Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Jasmine Throne is a new fantasy book inspired by the history and epics of India. Filled with romance, magic, history, and set in an intriguing political landscape, it’s a captivating novel that warmed and broke my heart.

The Jasmine Throne takes place in Ahiranya, a vassal state controlled by the Empire of Parijatdvipa. Ahiranya is in a state of decline after losing a war to Parijatdvipa, its people struggling to hold on to their culture and independence in the face of the nationalistic and zealous Emperor Chandra. The book switches between multiple points of view, but the primary 4 are Malini, the disgraced and imprisoned sister of the Emperor; Priya, a maidservant with a hidden past; Rao, a friend of Malini working to free her from imprisonment; and Bhumika, the generous Lady of Ahiranya who is much more than she lets on.

I was continuously caught off guard by The Jasmine Throne. Every time I thought I made a clever prediction I was proven wrong, but never once was I disappointed by what happened. The pacing, character arcs, and plot development were all beautifully crafted from start to finish, and came together to create a world that I couldn’t help but want to learn more about filled with characters I couldn’t help but become invested in (whether that meant hoping for a happy ending or a violent death depends on the character).

Politics play such a significant role in The Jasmine Throne that the world has to be well fleshed out to work, and fleshed out it is. Tasha Suri does a phenomenal job when it comes to rich lore and world-building. I’m really excited to hopefully learn more about the religions of the world, specifically The Nameless one and the Yaksa, later in the series. I think it was a really great choice to use characters of different backgrounds to explain the lore to each other and eradicate the need for a conveniently placed scholar character who shoulders the burden of exposition.

The Jasmine Throne largely centers around the effects of imperialism on subjugated people. Ahiranya has lost a war and become a strictly controlled vassal state, weakened and forced to give up its culture in order to keep any semblance of peace. The people of Ahiranya are strong, though, and haven’t stopped fighting against the Empire. This quote, in particular, stuck with me

“... There is a subtle pain the conquered feel. Our old language is nearly lost. Our old ways. Even when we try to explain a vision of ourselves to one another- in our poetry, our song, our theatre masks- we do so in opposition to [The Empire], or by looking to the past. As if we have no future.”

From starting rebellions to telling forbidden stories of their past, resistance and strength are key characteristics of every character in The Jasmine Throne.

I’m not normally a huge fan of major romance plots in books, but Suri did a fantastic job balancing romance with fantasy. Neither was dominating the other and the romance itself was well-paced and so incredibly REAL. Some of my favorite moments of the book were Malini and Priya putting into words how they felt about each other. The writing is my favorite part of this book overall, it’s truly gorgeous. There were moments that were absolutely breathtaking, written with confident and beautiful prose that swept me up and tumbled me around like a river current. There’s a YA trope of “letting out a breath that you didn’t know you were holding” that’s become a bit of a meme, but I really did find myself unknowingly holding my breath for pages at a time because I was so enthralled in what was going on.

The one thing I had a hard time with was the explicit depictions of drug addiction. Malini is forced to take a nightly sedative that forces her into a nightmare-ridden sleep and causes her to hallucinate. Not to get too personal, but it hit close to home and got hard to read as someone who has had similar experiences in the past. It wasn’t that it was poorly written, in fact one of the most beautifully written segments in the entire book takes place while Malini hallucinates. I think it’s the fact that it was so well written that made it hard to read. Other content warnings include death by burning, death by disease, death of children, colonization, colorism, religious extremism, and imprisonment.

I swear I lost time reading this book. I’d start a chapter at 11 PM, telling myself I’d only read for a few minutes before bed, then suddenly it’s 3 AM and I’m crying over disaster lesbians and trees. I was fully engrossed in the story from the moment I started reading until even now, a few days after I finished reading. I highly recommend this book to basically anyone, especially people who enjoy fantasy and queer romance.

