Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
Length: 432 Pages
Genres: Fantasy and Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Blood, Gore, Misogyny and Death

I've always loved mythology ever since I was little (one of my favorite gifts I received for my birthday was a book on Greek mythology), but like many, I've neglected learning more about mythologies outside of a Eurocentric view. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I'm so excited to say I think it will be one of my top books of 2022 as well!

Kaikeyi is the oldest daughter, a yuvradnyi (crown princess) to her twin brother's yuvraja (heir apparent), of the raja of Kekeya, and a mother who has been banished, forgotten as easily as if she was a mere servant. Life among seven brothers and a father who sees her as nothing more than bait for a political marriage, is both privileged and hopeless. She wants to be just as good a warrior, just as good a politician and student, as her many brothers. With the loss of her mother, she is plunged into despair and turns to her beloved scrolls for advice. There, she discovers a secret, a place that she can enter into with meditation, a place where she can see all the many tethers that make up the relationships around her. With practice, she will be able to manipulate those tethers, to stroke them into calmness, or suggest someone confess to her a secret.

Years later, Kaikeyi is bargained away as a third wife to the raja Dasharath, who desires nothing more than an heir--but it is in a bargain of her own making. In exchange for her hand, she asks that should she produce a son, he will be made the sole heir to the kingdom, no matter if his other wives eventually have sons as well. He accepts, before her father and twin and their entire court.

At her new home, Kaikeyi cultivates relationships with servants, courtiers, and her fellow radnyi. But still she does not have a son. Desperate, Dasharath calls on the gods for help, and they answer, offering magical kheer for the wives to drink in order to produce heirs. Little do they know that the gods have set into motion a plan that will bring bloodshed and betrayal in its wake.

But Kaikeyi has one last trick up her sleeve. When her marriage to Dasharath was still young, she saved his life in battle. In payment he granted her two boons, oaths to the gods that whatever she wanted he must grant. Now, Kaikeyi can choose to use these boons to save her kingdom and her family, but at the cost of being forevermore a villain in her own tale.

Based on the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana (which is one of the largest epic poems in the history of the world), Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel explores a much-maligned character, that of the stepmother to the hero of the story, Rama. He is an avatar of the god Vishnu and is an incredibly important character in Hindusim. While in the epic Kaikeyi is somewhat given the excuse of being swayed by her maid, the humpbacked and conniving Manthara, in this version, she makes choices of her own free will, for better or worse. She is full of strength and doubts, goodness when she is afraid she is nothing but wicked and forsaken by her gods. Kaikeyi is truly a character that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Full of fascinating deities, magic and heartbreak, Patel has breathed new life into a character who before existed little beyond her betrayal and her womanhood. Perfect for fans of Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and Circe by Madeline Miller--welcome Kaikeyi into your collection of favorite mythology villainesses!

Book Review: The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
Length: 352 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Miscarriage, Death, and Harassment

Siobhan is beautiful, quick-tempered and Irish. She is a life coach who seemingly has her own perfectly together. But after a disastrous breakup with a man she thought she loved, she has become an expert on pushing those she loves far away. Hookups are her way of life. No strings attached means no hard feelings.

Miranda is a tree-surgeon who is practical and, according to her younger twin sisters, boring. The only thrill she seems to crave comes from scaling trees and chopping down branches with a chainsaw. And sometimes gazing at the bearded and tattooed bad-boy at work, AJ. Too bad she's already taken.

Jane loves routine: she always chooses the same yogurt pot at the bakery, has certain clothes for certain days, and never reads more than one book a month. All of this is a way of coping after a scarring dismissal from a law firm in London, which came along with a scandal that still haunts her. Unfortunately, a sweet man with a love for books decides to make her his friend. Only Jane wishes they could be more.

What do all of these women have in common? They are all involved with the same charming, perfect, and thoughtful man: Joseph Carter.

I've been meaning to read some Beth O'Leary and so I was quite excited when I was contacted by the publisher to receive an early copy of her latest for review! The No-Show is wonderful, full of comedy and heartbreak and of course, love, and I relished every moment of it. I had an idea as to what the twist was, and although I turned out to be right, it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. All of the ladies have unique and strong personalities and I found myself wanting each one to find her happily ever after with Joseph, who is a memorable hero with tons of heart. This is a perfect summer read, one I can't recommend enough! If you're a fan of British rom-coms like Notting Hill, I think this will surely be your new favorite (and might I say young Hugh Grant would have played a perfect floppy-haired and bumbling Joseph).

Book Review: The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer

The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer
Length: 229 Pages
Genres: Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Graphic Descriptions of a Death by Poisoning, and Fatphobia

"Help us, Seinte Frideswyde!
A man woot litel what him shal bityde."

-Geoffrey Chaucer

I love a good cozy mystery, and if it happens to also be a historical mystery, then I can't say no! This is the first part of the Sister Frevisse (pronounced FRAY-viss) mysteries, and was originally published in 1992.

In 1431, England, there is little freedom for women. It is no shock then, that those of a pious nature, and a wit beyond men's measure or recognition, often found solace within convent walls. Dame Frevisse, the lady detective of this series, is as pragmatic as she is smart, strong-willed and unafraid to speak up when she feels others are being mistreated. She is the hosteler of St. Frideswide's, and is thus one of the only nuns that move freely from the cloister to the guest halls where pilgrims, both rich and poor, stay. One of the most dreaded visitors to this peaceful place is Lady Ermentrude, who is full of bluster and most often drunk. Her great-niece by marriage, the novice Thomasine, lives in fear of her lady aunt, who threatens to rip her from the convent and force her into marriage at every visit.

It is not too surprising, then, when Lady Ermentrude is poisoned. What is is that a servant in the kitchen, the nosy Martha, is accidentally poisoned when she drinks the Lady's medicated wine and eats her milksops, prepared by Thomasine. Now, Frevisse must use both wit and cunning to exonerate Thomasine, and bring the real killer to justice.

Full of fascinating and vivid detail on both medieval life and the inside workings of a nunnery, this is a short and pleasing read for any historical fiction lover. Highly recommended for a lazy day in the sun, preferably with a cold glass of tea!