Kaikeyi: A Novel

by Vaishnavi Patel

Hardcover, 2022

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Genres

Collection

Franklin Blvd.

Publication

Redhook (2022), 496 pages

Description

""I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions-much good it did me." So begins Kaikeyi's tale. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on grand stories about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned vast oceans to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they offer the devoted and the wise magnificent boons, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land prospers. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, her own worth measured by 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 ancient texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. She uses it to transform herself from overlooked princess into warrior, diplomat, and most-favored queen, determined to forge a better world for herself than the one that gods and men have granted. But as the demons of stories Kaikeyi grew up hearing threaten the cosmic order, her will clashes with the path that the gods have chosen for her family-and especially that of her beloved son, Rama. And she must decide if her resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak...and what legacy she intends to leave behind"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member ecataldi

I ended up really enjoying this! I wasn't sure what to expect and I'm not super familiar with Hindu beliefs, but I ended up getting really interested in Kaikeyi's story. Kaikeyi was the first born to royalty but as a twin and as a female, not much was expected of her. Her twin brother would one day

take over the throne and get to make all the decisions. Thankfully she and her brother were close so he took her seriously and allowed her to train as a warrior and speak her mind. Even though she is a female she has warrior's s skill and a sharp mind. When she finds an old scroll that teaches her how to access the blinding plane - she discovers that she can exert her influence over others. When her brother agrees with her father about marrying her off to a neighboring kingdom she feels betrayed, even her new skill won't save her. She will have to start her way on the bottom as a third wife and find a way to use her skills to obtain power and use it to help other women. There are many rich layers to this story and it reads as an historical/fantasy/adventure drama. Very exciting.

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LibraryThing member jetangen4571

India, myths-legends, royalty, historical-novel, historical-research, history-and-culture, cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage, family, family-dynamics, friction*****

This story is representative of the mythos of a part of the world of which I have an inadequate understanding. But then, I have

only limited understanding of the myths and practices of the First Nations of my own continent, and what I know of the Norse comes from fiction and movies.
I have seen where some readers have taken issue with the myth interpretation here, BUT IT'S FICTION FOLKS! Therefore, I totally enjoyed the story and the telling of it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Redhook Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

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LibraryThing member reader1009

fiction/reimagining of Ramayana queen's life and reasons for banishing her step-son hero in Ancient Indian civilization (with artistic license).

LibraryThing member Anniik

TW/CW: Violence, death, mild sexuality, teen marriage, polygamy, sexism, mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of sexual assault

RATING: 4/5

REVIEW: Kaikeyi is the story of a young noble woman who marries a Raja from another land. As his third wife, she gains prestige by saving him in battle and uses

that to help women in need in her new home.

This is a very good book. It was based on mythology that I have to admit I’m not familiar with, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. It was strongly feminist, and you really feel for the main character, despite the mistakes she makes.

Although it was almost 500 pages long, it was exciting and moved quickly, and the writing really drew you into the story.

I recommend this book to people who liked Circe or other feminist retellings of ancient myth.

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LibraryThing member Castlelass

Feminist retelling of an epic story in Hindu mythology. Kaikeyi is the narrator and protagonist. As the story opens, she is a princess with many brothers. She finds a magical talent at a young age and is able to enter the “binding plane” to view the strength of her bonds with others. She wants

to control her own fate but lives in a patriarchal society where women are seen as burdens to their families. She becomes the third wife of Dasharath, the Raja of a neighboring realm. The storyline follows Kaikeyi’s thoughts, feelings, plans, journeys, and relationships with her family members.

This book was a mixed bag for me. I admit to having limited background with the original material and wonder how those familiar with the Ramayana will view it. I found it long and meandering. It is difficult for me to spend so much time in the head of a woman who acts like an adolescent no matter how old she gets. It comes across as a young adult fantasy, which may not have been the intent. This is Patel’s debut novel. I liked it enough to finish it.

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LibraryThing member rmarcin

What an impressive story! Kaikeyi is a retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana. I knew nothing of this story before reading this book. Kaikeyi is the only girl in a family of boys. She was born first, a twin, yet because she is female, she is not heir to the throne.
Her mother is banished by her

father, and Kaikeyi trains to be a warrior with her twin. Their closeness is a strong bond, which lasts their entire lives. Kaikeyi sees a thread which binds her to people, and she can tell their connection to others, too. She keeps this power secret. She is later married to a raja, who already has 2 wives, but no children. She asks him to swear that if she marries him, her son will be raja. This oath later determines the fate of her old and new kingdoms, and affects the life and love of her family.
Beautifully written. Very interesting and intricate story.