3.5
I've read Empire of Sand when it came out, and I have to say that I liked this one a lot more even if I felt a little bit underwhelmed in certain parts.
We follow mainly 2 POVs: Pryia - a maidservant to the wife of a regent (Bhumika - loved her, I really wanted more chapters from her) - and Malini - a princess of the empire imprisoned by her emperor brother. There are some other characters that provide further information in other parts of the world, such as rebels and lords, that help to establish the world and the key players.
I thought the main problem that kept me from completely loving the book is that a good chunk of the book feels like a prologue. I loved the world Tasha Suri built: it's so lush, detailed, and beautiful; I just wished the plot had followed the world building in the beginning and the middle parts. I really enjoyed the magic as well, I thought it was really interesting (there's just one aspect of it that I don't know if I'll like how it`ll be explored). I really loved the different religions and the discussions around them (specially Rao's).
The book explored a lot of sides of the conflict: the empire that wanted to squash and subjugate a country, the rebels that could see no other way and were endangering their people, and the people that wanted freedom whilst protecting their country.
I really liked Pryia and I came to like Malini a little bit too by the end; I didn't like their dynamic that much, but I think it was because I didn't really liked Malini in the beginning.
I'm curious to see how the story will unfold specially after the ending, when the book really picks up.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne is epic fantasy with Indian influences. And it’s fabulous!

Complex world-building? Check. Mad overlord to overthrow? Check. Quest for freedom? Check. Weird plant growth threatening people’s lives? Check. Political intrigue and double-crosses? Check. Choosing between evil and also-evil? Check.

The Jasmine Throne is slow getting to the action, but spends that time building up the backstory and introducing all the characters. We meet Priya, who survived a massacre attempt somewhat accidentally. Malini, who’s sent to her punishment in an abandoned temple with an overzealous companion. Bhumika, who makes a political marriage and uses her influence to help save her people. And so on. And as they get involved in plots that threaten their nation’s security – and their lives – these women do what they can to survive with as many of their people as they can.

The best part of The Jasmine Throne isn’t just the layers paying homage to Indian culture, it’s that its heroines are women and girls who step up to the plate when called upon. They don’t sit around simpering and weeping, waiting for the menfolk to fix things. They grab their weapons and their magic and sally forth. In a patriarchal world that expects nothing of their women, much less that they’d be riding (figuratively) to the rescue. Note: Yes, there are men, and no they aren’t all idiots or useless; the focus just happens to be on the women. And how refreshing that is!

In addition to all of the above, The Jasmine Throne also features a female/female romance. If that’s not your thing, too bad as you’ll be missing out on a lot of other good stuff. Add this to your TBR pile for some heavier-than-beach-reading this summer!

drey’s rating: Excellent!

This was sensational. So much going on and so many perspectives that you just can't help be drawn in. Priya is a servant in the governor's household but she has a secret that no one can find out. Malini is a disgraced princess who is held prisoner by her brother. These two come together and things happen that can change the kingdom. This was so good but there is a lot to it so you have to pay attention. There are other povs that helps with the story. I loved every facet of it. I was so excited to read this and it definitely exceeded my expectations.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for proving me with an e-arc in exchange for a honest review

The Jasmine Throne is a multi-POV high fantasy novel with the focus on two young women, Malini and Priya. Malini is an exiled princess trapped at a cliff-side prison and due to certain circumstances Priya, who has a forbidden, ancient and secret magic, is tasked to be her maidservant. Eventually, Malini and Priya's destinies become entwined and they have to work together to restore a dying empire to its former glory.

There is so many wonderful things I can say about this book. The book had incredible world building, a fascinating and forbidden magic system, a sapphic romance subplot, amazing characters and a methodically slow plot that was politically driven that just added to the suspense of the novel overall.

As an adult high fantasy novel, The Jasmine Throne is a very approachable book with a wonderful writing style. As this book is multi-POV, with the two main POV's being Priya and Malini, it did not feel overwhelming and the additional POV's added so much more insight into the plot and characters of this books.

Priya and Malini are two characters that are very clearly flawed, don't make the right decisions most of the time and overall have great character development throughout the length of this book. The more you read, the more you will fall in love with these characters. Personally, I think Malini's character arc is truly incredible. From the beginning you see Malini standing up for something she believes in but then it dramatically cuts to her being described and shown as meek, ill and weak. As you read though, you come to understand and Malini transforms into the scheming and strong-minded character that is shown in the very beginning of the book. With how this book ended I am so excited to see what happens to not only Malini, but Priya and the world as well.

The Jasmine Throne had me invested from page 1 and I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series. If you are a fan of politically driven books that are Multi-POV with a sapphic romance subplot, then this is definitely the book for you! Happy Reading!

