This book is HEAVY, both in physical weight and in the themes throughout. Kaikeyi is far from perfect - she can be megalomaniacal at times, and often puts her desires above the wellbeing of others. But she's interesting and that's what matters. The passion in her voice is so strongly conveyed through the narrator, and it makes you want to root for her. (That being said, it is a retelling of the Ramayana where Kaikeyi was less than gracious, but still...)

But outside of all of this, you get a delightful yet sorrowful epic story about the extents of a mother's love. With this comes a land of gods and magic, intricately woven into the tale of being a woman in historical times. I really REALLY enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from Vaishnavi Patel.

*Thank you to RedHook and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*