Vaishnavi Patel – författare

An instant New York Times bestseller and Tiktok sensation, Vaishnavi Patel''s stunning debut Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from Indian epic the Ramayana... The only daughter of a king, Kaikeyi watches as her mother is banished and her own worth is reduced to what marriage alliance she can secure. Although she was raised on stories of the might and benevolence of the gods, her prayers for help go unanswered. She turns to her mother''s library and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat and favoured queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her. But when evils from her childhood stories threaten her world, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak - and what legacy she intends to leave behind.A must for readers of historical and mythological retellings such as Madeline Miller''s Circe and Jennifer Saint''s Ariadne, this powerful debut weaves a tale of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.Praise for Kaikeyi:''Mythic retelling at its best'' R. F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War''Utterly captivating from start to finish'' Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch''s Heart''Brave, compassionate and powerful'' Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne''A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace'' Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman''Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate'' Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves''A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity''s most foundational stories'' S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass''Fans of Madeline Miller''s Circe will fall hard for this story'' Booklist (starred review)

A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi.A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.Ganga, joyful goddess of the river, serves as caretaker to the mischievous godlings who roam her banks. But when their antics incur the wrath of a powerful sage, Ganga is cursed to become mortal, bound to her human form until she fulfils the obligations of the curse.Though she knows nothing of mortal life, Ganga weds King Shantanu and becomes a queen, determined to regain her freedom no matter the cost. But in a cruel turn of fate, just as she is freed of her binding, she is forced to leave her infant son behind.Her son, prince Devavrata, unwittingly carries the legacy of Ganga''s curse. And when he makes an oath that he will never claim his father''s throne, he sets in motion a chain of events that will end in a terrible and tragic war.As the years unfold, Ganga and Devavrata are drawn together again and again, each confluence another step on a path that has been written in the stars, in this deeply moving and masterful tale of duty, destiny, and the unwavering bond between mother and son.