Kaikeyi

A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana, weaving a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak – and an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.
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 readers 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.
Praise for Kaikeyi:
‘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
‘A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace’ Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman
‘Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate’ Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves
‘A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity’s most foundational stories’ S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
‘Fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe will fall hard for this story’ Booklist (starred review)