I gave this book 3.5/4 stars. The main character Priya, is a maidservant and keeps quiet the secret that she is a temple daughter that should have died. I enjoyed Priya's story and thought she had great character development. Malini is a princess, the emperor's sister, who is imprisoned by her brother for not sacrificing her life for the kingdom. Honestly, I did not like Malini. She was whiny, conniving, and annoying. As for the sapphic romance it the story, I felt it was forced and out of convenience for the author to check a box. I did not feel any chemistry between Priya and Malini and the story would have been better without it. I do look forward to continuing the series and I am interested in reading the authors other works.

Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with my review copy!
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

When I found out that Tashi Suri, the author of Realm of Ash and Empire of Sand, had written a new book, I just had to read it! The Jasmine Throne did not disappoint, taking me right out of a continued reading slump with its lush and interesting world-building, powerful female characters, and political strife. Though I found I didn't like the romance between the two leads as much in The Jasmine Throne as in the author's other books, I still really enjoyed the female characters outside of their relationship. 

“What would be enough justice--enough blood, enough death, enough suffering—for an emperor who sought to burn his own sister to death?”

I was immediately drawn into the world where the sister of the emperor, Malini, is imprisoned and mistreated for her refusal to burn to death at the orders of her younger brother, Emperor Chandra. Malini may be locked up, drugged, and constantly tormented with religious ideations, but she never stops plotting to free herself, using any tool at her disposal to secure her freedom and to depose her despot brother from the throne. I instantly loved her determination and grit, and she honestly gave me Daenerys vibes with her strong will. One of these tools Malini decides to use is her newest handmaiden, Priya, who is anything but a typical servant girl, and in fact, hides quite the secret of her own. Malini and Priya develop a rapport, and eventually a romantic relationship, as they escape not only their present situation, but the chains of their pasts.

“Use what you have, Malini reminded herself. Use anything and everything you have. What can you do? What do you have here that may save you?” 

What I really liked about the romantic relationship between Malini and Priya was how quickly The Jasmine Throne made the inequality of power a moot point in their romance. In other stories, like The Unbroken, I was uncomfortable with the main relationship, as it developed in spite of the power one person held over the other, with one person in the relationship even having power over the other person's life. But The Jasmine Throne quickly makes the princess and her handmaiden equal, so I was able to enjoy their relationship without any moral qualms. That being said, I found I did not enjoy this relationship between the handmaiden and the royal as much as I did in, say, The Priory of the Orange Tree.

I didn’t really understand Malini and Priya's attraction to each other, as most of the time, Malini and Priya didn’t seem to like each other or were just plain more concerned with their ambitions and goals and how they could use one another to accomplish them. It seemed more like a relationship that was formed out of convenience than actual chemistry to me. Both Malini and Priya are attracted to women, they both are trapped together, and both hope to use each other to get what they wanted to the point that were willing to manipulate, like to, and otherwise hurt one another. I admired each woman's dedication, but it didn't really make for a loving relationship.

"'If I do this—if I help you—then we're not going to be mistress and servant," Priya said slowly. 'Outside of here you may be the imperial princess and I may be nothing, but here I'm something useful. I have something you need. And I will not be your tool or your weapon. I will be your equal. Do we have an agreement?'"

Though I liked the idea of the whole star-crossed lovers thing the two had going, with Priya being a victim of the conquest of Ahiranya by Malini’s family’s Parijatdvipa empire, I just couldn’t feel the attraction, chemistry, and feelings between these two women. I kind of wish The Jasmine Throne had taken more time to develop the two as friends and allies before establishing a relationship. Even though I wouldn't quite classify their relationship as instalove, as the two didn't actually act on their feelings right away, they both instantly knew there was a mutual attraction—with Malini determining she could use Priya's attraction to her to her benefit right away. I just didn’t think the romance was as strong as in Suri’s other books, which featured heterosexual relationships. In the author's acknowledgements at the end of the book, Suri mentions that someone had to convince her to write the sapphic romance she always wanted to, so I can’t help but wonder if the author was hesitant or out of her comfort zone in writing this sapphic romance, and that it might have unintentionally reflected in her work. 

Though I found this romance to be lacking, I loved all of the female characters. Each one is so strong and determined in their own unique ways. In contrast to the almost feral Priya and Malini, the wife of the regent of Ahiranya, Bhumika, plays meek and small, but secretly gathers strengths and followers around her as she makes nice with the members of Parijatdvipa empire, even convincing her husband of her loyalty. I loved The Jasmine Throne’s theme of seeking justice in different means and methods, and how the novel manages to show it through every single character in the novel, including its antagonists and side characters. And the novel does a great job of distinguishing the gray area in its characters, making some of them vile and clearly evil, like Malini’s twisted younger brother, Emperor Chandra, but others treading the line between the moral areas. I liked how the characters continually had to grapple with their own moral high grounds and to decide whether to cast off their past beliefs or other moral reservations in their quests. It was a really compelling message to watch play out. 

And on top of the already intensely interesting political scheming, many of which is based in complex religious ideology, and the constant struggles of the characters with their own beliefs and morals, The Jasmine Throne was set in a really magical world. In this world, people are stricken with a disease known as the rot, which causes them to erupt in growths of greenery, weakening them and sickening them until they die. The only thing that slows the progression of this disease with unknown origins is the rare sacred wood from the trees in Ahiranya and no one knows why. They believe it is something to do with powerful ancient beings known as the Yaksa. Princess Malini is imprisoned in a temple, called the Hirana, that used to be dedicated to the worship of the Yaksa and is carved with its likeness. There is so much more interesting lore to the Hirana, as well as the ex-followers of it, but I don’t want to give anything away! Just know that it’s incredibly interesting. 

The only other things—besides what I thought was not the strongest romantic relationship—which made me knock down a star off of my review, was a lot of the background involving Priya. I felt like her past wasn’t as well planned or developed as that of other characters, or was at least confusing. I wish The Jasmine Throne had spent more time showing us her childhood. At the very beginning of the novel, Priya always says she was trained to be more, and often wishes to resort to violence to defend herself or to get herself out of bad situations due to her upbringing. But at the same time we also learn she doesn’t have many memories of her childhood, so I don’t really understand how she remembered that past training at all before she regained her memories throughout the progression of the novel. I don’t think The Jasmine Throne truly reconciled her childhood or even her memories with the beginning of the book and even where it wanted her to go. I often found Priya's background, memories, and her plans inconsistent. 

“‘We can save our culture, our history. Perhaps even end the rot entirely.’

‘By becoming monsters’ Priya whispered. ‘By turning into weapons?’ Yes.

‘You’ve killed too,’ he said. ‘There’s no shame in being strong enough to take what is rightfully yours.’”


I also found Priya’s relationship with her brother very erratic. I quickly grew tired of Priya’s impulsive decision making and almost immediate undoing of those very decisions whenever it came to him. It also annoyed me that there didn’t seem to be very many consequences for her choices or her changing of mind. Bhumika herself pretty much seems to write Priya off as an untamable creature, practically saying "Priya is just Priya" and would do whatever she wanted, consequences be damned. I understand, however, that there was a lot on the line for Priya—a literal rebellion and an entire culture, in fact—but for someone so fierce and determined as Priya, I found her indecisiveness when it came to her brother’s trustworthiness very out of character for someone who supposedly knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to acquire it. 

I was also very surprised at the reveal of what actually happened in  the siblings' childhoods,[spoiler] and in the Hirana [/spoiler] as everyone else seemed to have different knowledge of what happened for most of The Jasmine Throne. I hope the future novels in this series makes it clearer why the entirety of the empire believes one thing [spoiler] that the temple children burned due to the Parijatdvipa empire’s wishes and fears, when really it was the Elders themselves who made the choices, spurred on by nothing or no one but their own fears.[/spoiler] I could just use some clarification as to why everyone believed what they did. Most of this belief was at least initially a strong facet of why Malini resists her brother, his religious zealotry, and why she is determined to overthrow them, so I was surprised to see that this belief was wrong. 