Overall - I enjoyed this read. It’s about two young women who have each undergone separate fire related trauma, and through happenstance meet and forge a bond. The world features many political powers, a plague-like rot that infects humans and basically turns them into trees. There are different cultures, different religions, different viewpoints.

I do have a hard time summing up the plot of this book. As much as it is about the plot and the political posturing, it’s also really about the relationship between and history of our two main characters: Priya and Malini. Meeting, building trust, forging a bond, caring for each other… With it being fantasy, I’m surprised at how hard it is to identify the “big bad” of the book, and I think it’s just that the story isn't that simple. It is not filled with clear lines of good and evil: it gets into more complex motivations than that.

But, in an attempt to say things about the plot: There’s a religious order that has been forcibly disbanded that is fighting to return. They are seeking their sacred waters that will allow them to reconnect with their gods. There’s a malicious emperor who is only concerned with power, and there’s a plot to replace him. Two strong headed women meet - one imprisoned, and one the servant - and come to find common ground. Battles are fought, lines are drawn, and death is always imminent.

And it was Queer! It wasn’t smack you over the head with queer themes, but it was normal queerness. There was a small exploration into the otherness they felt because of the way their culture talks about same-sex attraction, but ultimately it was just treated as an equal part of who they were. It was a part just as Priya’s history in the temple was a part of her. It was just as much a part as Malini’s family had a part in shaping who she is.

It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was good! I had a hard time following it at times, but that’s just because there was a large cast of characters - and a lot of locations/regions - and I wasn't expecting such a large and robust world coming in (can you tell I’ve been reading more YA fantasy?). There are no specific qualms that I had with

It’s so expansive that it’s hard to summarize, so I can only suggest that you check it out!

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

link to my video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRdI18fNPgo

*4.5 stars*

Where to begin? I loved this story and am so glad to see Tasha Suri taking on a more epic scale story for her next project and literally cannot wait for the sequels. Full video review to come on my channel later this week.

The Jasmine Throne is the start to an epic, multi-pov trilogy inspired by Indian epics. It centers on two main characters; an exiled princess, and a handmaiden with forbidden magic. They are soon thrust together on a path that will suddenly change the course of their lives. While plotting to escape confinement, both Malini and Priya will have to face how far they are willing to go to overthrow a corrupted empire and face whether or not they are truly able to trust one another throughout the process.

I am so impressed with what Suri brings to the table for her newest project, The Burning Kingdoms. She balances phenomenal characters, intrigue and mystery, with a vividly unique world and worldbuilding. I was hooked from minute one from the quality of her prose. She executes her world so well. I loved her additions of mythology, magic, religion, on top of her fantastic descriptions. I loved the various settings we travel to, I loved how one specific setting almost took on a life of its own and felt like a character in its own right.

The characters were fantastic. Each of the characters was super distinct and dynamic. Suri does a masterful job with her characters. Even with characters I disliked or disagreed with their methods, she presents their motives in such a way that you can't help but understand. I love how nearly every single relationship was rife with complexity and incredibly layered. And the romance was everything I hoped it would be. Dubious morals and begrudging attraction are a personal favourite of mine.

Thematically this is fantastic. I love how Suri chooses to center women in this patriarchal empire and how each of them choose to navigate it. Each has their own methods, and the cleverness they employ to bend against the empire's will was one of the highlights of the novel. There is also excellent discussions regarding colonialism, morality, and motherhood.

My one complaint is some of the perspectives felt a little unbalanced, or awkwardly placed. Malini and Priya are the main two characters, but we do get additions peppered in from many of the side characters as we go throughout the story. The placement of those perspectives I found to hurt the pacing of the story (only slightly) and I think the book could have benefitted from introducing the other perspectives more slowly throughout the narrative.

I am beyond pleased with the introduction to Burning Kingdoms. The ending had my dying for more. I anticipate way more political schemes and complexity are to come, and I literally cannot wait.

