Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi

Vaishnavi Patel

Publication date: April 26, 2022 by Redhook Books

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5 👢👢👢👢👢

Summary:  “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 about the might and benevolence 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.

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.

Kaikeyi is a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. 

My Thoughts: There have been many retellings of Greek and Roman mythological stories. It is not very common however to find retellings of mythology from other cultures. I jumped on the opportunity to read this one for that very reason. Because I was unfamiliar with the traditional telling of the Hindu tale Ramayana, I had no preconceived notions as to how the characters should be portrayed. 

What I got was a deeply satisfying story of a strong willed woman seeking to make her mark on the world. Kaikeyi did not seek power and prestige for herself, but rather acceptance that even though she was a woman she was capable of more than being just a mother and wife. Kaikeyi wanted to change the mentality of society that ALL women were capable of more than what was accepted. Although seemingly forsaken by the gods, Kaikeyi had the magical ability to influence a person's will if she had a strong enough bond with them. She learned early that fostering relationships with others would permit her the opportunity to gain allies. 

Patel excelled at bringing this story to the masses. She didn't attempt to bog down the story with too many details. I listened to the audio and found that the story was very easy to follow. I hope that Patel will continue to bring more of the Hindu culture to the general public as this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. 

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.