rataltouille 's review for:

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

4.25

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my GOD i have often dismissed the ramayana because of how rama (a very flawed protaganist) is hailed as the "most perfect man" and the literal embodiment of good by most. (it does not help, knowing the chokehold this has on indian politics rn *cough cough*) to see a book break this notion that im sure a lot of people reading the epic for the first time would have felt deeply unsettled by (sita's trial by fire has always had me arguing with my family whenever we discussed it) with beautiful writing, great characters and compelling relationships (and possibly—out of the many mythological retelling books that are marketed as feminist—i actually feel embody the spirit of feminism and sisterhood). i have no words (clearly that is a lie considering my yapping but you get my point) 

anyway tldr this books slaps so hard i had tears in my eyes and had to read most of the last chapters with blurry vision lmao