Kaikeyi
the instant New York Times bestseller and Tiktok sensation
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- 5,99 €
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- 5,99 €
Publisher Description
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)
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.
