Book Series Guide

Author guide

Vaishnavi Patel Books in Order

Vaishnavi Patel is a New York Times bestselling American novelist and lawyer specializing in constitutional law and civil-rights litigation, including gender and racial justice. Her novels reimagine Hindu mythology and explore feminism, agency, colonialism, and social justice. She grew up in and around Chicago.

fantasyhistorical fictionmythological fictionspeculative fictioncontemporary fantasy

Catalog record updated .

Vaishnavi Patel's Newest Book

Cover of We Dance Upon Demons

We Dance Upon Demons

novel · First published 2026

As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression. When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum for a brief respite, Nisha suddenly finds herself bleeding, disoriented, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she remembers is the statue that beckoned her to touch it. In the days that follow, Nisha feels a strange power coursing within her, one that attracts a host of dangerous and enigmatic characters who covet it for themselves. Facing threats both otherworldly and distinctly human, Nisha must navigate uncertain alliances to piece together the centuries-old mystery of her odd and terrifying abilities. And as danger closes in on her loved ones, community, and the clinic she’s determined to protect, Nisha must make a choice about the life she wants—and fight all the demons standing in her way to get it.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi

Patel's debut novel and a strong introduction to her feminist mythological retellings.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (4)
  1. Kaikeyi

    novel · 2022

    So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on legends of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat…

  2. Goddess of the River

    novel · 2024

    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.…

  3. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion

    novel · 2025

    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.…

  4. We Dance Upon Demons

    novel · 2026

    As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression. When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum…

Frequently asked questions about Vaishnavi Patel

Who is Vaishnavi Patel?

Vaishnavi Patel is an Indian American novelist and lawyer based in Chicago. Her fiction explores Indian mythology, feminism, and social justice.

Sources: vaishnavipatel.com (opens in a new tab)lithub.com (opens in a new tab)

What is Vaishnavi Patel’s cultural and religious background?

Patel has described herself as an Indian American who grew up in Roselle, Illinois, in a religious Hindu family.

Source: borderlessmag.org (opens in a new tab)

What does Vaishnavi Patel do besides writing?

She is a lawyer specializing in constitutional law and civil rights, including issues involving gender and racial justice.

Source: vaishnavipatel.com (opens in a new tab)

What influences Vaishnavi Patel’s writing?

Her work is influenced by Indian and Hindu mythology, especially the Ramayana, as well as feminism and anticolonialism. She has said that growing up with the Ramayana and questioning Kaikeyi’s portrayal helped inspire her fiction.

Sources: lithub.com (opens in a new tab)borderlessmag.org (opens in a new tab)

What awards or recognition has Vaishnavi Patel received?

Patel is a New York Times bestselling author. Kaikeyi was nominated for the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy and Best Debut Novel, and for the 2023 Ignyte Award for Best Novel.

Sources: vaishnavipatel.com (opens in a new tab)goodreads.com (opens in a new tab)sfadb.com (opens in a new tab)