“she would not kneel”

tw (as provided by the author) : explicit violence (immolation), gender-based violence (no sexual assault), homophobia, suicidal ideation, self-mutilation, abusive family dynamics, child murder, body horror, forced drug use, poisoning, torture

oh my god
oh
my
god


this book gets slowburn.
it understood the assignment

the minute i saw the description of this book on netgalley and the cover, i ran to request it. I RAN. and the minute i got accepted i think i almost cried tears of joy.

i don't think i have any actual complaints for this. i normally do not like books with more than one pov, because i get lost fairly quickly. but this, tasha suri knows how to write perspectives and not have them get mixed up. her writing style is something i feel in love with, although it took me a while to understand completely, as occurs with almost all fantasy novels for me. she included a traitor, morally grey characters (who are also lesbians btw) and one of the most fantastic world buildings i have ever seen inspired by an Indian fantasy world.

the entire story focused on the two main characters, priya and malini, with their point of views being the most common. however, we were introduced to countless more characters and even got to see their pov from time to time. normally, with so many characters, they all start to blend in for me, causing me to not know the difference between all of them. but i was never confused about who was speaking or who did something. each character had their own unique voice and way of thinking, which i was so happy to experience. i did not dislike any character to be honest. they were developed in an amazing way and i was rooting for my love priya from the start. you can tell research was made into this mythology in the writing and i just loved it.

i love romance, romance is my jam and romance in a fantasy novel makes me drop dead. and the one that was featured here was my favorite, slowburn baby. they really had me waiting for anything to happen and the tension was impeccable. i could not tell if they were into each other or simply just wanted to passionately kill each other (which i was fine with, it was a great feeling).

also, the pacing was near perfect, surprisingly. if you know me or have seen any of my reviews, i always have an issue with pacing and i nitpick at it (yes, its a bad habit, i understand that). but i did not feel inclined to nitpick anything here. i was so in love i did not even capture a pacing issue.

the hating of the patriarchal culture within this book? purely iconic. this novel is just full of badass women and i cannot even

am i going to buy this book the minute it comes out even though i already read it? yes

the jasmine throne is what i envision when i look for a perfect fantasy novel. this definitely is one of the best books i have read this year and i cannot wait to get my own copy of this.

“the world only had meaning when we give it meaning”

The Jasmine Throne did not once let down my high expectations. This Indian-inspired epic fantasy was everything I wanted and more. It was a tale of imperialism and rebellion, horrors and wonders, and monstrous girls who would not be beaten down into submission.

From the very first few pages I could feel in my gut that this was going to be a five-star read. By the time I reached the end, this belief was thoroughly vindicated.

There are some books that just click for you completely, you know? Everything falls into place. The plot. The characters. The themes. The worldbuilding. The atmosphere. Even the one dreaded element that’s always a tricky balance for me – the pacing – was impeccably done throughout this book. Tasha Suri hit the ball out of the park.

Hundreds of years ago, the Ahiranyi were a powerhouse that nearly conquered the subcontinent. They were famed for their worship of elemental beings, the yaksa, who granted them mysterious protection. It was only the sacrifice of the “mothers of flame” who burned themselves upon a pyre that gave the Parijati the power to rise and defeat them. Now, the Parijatdvipa empire reigns supreme with various city-states united under the emperor’s rule. Ahiranya is a subjugated state and only a shadow of their former glory. The yaksa are gone, a strange disease simply called the ‘rot’ runs rampant, and their culture is slowly leeched from them each day.

Priya is an Ahiranyi maidservant who works in the regent of Ahiranya’s mahal. She was once an orphan living on the streets before being taken in by the regent’s kindly wife, and now she is seemingly content with her life. But when she’s offered the chance to serve in the Hirana temple where an exiled princess will be imprisoned, she has good reason to pause at the chance for higher wages.

For Priya’s secret is that she was once a Hirana temple child – trained to be strong with ancient Ahiranyi teachings before the former Parijati emperor ordered them all burned to death. Although she managed to escape, there are still many things about that horrible day that Priya’s forgotten. She worries what her return to the temple might awaken, but at the same time also hopes it may help her regain what she’s lost. Especially when she realizes that one of her temple brothers also still survives, and believes that the key to a successful rebellion from Parijati rule lies within.

