishnavi patel. kaikeyi and goddess of the river are two of the most memorable books i have ever picked up, and ten incarnations of rebellion just about proves that i will read (and love!) anything that patel writes. her storytelling is exquisite and her prose simply breathtaking; and while ten incarnations of rebellion is quite different from her preceding two works, it still stands out in its own unique, unforgettable way.

this story was pretty slow paced, though this is quite fitting considering the context. kalki, fauzia, and yashu are some of the strongest characters i have ever read, and it was so empowering watching them slowly stoke the fire of revolution. i admire how the book displays the quiet strength of nonviolent resistance and illustrates that rebellion isn’t simply black and white because every decision made is a hard decision. and although i’m not well versed in hindu mythology, learning that patel pieced together this story based on the dashavatara just leaves me with so much awe and respect for her craftsmanship.

this was such an impactful read and i learned so much! even though this was entirely fictional, it was so eye-opening and made me reflect a lot on what it means to fight back against oppression and truly achieve freedom, especially given current events worldwide. for fans of against the loveless world and babel, consider this book the next required read to add to your tbr!

4.5 stars! thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the premise right away.

It was not always easy or fun to read but it felt so real despite being fiction. There was so much heart and hope, and I loved how Vaishnavi Patel wove the Dashavatara into the story.

I think fans of Babel would really like this!