Ten Incarnations of Rebellion - by Vaishnavi Patel (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi comes an epic and daring novel that imagines an alternate version of 1960s India that was never liberated from the British, and a young woman's struggle to change the tides of history.

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 begins to play a dangerous game with small acts of resistance, tempered by cautious, level-headed Yashu, and fortified by Fauzia, whose dreams of the future awaken Kalki's heart. Together, they found Kingston's new independence movement, obtaining jobs working for the British while secretly planning to destroy the empire from the inside out. But one wrong move means certain death, and when facing threats from all quarters, Kalki must decide whether it's more important to be a hero or to survive.

Set over the course of a decade and 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.

Review Quotes

"A meticulous interrogation of the mythmaking, contradictions, and sacrifices of revolution . . . Patel never writes the easy story; she writes the infuriating, frustrating, necessary story. This is the kind of fiction we need more of."--R. F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel

"Richly steeped in historical detail and brimming with complex questions of morality, justice, and power, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a tribute to the freedom fighters and a celebration of resistance. Vaishnavi Patel has written a devastating and unforgettable tour de force."--Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

"Perfect for fans of historical fiction and those who wonder what if in the age of modernity . . . Patel masterfully reclaims history, weaving a tale of resilience and hope against the shadows of the British Empire. . . . A must-read for anyone seeking a bold journey through the complexities of resistance and the legacies of colonialism."--Sarah Mughal Rana, author of Hope Ablaze

About the Author

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.