Malini, on the other hand, is an imperial princess of Parijat. Once the clever and greatly admired darling of noble society, Malini is being punished by her brother the emperor for refusing to burn in a "noble" sacrifice as the ‘mothers of flame’ once did hundreds of years ago. She is imprisoned in the Hirana while heavily drugged and secluded from all avenues of escape. But Malini’s hatred for her brother and his cruelties run deep. She will stop at nothing to see him deposed – even if it means using her fascinating new maidservant with her alarming strength.

Priya and Malini are the technically the main characters of this story, but others have their own POV chapters as well. Rao, Bhumika and Ashok among others are fantastic characters with strong motivations that add complexity to the major conflicts. The primary and secondary cast in general were multilayered and unique, meaning I would never anticipate a new POV segment with dread because I knew it would be just as intriguing as the last. Even minor, non-POV characters such as Rukh and Sima were a delight.

The worldbuiling here is another major winner for me. The prose is so lush that the setting simply unfolds in your mind’s eye with gorgeous imagery. Whether it’s the sangam and the three cosmic rivers, or the enormous Hirana temple with its ever-changing carvings and statues, or even the lacquered gardens in Srugna – the descriptions are so vibrant it all just seems to come alive on the page. Some smaller touches, like the fragrance of ever-present flowers scattered from scene to scene, just seem to waft through your senses. The gradual enfolding of this sprawling world and its mythology was stellar.

The twists and turns placed throughout the narrative were also deftly done. Some characters were not what they seemed. The ever-growing tension between the Parijat authorities and the Ahiranyi rebels kept the reader on their toes. Magic and prophecy alike also played their role and manifested in unexpected ways. There was truly always some new gem of information to be gleamed with each turned page.

I’m obviously quite biased having clearly enjoyed this immensely, but this comes with a strong recommendation from me. If you like epic fantasy, intricate worldbuilding and compelling conflicts then you can’t go wrong here. There’s even a slowburn sapphic romance to enjoy for those hoping for romance, although so far it only appears in small doses and isn’t the primary focus. Still, there’s much to enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for providing the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tasha Suri has, by far, some of the best worldbuilding I've ever read. Her worlds are full and lively, and feel like some place that could really exist. Her characters are varied and interesting, and often morally grey in a fascinating way. Two of the leads, Priya and Malini, in particular were fantastically written characters, both motivated and driven by different factors towards similar goals. I liked the multiple perspectives, they were used well to given insight to what was happening outside of the main characters' sight. My main complaint is that the book often dragged, and the pacing felt off for the scope of the book. Despite this, the fantastic narrative and engaging characters make this book well worth the read, and I look forward to the next installment.

The Jasmine Throne is one of the most amazing adult fantasy novels. Tasha Suri writes in a way that will not have you wanting to leave the beautiful but deadly world she's created. Malini is imprisoned in the Hirana, and Priya is a servant meant to look after the Hirana, which used to be a source of magic. It's so interesting to see how Malini and Priya team up, and eventually, fall in love. I will definitely be reading Suri's other novels because this one drew me in immediately, and I am excited to see what will happen next in the world of The Jasmine Throne.

I regret that I DNF'ed this book at 40%. The writing is beautiful but there is a lot of Indian folklore & vague descriptions of magical powers that aren't explained. This makes this a really confusing read. I kept reading hoping it would clear up, but after 200 pages I was still lost half the time.

This is a wonderful story indeed and I truly enjoyed tagging along with Priya as she tried to help several homeless children while she did her best to make a better life for herself. Tasha Suri has done a fabulous job of bringing Malini and Priya's unique circumstances to life for me because I had a front row seat to their innermost thoughts and feelings. There was a lot of awesome world building and I couldn't get enough of the vivid descriptions about the Hirana temple and the Ahiranya forest, however, I felt like there was a lot of info dumping throughout the story and that was very distracting because it made me feel as though the story was going around in circles and my attention kept shifting from the main characters every time a new character's point of view was added to the story. Despite those issues, this book was a good read.

What a stellar start to a series! This novel by Tasha Suri is the beginning of an epic fantasy series with multiple POVs. This story was very political, but there was such an honest romance story woven throughout. There were high stakes within the politics, as well as in the romance itself, and I was enraptured.

This book tells the story of a country that used to have magic, but has been conquered by a neighboring country and forced to give up their magic. There are a few individuals that hide their abilities in order to stay safe. When one of these women is made to become the maidservant of the Princess of the conquering nation, who is imprisoned, the story takes off. There are so many unexpected twists and turns throughout the novel that I couldn't put it down.

