Kaikeyi

A Novel

by Vaishnavi Patel

Paperback, 432 pages

Published Nov. 1, 2022 by Redhook.

ISBN:: 978-0-7595-5730-7

(10 reviews)

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. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.

Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.

But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

4 editions

enitsirhc reviewed Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

Kaikeyi is a unique and powerful story

5 stars

This book tells the story of Kaikeyi, daughter of a raja and sister to seven brothers. It tells the story of a woman fighting for power and freedom in a world that keeps women powerless on purpose. As her mother leaves her and her brothers, her father being distant, Kaikeyi finds ancient scrolls with which she learns long lost magic. It allows her to gain more influence over her own life and not feel as powerless as before. And soon, she tries to better the life of other women, as well. However, even good deeds can result in a catastrophe...

It is a beautiful story that centers on relationships between people, on compassion and also on failures and on seeking peace. I loved it!

Erin reviewed Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

Review of 'Kaikeyi' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This was a compelling read. I found myself drawn to pick it up and keep going. But at the same I wasn’t all that emotionally affected by it - I think because much of the book isn’t very dramatic.

There are a lot of opportunities for conflict that are not taken up or if they are taken up are resolved quickly. I appreciated a lot of that because it made a lot of the characters feel more like the adults they’re supposed to be, and the book avoided some cliches (like cattiness amongst a man’s multiple wives). But Kaikeyi can feel a bit robotic sometimes - there’s not always enough emotion from her.

I really loved the way the story played out with Kaikeyi and Rama. Someone powerful convinced of their own righteous cause is pretty scary. But I like how Rama was not entirely villainized, there are attempts from Rama and Kaikeyi both to keep the relationship working.

The imagery of the ribbons of light was a nice way to communicate so much to Kaikeyi and the reader. I especially like how that worked with Rama and his connections.

I’m curious about the choice to make Kaikeyi ace/aro, assuming there’s not much to go on in the original tale. I’m very picky when it comes to romance, so it was fine with me that there isn’t any here. It’s nice to see that kind of rep in a story.

I would definitely read more from this author. Her pacing and storytelling worked for me, though I’d love more access to the characters.

Axl reviewed Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

Review of 'Kaikeyi' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

3.5

I loved the first half more than the second, just because the mood was more depressing and we could feel that doom was coming, I also adored Kaikeyi and would have liked to see the secondary characters explored more.. The writing was good, and the idea of telling the story behind this mythological figure was great, I'll follow what the author writes after this debut!