Though I did not think facets of The Jasmine Throne were quite as strong as author Suri’s other books, I really enjoyed the world-building and the characters so much. Undoubtedly, I will be reading future entries in the series and cannot wait to see where the series goes, as it pretty much leaves off on a cliffhanger after setting up world, characters, and their plans for major political upheaval. I definitely feel like this series is only getting started and now that everything has been set up, I am excited to see where it goes. I am especially interested to see how characters Malini, Priya, and Bhumika handle their new positions of power and how they will fight Emperor Chandra. If you love strong female characters, complex themes, and truly unique world-building look no further than The Jasmine Throne.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

From the very first chapter of the Jasmine Throne I knew this book would be a ride, and I was right. Tasha Suri crafts a world from scratch, introducing us slowly to the different components and histories of the different people involved. It’s no small feat to juggle so many pieces and have them make sense at the end of the day. The character motivations are laid out clearly, and you find yourself invested in each characters journey.

The writing is amazing itself, descriptions that bring to life old temples, and have you tasting foods… like ladoos soaked in rose syrup? There are some spots where typos are present, but that’s a given since this is an arc.

The romance truly is a slowburn, which starts off as a game of manipulation - and the way it shifts… absolutely wild… especially near the end, where their fates become entangled and their lives become parallels of one another

Suri also captures the fallacy of men. Men from different backgrounds and how they wash themselves of any sort of blame and step on the backs of women while claiming it’s for the greater good (for example, Priya’s brother calling his own temple sister a whore bc she chose a different path from him to protect their people… willing to hurt his own sisters “for their people”…).. ON that note, we’ve read plenty of supposed morally grey man, but reading about Malini someone who is unapologetically ready to do what is necessary to protect what is hers, to get her revenge was also refreshing.

Though I have to say… there certainly were some choices made that made me go? The way the violent resistance against an oppressor is painted as something that’s bad, the way Priya would let Malini talk about the empire and shit on people that have Ahiranya’s interests in mind (no matter how misguided) like I understand that Priya has no interest in any of that, but to think she’d let Malini talk like that without even forcing Malini to reckon with the true nature of the imperial nation that she represents. On that front, I think Suri could have done better. Even if Malini were to brush Priya off, it would have been nice to see her constantly fight against Malini’s views rather than that one off confrontation they had.

I'm pretty tempted to round up on this one but, despite how much I enjoyed the second half, this definitely starts off.. slow, maybe even a little strange. But it's that same strangeness that kept me from putting it down and wanting to know more.

What I think Suri does so well, beyond some incredibly lush and descriptive but not overly purple writing, is how the author offers up very complex and fascinating, multilayered, female characters. They aren't a stagnant kind of grey or fit easily and snugly into one archetype or mold, either. These women are ever evolving based on their surroundings, twisting themselves into new shapes to suit, while glimmers of their true selves are revealed only to a precious few. We see them battle with themselves, with others, and it's not always nice. But it felt so real and, as mentioned, it was fascinating.

This story started out very politics heavy and then shifted gears into very magical and weird and then ended with lots more politics spliced through with magic. I wish this had been balanced a little differently but I think I understand why it went the way it did. I just hope it weaves in and out a little better in book two, more in line with how it ended, instead of cut into sections. That said, the nameless and the destinies and that whole concept? Wow. I loved it. I was getting a tiny bit annoyed with the big build up near the end and how we kept getting bashed over the head with the tease but when it finally happened it? I won't say it was worth it, because you kind of see it coming -- not the exact thing, but the shape of it -- but I still loved it. And, again, the concept is just fabulous.

There is so much great in here (again why I consider rounding up!) and it's made up of magic, destinies, betrayal, yearning, and love. And some of that just within the dynamics of one pair of siblings. Suri doesn't shy away from some uncomfortable dialogue about the pain endured by those who are supposed to love us, while at the same time tackling religious fanaticism, as well as the inherent poison of a nation conquered, oppressed, by others. There's a lot to unpack.