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LibraryThing member quondame

A prequel to the Ramayana from the point of view of Kailkeyi Rama's (step)mother who had him exiled. Kaikeyi struggles against the strictures of women's lives, both for herself and others, taking every advantage of her natural and magical abilities but finds that she still comes up against limits

placed by gods and others' desires and considerable abilities.

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LibraryThing member bookwyrmm

I have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Ramayana, so I cannot comment on the retelling, but Kaikeyi is a strong female character that you will not forget.

LibraryThing member srms.reads

In the Indian epic, The Ramayana, Queen Kaikeyi is portrayed as a jealous queen who wants her son Bharata to ascend the throne of Kosala and uses the boons granted to her by her husband King Dasharath to send Rama , the eldest of Dasharath’s sons and first in line to the throne, into exile . She

is , therefore, labeled a “villain” as is her trusted maid, Manthara who is instrumental in fueling Kaikeya’s jealousy and convincing Kaikeye to make use of her boons to further her agenda.

In reimagining Kaikeyi’s story, Vaishnavi Patel adds much depth to this powerful, brave and influential woman who, forsaken by the gods and left to carve her own destiny emerges powerful in a day and age when men rule in accordance with the will of the gods and women are bound in roles defined by age-old traditions and relegated, in most part, to the background. Told in a first person narrative format we follow Kaikeye’s journey from her early years as the only daughter of King Ashwapati and sister to seven brothers in the kingdom of Kekaya to becoming King Dasharath’s third and youngest wife, loving mother to Bharata, her biological son,and Rama, Lakshmana and Shatrugna, Dasharath’s children by his other queens through to the role she plays in Rama’s exile. Kaikeyi, whose mother was banished by her father who for the most part ignored his daughter , finds a way to train as a warrior with the help of her twin brother Yudhajit and masters in the art of meditation after discovering magical powers in the scrolls of ancient texts. She is observant and intelligent and proves a worth ally and advisor to her husband King Dasharath even in the battlefield where she joins him as his charioteer. Kaikeyi’s bravery on the battlefield, thirst for knowledge, determination to bring about change in the way women of all ranks are viewed and treated , the way she holds her own against the archaic, orthodox beliefs of the sages, her rise to the rank of a minister in the King’s court and ultimately the ‘saciva’ to her King and husband are described with a reverence that is her due. Her agony, when forced to make difficult choices that she knows will vilify her in the eyes of everyone she hold dear, is palpable. Vaishnavi Patel's Kaikeye, the queen, is much more than daughter, sister, wife, mother or villain. She is complex and flawed but she will be seen and heard and in that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her emotions are strong as is her resolve to do whatever it takes to protect her kingdom and her children. Her asexuality is a theme that is explored with great respect and sensitivity as is her bond with her husband.

Kaikeyi’s story would be incomplete without Manthara and I applaud the author for the manner in which she portrays Manthara as a mother figure, guide and confidante. Manthara plays a significant role in showing Kaikeyi firsthand how the women in the kingdom are treated by their male counterparts thereby motivating Kaikeyi to fight for the visibility of women – in the marketplace, in their homes and in the court, an achievement that causes ripples within her own circle but whose impact is felt in lands near and far.

With its vivid imagery, absorbing narrative and masterful storytelling Vaishnavi Patel’s Kaikeyi is a brilliant debut. The very first sentence of the narrative reeled me in and I was completely immersed in Kaikeyi’s story till the very end. I felt nostalgic revisiting these characters and stories. I was constantly reminded of the stories I’ve heard and read as a child. I would recommend this to anyone one who enjoys retellings/reimaginings of mythological stories revolving around strong, female characters and those with an interest in the Indian epics. This novel is brilliant on its own merit though I do feel that knowing a little bit about The Ramayana would enrich the reading experience. While The Ramayana will always be known as the story of Lord Rama, Vaishnavi Patel’s immersive and powerful debut gives Kaikeyi her own story told in her own voice. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the digital ARC of this stunningly beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member zjakkelien

I liked this book, it's based on a mythical story I'm not familiar with, so it feels a bit like a fairy tale. The story is nice, the main character has the lofty ideal of wanting to help women become more equal, and it's an easy read.
It could perhaps have been great, but it lacks depth. It feels a

bit young adult, with problems posed and resolved within a few pages without any poignancy. It is not as immersive as I would have liked, both in world building and in characters. And while it did not bother me enough to be truly frustrating, I do think that questionable morals are not always out not sufficiently called out on the part of the main character. She is quick enough to see her son's manipulation as immoral, but her own is apparently no problem. When she selfishly breaks a bond early on, she makes no effort to restore it, and doesn't seem particularly bothered with it.

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