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A review by writingcaia
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Kaikeyi is a badly portrayed woman that tried her best to save and keep her family amidst an incredibly difficult life journey that takes her from her father’s home and country - where Kaikeyi found the unfairness of being a woman, where she was abandoned by her mother, but also where she found her power and forced her twin to teach all the arts of war - to her husband’s, the young ruler of the biggest kingdom, home and land, to be his third wife.
Scared but brave, Kaikeyi with her magic power and her cunning will soon be loved by all and have the power to change women’s lives in her new kingdom, which will have repercussion throughout. But not all will be happy about this.
And, the Gods were always against her, never replying to her prayers and sometimes even going so far as to do the opposite of what she prayed for.
Prophecies will unfold no matter Kaikeyi’s wishes and good intentions. Evil is lurking and the Gods are playing.
I loved loved loved this story.
I never knew of the Indian epic Ramayana, but it’s definitely intriguing to me now, although after this amazing tale of a minor character in it, the hated stepmother, I don’t think I can love it as much.
Absolutely brilliant take, the way the four parts of the book start, with what I assume are the “actual” tales written of Kaikeyi, and how as you read you understand how it played out, how the best of intentions and of her love get twisted by “history” is amazing.
Also, love that she’s portrayed by the author as asexual, as greysexual myself I love to see this representation.
There’s so much more I could say, the awesome writing, the incredible side characters, the scope of the story and the empowerment of women, and spoilers, but I’ll let you go ahead and read it.
Go now.
Scared but brave, Kaikeyi with her magic power and her cunning will soon be loved by all and have the power to change women’s lives in her new kingdom, which will have repercussion throughout. But not all will be happy about this.
And, the Gods were always against her, never replying to her prayers and sometimes even going so far as to do the opposite of what she prayed for.
Prophecies will unfold no matter Kaikeyi’s wishes and good intentions. Evil is lurking and the Gods are playing.
I loved loved loved this story.
I never knew of the Indian epic Ramayana, but it’s definitely intriguing to me now, although after this amazing tale of a minor character in it, the hated stepmother, I don’t think I can love it as much.
Absolutely brilliant take, the way the four parts of the book start, with what I assume are the “actual” tales written of Kaikeyi, and how as you read you understand how it played out, how the best of intentions and of her love get twisted by “history” is amazing.
Also, love that she’s portrayed by the author as asexual, as greysexual myself I love to see this representation.
There’s so much more I could say, the awesome writing, the incredible side characters, the scope of the story and the empowerment of women, and spoilers, but I’ll let you go ahead and read it.
Go now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Suicidal thoughts