Where I struggled was the pacing, a lot of extra POVs (sometimes only one offs, which always kind of bugs me), a bit of back and forth repetition with a certain build up, and with one particular character and their motivations and how that spilled over onto others and tugged the plot around, only to.. I don't know. I can't say for spoilers but I was left feeling something about it. And how some of that conflict ultimately just felt like filler and a time waster in the end.

But. I still definitely recommend this. Not just for the diversity in this India-inspired fantasy, not just for the romance (sapphic, by the way!), or the creeping eerieness of a conflict we've only just barely glimpsed and that is still to reveal itself, or for the political manouevering and cleverness heralded by a fierce, uncompromising, woman. But all that and more.

I am really excited for book two.

3.5 stars

This is the sapphic, morally ambiguous, politically complex epic fantasy of my dreams. Hands down my favourite read of the year so far. Wow wow wow.

The world Suri has crafted, drawing on Indian histories and epics, is incredibly rich and sure of itself. Throughout the novel, the world and magic system within it unfurl so naturally, never feeling particularly info-dumpy despite a somewhat slow beginning.

This book is thrilling, full of tension, and explores everything from its politics to its belief systems to interpersonal relationships with such care and nuance. And the women! Three women are at the centre of this book, each of them dramatically different in their strengths and personalities. I love them all, just as I love this book, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next!

TW: death, execution by burning, gore, violence, body horror, homophobia, misogyny, child abuse, brief suicidal ideation, drug addiction/withdrawal

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely stunning, epic fantasy.

I loved everything about this book. I sometimes shy away from adult fantasy because I find it can be too heavy, too long, too complex- overall just dull and depressing. BUT THIS oh my god. It has genuinely made me contemplate my standards for every fantasy book I've ever read. Here's a nice list of why you should preorder it right now and everything I loved:

THE WORLD BUILDING was so wonderfully intricate and expanded about at the perfect pace so that it was never really that confusing. Its the type of book you really want to take your time with at the beginning, just so that you can fully grasp the vast empires, setting, religions, etc. I promise, its worth it.

THE MAGIC SYSTEM took slightly longer for me to fully grasp, just because there were so many aspects to it but again, the author does an incredible job of slowly introducing us to everything so that there was never any major info-dumps. The magic in this was really unique, and I loved every little detail, especially surrounding the creeping rot and how religion tied in with the fantasy.

ITS A DESI-INSPIRED EPIC FANTASY. And it was done perfectly. It was gorgeous and it felt so so nice to be able to read a fantasy where you recognize some of the foods, clothes, names, traditions and just wow. It still shocks me a little when I read these desi OwnVoices stories and feel represented and seen and just god I loved it.

THE CHARACTERS were just so well written. There are a lot of different pov's from a massive cast of characters, and I somehow understood and could relate to them all in some way. There's a villain prince who I hated so much yet was so intrigued by? Each character had their own unique voice and compelling motives, which made the sudden shifts in storylines maintain a steady pace rather than slow it down. I really loved every single chapter.

IT HAS AN ANGSTY ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS SAPPHIC SLOWBURN ROMANCE BETWEEN TWO MORALLY GRAY LESBIANS. And if that doesn't convince you to read it, I really don't know what will.

If you're looking for a rich, Indian-inspired fantasy, written with a lush, compelling prose, ferocious desi characters looking to overrun the empire, a touching romance, and a captivating magic system, pick up The Jasmine Throne. I will forever love this book and cannot wait for the next installment.

The characters, the love between them, the epic story and the writing blew me away. I kept turning the page, wanting to know what happened next

Excellent new series starter about a fantasy world in which a conquered nation suffers under both the conquerors and the rot destroying people and crops, without the temple children who used to use magic to protect them. But there are a few survivors, and when the emperor’s disgraced sister is exiled to the former temple, there to die of poison or to submit to being burned alive, one of the former temple children finds herself increasingly torn between her own wants and duties and her attraction to the princess. They are not good, but they may be great. I look forward to the next book!

This book was AMAZING! I loved it so much and was captivated from the very beginning. I cant pick just one thing to rave about, I loved everything. Even if I couldnt pronouce majority of the names 😂 regardless, it's well written, imagery/detail is great, characters are easy to get attached to. I will admit that I did not see that romance starting, but I love how it was written in. Ahhh, just well done overall and I cant wait for more!

