A review by anxiousnachos
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Wow, can’t quite believe I read almost 500 pages in just over 24 hours! In this climate! I really enjoyed this, definitely see the Circe comparisons, but I think readers who loved The Witch’s Heart will also love this. I knew none of the mythology of the Ramayana before reading this so I discovered the story for the first time as I read and I was completely enthralled, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s so full of women trying to fight for control of their lives, railing against both men and the gods that seek to subdue them. My only nitpick is that it is so *heavy* on this. My feeling finishing this book is an overwhelming sense of futility and hopelessness and anger for Kaikeyi which is a rather unfulfilling feeling to end a book on. It does end on a slightly more positive note, but after so much pain, Kaikeyi taking hit after hit…it’s kind of hard to come back from. Fuck men, seriously. 

Anyway if you read either Circe or The Witch’s Heart, definitely pick this up. 

OH and the protagonist is aroace!! And it’s woven in really well. 

Content warnings: misogyny, sexism, like so much, men being complete shits, neglect, domestic abuse, war, murder, manipulation/control 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings