I'll admit, I was skeptical when I got this ARC. I don't know if I would've picked it up if I hadn't gotten a free copy. I didn't know anything about these stories before reading, so I can't attest to historical accuracy or how India was represented. But I loved this so much, and I would've been missing out!
 Kaikeyi is my favorite type of female protagonist. She's strong, defiant, and smart. She sees what women have been given and she dares to ask for more, while at the same time never shaming those with feminine traits. She craves power for herself, yes, but also so that she can better the lives of women around her.
 Aside from Kaikeyi, I also loved the writing. This author writes beautifully, and I kept highlighting line after line. The pacing was moderate and even; never rushed or dragged out. I don't believe this book requires any significant content warnings, a fact that surprised me given that Kaikeyi is reluctantly put in an arranged marriage. In fact, I think this book may even have some positive ace representation, which was another unexpected surprise!
 The one negative I can think of is that I might've liked to know more about our secondary characters in Ayodhya, such as Kaikeyi's sons, Dasharath, and the other wives. But I can't tell if there's a real lack here or if I just loved the story and want more. And with the abundance of stories about these characters, there is certainly opportunity to encounter them again.
 I was very impressed by this debut, and I can't wait to see what else this author does! In the meantime, I'm buying myself a physical copy and adding it to my favorites.
 **I received a free Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**