10 seconds review:
Up for an Indian influenced high fantasy trilogy? With multiple POVs with agendas driving them? Craving for a slow burn sapphic romance that doesn't take over the story but is integral? This book is for you!

Longer review:
Rated 4.5 so 5 stars.
This is my first book by Tasha Suri, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Jasmine Throne is the first of a planned trilogy of Indian influenced high fantasy so Suri had a lot to prove. By the end of the book, I was sold. It is similar to Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, with how the authors used their backgrounds to provide a whole new fantasy setting without leaning into Tolkien/white setting fantasy.

Suri crafted her prose to give off almost an ethereal feeling. Open a random page, and you are sure to find a sentence you will admire. "A child should not be a chain, used to yoke a woman like cattle to a role, a purpose, a life she would not have chosen for herself." With that quote from the book, one of the biggest draws of the Jasmine Throne is the main female characters, they all are well written with their own goals and struggles imposed on them. On the surface, men rule and do whatever they want. In the background, women go the extra mile to utilize their power to achieve their goals.

Priya is an Ahiranyi maidservant, with an almost forgotten ability to manipulate nature. Malini is the fallen princess of Parijatdvipa, imprisoned by her brother Emperor Chandra. Their characterizations and relationship are the major drive of the book. The romance is not overt, it is a slow burn between the two main characters that must work together to achieve their goals to save their futures.

I am such a fan of these books that examine colonization, rebellion, and romance. The Jasmine Throne delivers a rich, multi-layered, and wonderfully paced series opener. Even though it ended up being longer than I thought, I actually breezed through The Jasmine Throne. Suri manages to balance multiple perspectives that allowed readers to get to know the intricacies of the characters with enough movement to expand the world and broader plot. Honestly as soon as the first chapters were done, I was hooked.

A plant plague? Count me in. The world building in The Jasmine Throne unfurls across the pages intricately and unhurried. It is immersive and detailed through and through. Reading, I was totally captivated as the characters question whether we are limited by what we were raised to be. The Jasmine Throne is a story about survival and the future. Suri's exploration of colonization is *chefs kiss*. It examines the rhetoric that leaves us in chains, that condems rebellions, and that allows the moral greyness, the ethical dilemmes to be witnessed in their complexity.

I really liked the worldbuiding and the strong character building of this story. Sadly I think the first half of the book is stronger than the second half plot-wise, but it was interesting enough that I kept reading to find out what happened.

Not for me. I didn't like or dislike this book, it just wasn't what drives me as a reader. I like a magic heavy book, a faster paced book, a more action packed book, a less political driven book. While this book was a bit light on the magic system, slower than I prefer, less action than interests me, and contained more politics than what I typically like that doesn't make it a bad book. I ended up skimming portions and having several periods of longer than normal breaks. Differences in reading preferences is why I like to try titles out that are or the edge of what I normally go for. I wish this title all the luck, although I don't think it will need it, seeing as that it already has a ton of 5 star reviews.

This title has a lot going for it, though it does read more like a prequel, a promising setup for the series to come. the world is lushly described and the magic system unlike anything I've seen in fantasy before, but in this entry, the characters are mostly getting into place for the meat of the story to begin. The plot is easy to follow but perhaps too easy for adult fantasy, some of the language is unclear, something that i'm sure will be addressed in edits.

I do think it suffers from too many POVs -- there are three women whose perspectives are the most interesting and everyone else is there just to allow us to see things that are happening when those characters aren't around. That choice leads to some chapters that are lacking in characterization. more time should've been spent with Priya, and especially Malini and Bhumika, a way to convey what is happening while also developing these women and their relationships better. I'm fascinated by Malini and Priya and the slow build of their appreciation for each other but couldn't help feeling like they were underserved by this structural choice.

3.75/5. Extremely promising start and I'm absolutely going to read the next one! Thanks so much to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hello new favorite book!

