Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have a hard time with first-person narrative but gave this a go. It was a slog at times but interesting enough to keep me going. The final third was absolutely stunning.
It has lots to love, a sidelined character from a beloved myth given a voice. It centers a woman's narrative from an era when women's voices were silenced. It casts a light on manipulation and abuse masterfully.
It did inspire me to read about the source myth. I love nothing more than when a book introduces me to something new (to me - in this case something very old but new to me).
It has lots to love, a sidelined character from a beloved myth given a voice. It centers a woman's narrative from an era when women's voices were silenced. It casts a light on manipulation and abuse masterfully.
It did inspire me to read about the source myth. I love nothing more than when a book introduces me to something new (to me - in this case something very old but new to me).
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me a long time to figure out how I felt about this book. This was not a book that I will gush about, but it is still masterful. I thought a lot about Kaikeyi and how she got at the end of her life. Did her fight really make a difference? We know it did, and it really troubles me that she took so long to figure it out. At the same time, she deserved so much more than what she got.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny
“I had fooled myself into thinking I could be an exception, an intelligent woman in control of her own destiny.”
This line from Kaikeyi captures the heart of Vaishnavi Patel’s novel: the story of a woman remembered as a villain in the Ramayana, but here given flesh, voice, and agency. While I know this is fiction, inspired by the Ramayana, it is a fascinating reimagining of Kaikeyi’s life before Rama and the events that shaped her into the woman whose choices set the great epic into motion. Instead of a cold-hearted queen, we are shown a complex woman feminist, intelligent, flawed, and always reaching for more than the world allowed her.
What I appreciated most about this book was how it reclaims the voice of women in a story long dominated by men. Kaikeyi’s narrative is feminist-driven, and Patel does not shy away from showing how women fought sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly for their place in a deeply patriarchal society. The inclusion of other stories, such as Ahalya’s curse and redemption or Savitri’s legendary outwitting of death, reminded me that Kaikeyi’s struggle is not hers alone. These mythological women stand as a chorus around her, echoes of strength and resilience that cut across centuries. Patel uses them to remind us that women have always been present in the great epics, even when their voices are silenced or minimized.
Yudhajit, Kaikeyi’s brother, stood out to me as one of the most surprising and quietly feminist figures in the book. In a world where women were seen as pawns, he consistently supported his sister, respected her choices, and understood her vision. His presence reminded me that feminism in these retellings isn’t just about women alone, but also about the men who choose to see women as equals.
Of course, Kaikeyi herself remains the center, and her greatest tool is the ability to see and manipulate the bond-threads of relationships. On the surface, this power is magical, but symbolically it represents how women have always had to negotiate influence through persuasion, compromise, or manipulation, simply to survive. Yet Patel doesn’t make this ability unambiguously good; it is dangerous, and at times Kaikeyi becomes controlling. Still, it makes sense. She is a woman navigating a world that has never given her direct authority, and she takes power in the only way she can. What struck me deeply is how the very men who admired Kaikeyi for her brilliance, her loyalty, and her courage turned against her when she dared put herself first. Patel shows this shift with precision. The same qualities that once made her beloved became reasons for condemnation when they no longer served others. “They called me selfish, as if a man claiming his right would not be honored for his boldness.” This tension between admiration and scorn makes Kaikeyi’s downfall all the more heartbreaking, and all the more familiar.
The novel also reveals how children can be shaped, even manipulated, by those in power. Saga Varnadeva’s influence over Rama was chilling in its insistence that no woman should hold sway over anything. This thread highlights how patriarchy doesn’t just silence women directly; it instills its values in the next generation, ensuring that the cycle continues. Kaikeyi’s attempts to resist this tide made me admire her more, even when her methods faltered.
I did notice some inaccuracies compared to the Ramayana I grew up with such as Rama’s exile being ten years instead of fourteen, or the suggestion about Sita’s origins. These differences didn’t lessen my enjoyment, but they did stand out. They reminded me that this is not meant to be a faithful retelling of scripture, but rather a reimagining, one woman’s story pulled out from the margins and given center stage. Ultimately, Kaikeyi is not about absolving her of guilt or rewriting the Ramayana to make her a hero. It is about complexity—about a woman who was strong, ambitious, manipulative, and loving all at once. It is about showing how women, long forgotten or vilified in epic tales, can be remembered differently when their voices are allowed to ring out.
For me, this was a solid ★★★★☆ read. It is beautifully written, layered with myth and imagination, and unafraid to make us uncomfortable. Kaikeyi may never be remembered as a saint, but in Patel’s hands she is remembered as a woman—and that, in itself, feels like justice.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
I loved this story. I know very little about the story of Rama or Hindu. But the author made a this very magical, emotional, and imaginative.
emotional
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
I really enjoyed this! I feel like this one was best savored and I’m glad I took my time with it. The ending was quick which wasn’t what I expected but after reading more about the history of the original myth I’m satisfied with that. I absolutely loved the concept of Kaikeyi’s binding plane and the ability to view relationships and even manipulate them. I recently watched the movie inside out 2 and while so different the visualization for the binding plane reminded me of that. I also loved seeing all the relationships play out within marriage and children during this story. I feel like this was such a unique way of looking at a family structure that I did not expect. The main drawbacks were some parts foreshadowed which felt like spoilers since I wasn’t familiar with this myth beforehand and I would have loved them to shock me!