Details:
- author: Vaishnavi Patel
- full title: Kaikeyi
- narrator: Soneela Nankani
- genre: fiction
- topics: #retelling #mythology #indian #ramayana
- country: india
- publisher: Redhook (Hachette Audio)
- publish date: 26.04.2022
- timing: 17:22:00
My Rating of the Audiobook:
- content: 💙💙💙💙💙
- narration: 💙💙💙💙💙
 |
| Goodreads |
Excerpt from the Book:
I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions-much good it did me.
In Bharat, where gods regularly responded to prayers and meddled in mortal affairs, the circumstances of my birth held great promise. This did not mather to my father, who cared only that my brother Yudhajit followed me into the world minutes later under the same lucky stars. Regardless of birth position, Yudhajit, being a boy, was the heir to the Kekaya kingdom. I was but a dowry of fifty fine horses waiting to happen. For each of my mother's subsequent pregnancies, my father made sacrifices to the gods, requesting sons. In return, he was blessed with six more healthy boys, portents of future prosperity.
My Thoughts:
This novel tells the story of Kaikeyi, the queen from Ayodhya, stepmother of Ram from the myth of Ramayana. More about her you can read on Wikipedia: Kaikeyi. Ramayana is an epic poem from ancient India about a prince Ram from the kingdom of Kosala. I didn’t know the complete story before I read Kaikeyi.
I like that this novel presents queen Kaikeyi in a slightly different light. It is a beautiful story of a fierce queen, warrior, and fighter for women’s rights. This novel will be an excellent read for those who like retellings and/or (Indian) mythology. It will appeal to readers who liked Circe by Madeline Miller.
Narration by Soneela Nankani was superb, and I was easily swept away by the story. Suddenly I was in another time and another place.
About the Author:
Vaishnavi Patel is a law student focusing on constitutional law and civil rights. She likes to write at the intersection of Indian myth, feminism, and anti-colonialism. Vaishnavi 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. Kaikeyi is her debut novel.
