Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel

 

I like alternate history books: they are imaginative and thought-provoking. "Ten Incarnations of Rebellion" is both of those things, raising issues about colonialism and its effects on native cultures.

It's the 1960s, and India has been under British rule for decades. The restrictions imposed on the Indians have created a climate of unrest. Resistance groups have sprung up, some militant, others non-violent. Kalki Divekar, whose father has been away fighting for freedom, has decided to form her resistance group in her hometown of Kingston. Together with her two closest friends, Kalki begins sewing the seeds of a non-violent movement, designed to harass the British rulers and their Indian collaborators. By working in the British governing hierarchy, they initially sought to disrupt plans. However, as the movement grew, the goals changed, and their once non-violent activities now incorporate sabotage that imperils all their lives.

The interweaving of historical fact and speculation makes this an engrossing read. It is well-researched and doesn't shy away from the injustice done to the Indian people while under British rule. It deals with the morality of the oppressors as well as the power of resistance. The characters are well-drawn, and their situations are believable. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 3, 2025.

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Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford

In this richly imagined alternative history, Francis Spufford has created an atmospheric story rich in characters and a world I could believe in.

Imagine if Native Americans were not decimated by conquering invaders, but actually thrived. It’s now 1922, and Native American Detective Joe Burrow and his white partner, Phin Drummond, are called to a grisly crime scene. In the racially diverse but also racially charged city of Cahokia. A white male has been murdered in an ancient Aztec ritual slaying that amps up the racial tensions. What begins as a murder inquiry, quickly expands as politics come into play. Pressure is applied by rival factions and Joe doesn’t know who to trust—he even starts to question his own partner. Relying on his own wits and resources, Joe must find out who and why someone wanted the man killed, all before the city erupts into violence.

This is a brilliantly written and imaginatively crafted story about what could have been. It is a multilayered crime noir novel that, while sometimes gets bogged down in Joe’s navel gazing, redeems itself by delivering a memorable story I won’t soon forget. 

4.5/5 stars.

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