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dark
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War
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
- 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, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Violence, War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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: Misogyny, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Blood, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Title: Kaikeyi
Author: Vaishnavi Patel
Genre: Fantasy
Setting: Bharat
Month Read: April 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication:2022
Publisher: Redhook
Pages: 475
*Book of the Month Selection
TRIGGER WARNING-
Violence / Death / Rape? / Arranged Marriage
"Regardless of birth position, Yudhajit, being a boy, was the heir to the Kekaya kingdom. I was but a dowry of fifty fine horses waiting to happen."
No Spoiler Summary:
In the vein of Madeline Miller’s Circe comes a bold and sweeping debut that reimagines the life of Kaikeyi, the vilified queen of the Indian epic the Ramayana.
“I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.”
So begins Kaikeyi’s story, that of a young woman determined to create her own destiny in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. But as she transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most-favored queen, Kaikeyi’s will clashes with the path that has been chosen for her family. And she must decide if her resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak.
-Goodreads Summary
Review:
It has been no secret if you know me by how excited I was that this book was coming out, and that Book of the Month was offering it in April. I am so thrilled to say that my specific hype for this novel did not let me know, and I devoured this novel in a few days (despite being my third 400+ page book of April.) I don't know much about the Ramayana, but I was absolutely engrossed in Kaikeyi's story, and the mythos and lore within the pages.
I'm a sucker for a good feminist perspective, especially in books like this where women are typically uh--- demonized? Second class characters? I love that Kaikeyi did what she had to do, no matter the cost, but never ever gave up on her power, and what she felt she deserved. She frequently is villainized for standing up for herself, and for others, and at the end of the day has to pay the consequences for this.
I loved the tales of Sisterhood woven throughout Kaikeyi. Whether it is with her brothers in her homeland, or with her sister-wives in Ayodhya, Kaikeyi loves those around her hard, and selflessly once she warms up to someone. I thought she was an incredibly gracious person, and her fight for women never ceased.
Kaikeyi is a dense book, and at times slows down, but reading it is so worth it (especially for fans of Circe!) The reading of this felt a lot like Circe (but more fun, in my opinion) and if you like Madeline Miller or Jennifer Saint you'll definitely like this. It was also a nice break from the Greeks.
10/10 recommend- you won't regret it.
"Because those who are good question themselves. Because those who are good always wonder if there was a better way, a way that could have helped more and hurt less. That feeling is why you are good."
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Abandonment
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
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: Infertility, Violence, Death of parent