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frenchfrybri's review against another edition
4.0
i feel like most myth retellings are corny and force modern stuff into them. this didn’t do that i loved it
nataniel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lanceypoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
vashni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
daradara's review against another edition
3.5
I thought I would fall in love with this book and it would take me on a big adventure with Kaikeyi. At 46% I was thinking "Nothing's happened" and towards the end, everything happened and I was struggling to keep up. The pacing could've been better, and Kaikeyi and other characters could've been more fleshed out. I think if I compared this, "mother loves her child so much" trope with other books I love in this trope (Amina Al Sirafi and Sword of Kaigen) this one was the weakest.
But, I ate the story up. I enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator. There was never a moment where I wanted to DNF. I am not familiar with Indian Mythology or The Ramayana but this being a retelling is so fun!
I'm looking forward to the author's newest book coming out!
But, I ate the story up. I enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator. There was never a moment where I wanted to DNF. I am not familiar with Indian Mythology or The Ramayana but this being a retelling is so fun!
I'm looking forward to the author's newest book coming out!
vgillet's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emvdw's review
3.75
This one landed on my TBR because someone described it as "Madeline Miller, but make it Hindu" - which is a fitting description. I liked it one but didn't end up loving it. The story moved along nicely and I liked the characters, but I felt the story and characters lacked some dimension at times. Things felt very black-and-white, Kaikeyi's choice is really the only one she could've made - I was expecting some more morally grayness and didn't feel the tension enough there. Her feminism also felt very modern to me, and not shaped by the time/place she was born in. Still a good read though, I had fun! And fun to dive into a mythology I was not familiar at all with. I also look forward to keeping up with Patel's work - hopefelly it'll mature with her :)
lucybmn's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a very interesting story, and I'm glad that someone took the time to examine this character in legend rather than leaving her to hatred and possible misunderstanding. I definitely learned a lot about Hindu myths in general, and the culture of ancient India. I think this book is well-executed and was very thoughtfully done. And some ace rep, whoop whoop!! 🥳
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. ✊🏻
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. ✊🏻
rjshukla's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
manderzreadz's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and RedHook Books for granting me early access to this book!
In the spirit of mythical retellings such as Ariadne and Circe, Kaikeyi gives voice to this amazing women and her story of this tale and what she sacrifices for her family, the well being of others, and the treatment of equality for women in a very misogynistic society.
This book was so good that I also purchased a physical copy through Book of the Month. If you like myth retellings with female empowerment and independence, read this book.
In the spirit of mythical retellings such as Ariadne and Circe, Kaikeyi gives voice to this amazing women and her story of this tale and what she sacrifices for her family, the well being of others, and the treatment of equality for women in a very misogynistic society.
This book was so good that I also purchased a physical copy through Book of the Month. If you like myth retellings with female empowerment and independence, read this book.