The release date for the English version of 'Kaikeyi' by
Vaishnavi Patel is Apr 2022. If you enjoy this novel, it is available for buy as a paperback from Barnes & Noble or Indigo, as an ebook on the Amazon Kindle store, or as an audiobook on Audible.
"It did me much good that I was born under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions, on the full moon."
The tale of Kaikeyi starts here. Raised on stories of the might and kindness of the gods, the sole daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she learns how they churned the great ocean to extract the nectar of immortality, how they defeated evil and made sure that the country of Bharat prospered, and how they bestowed wonderful boons upon the deserving. Nevertheless, she observes her father forcibly banishing her mother and hears how her value is lowered to the marital alliance she can arrange. Furthermore, the gods never seem to heed her pleas for assistance.
She looks to the books she used to read with her mother out of desperation for independence and finds a magic that is all hers. With it, Kaikeyi becomes the most beloved queen, a diplomat, a warrior, and an underappreciated princess.
However, the path she has built conflicts with the fate the gods had predetermined for her family as the evil from her childhood tales threatens the cosmic order. Kaikeyi also has to consider her legacy and if resistance is worth the devastation it would cause.
The remarkable story of a woman who was determined to make her mark in a society where men and gods shaped the future. "Publishers Weekly, starred review: Patel's captivating debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana."