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scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
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
4.0
As a South Asian reader with Hindu family members, I'm not a stranger to the story of Rama and Sita and how their return to Ayodhya is marked by the celebration of Diwali. So, I jumped at the chance to read the retelling of the story from the POV of the allegedly wicked stepmother. I absolutely loved how the author told her story. I do agree that the pacing at some points felt like it dragged and many parts made me wonder why it was even written in but I suppose in the long run, it added more depth to Kaikeyi's motives for every decision she took. I already knew the ending, of course, but the story gave one hope that it would change and things would work out. I do believe there were also strong aromantic and asexual vibes with the MC which was a delight to read as a South Asian ace myself!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Misogyny, War, Death, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy and Infertility
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kaikeyi is a beautiful story. It took me a moment to really get into the book, but once I did, I felt Kaikeyi’s frustration, joy, heartache. Vaishnavi Patel did a beautiful job crafting the story through Kaikeyi’s eyes. She was such a great main character.
Kaikeyi is aroace, which was incredibly well done. The words “aromantic” and “asexual” are not used on page, but the text is clear.
Aromantic quote:
“They thought me shy when it came to such matters, for I would sit back quietly, but in fact I had nothing to add. No such feelings for Dasharath, or any person, had ever surfaced in me. I was comfortable with my husband, loved him as a dear friend, but the pull of romance meant nothing to me. I could be happy for those in love, but I could not understand.” pg 198
Asexual quote:
”For when I thought about the acts Manthara described, or when I studied the illustrations in some of the more well-hidden recesses of the library, I felt only indifference. I had heard serving girls talk in whispers and giggles about men they found charming, or how it felt to steal a covert kiss with their betrothed. I thought of Dasharath and searched for the same desire within myself, but nothing ever emerged.” pg 98
I loved the sense of sisterhood between the wives. I loved that the children were cared for equally by all of them. It was so achingly beautiful.
I personally liked that although there was pregnancy, it wasn’t talked about deeply.
Kaikeyi is aroace, which was incredibly well done. The words “aromantic” and “asexual” are not used on page, but the text is clear.
Aromantic quote:
Asexual quote:
I loved the sense of sisterhood between the wives. I loved that the children were cared for equally by all of them. It was so achingly beautiful.
I personally liked that although there was pregnancy, it wasn’t talked about deeply.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Murder, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
lucystolethesky's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Sexism, Death, Child abuse, War, Misogyny, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Child death
Minor: Blood, Infertility, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
taylor15809's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Misogyny
errie's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Sexism
Moderate: Infertility, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
mariebrunelm's review
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
4.75
Before the story of Rama as told in the Ramayana, there was Kaikeyi, a princess abandoned by the gods who finds her own power and uses it to protect her family.
This novel imagines a multi-facetted portrait of a character often reduced to the evil stepmother trope. What were her motivations ? What was her story before Rama ? Vaishnavi Patel writes an epic fantasy set in South Asia with a lot of heart and a fabulous main character. Kaikeyi is complex and it's a joy to see her evolve throughout the book, discovering how she can see and perhaps influence people’s relationships with her, or when she decides not to use her power. Kaikeyi is also queer, with strong aromantic and asexual vibes. Though of course the words are not used, it is great to read about such a woman and how she navigates her family relationships.
This is an epic at character level, in which we witness political events both from the outside, and from the inside, being privy to the game of influences that is afoot in the palace. It is also about religion, and how sometimes we can respect divinities but also question the interpretation of their words done by men who see their own profit.
There is a tragic atmosphere in Kaikeyi, because as with myth retellings you have an idea of where the story is going. But it is fascinating all the same to see the path the author has put her characters on, which reveals a side of their personalities that doesn’t make it into most versions of the myth.
This novel imagines a multi-facetted portrait of a character often reduced to the evil stepmother trope. What were her motivations ? What was her story before Rama ? Vaishnavi Patel writes an epic fantasy set in South Asia with a lot of heart and a fabulous main character. Kaikeyi is complex and it's a joy to see her evolve throughout the book, discovering how she can see and perhaps influence people’s relationships with her, or when she decides not to use her power. Kaikeyi is also queer, with strong aromantic and asexual vibes. Though of course the words are not used, it is great to read about such a woman and how she navigates her family relationships.
This is an epic at character level, in which we witness political events both from the outside, and from the inside, being privy to the game of influences that is afoot in the palace. It is also about religion, and how sometimes we can respect divinities but also question the interpretation of their words done by men who see their own profit.
There is a tragic atmosphere in Kaikeyi, because as with myth retellings you have an idea of where the story is going. But it is fascinating all the same to see the path the author has put her characters on, which reveals a side of their personalities that doesn’t make it into most versions of the myth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent and War
samburkhouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
amaranth_wytch's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Sexism, War, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Pregnancy and Child abuse
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Domestic abuse
moonlitreading_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“Before this story was Rama’s, it was mine.”
I have no knowledge of the Ramayana prior to reading Kaikeyi so this review is based on the latter. First things firts, I loved the writing!!! There wasn’t really a dull moment for me. I really enjoyed the first parts of the book with Kaikeyi’s childhood. As an eldest daughter with only brothers I found myself sympathizing with Kaikeyi. I adored her relationship with Yudhajit so much, and their bond was really great. The Binding Plane was really interesting, and I love anything magic. I like that it didn’t let Kaikeyi do everything she wants with it. I like that there were limitations with how much she could get away with using it.
The latter parts weren’t as enjoyable to me as the first ones but I didn’t hate them. Sure, the characters (men) pissed me off but beyond that the storyline was still good. I did love the whole Women’s Council thing because women deserve rights as much as men do (f the sages). Kaikeyi’s role as a mother made me sad because all she wanted was for them to be the best people they could be. I understand why her sons acted the way they did, but that doesn’t mean I should like them. Right?
Overall, Kaikeyi was a fantastic read and I had fun with it.
I have no knowledge of the Ramayana prior to reading Kaikeyi so this review is based on the latter. First things firts, I loved the writing!!! There wasn’t really a dull moment for me. I really enjoyed the first parts of the book with Kaikeyi’s childhood. As an eldest daughter with only brothers I found myself sympathizing with Kaikeyi. I adored her relationship with Yudhajit so much, and their bond was really great. The Binding Plane was really interesting, and I love anything magic. I like that it didn’t let Kaikeyi do everything she wants with it. I like that there were limitations with how much she could get away with using it.
The latter parts weren’t as enjoyable to me as the first ones but I didn’t hate them. Sure, the characters (men) pissed me off but beyond that the storyline was still good. I did love the whole Women’s Council thing because women deserve rights as much as men do (f the sages). Kaikeyi’s role as a mother made me sad because all she wanted was for them to be the best people they could be. I understand why her sons acted the way they did, but that doesn’t mean I should like them. Right?
Overall, Kaikeyi was a fantastic read and I had fun with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, Violence, Misogyny, Grief, Death, War, and Religious bigotry