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Kaikeyi

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Kaikeyi

By: Vaishnavi Patel
Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
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About this listen

An instant New York Times bestseller and TikTok sensation, Vaishnavi Patel's stunning debut Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from Indian epic the Ramayana...

The only daughter of a king, Kaikeyi watches as her mother is banished and her own worth is reduced to what marriage alliance she can secure. Although she was raised on stories of the might and benevolence of the gods, her prayers for help go unanswered. She turns to her mother's library and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat and favoured queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her. But when evils from her childhood stories threaten her world, 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.

A must for fans of historical and mythological retellings such as Madeline Miller's Circe and Jennifer Saint's Ariadne, this powerful debut weaves a tale of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

©2022 Vaishnavi Patel (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Historical Magic Royalty South Asian Creators

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Critic reviews

"Mythic retelling at its best." (R. F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War)

"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)
All stars
Most relevant
Really enjoyed listening to this novel which is so well written! A perspective of Kaikeyi that I would have never really considered! Shame it has been read so monotonously! Perhaps more readers in different voices would have been more interesting!

Excellent!

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Didn’t like the voice at first but it grew on me . Brilliant story line and I really enjoyed it

Loved it

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After being immersed in Indian mythology during my formative years, picking up a modern retelling of the Ramayana with a completely different perspective was, to say the least, intriguing. Ramayana is renowned as a heroic tale of the battle between good and evil, categorising all its characters under this binary lens, which unsurprisingly, left Kaikeyi branded as “evil”. Manthara manipulated Kaikeyi into using her two boons to send Ram into exile and place Bharat on the throne, thereby positioning both Manthara and Kaikeyi as antagonists.

But Kaikeyi’s so-called "crime" exists within a big cosmic game, where divine interventions and ancient curses had already scripted everyone’s fate. What many fail to consider (even before the release of this book) is that Ram’s exile and his eventual war with Raavan were part of his preordained destiny.
By refusing to view her as a villain, Kaikeyi challenges the very foundation of how epics have traditionally been retold especially from the male gaze or moralistic perspectives that flatten women into tropes like the virtuous wife, the scheming queen, or the devoted mother. Kaikeyi is a consequence, not a cause. In an epic where gods manipulate destinies, holding one human woman accountable is not just unfair, it is absurd.

Besides, these mythologies were also crafted by sages, in part, to appease the gods. So why wouldn't they paint Kaikeyi as the villain? That’s where Vaishnavi Patel’s brilliant storytelling steps in. She provides a much-needed voice to a misrepresented character.
The narration, especially the way it flows through her childhood adds rich depth and context to her character. Could it be the narrator’s bias that sways you? Maybe. But since epics have been doing the same for their heroes for generations, I’d say it’s only fair Kaikeyi gets the same treatment.

PS - I’m a bit dicey on the premise of Sita being the daughter of Raavan and Mandodari, even though some versions of the Ramayana, other than Valmiki’s, do include it.

Was Kaikeyi Ever the Villain?

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A book that I could not put down. This rich story was brought to life with the captivating words of the author, who has woven this story so well. It was also brought to life by the beautiful narration.

Enthralling! A new perspective

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Great story, very well narrated. I appreciated the narrator’s voice, which reflected the characters in a natural and understated way. It was interesting to gain a different perspective on the character of Kaikeyi, a very controversial figure in the Ramayana. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Great story

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