And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.ĭesperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. 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. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on legends 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. I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions-much good it did me. “With a graceful, measured elegance” ( New York Times), this lyrical novel reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the ancient epic the Ramayana, giving voice to an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

I’m over the moon excited to say that it was BEYOND worth the wait! Kaikeyi is a book that I have been counting down the DAYS to read ever since Alex Ness told me about it last year. It’s this discovery and this power that sets into motion the epic tale that is the Ramayana! If you don’t know much about Kaikeyi and her role in the Ramayana or about the Ramayana itself, never fear! Vaishnavi Patel does a magnificent job in this retelling, and I would even highly recommend not reading about Kaikeyi and her role before starting this book.įor fans of Circe, Song of Achilles, Ariadne and The Witch’s Heart, it’s another fantastic myth retelling that should live on everyone's bookshelves. She can enter into a mental state she calls 'the binding plane,' where she is able to see the bonds that connect her with all those in her life and in turn, influence the choices/feelings of those she is bonded with. When their father banishes their mother from the kingdom, Kaikeyi discovers a gift she never knew she possessed.

Kaikeyi is the first born in her family, but because she is not born a man, her twin brother is set to inherit their father's kingdom. As one of the myth's central villains, and stepmother to the God Rama, this age-old myth is cast in an entirely new light.

Focusing on the myth of the Ramayana, Vaishnavi Patel tells this historic tale from Kaikeyi’s point of view.

Kaikeyi book release date