thank you to Vaishnavi Patel and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my review!

Reading Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel was an absolutely unforgettable experience. From the very first page, I was captivated by the rich, alternate-history setting of 1960s India still under British rule. Kalki Divekar’s story is both deeply personal and undeniably epic, as her quiet acts of rebellion grow into something much larger and more powerful. The parallels to the Dashavatara—the ten avatars of Vishnu—added a profound layer of symbolism and depth that made me reflect on each moment of her journey.

The relationships in the book stood out to me the most. Kalki’s bond with cautious Yashu and visionary Fauzia created a beautiful, layered dynamic that highlighted the importance of friendship and solidarity in the face of overwhelming oppression. Patel’s writing is nothing short of stunning, blending poetic prose with razor-sharp tension as the stakes rise higher with each chapter. The balance between the intimate moments of Kalki’s life and the broader political struggle was masterfully handled, leaving me both emotionally moved and intellectually stirred.

This novel is a triumph—a bold, thought-provoking exploration of freedom, resilience, and self-determination. Vaishnavi Patel has crafted a world and a heroine that will stay with me for a long time. I can’t recommend Ten Incarnations of Rebellion enough, and I wholeheartedly give it a glowing 5 stars for its depth, creativity, and heart.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a speculative fiction book that explores an alternate timeline where India did not gain their independence, and Kalki, the protagonist, fights for the freedoms of her people by setting up a clandestine chapter of the Indian Liberation Movement in her hometown of Kingston (aka Mumbai). The world building in this book was so well done that, on occasion, I’d forgot it was speculative fiction; when the book would deliberately contradict facts I knew to be true (like references to Ghandi and his life), I was momentarily confused before I’d remember I was reading an alternate reality. It would pull me momentarily out of the book but I think it’s a credit to the writer for being able to build this world so believably that a reader could forget it is not a historical fiction.

The story explores ten years of Kalki’s life and how her work establishing a full on rebellion grew from a small inkling of a hope to the climactic conclusion (which I won’t spoil for the reader but there were twists I didn’t see coming and parts that made me cry and feel every emotion of fear and rage and sadness right along with Kalki). I really appreciated the nuance with which Vaishnavi Patel approached the themes and the complexity of the relationships across caste, race, and religious lines. Kalki was not the all good heroine of the story, she made mistakes she regretted bitterly and she had to swallow her pride on occasion. Further, the British weren’t always the monsters they were painted to be either. It was very well done. Do the ends justify the means?

The only bits that detracted from the story line were the themes of sexuality. Even in the alternate reality it felt far fetched, and its inclusion did not seem to add anything foundational to the story. I found it hard to believe there be one homosexual relationship between a devout Muslim and a Hindu but two identical relationships where the couples find each other and are open and trusting enough to reveal their sexuality was more than I could believe (when in this time and place in history speculative or otherwise, telling the wrong people about one’s sexuality might have led to a death sentence). I am not saying no such people and relationships existed, but I think for personal safety reasons, it would be so far under wraps it wouldn’t be a topic of discussion. It wasn’t just the colonizers who would have punished them harshly for their attractions in this case.

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I always wondered what the world would be like if things had been different especially with wars and history. Vaishnavi Patel does this with Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, the story is set in a fictional India in which Britain still reigned. They hold the city of Kingston in which the main character Kalki Divekar lives. She wants her people to be free of colonization and also struggles with the death of her father who was involved with rebels. She begins her own rebellion, infiltrates the government, and begins to take them down from this inside. Their task is
not without its difficulties though. Can they end the colonization? Or will her efforts lead her to the same fate as her father? I loved the Hindu mythology that was included and the growth of the characters! I enjoyed the depth and realistic depictions in this book! I also enjoyed that the events took place overtime showcasing how long change can take! Interesting and complex, highly recommend!

One of the standout aspects of "Ten Incarnations of Rebellion" is its incredible range and diversity. Patel draws inspiration from various cultures, mythologies, and historical periods, creating a rich tapestry of stories that reflect the complexity and multiplicity of human experience.


The themes of rebellion and resistance are woven throughout the collection, but Patel approaches these ideas from multiple angles, exploring the nuances and complexities of defiance, dissent, and transformation.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

I thought the premise of this book was super interesting! I loved the format where each chapter represented one of Vishnu's avatar and related mythology. Patel did a great job in showcasing the power of community and organizing in a rebellion and how there are many forms of resistance. I loved how the rebellion was led mainly by female characters. I really appreciated Patel's discussion of caste and religion in this book and how historically (and even currently) many oppresor caste and upper-class Indians played an active role in the oppression of marginalized Indians and sided with the British imperial forces. Overall, I think Patel did a terrific job in conceptualizing what an alternate India could have looked like and highlighted the horrors of British colonialsm in sub-continent.

There were some aspects of the book that I found a bit confusing - specifically the massive time jumps in a chapter. If you miss a sentence or two, you skip forward several years of Kalki's life. Also, I wasn't the biggest fan of a specific event that happened to a character during the end. I understand why the author included it and the social commentary it alludes to, especially in current day India. But it left me feeling unsettled and bitter..perhaps that was the point.

