The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide. Patel, Vaishnavi. Kaikeyi. Redhook Books. April 2022. Hardcover. First Edition.

Part One opens with Kaikeyi reflecting on her story from an unknown point in the future. Her father - the raja of the kingdom of Kekaya- favored her twin brother, Yudhajit, who was born after her. When Kaikeyi was 12 years old, her mother, Kekaya, was banished by the raja. Devastated, Kaikeyi learns to see her connections to the people in her life through the Binding Plane. With the help of her childhood nurse Manthara, Kaikeyi learns how to gather information and run the palace efficiently. However, the raja announces that Kaikeyi will be married and eventually chooses Raja Dasharath. While he agrees to name her future child his heir, Kaikeyi is furious that Yudhajit refused to stand up to their father.

In Part Two, Kaikeyi moves into the palace in Ayodhya and feels isolated. However, she convinces Dasharath to name her his charioteer and ride with him into battle. She kills a warlord to save his life, though only Dasharath discovers the truth. He gives her a position on his council, but only if she will try and talk to the other radnyis, Sumitra and Kaushalya.

After Kaikeyi learns more about the Binding Plane from a half-rakshasa named Ravana, Dashrath tells all three of his wives that he is at fault for their infertility. They hold a yagna and the fire god Agni responds. He tells Kaikeyi that she is gods-touched, but forsaken for something she will do. Then, he gives all three wives special kheer and they all give birth to sons. Kaikeyi has Bharata, Sumitra has the twins Lakshmana and Shatrugna, and Kaushalya gives birth to Rama.

Over the next ten years, Kaikeyi helps raise all four boys and establishes the Women’s Council to hear the concerns of those who cannot speak with the raja’s council. Eventually, she is named Dasharath’s Saciva and goes to Kakeya to speak with Yudhajit about unreasonable trading terms. Along the way, she learns that Rama is actually a god and hopes she can give him life as a normal boy who learns to value women.

Part Three moves five years forward as the Sages convince Rama that Kaikeyi’s women's advocacy will destroy the kingdom. Kaikeyi is devastated to learn that Dasarath is breaking his promise and naming Rama as his heir, but she accepts his reasoning and allows Rama and Lakshmana to study under the Sages for two years.

Once they return, Rama wins Sita’s swayamvara and marries her while the rest of his brothers marry her relatives. Afterward, offers to go to Janasthama after hearing of monsters that are blocking their traders from bringing vital food back to Ayodhya. Along the way, she finds and breaks the bond that Rama has on Lakshmana and learns that Rama is desperate for validation and willing to use his divine powers to make people see him as perfect.

In Janasthama, Kaikeyi learns that asura are sieging the city. She works with Ravana to defeat the leader, Bhandasura. However, they learn that his master wanted her to be in Janasthama, even though he does not reveal who that is as he dies.

As Kaikeyi and Lakshmana make their way back to Ayodhya, they receive a concerning missive that Dasharath is going to abdicate the throne to Rama. Once there, Kaikeyi realizes that Rama has enthralled nearly everyone in the palace and believes that it is duty to become raja and go to war against the asura. She tries to dissuade him, but he refuses to listen to her. However, when Yudhajit says he will declare war if Bharat does not take the throne, Kaikeyi demands that Dasharath keep his promise, recalling the boons he promised her. Dasharath agrees, but curses her all the way to his death due to Rama’s influence. When Kaikeyi announces that Rama needs to be exiled for ten years, Bharata rejects the throne and renounces her, breaking their bond.

As Rama prepares to leave the city, his army, led by his brother Shatrugna, prepares to destroy Kekaya’s army before the war begins. Desperate to save her brother, Kaikeyi runs ahead to his camp and pleads with him to leave. He refuses to listen and is killed by Shatrugna the next day. However, this breaks Rama’s hold on Bharata who cared deeply for Yudhajit and he agrees to take the throne as Rama goes into exile.

Years later, Kaikeyi says that she has been deemed the wicked stepmother and condemned for sending Rama away. However, Bharata’s reign is bringing stability to the region and the women she spent years fighting for are finding a new sense of freedom. She knows Rama will return home victorious and take the throne in a little over a decade, but she feels she has done what she can in her own story.