The strongest aspect of this book is the plot. The story was so interesting and complex. The characters were strong as well, but I didn't feel as many emotions towards a lot of them. I wasn't 100% invested in the romance until towards the end of the book because it felt really rushed to me. But the political plot wove such a rich tapestry for these characters to interact within that I couldn't stop reading.

I highly recommend this book. Also, it's coming out in the month of Pride, and what a perfect way to celebrate by reading this Sapphic story!

TW: abusive family dynamics, addiction, body horror, child murder, forced drug use, gender-based violence, homophobia and internalized homophobia, immolation and self-immolation, suicidal ideation, self-mutilation, violence, withdrawal

Another winning book from Tasha Suri!

Firstly, she knocks it out of the park with the setting. It had incredibly lush world building with the different cultures and nations in the book, something she has excelled at in all three of her books. This one really takes a look at how different cultures intersect when one country starts pushing out the culture of another and I thought it was a really fascinating perspective to read. In addition, I really liked how religion was used in this book. It felt like its place in this book was different than I'm used to in fantasy as it was more of a morally grey entity and was struggling to hold on because of the aforementioned cultures pushing others out and usually I think I see religion in fantasy books that have a strong presence in the world. The religion itself as far as its tenets and practices was fascinating to me as well.

This book was told in multiple POVs with what I would call two main, a few secondary, and a smattering of other minor ones popping in. While Priya and Malini’s story is certainly the main one, the addition of the other POVs was A+ to help add some “interludes” to give some of the bigger picture on things. And I really enjoyed all the POV voices and never really found that any were a slog to get through when compared to the others.

As for characters, this book features three incredibly well developed female characters who had different strengths and flaws and I really like Suri exploring how they each use those strengths to find their place in the story/world.

The pacing of the story was very good for me. First half could be slow for some, depending on what your looking for as the second half did have more action, but I didn't find a problem with it. I think the pacing worked exactly as it should have for the what was happening in the two halves of the book story wise.

The developing love story was very well done (this was a strength in Suri’s other novels as well). I will say it was less prevalent than the “omg sapphic fantasy” hype led me to believe, so if this has been your biggest draw to pick up this book definitely know that going in. It’s definitely a very slow burn love story that will continue to develop over the course of this trilogy versus one that is going to be satisfyingly wrapped up over the course of just this book.

The magic was great! The explanation of the magic systems is my only complaint for Suri’s other duology in that her explanations just never quite clicked with me. But in this one I thought they were great! I totally understood her explanations, and I think the magic itself was just more interesting of a system in this one than in the others anyways.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for different fantasy settings, well written and badass female main characters, or interesting magic systems

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I was massively hyped for The Jasmine Throne, because I already know Tasha Suri can write beautifully epic Indian-inspired fantasy romance, and this one being pitched as being about morally gray lesbians excited me to no end.

And aesthetically, it has a lot to offer. The world building is impressive, with the obvious Indian influences once again, and feels complex and interesting. The maps aren’t available in the digital ARC, however, so I’d imagine getting a more visual sense of the landscape will help in conveying information, as well as what is conveyed in-text.

There’s a large cast and a lot of political intrigue, and while at times, the focus seems very broad, with many supporting characters with relationships with one another getting POV chapters, and the annoying feature of many a fantasy of the character guide being at the back of the book instead of the front.

But the core of the narrative surrounding Priya and Malini shines through. Both are jaded, and have been conditioned to keep their guard up. But it’s a perfect melding of personalities where they are able to see past each other’s hardness and find the softness and vulnerability underneath, looking at each other non-judgmentally.

While Suri’s first duology felt more like linked companion novels, this one seems structured more in the typical fantasy series sense, with a lot of key players and their conflicts set to play out over the course of the series. The romantic arc is still very much present and a key part of the storyline for Priya and Malini, but readers should definitely be prepared for a book that is very much an intro to a fantasy series as well as a story with a central romance. But keeping that in mind, if you love fantasy and/or romance, you should really enjoy this!