I love Patel’s previous book, so I was thrilled when I received the digital arc for this new book. I was drawn into this story right from the beginning and it never let up. There were some parts that could’ve been left out to move the story along, but all in all I really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful book and will connect with so many people. Thank you NetGalley, Vaishnavi Patel and Ballantine Books for this beautiful digital arc.

A wonderfully-told, rich story that takes readers on emotional rollercoasters - this book is an absolute winner! Perfect for lovers of fantasy and revolution!

Set in a fictional India that never secured independence from Imperial Britain, this story follows Kalki, a young woman who rises to lead a rebel group. Driven by the memory of her father, she fights to bring to life a vision of freedom she has never known—freedom whose cost she cannot yet fully grasp.At its heart, this is a story about revolution. And while that’s a theme that feels ever-present in today’s fiction, this book stands out for the way it tackles the nuances of rebellion and resistance. And also grapples with a familiar yet poignant question: can revolution succeed without violence?The exploration of revolution in this book is sharp and unflinching. Effective revolutions demand sacrifice—an idea that weighs heavily throughout the story. Kalki and her comrades aren’t fighting for personal glory or gain; they’re fighting for something far bigger than themselves. But that fight comes with costs, and the book doesn’t shy away from examining those sacrifices—what they mean, what they take, and how they transform those who make them. Freedom is beautiful and necessary, but the book doesn’t let you forget: attaining it often demands a brutal price.That said, while I loved the book’s ambition and its exploration of these weighty themes, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in some areas. The characters, while compelling, could have used more time and space to breathe, and I think the story could have benefited from a deeper dive into the world-building. It’s such an intriguing setting—a fictional India trapped under Imperial rule—but I wish we’d been given more insight into its intricacies. Overall, though, this is a powerful and timely read. It’s a story that will make you think about the cost of revolution, the price of freedom, and what it means to fight for a better world.

I've eagerly jumped at the chance to read any of Vaishnavi Patel's earlier works (Kaikeyi, Goddess of the River) and that was certainly the case with "Ten Incarnations of Rebellion". In her latest work, Patel takes us on a journey to a reimagined historical India, one where the British have been more successful in their colonization efforts and have taken a stronghold in Kingston, a city rebuilt in place of Bombay. This is the life that most Indian citizens know, including Kalki Divekar, a young woman who's grown up with with just her mother, and the shadow of her father presumed dead due to his involvement with the rebel forces.

Kalki has long held reservations against the imperial rule that's subjugated her country, but begins to initiate the starting efforts of rebellion between her group of friends, Yashu and Fauzia, and the women begin to slowly pull in others like them to form their own chapter of the ILM, or Indian Liberation Movement. Though small, the group utilizes their access at their respective government and corporate jobs to glean information to chip away at the efforts of the British government. The chapters that follow detail not only the group's successes, but each character's personal growth, the challenges and unavoidable losses of rebellion, all juxtaposed with snippets of Hindu mythology that mirror the protagonists' challenges.

From the first few pages, I was immediately pulled into this world that Patel crafted, and her cast of strong, fierce, and beautifully flawed female characters; the evolving and complex friendship and love between them was one of the highlights of this novel for me. I appreciated as well the focus on the many forms of rebellion and resistance - some more subtle than others - but all key in opposing an unjust and corrupt system. While set in an hypothetical historical Indian, the veering from reality is not that far and the message of colonization and civilian suppression are just as resonant today.

Very much a recommended read when "Ten Incarnations of Rebellion" is published in June 2025!

2.5 stars for me.
Set in an alternate timeline 1960's where India remains under British rule, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion tells the story of Kalki, a young woman who organizes her compatriots to secretly and subversively fight the British occupation of Bombay.
Kalki was single-minded in her anger and rebellion which felt very true for a young woman whose father had to flee when she was a young girl. I actually preferred some of the more level-headed characters and they were essential to the story (particularly because Kalki would have gotten herself arrested or killed without cooler heads prevailing).

Yet another book I wondered about reading and once again made the right choice to do so. Despite the fact it’s about liberating India, and specifically the town of Kingston (formerly Bombay before it had a chance to become Mumbai) from the British rule in a 1960s India that hadn’t regained its independence in 1947, it still felt very Nowtro. Possibly even prophetic.

The characters feel very real, especially the main character, Kalki, and I like the way Patel wove the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu, into the story. I don’t want to give anything away, but the ending is very satisfactory. Definitely a book to be read during these troubled times.

Vaishnavi has done it again. But this one is different - with so much history packed in and so much to consider around colonialism, this book was powerful and Kalki stood out as a character long after I closed the book.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a good book overall, though I wish I enjoyed it more as a result of my few caveats with it.

In a speculative history where Britain still reigns over India until the 60s, Patel reimagines the struggle for independence, competing methods and approaches towards that goal, while also including real forms of repression by the British on local populations.

While I appreciate the good intention behind the novel, however, I personally could not connect to the characters and instead feel detached from many of them despite the myriad of traumatic events and emotional moments that happen throughout. Rhe book also reads as surprisingly juvenile for its subject matter, while also being quite narrow in its scope of examination on various issues.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this book was okay at best for me. It took me so long to get through and it could never keep me hooked longer than 10 pages. There were twists near the end that grabbed my attention but those were the only parts that I was actually interested in. However, I liked the characters. Kalki was so complex and I loved how she was portrayed throughout the years. I also did like reading about how long it realistically took to win independence. Frankly, this is a book that was just not for me, but if you are someone who enjoys Indian history and rebellions, I think you would enjoy this!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I liked the concept of this book much more than I enjoyed the final product. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a strong book - I enjoyed the main character, Kalki's growth over the course of the story and the author took pains to highlight the various oppressions that come under colonization. I appreciated the fact that the author also pointed out how India was already divided before the British came in, over religion, region, and especially caste, and how those divisions were played on to keep people fighting against one another instead of the British.

However, I did not think that conceit of linking each chapter to an avatar of Vishnu worked well. Some chapters linked together better than others (for example, Parashurama's chapter made perfect sense to me; Matsya, not so much). I think I would have preferred a more straightforward narrative following Kalki and the growth and expansion of the ILM over what felt like a forced connection to the stories of each avatar. As it was, I was distracted each chapter trying to figure out how the events of the chapter linked to that particular avatar and I think that detracted from my experience of the book as a whole.

I did appreciate the backmatter - both the author's personal connection to India's freedom struggle and the many resources that were included in the bibliography.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

This book grabbed my attention just by the title alone but the content within are written in a way that I found unfortunately dull. I do love the concepts and themes the story is exploring and the way Patel choose to split and start each chapter of the book but those things alone weren't able to hook or got my investment. I also found our main character and voice lacking (not necessarily in what she believes in and is fighting for but her ability to get me as a reader to care), in here Patel writing in general did not have that compelling-ness to it unlike her other books. It is by no mean a bad book, perhaps just not the one for me.

While I enjoyed the idea of this story I don't think I was the correct audience. There was just so much to cover in this story that it became a list at times and a slog to get though. I would have much rather had the main character show us and experienced those times with her then just listened to the list of actions. I did really enjoy the stong female lead, her passion and intelligence is shown and lovely. I did also enjoy the setting, an alternative and interesting take on the 1960's India. I think if I had been more informed before reading this I might have been a better reader for the contect of the stroy. That is on me.

This is an alternate history set in India. It is the 1960s and the Indian independence hasn't happened yet. A set of female friends from differing backgrounds work together to start a resistance organization which had previously been run by a previous (male) generation.

I think the author does a great job of incorporating the various cultures and their beliefs into the story. The backgrounds of the girls themselves, not being uniform, also enhances the story, as they all have different goals and experiences. The author also does a good job of showing how the narrative is altered depending upon who is in power. The ruling party can tell the story they want in order to influence outcomes. They cause the different classes to fight amongst themselves in order to distract the non-ruling classes from focusing their attentions on them.

I highly recommend this.

Ten incarnations... is an absolutely stunning book. Once again Vaishnavi Patel has does such a beautiful job of retelling Indian stories. this particular book does a wonderful job in weaving stories about colonialism and somehow still being able to point towards many conflicts in the modern world. I enjoyed that it was exceptionally well researched and spoke of India and Hinduism with real love and passion while not being afraid to shine a light on some of it's darker aspects. Vaishnavi's commitment to caste equity in her books gives me so much joy and inspires hope for an India that I hope to see eventually. Thank you for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for an ARC of this wonderful book for review.

The author took inspiration from the Ten Avatars of Vishnu and wrote this story of an alternate reality as if India didn’t gain its independence back in 1947. The beginning of the story was set in the 1960s and we follow the main character and her allies for a number of years.

This non-independence for India in the 1940s made for interesting reading in a couple of ways. One, the characters who were front and center were normal young women who stepped up to fight for freedom from their oppressors. The author didn’t spare any detail on just how cruel an occupying force can be on the citizens of the country they are subjugating. Some of the scenes were brutal and heart-wrenching.

Most of the young men of the fictionalized town in the story were sent off to fight in a war that they weren’t responsible for making. They were basically the bodies needed to engage the enemy and had no choice as they were drafted.

The women of the town stepped up even more once the men were gone and waged their own war against the government occupation.
One of the things I enjoyed a lot about the story was learning more about the Ten Avatars of Vishnu. The author was very skillful in how she wove them into each of the chapters of the book. The action in the chapters were each tied to one of the incarnations and each chapter ended with a tale of a certain avatar. There were ten chapters representing the ten avatars. The tie in stories of Vishnu added so much flavor to the story. A very clever way to tell the tale. Each of them taught lessons that we can all learn from such as compassion, courage, and justice. I especially enjoyed that the main character’s name was tied so closely to one of the avatars. Again, very clever.

I admit I didn’t know much about all the avatars of Vishnu when I started reading and this book really taught me about them in a way that was easy to read and comprehend. I found myself doing research to refine what I was learning in the book. I love learning about the culture of India and find myself reading a number of fiction tales set in that region as they are interesting and enlightening.
This one gets five stars from me for the adventure, alternate history with women at the forefront and for the lessons learned about the Hindu religion.