Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
In the tradition of "tales you know from one perspective — but here's another," Patel sets out an alternative story vision of Kaikeyi, the mother of Prince Rama, from the Hindu epic Ramayana. I wasn't familiar with the original story; this read like a page turner dream, as heros fight against demons, wars, political intrigue, and palace plots.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this retelling of the Ramayana, told from the perspective of one of the original myth's villains. It gave Kaikeyi a rich back story, exploring the reasoning behind her actions, besides chalking it up to selfishness. Kaikeyi isn't "loveable;" she's better. She takes charge of her own destiny, and tries to do what she thinks is right, even if in the end her choices lead to tragedy. Became really invested in her character, and appreciated how layered the main characters were, for the most part. As the story got closer to some of the original myth's main plot points, some of that layering started to come apart a bit. But overall, really enjoyed this book, and appreciated the nuanced voice it gave to female characters.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was hooked by the huge scope and the cool concept/setting of this book, but unfortunately it really started to drag towards the end. The story was very interesting, if slightly simplistic at times. Lower rating than I'd like, due to the fact that the audiobook narrator was annoying for me, sorry.
Imagine taking one of the most demonized queens in Indian epic history and saying,
“Actually, what if she was a strategist, a mother, a literal goddess-in-the-making and also done dirty by patriarchy, religion, and some bad PR?”
BOOM. That’s this book.
It’s giving:
✨ divine feminism
✨ emotional trauma
✨ ancient aunties saying “beta, why are you outside the kitchen?”
✨ and Kaikeyi responding with “because I’m running the damn kingdom, Radha.”
⸻
❤️ Scene I Was Living For:
The moment Kaikeyi starts using the Binding Plane to actually influence her fate and the bonds of others?? BABY that was some next-level chakra-slaying, political-sorcery, heartstring-manipulating realness.
Sis basically hacked the human emotional system like a mythical social engineer with mommy issues.
I was like “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS drag that misogyny by its roots and set it on fire with spiritual power, queen!!”
“Actually, what if she was a strategist, a mother, a literal goddess-in-the-making and also done dirty by patriarchy, religion, and some bad PR?”
BOOM. That’s this book.
It’s giving:
✨ divine feminism
✨ emotional trauma
✨ ancient aunties saying “beta, why are you outside the kitchen?”
✨ and Kaikeyi responding with “because I’m running the damn kingdom, Radha.”
⸻
❤️ Scene I Was Living For:
The moment Kaikeyi starts using the Binding Plane to actually influence her fate and the bonds of others?? BABY that was some next-level chakra-slaying, political-sorcery, heartstring-manipulating realness.
Sis basically hacked the human emotional system like a mythical social engineer with mommy issues.
I was like “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS drag that misogyny by its roots and set it on fire with spiritual power, queen!!”
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fine read
My biggest gripe with the book was the pacing. The first 2/3 felt quite uneven and I had to really push myself at points. The last 1/3 flowed much smoother.
Some of the characters were really well rounded, while others were flatter. And some of the plot points didn't fully carry through, while others felt unnecessary.
The rich world and history really carried the book, but the author's grasp on the story never felt strong.
My biggest gripe with the book was the pacing. The first 2/3 felt quite uneven and I had to really push myself at points. The last 1/3 flowed much smoother.
Some of the characters were really well rounded, while others were flatter. And some of the plot points didn't fully carry through, while others felt unnecessary.
The rich world and history really carried the book, but the author's grasp on the story never felt strong.