Kaikeyi : a novel

Title:

Kaikeyi : a novel

Author:

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 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. -- Provided by publisher.

General Note:

Originally published in hardcover and ebook in Great Britain by Orbit and in the U.S. by Redhook in April 2022.

Edition:

First paperback edition.

Physical Description:

xii, 500 pages ; 24 cm

Genre:

Fantasy fiction.

Mythological fiction.

Personal Subject:

Kaikeyī (Hindu mythological character)-Fiction.

Subject Term:

Queens -- Fiction.

Hindu gods -- Fiction.

Demonology -- Fiction.

Hindu mythology -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Redhook,

Publication Date:

2023

2022

ISBN:

9780759557307

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Redhook, 2023.

Call Number:

PATEL

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003698431	New Adult Fiction	PATEL Vaishnavi	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "MYTHIC RETELLING AT ITS BEST." (R. F. Kuang, author of Yellowface ) * A 2023 IGNYTE AWARD FINALIST * A BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB PICK

"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 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 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. 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 tales threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak--and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

PRAISE FOR KAIKEYI

"Patel resets the balance of power, creating an unforgettable heroine who understands that it isn't necessarily kings or gods who change history." - Washington Post

"Easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller's Circe ." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Utterly captivating from start to finish." ―Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart

"Brave, compassionate and powerful." ―Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

"A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace." ―Ava Reid, author of Juniper & Thorn

"Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate." ―Roshani Chokshi, author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

"A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity's most foundational stories." --Shannon Chakraborty, author of The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Author Notes

Vaishnavi Patel is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller, Kaikeyi . A lawyer specializing in civil rights, she likes to write at the intersection of Indian myth, feminism, and anticolonialism. She grew up in and around Chicago and, in her spare time, enjoys activities that are almost stereotypically Midwestern: knitting, ice skating, drinking hot chocolate, and making hotdish.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Patel's mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana. As the only girl of eight royal siblings, Kaikeyi grows up knowing her value as a person is determined by her eventual marriage. When her mother is banished, Kaikeyi is forced to take up her duties in the royal court. In between all her new work, she turns to the palace's scrolls on magic and learns how to enter the Binding Plane, where she can exert a magical influence over others using the invisible strings that connect her to them. Then Kaikeyi is unwillingly married off to the Raja of Kosala, where her lack of friends and allies means the bonds of the Binding Plane operate differently. Still, Kaikeyi earns her place at her husband's side, wins the love of her subjects, and raises a son, Rama. Throughout her life, Kaikeyi often recalls a story her mother told of a woman who could not avoid the punishment of man, even when the fault of her actions fell upon a god himself--but the tale's true message is lost on her until it's too late. Readers familiar with the source text will be wowed by Patel's reimagining, while those new to the story will be won over by its powerful, multilayered heroine and epic scope. This easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller's Circe. Agent: Lucienne Diver, the Knight Agency. (Apr.)

Library Journal Review

Patel's debut novel reimagines the life of the infamous queen Kaikeyi from the Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic poem that's a key legend of Hinduism. Patel's portrayal of the brave but flawed queen more sympathetically examines her entire life and what compels her to exile her stepson Rama from the kingdom. As a child abandoned by her mother, Kaikeyi discovers scrolls filled with magic and develops her own power: she can enter the binding plane to view the strength of her connections to people around her and send psychic suggestions through them. As an adult forsaken by the gods, Kaikeyi uses her abilities to gain influence in the kingdom of Ayodhya and leverages her position to make a better world for women--until her plans clash with the gods' destiny for her family. The audiobook is long but will fly by; narrator Soneela Nankani keeps the pace up and delivers has nicely accented pronounciations of Hindi names. VERDICT Patel's reimagining takes listeners on a fantastical journey and introduces them to gods.--Laura Trombley