The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Kaikeyi Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on February 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 02/01
Feb 1: chapters 1 - 4
Feb 2: chapters 5 - 7

Week of 02/03
Feb 3: chapters 8 - 11
Feb 4: chapters 12 - 15
Feb 5: chapters 16 - 19
Feb 6: chapters 20 - 23
Feb 7: chapters 24 - 27
Feb 8: chapters 28 - 31
Feb 9: chapters 32 - 36

Week of 02/10
Feb 10: chapters 37 - end


PARTICIPANTS
~ Brianna
~ Anushka
~ Julie

through the end of chapter 4:

I know basically nothing about the original story/myth this is based on so I'm pretty excited. I am enjoying the writing so far but am having a bit of a hard time keeping track of the different names and gods. I'm guessing that it'll get easier as I get more familiar with the world since that's pretty usual for me and fantasy books.
I am very curious to see what she ends up using her power for since it mostly is about manipulation currently.

End of Chapter 2:
Seems really easy how Kaikeyi got her ability. Chanting a few times and BAM! But I guess it will take some time for her to figure out what it is she can actually do and harness it properly. I'm intrigued for sure.

Brianna wrote: "through the end of chapter 4:

I know basically nothing about the original story/myth this is based on so I'm pretty excited. I am enjoying the writing so far but am having a bit of a hard time kee..."

Yeah. The gods and myths are easy for Indians but might be confusing for others. You could just think of them as Indian parallels to Greek gods and the olympians. Every culture seems to have a different name for their elemental gods and goddesses.

End of Chapter Six

I'm excited about the Swayamvara. The contest would be interesting for sure. In some of the myths, when certain Gods favored some princes or contestants, they were able to perform superhuman feats. Let's see how it is portrayed here.

Kaikeyi is learning to use her gift masterfully and with more caution after the snap of her friendship bond. I'm assuming that's why it's better not to try influencing the stubborn king much. It would be much worse for Kaikeyi if that bond were to ever break.

The mystery of where exactly her mother was sent is something I keep coming back to. The epic Ramayana isn't something I myself have read, only heard the gist of and therefore all these characters in this book (who were merely minor ones in the main Epic) are ones I don't know a great deal about.

Let's see what comes next. Though I have a vague idea.

End of Part One/Chapter 7

The difference a chapter can make. God! Kaikeyi is stupid. Why would she break her strongest bond in a moment of anger. And not even realize the mistake she'd made. Yes, the swayamvara didn't happen and she was forced to marry someone that was not her choice but her reaction was extreme. I get the first fight she had with her brother but the last was inexcusable and plain stupid.

I had to step away from this for a moment because I had too many books going but will be picking this back up this weekend!

Anushka wrote: "End of Part One/Chapter 7

The difference a chapter can make. God! Kaikeyi is stupid. Why would she break her strongest bond in a moment of anger. And not even realize the mistake she'd made. Yes, ..."

through end of chapter 7/part one:

I agree! She definitely did not need to take the argument with her brother that far. I wonder if that will come back and bite her in the butt. I have a feeling that this marriage will either go super great or it will go super bad - mostly leaning towards bad. I'm still fairly unsure about how else she will use this "magic" but I am glad she has calmed down a bit with it. It feels less blatantly manipulative. I wonder as well what else we will learn about her mom and why she was banished.

Hi, apologies for being so late, a family matter came up and I did not have any time to read last week at all.

Up to chapter 4
I also know very little about the Indian gods mentioned in this book but have started to read up a little on them and its always so interesting to find the differences but also similarities in how various cultures have created and defined gods and their powers.

Regarding Kaikeyi its fascinating how she received her powers through something that channels a peaceful action like meditation but also how quickly she is taking to it at her age in what amounts a combination of manipulation paired with a childs innocence.

So, I wanted to offer some additional info and context. Kaikeyi is a character from the Epic Ramayana which is believed to be a story from the tretayuga. There are four yugas and Treta is comparatively a good one where people were still virtuous and therefore received boons more frequently than we would see in the present yuga. That is why even as a child, Kaikeyi had the blessing to master her powers as quick and efficient as she did. The more humans lost their virtues, the farther the Gods pulled themselves away from the sinners. And so magic and boons vanished and mankind was all but bereft.

through the end of chapter 15:

I think I'm settling into this world a bit easier now. I am curious to see why she is forsaken in the eyes of the gods. I also wonder what role the children will play. I am glad that she seems to have become friends with the other Radnyi. Also still curious about the other Raja that is part rakshasa and what else will play out there.

@Anushka - thank you for sharing additional details and information - it is truly helpful!

@ Anushka Thank you very much for your further insight!

Through the end of chapter 7

On the one hand I have to keep reminding myself that Kaikeyi is only like 17 years old and her whole situation must be terrifying taking into account her fathers indifference and no matter how well the Royal household and Manthara might have tried to prepare her.
On the other hand I agree with both of you that she let her anger get the best of her and breaking her bond with her Twin-brother was a massive fail that will probably come back to haunt her.

I'm also guessing at this point that, considering how it is regularly pointed out that the gods don't aswer her prayers and taking into account how she phrased her condition for her marriage, her bearing sons might not come as easily as everybody hopes or even expects, making her life way more complicated and less free than she might hope right now.

through end of chapter 19:

I feel like things are going to start going a bit sideways. If Rama is a god then I doubt Dasharath would honor his original agreement for Kaikeyi's blood son to be heir.

I am glad that Kaikeyi seems to have improved her bond with her twin but I worry how things will go on this visit since she kinda sorta has to put him in his place in regards to the trade.

through the end of chapter 23:

I kind of like that this is covering a good amount of time - it's not just over the span of a year or something. I like seeing the kids grow and how the Radnyi's have grown in general. I worry about what will happen with Rama becomes Raja as that could very well undo all of her work with improving things for women.

through the end of chapter 31:

It was fascinating to see how Rama's influence actually works (to an extent) and I am glad that Kaikeyi was able to break the influence over her other son that was basically being silenced. It feels like we are building up to something really bad. I don't like that Rama is basically preparing for what feels like an unnecessary war. True to form, I don't quite understand who the war would be between - the people of course and the gods against the asura (who I thought were related to the gods?) I think?

Haha I understand the confusion Brianna. For anyone who didn't grow up listening to the Ramayana and Mahabharata anecdotes, it can be quite a lot. I'm unfortunately lagging behind on this read. I'm still around the chapter where Kaikeyi meets Ravana and stupidly shares the knowledge of her magic and abilities with him.

I'm also only up to chapter 14 but I really like the writing so far, it flows along nicely despite all the names and stories of gods being rather unfamiliar to me. I feel the author does a really good job easing the reader into the story.

Its good that Kakeyi has opened up a little more especially to the other Radnyi, she finally seems to have the chance to properly settle in and find some allies/friends in her new home.

Also I don't think anything good can come from relevealing her magic so easily, what was she thinking? I guess being the only one with such powers makes one rather lonely but the way she revealed this to Ravana seemed way too easy. Maybe due to his heritage he has some powers that Kakeyi knows nothing about like sending her suggestions through the Binding plane without her noticing.

Through the end of Chapter 23 -

Dashratha breaking the vow he made Kaikeyi is really sad. I'm amazed how calmly she took it. I'd have expected more reticence and fight from her but I'm glad there's peace between them. It's intriguing what will lead to the big war she's mentioned over the chapters.

The swayamvara for Sita's hand in marriage must be a spectacle. I like Sita's character as of now, what little I've seen of her as of yet. Her being gods-touched was indeed a shock. I never would have thought a God's wife would be one who was forsaken so to say.

Up to chapter 23
I'm guessing the current standings are just the calm before the storm. The way Kaikeyi just accepted the decision of who will be the main heir seemed way too subdued. Although i applaud her restraint it feels like things she achieved are starting to go down-hill and at some point even her now calm temper will understandably rise considering how hard she worked for every womans rights.
With all the foreshadowing towards a dangerous future including a war and how people will turn to think of Kaikeyi negatively I wonder how long the bonds between the three Radnyis but also their four sons can really be sustained in a positive way, especially if only one of them is favoured so massively by the gods.

I'm with you on this @Juliane. I know the mythology and scriptures surrounding Rama Sita and the Ramayana but what exactly pushes kaikeyi is a mystery and I'm most curious.

I finished this book 2 days ago but didn't have time to text here or write a review. The ending wasn't very satisfying for me but otherwise it was a good read, quite intriguing for sure. In India, Kaikeyi is a scriptural character who is reviled by all and reading this reimagining of her was actually great.

Anushka wrote: "I finished this book 2 days ago but didn't have time to text here or write a review. The ending wasn't very satisfying for me but otherwise it was a good read, quite intriguing for sure. In India, ..."

I enjoyed it as well but felt a bit let down by the end. I am excited that I learned more about Indian myth (?) and am definitely open to reading more about them.