This book was so cool! I am not typically an adult fantasy reader, but for sapphic Indian princesses, I made an exception. I really enjoyed the elements of Indian culture woven throughout the book. It was very long and slow moving, which some fantasy readers enjoy because it is a slow build to the action. I, personally, am impatient, so this book just took a long time for me to get through, and that bothered me. Tasha Suri knows what she is doing though. This book is meant to be savored. Each chapter brings up new ,thought provoking questions, and at the end, Suri doesn't leave a bunch of loose ends lying around. The ending was absolutely fantastic. Also, Priya and Malini complement each other very well. I would recommend this book, but only to hardcore fantasy readers with lots of time and patience.

this book is definitely worth a read for the angst of chapter 50

(oh, and the f/f romance, interesting politics, and indian culture)

I really, really enjoyed this book. The world was so fascinating, and the characters were wonderfully developed. And the romance? And chapter 50 (waterfall scene)?

Empire of Sand walked so that The Jasmine Throne could run.

Do you like complex political intrigue? Do you like having to work and fight blood sweat and tears for your romances? Do you want to finish a book and feel like there’s a pit of impending doom settled in your gut?

Well. Does Tasha Suri have something for you.

The fact that I can’t get into specifics just yet is killing me, but please. Please, please, PLEASE read this. Saying it’s become a favorite doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Without specifics, the sheer scope of this novel is astronomical. The world is so complex and complicated and huge. It’s so easy to get lost in the descriptions of the land, the temples, and the trees.

The main characters are great (I love Priya, and grew to love Malini), but the side characters are where this book absolutely shines. Rao, Prem, and Bhumika specifically are among my absolute favorites. Tasha is also amazing at emotional reveals, and there will be plenty of times that you just have to sit back and accept something that you didn’t see coming but absolutely should have.

So far beyond 5/5

The Jasmine Throne is one of those books that hooked me from the first page, drawing me in with the horrors of sacrificial immolation, infectious rot, violent conquest, and the erasure of an entire culture, with three women - Malini, Priya, and Bhumika - standing alone against it all. Even if I had a few struggles with the text, Tasha Suri has written a fabulous fantasy that deserves all the accolades it gets.

Let me get those struggles out of the way first so we can talk to the good stuff. I struggled with the pacing of the story, which is mostly talk for the first half, without a lot of action. Compounding that struggle are the (in my opinion) unnecessary POV chapters from the men responsible for the conflict, which added little to the story. By the end, I was mostly skimming those chapters to get back to the women. That brings me to my last struggle, and that is with the romance between Malini and Priya, a mostly physical affair that I had trouble buying into. There's an interesting dynamic between them, don't get me wrong, with interesting commentary on agency and agenda, but while I admired the complexities of their slowly evolving partnership, I never felt the romantic tension.

Okay, so onto the good stuff, and there's a lot of it. The world-building is absolutely fantastic, built around the legends and settings of Indian and South-Asian culture. It all feels authentic and alive, dynamic and majestic in ways so many other authors over the past few years have failed to capture. The magic and mythology are equally fantastic, from the eerily beautiful infection of the rot, which sort of calls its victims back to nature, to the shifting stones of the fire-scoured Hirana temple, with its mystical currents hidden deep beneath. I loved this world, I welcomed its immersion, and I constantly wanted to know more about it.

In terms of characters, Malini, Priya, and Bhumika are beautifully rendered women of strength and power, cast aside and trampled beneath patriarchal politics, but always working to escape their fates and fight for those around them. The Jasmine Throne is not some trope-ridden tale of war between the sexes, but it is fiercely feminist, and if you don't share in their triumphs, then you're likely the wrong reader for this. Malini is a little hard to warm up to, spending so much of the book drugged and isolated, but Priya earned my affection and admiration from the first page, and I loved the slow reveal of Bhumika's true character as a woman trapped between worlds.

Once it got going, the plot was enough to keep me reading, not overly complex or original, but significant enough to make me care. I've seen other reviewers talk about this as being a prequel or introduction to a larger story, and I agree with that - this could easily be condensed by a hundred pages without losing any of the story - but I also recognize that this is more a story of characters than events, and I can't necessarily fault Suri for delving deeper into the former at the expense of the latter. That said, I did struggle to maintain my interest during the last quarter or so, but I still came away from the book wanting to know more, eager to see if a sequel can tighten things up.