2025 Reading Challenge discussion

*Featured Buddy Read*
This buddy read is featured on the homepage and is pinned to the top of the January Buddy Reads folder. Otherwise it works just like every other buddy read!

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This thread is to discuss Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel.

Pages: 478 pages

Length: 1 month (May)

Participants:Valerie, Rebecca, JenniferJ, Dominique, Lynn, Samantha

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Planning to start this at the weekend. By coincidence, I not only suggested the featured buddy read but also the group read so I’d better get reading. Hope you enjoy this one.

Part 1. I’m quite familiar with the central part of The Ramayana involving Rama, Sita, Ravenna and of course Hanuman the monkey god, but Kaikeyi was a character I wasn’t really aware of so it’s interesting to see the story from a different perspective.
I’m enjoying the mix of magic, mythology and history as the scene is set for the main action.
I’m guessing (view spoiler)[ that the promise made by her new husband is going to initiate trouble (hide spoiler)]
I’m intrigued to find out (view spoiler)[ if she will use or misuse those connections - and if breaking the one with her twin will prove a massive mistake (hide spoiler)]
Let’s see how the next chapter in her life plays out.

I am excited to read this! Will hopefully start this coming weekend.

So excited to finally get to reading this! Will also be starting closer to the weekend.

I've started this one and am through chapter 6. (view spoiler)[ I think Kaikeyi has been blessed with a strange and dangerous magical power. I can see this one quickly getting out of hand. . . .Also, I loved her brother so much for trying to modify the marriage that Kaikeyi must make to give her more agency in choosing and wedding. It's a tough situation, and I'm glad that he's so supportive. If it were me, I'd still be terribly frustrated though. (hide spoiler)]

I've finished part one now and (view spoiler)[ scratch what I said about her brother being supportive yesterday. On the other hand, I still think he was trying to do good for her. Also, I'm super uncomfortable with the way Kaikeyi uses her powers for her own gain, especially when she gets emotional. (hide spoiler)]

Rebecca wrote: "I've finished part one now and [spoilers removed]"
It’s certainly a powerful gift which needs using wisely.

Part 2. I love the way she has recreated their world through a mixture of historical reality and imagination. I’m particularly enjoying the world of the women and am fascinated by (view spoiler)[ the relationship between the three wives and their children. Sadly, I foresee that this harmony cannot last. It’s great to see Kaikeyi making a place for herself in a male dominated world and using her gift in a good cause (hide spoiler)]
It’s interesting to get a different perspective on (view spoiler)[ Ravenna (who I know as an evil ten headed demon) and Rama (who is usually presented as the perfect prince and hero) (hide spoiler)]
I feel a dramatic change is coming in the next part.

I am through chapter 13 now, and I'm liking Keikeyi so much better than I did in the first part. I feel that she's really (view spoiler)[ using her gifts in the best way possible. I like the burgeoning relationship between her and the other wives. I was surprised by her encounter with Ravenna, and the way he just handed her so much knowledge that would strengthen her powers. I don't know if that's a good thing or not though! I felt kind of suspicious of that whole encounter, but it could just be me being suspicious I guess I'll be finding out soon! (hide spoiler)]

This story is completely new to me as I've never read it or studied it. When I bought this book last year, I bought (on a friend's recommendation) a copy of the Ramayana, and I'm undecided as to whether I should have read it first. I'm kind of enjoying the way the story is unfolding because it's a complete surprise to me, and I don't know what on earth is going to happen!

Part 3. This section took a darker twist with lots of action and quite a few hints and revelations. I was definitely hooked.
So if Ravana is speaking the truth (view spoiler)[ that Sita is his long lost daughter and that Rama is mistreating her, then he is not the villain after all (hide spoiler)]
I’m wondering (view spoiler)[ who is the asura’s master? Is it the evil sage or could it be Rama himself? (hide spoiler)]
Impressed by (view spoiler)[ Kaikeyi’ courage and resourcefulness. She uses her brain as well as her gift (hide spoiler)]
Going to be an interesting last part I feel.

