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niyou's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Kaikeyi was such a wonderful, complex character. I experienced the story and reactions alongside her: love, foreboding, (out)rage and joy. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
A feminist retelling inspired by the Ramayana, Kaikeyi tells the story of Radnyi (Queen) Kaikeyi of Kosala and her journey through magic, motherhood, and the destruction (and salvation) of her family and kingdom.
“It was a child, freer than her mother had been.”
I adored this book! I love a feminist retelling, but it’s no secret that many of them have a tendency to be slow and a bit boring in sections. Not so here—Kaikeyi is action-packed and engaging from the very beginning, and Kaikeyi herself is a delight of a character who I was rooting for the whole way through. So much happens in this book that it isn’t easy to summarize (or even review), but I laughed, cried, and was thoroughly enthralled by the story and all the side characters (especially Kaushalya and Lakshmana, my faves).
I will also add that even though I went into this with pretty minimal knowledge of the Ramayana/any source myths, I never felt confused about the world or the events taking place. In fact, while I’m sure those who grew up with these myths will also enjoy the book, I think I was even more enchanted because everything was new to me—so if you’re intimidated by this book for those reasons, don’t be!
Bottom line: if you enjoy mythology and retellings, you absolutely have to read this one.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: feminist retellings; Hindu epics; fantasy meets mythology.
CW: War/violence/injury/death; death of parent; abandonment; discussions of infertility; discussions of child death.
A feminist retelling inspired by the Ramayana, Kaikeyi tells the story of Radnyi (Queen) Kaikeyi of Kosala and her journey through magic, motherhood, and the destruction (and salvation) of her family and kingdom.
“It was a child, freer than her mother had been.”
I adored this book! I love a feminist retelling, but it’s no secret that many of them have a tendency to be slow and a bit boring in sections. Not so here—Kaikeyi is action-packed and engaging from the very beginning, and Kaikeyi herself is a delight of a character who I was rooting for the whole way through. So much happens in this book that it isn’t easy to summarize (or even review), but I laughed, cried, and was thoroughly enthralled by the story and all the side characters (especially Kaushalya and Lakshmana, my faves).
I will also add that even though I went into this with pretty minimal knowledge of the Ramayana/any source myths, I never felt confused about the world or the events taking place. In fact, while I’m sure those who grew up with these myths will also enjoy the book, I think I was even more enchanted because everything was new to me—so if you’re intimidated by this book for those reasons, don’t be!
Bottom line: if you enjoy mythology and retellings, you absolutely have to read this one.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: feminist retellings; Hindu epics; fantasy meets mythology.
CW: War/violence/injury/death; death of parent; abandonment; discussions of infertility; discussions of child death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
mani's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, War, Violence, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Sexism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Wow, can’t quite believe I read almost 500 pages in just over 24 hours! In this climate! I really enjoyed this, definitely see the Circe comparisons, but I think readers who loved The Witch’s Heart will also love this. I knew none of the mythology of the Ramayana before reading this so I discovered the story for the first time as I read and I was completely enthralled, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s so full of women trying to fight for control of their lives, railing against both men and the gods that seek to subdue them. My only nitpick is that it is so *heavy* on this. My feeling finishing this book is an overwhelming sense of futility and hopelessness and anger for Kaikeyi which is a rather unfulfilling feeling to end a book on. It does end on a slightly more positive note, but after so much pain, Kaikeyi taking hit after hit…it’s kind of hard to come back from. Fuck men, seriously.
Anyway if you read either Circe or The Witch’s Heart, definitely pick this up.
OH and the protagonist is aroace!! And it’s woven in really well.
Content warnings: misogyny, sexism, like so much, men being complete shits, neglect, domestic abuse, war, murder, manipulation/control
Anyway if you read either Circe or The Witch’s Heart, definitely pick this up.
OH and the protagonist is aroace!! And it’s woven in really well.
Content warnings: misogyny, sexism, like so much, men being complete shits, neglect, domestic abuse, war, murder, manipulation/control
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
- If you love retellings like CIRCE or THE WITCH'S HEART, you must pick up KAIKEYI, a reimagining of the Ramayana from the point of view of the queen who banished Rama.
- It's not only a beautifully told page-turner, but an indictment of the patriarchy and the story of a woman lifting up marginalized people and holding her head high when punished for it.
- Plus, Kaikeyi is explicitly asexual and aromantic, and it was a joy to watch her grow close to her husband while never feeling a need to try to change herself.
- It's not only a beautifully told page-turner, but an indictment of the patriarchy and the story of a woman lifting up marginalized people and holding her head high when punished for it.
- Plus, Kaikeyi is explicitly asexual and aromantic, and it was a joy to watch her grow close to her husband while never feeling a need to try to change herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Violence, War, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Misogyny
Moderate: Infertility and Sexual content
maya_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Blood, Death, War, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
kathleencoughlin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm less familiar with the Ramayana than with the origins of other retellings of mythology that I've read, and I decided not to review beforehand so I could discover the story as it unfolded. Regardless, Patel was able to invoke the same sort of sinking dread of dramatic irony as the story draws closer and closer to the ending set out in the source material. What I think was particularly successful about Kaikeyi was the clear parallel between that feeling in the reader and Kaikeyi's warring feelings of hope and futility at altering the narrative that the gods had preordained for her and her children.
Women's perspectives are often left out of the stories of "great men" or are used to propel them towards their destinies. However, as stated in the author's note, the goal of this book was to "give voice not just to its titular character but to the many women who populate the world of the Ramayana and have rich and worthy lives if their own." I think the book overall, but particularly the ending, achieved this goal. The story did not end with Kaikeyi "fulfilling her purpose" in Rama's story and losing most of the life she built. Instead we return back to the market with Manthara. Since her first visit all those years ago and throughout her time as radnyi, Kaikeyi worked hard to build opportunity and dignity for women. It seems really fitting then in the closing of the narrative that we would return back to them so she/we could see her lasting impact on the women of Kosala and ultimately conclude on a fairly positive note. While Kaikeyi seemed to take loss after loss in the latter half of the book, many of the changes she pushed for did win out despite the narrative that had been spun about her and was solidified into legend.
Women's perspectives are often left out of the stories of "great men" or are used to propel them towards their destinies. However, as stated in the author's note, the goal of this book was to "give voice not just to its titular character but to the many women who populate the world of the Ramayana and have rich and worthy lives if their own." I think the book overall, but particularly the ending, achieved this goal. The story did not end with Kaikeyi "fulfilling her purpose" in Rama's story and losing most of the life she built. Instead we return back to the market with Manthara. Since her first visit all those years ago and throughout her time as radnyi, Kaikeyi worked hard to build opportunity and dignity for women. It seems really fitting then in the closing of the narrative that we would return back to them so she/we could see her lasting impact on the women of Kosala and ultimately conclude on a fairly positive note. While Kaikeyi seemed to take loss after loss in the latter half of the book, many of the changes she pushed for did win out despite the narrative that had been spun about her and was solidified into legend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abandonment, War, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Infertility, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
magneto's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Have been eagerly awaiting this book's release and was not disappointed. Loved the writing and pacing, the book flew by despite being nearly 500 pages. Kaikeyi was such an interesting character and the side characters were well fleshed out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, and Infertility
ekmook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
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