A review by acouplereadss
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

adventurous mysterious 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

5.0

Kaikeyi, the only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, lives her life with her 7 brothers and stories of the power of the gods. She listens and watches and longs to do the things her brothers do. She prays to the gods but the gods do not answer her. When her mother is exiled her father grows even more distant, his only focus her great marriage alliance. Desperate for her own independence Kaikeyi pours over her mothers texts where she finds a magic to call her own. Using this new power Kaikeyi transforms herself overs the years into a warrior, diplomat and queen.  As she ages the stories from her childhood will not quiet and an evil looms overhead. KaiKeyi will decide what sacrifices she can make and what legacy she will leave behind.

There are so many wonderful things to say about this book! From the beautiful writing to the incredibly flushed characters, this was a gem from beginning to end. This is the feminist mythological retelling that I have been waiting for since I read Circe. Kaikeyi grows from a child to a mother across the span of the book, and I absolutely loved her journey. The tenderness and determination of motherhood is something I do not know but experiencing Kaikeyi’s thoughts and feelings was on another level. Learning about Hindu culture and their myths and legends through the fantasy lens was lovely. Often I am at a loss of words when a book reaches the level of “incredible” and Kaikeyi is one of those.

It was a pleasure to have immersed myself in this book, 5✨! Highly recommend!