I have read so many phenomenal fantasies this year, including several truly outstanding debuts (The Stardust Thief! Daughter of the Moon Goddess!), that I feel so freaking lucky. Kaikeyi was another five-star fantasy, for so many reasons, but principally because the world building was immaculate. I actually read the author’s note at the start AFTER finishing the book, because I was going into the read very unfamiliar with the mythology surrounding Rama and Kaikeyi and enjoy being unprepared (worth noting that this is the ONLY area of my life where a lack of preparation is enjoyable for me). To read Patel’s notes on her study of the Ramayana (and its many tellings and interpretations) and to learn how much of this story is her creation was an incredible treat after finishing the book. Her magic system is so original and I LOVED that she brought this to the retelling of the classic tale.

And honestly, Patel builds such a compelling vision of Kaikeyi that I entirely forgot she is not traditionally the main character of this story. From the grief of losing her mother to exile as a child, to her discovery of magic and her years-long strengthening of her abilities, to her eventual marriage and ultimately to the fated and tragic unraveling of her life and deepest loves, Kaikeyi is so deeply human. In a world ruled by Gods and gods and goddesses, where the stories of humans are pulled tragically between the whims of more powerful beings, her defiance of fate and divinity and her insistence on her own agency is revolutionary.

And it has to be said - the prose is so moving. The depth of emotion, the vivid imagery woven throughout, the layered complexity of The Binding Plane, it just all works together so seamlessly. This story of freewill vs. fate and humans vs. Gods is absolutely worth the read. 

A Lady for a Duke is now one of my all-time favorite romances and is easily one of the best books in any genre that I’ve read this year. It is stunning. Hall has gifted us with a tender regency romance with a trans leading lady that is joyful and swoony with an edge of absurdity (that third act!). And through it all, he navigates complex discussions of gender identity, regency-era (and modern) gender roles and social constructs, and the realities and complexities of choosing to live as you were meant to.

A few of my favorite things about this book:
💞 SO MUCH MUTUAL PINING.
💞 Brilliantly executed friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance
💞 Well-developed side characters (Lady Marleigh! Mira!)
💞 The levity! Hall’s signature humor balances even vulnerable, fearful or dramatic moments throughout the narrative.
💞 Hall’s decision that Viola’s gender would NOT be the central conflict in her love story. She gets the happily ever after she deserves, and we get to enjoy every second of it.
💞 The incredible attention to detail in Viola’s descriptions. As this is set in a time when clothing, makeup and jewelry were some of the only tools available to identify herself, the details of Viola’s attire become essential elements of the story. Every time she is in a scene, Hall (typically via Gracewood, the cinnamon roll-est of cinnamon roll main characters) describes her outfit in particular, loving detail. This specificity was so insightful and authentic, and I loved Hall for it.

It was so easy to fall in love with these characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this from start to finish. Highly recommend to all readers, but note the content warnings.