Rebecca wrote: "I am through chapter 13 now, and I'm liking Keikeyi so much better than I did in the first part. I feel that she's really [spoilers removed]

This story is completely new to me as I've never read i..."
It must be interesting to read this without knowing the Ramayana, that must mean you get a completely different read to me . The version I know is the one for children (I was a primary school teacher so I told it many times to my classes). I imagine there’s lots of different versions that are more complex than the one I know. It’ll be interesting for you to read it afterwards.

I’m finished through chapter 20, and wanted to say that (view spoiler)[ I just loved Kaikeyi’s visit home to see her brothers and I loved that her bond with Yudhajit was not as easily broken as she had believed. That was super heartwarming.

I’m also a little dismayed with Rama’s attitudes and his godhood. I just don’t know what the ramifications will be or how this is going to play out. It makes me doubt that Bharata will ever actually take the throne.

Also, Kaikeyi’s dream of Sarasvati felt so ominous at the end of this chapter. It makes me feel that bad things are in Kaikeyi’s future (hide spoiler)]

Part 4. Well that was quite a twist from the way I was expecting the ending to go (view spoiler)[ it actually ends before the famous parts of the Ramayana (hide spoiler)] but is really thought provoking as Kaikeyi (view spoiler)[ struggles between destiny and a belief in free will. She really is left between a rock and a hard place where she will be judged critically whatever she does (hide spoiler)]
Really enjoyed this novel. I love the way our perception of the characters is challenged and the questions it raises without ever losing the pace of an engaging and surprising plot.

Finished through chapter 22. I’m going to confess (view spoiler)[ the time skips are killing me. I wanted to see the boys growing up in a way the author Disney show. But I can understand why the jumps are important for building action (hide spoiler)]

Rebecca wrote: "Finished through chapter 22. I’m going to confess [spoilers removed]"

Yes we actually learn very little about how all but one became the men they did, especially her son.

I am planning to start it this weekend. It has been on my tbr for quite some time now. I'm damn excited to finally pick it up.

Finished through chapter 24, and was kind of surprised that (view spoiler)[ Dasharath allowed all this sons to marry into the same kingdom. It would seem better for diplomatic relations if he spread the family ties out from my perspective.

Also, it seems that there’s been a little building tension between Dasharath and Kaikeyi over the past 2 or 3 chapters. I wonder how that will play out. (hide spoiler)]

I finished through chapter 26 and (view spoiler)[ I knew it! Kaikeyi was going to end up needing to confront/have resolution with her mother before the end of the book.

I'm enjoying finding how Kaikeyi is being educated about Rama's manipulation and her own relationship to her children on this trip. She wasn't paying close attention to them, and now her relationships with them are all snarled up. (hide spoiler)]

I was really surprised in chapter 27 that (view spoiler)[ Ravana knew of her and her mom's kinship. That makes me feel a little better about the immediate familiarity that Ravana has with her when they first meet. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not through chapter 30, and must say that (view spoiler)[ Kaikeyi really came home to a mess. Rama's really wreaked some havoc while she's been gone! (hide spoiler)]

I finished this, and thought it was excellent! I think I would have liked it even more if I was more familiar with Hindu mythology.

I really enjoyed it. So rare to read something different than a greek mythology.

(view spoiler)[ The way she stood up for women's right to have their own lives and to show how strong they are was great but also her downfall. Would the future of her sons would be different if she didn't use her boons? She was portrayed as a jealous, selfish woman and she was the opposite.
I liked her relationship with her brother, I didn't agree with her when it was decided that she had to be married. He knew and she knew the decision was made and there was no going back. For her to blame her brother was not fair and I felt that she was the one who should've done the first steps towards a reconciliation.
I liked the the relationship she had with the other wives and that all their sons were all their sons no matter who gave birth. (hide spoiler)]