Ten Incarnations of Rebellion | Book Review
Review of Vaishnavi Patel's novel - Ten Incarnations of Rebellion: A Speculative Historical Novel of Indian Independence, Rebellion, Friendship & Empowerment Inspired by Dashavatara Legends
Kalki Divekar grows up a daughter of Kingston―a city the British built on the ashes of Bombay. The older generation, including her father, have been lost to the brutal hunt for rebels. Young men are drafted to fight wars they will never return from. And the people of her city are more interested in fighting each other than facing their true oppressors.
When tragedy strikes close to home, Kalki and her group of friends begin to
play a dangerous game, obtaining jobs working for the British while secretly
planning to destroy the empire from the inside out. They found Kingston's new
independence movement, knowing one wrong move means certain death. Facing
threats from all quarters, Kalki must decide whether it’s more important to be
a hero or to survive.
Told as ten moments from Kalki’s life that mirror the Dashavatara,
the ten avatars of Vishnu, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a
sweeping, deeply felt speculative novel of empowerment, friendship,
self-determination, and the true meaning of freedom.
Book #76 of
2025
Ten
Incarnations of Rebellion is a bold and imaginative alternate history novel by Vaishnavi Patel,
set in a version where India is still under British colonial rule. As a huge
fan of Kaikeyi, I was excited to read this, and even took it along with
me on a beach trip![and hence the outdoorsy pics!]
The story
follows Kalki Divekar over a decade of her life, with each chapter representing
a year and inspired by the ten avatars of Vishnu.
Kalki is a
fierce, intelligent, and emotionally layered protagonist who doesn't just
stumble into revolution, but builds it. Alongside a diverse group of allies,
she fights for freedom in a Mumbai that is filled with oppression, propaganda,
and violence.
One of the
novel’s strengths lies in its world-building. The author has reimaged the real
historical events with incredible attention to detail. The book’s alternate
timeline, parallels, and political undercurrents make for a fascinating and
thought-provoking setting. The themes of identity, erasure, sacrifice, class,
and imperialism are deeply explored, often asking difficult moral questions
without offering easy answers, giving us room to think them over.
I
particularly loved how women, especially Kalki, are central to the rebellion.
It’s refreshing to see a rebellion narrative where women aren't just supporting
characters but are the ones leading the charge. There’s also impressive
representation across caste, religion, and gender, all woven meaningfully into
the story.
Though the
story has many strengths, some aspects left me wishing for a little more. A
book of this scale deserves more space. It would have been nice to see more of
some relationships and backstories, especially those of the rebels, so the
characters would resonate fully. I also found the pacing in some places to be a
bit slow. The writing, though beautiful in places, is occasionally too
simplistic for the weight of the story.
Still, the
emotional impact of the story is undeniable. I felt deeply moved at several
points. Kalki’s growth, her relationship with her father, and her unwavering
commitment to justice stayed with me. Apart from this, it also explores themes
of friendship, empowerment, and most importantly, the real meaning of freedom!
This book is a powerful blend of reimagined history, mythology, and resistance. If you enjoy historical fiction with a twist, strong female leads, and stories that ask important questions, this is a book worth picking up. And don’t skip the author’s note, which adds another layer of context and purpose to this memorable narrative.
Vaishnavi
Patel is the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi and Goddess
of the River. She is a lawyer specializing in civil rights litigation,
including issues of gender and racial justice. Ten Incarnations of
Rebellion is her third novel.
Until the next post...
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