Kaikeyi
A Novel
-
- 10,99 €
Beschreibung des Verlags
"Mythic retelling at its best." ―R. F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War
"Easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller’s Circe." –Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana. It is 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.
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 tales 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 stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.
Praise for Kaikeyi:
“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)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
