Kaikeyi

Wow that was awesome! I very much enjoyed this book. I have no prior knowledge of this story so unlike other retellings (ex. song of achilles) I had no idea what was going to happen to anyone. Once I got to part 3 I was STRESSED until the end. I hate reading physical books but I did with this book because I didn’t want to get distracted because I was so into the story last night. I was tempted to stay up and finish it. Now that I’m finished I want to get lost in a black hole of Google to learn more.
I picked Kaikeyi as my April BOTM choice but I also received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher on NetGalley. It was nice to switch between reading and listening. The narrator was great. This is out 4/26, if you like fantasy or retellings definitely read this.
This will be posted on my Instagram @katebrownreads as well!

OHHH BOY GUYS!!! THIS BOOK! I was not expecting to be as blown away as I was!
It's early for me to say, but I can tell you this may end up being one of my favorite books I read this year, definitely one of the best I've read so far.

I confess I am not familiar with the Indian epic Ramayana and the vilified queen Kaikeyi, but what Vaishnavi Patel has done here is to have breathed some good old fashioned feminist life into a woman reviled (at least, in this book, can't speak for the original tale) with absolutely gorgeous writing, perfect pacing, and impeccable world-building that completely blew me away. I couldn't look away from Kaikeyi's story as she finds herself and her own agency in a world where men make choices for the women in their lives and how she thrusts forward to find a path for herself. Kaikeyi was a character who has so much depth and is so well developed, and the overall character development as we see her go from Princess to Wife to Queen to Mother to Villain is just *chef's kiss*. I truly felt so angry every time we see Kaikeyi dismissed or forced into situations and there is a prominent theme of feminism and self-determination that made me cheer for not just Kaikeyi, but every woman in this story. I loved the theme of women coming together to support each other with the relationship between the Queens and the Women's Council. This story is both empowering and absolutely entrancing and I couldn't stop reading. I also had the opportunity to read the audiobook, and I have to say the narrator does a fantastic job. Written in the same vein as Circe, Kaikeyi is an epic tale of fate and family, and one woman's quest to determine her own path and to do what is right regardless of the sacrifices she has to make.

Wow. What a gorgeous story.

One beautiful thing about audio books is that pronunciations are done for the listener! This epic story is a retelling of a Hindu tale of which I have never heard, so many of the names and places were unfamiliar to me. I admit my utter lack of worldly influences, but this was a captivating entry into this one. It was so easy to listen and have Soneela Nankani narrate so perfectly. I could simply escape into this warrior woman's story.

If you are also unfamiliar, Kaikeyi is a woman in Hindu mythology who is apparently a villian. This is her side of the story! I was quickly taken in by Vaishnavi Patel's writing and felt all the coming of age and maturity development of Kaikeyi. It was a fascinating journey to experience the patriarchal dominance and the feminine subversion in another religious setting. Let's be honest, shall we: none of these male "heroes" would have made it without all the women in their lives! Not that women are faultless, and this story shows a flawed, but incredibly strong and ultimately selfless woman.

I really loved this story and easily give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I am so grateful to @NetGalley and @hachetteaudio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. If you have any interest in a fabulous retelling, fantasy story, or just a strong female character, please pick this up.

This book is the embodiment of an idea executed to perfection.
The story captivates you form the early pages and won’t let you go even long after you finish it.
The world building was truly great, the magic system was intersecting and innovating something that its rarely seen in today’s fantasy genre.
My favorite thing of all about this book was the way the story was being told, the little breakings of the forth wall were done to sheer excellence.
The story is a retelling of the Indian mythology Ramayana, and follows the character Kaikeyi a fierce girl who find herself and her dream faced with the whole structure of a world, that is against women, along the years.
I have to say. that i believe the listening to the audiobook benefitted my experience greatly in this book, as the book has the perfect writing style for it. and the narration was done phenomenally.
It was truly magical to see and experience this character, something I hope anyone who likes to read would gift themselves.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of KAIKEYI in exchange for my honest review!

CW: pregnancy loss, child death, parent death, sibling death

This kind of gave me Mulan plot vibes in the best way possible. Kaikeyi is a badass, strong female MC and I loved listening to her fight against the patriarchy and misogyny in her life. This was SO good and I definitely want to get a hardcopy when it comes out so I can reread it. That says a lot in itself because I don't usually reread books! This is definitely a new favourite. I highly recommend you pick up this book after it comes out on the 26th!

Patel's choice to empower a maligned character from a famous epic came at the right time for me.

With not just a feminist lens, but also one that strips away the patina of gender roles and expectations, she takes us through Kaikeyi's determination to be active in choosing her own path, in not buckling to the patriarchal ties that would have her just be a wife and mother: being seen but not heard, being taught but not consulted.

At every stage in Kaikeyi's life, we are aware of the societal expectations and barriers that hinder her from exploring what she is interested in and capable of learning. We also see the ways in which she chooses to subvert and challenge them.

Patel has done a phenomenal job in how she has told this story. The way she has layered the growth of her main character is exceptional and just develops from strength to strength, while examining human fallibility, desire and the lack thereof, duty, friendship, belonging, service, and selfishness.

The inclusion of the beliefs and the presence of the gods and their enemies, and how they exist in the teachings and the ways of life of the people is another well done aspect that makes the world-building bloom.

This is brilliantly written, with a dedication to detail and character development that is sometimes sacrificed in the face of plot.