I enjoyed every minute of The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri. From the morally gray main characters, to the vivid imagery, I consistently found myself in awe of Tasha Suri's creativity in crafting this story.

We follow rebels, princesses, princes, regents, maidservants, and more. I loved that we got multiple POVs, but I can see why some people might find it to be a little bit too much. In the beginning, you really have to work to keep track of who's chapter you are reading from. However, I promise it gets easier as the book goes on. Seeing this world through characters with multiple different perspectives and opinions added so much to the story for me. Our two primary POVs are Priya, a maidservant with many secrets, and Malini, a Princess whose brother sentenced her to Ahiranya as punishment for refusing his plans for her. After Malini witnesses Priya perform an impossible act, they become unlikely partners in a quest to save the empire from the evil and cruel Emperor.

Can we talk about the strong women here? Priya, Malini, and Bhumika are some of my favorite characters I have ever read. They each have their own motivations and reasons for those motivations, and they will do questionable but integral things to see them through.

This is an unquestionable 5 star read! I am highly anticipating the next installment in this series.

The premise for this tale is familiar: a divided empire with a leader bent on erasing another sect that could challenge his, the heroes that will seek to see him defeated; one of royal blood, the other of ancestry that is now reviled. But what made it interesting, is the presence of an unknown affliction that is sweeping the lands and adherents of a faith steeped in magic who seek a return to their old ways of worship and existence; by any means necessary.

What was lacking was fiery and witty dialogue; the interactions all felt muffled, lackluster, and the writing fell flat for me and I could not get behind or invested in the arcs of any of the main characters; neither did I buy the 'chemistry' or attraction that was attempted between our 'heroines'.

There are however elements of this story that I appreciated: the use of an unknown flora as the cause of this disease, the queer representation, the power dynamics that are at play, political maneuverings to remove a despotic and cruel ruler, the mysterious beings that once had walked the world, and the inevitable betrayal that is most decidedly coming.

I just wish the writing style was as engaging and immersive as the plotlines.

I really enjoyed this book! This is a great first book in a new fantasy series with strong, brave, and well developed female lead characters, a fun new world and an easy to follow yet still very interesting plot line.

I thought the world building was done exceptionally well. Some fantasy books can be very hard to follow for the first half of the book where everything is being built and explained, but this was done slowly and naturally throughout the book so the fantasy elements just seemed natural and real; not confusing at all. I was very immersed in this new world.

I loved the romance; it was a slow burn; I always enjoy that. I'm over the insta love or the strong enemies to lovers trope where they treat each other awful and then fall madly in love. So weird. The romance in this book developed naturally and beautifully over time and I really enjoyed the lesbian romance representation.

I personally enjoyed the first half of the book better than the second, but I feel like it could go either way for most people. The first half is more character based and I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and their stories. The second half is more plot based and is where a lot of the action happens, the writing style in this half got more descriptive, dreamy and poetic which was less my style but I still really enjoyed it.

The book has strong messages about the love and bonds between family, what makes up family, accepting the ones we love no matter their faults and how far we can allow the ones we love to push us before we finally break. It discusses how we often can't help but love some people even though they have wronged you, because of the history you have been through. Love unfortunately doesn't always work like that; you can't just shut it off. It deals with a lot of political issues and the systemic removal of an entire nation of people and their fight to regain control over their lives and it also has a lot of women rising above the patriarchy and fighting for what they believe in and deserve.

Overall, I think this is an awesome first book in a new series and I absolutely recommend picking it up when it comes out on June 8th! I will definitely be reading book two when it comes out!

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stunning epic fantasy with intricate world-building, intriguing magic, and complex, multi-dimensional characters, nations, religions, and cultures. I absolutely loved <i>The Jasmine Throne</i> and I am very, very happy that it is the first in a forthcoming trilogy because I absolutely want more of what Suri has created here. With well written, distinct, and compelling multiple points of view (<i>note:</i> a character list is provided + very helpful when first starting) and a strong balance between deep personal struggle, shifting interpersonal relationships, and broader scope political dimensions, <i>The Jasmine Throne</i> checks so many boxes for me. I appreciate the queer representation and the Indian inspired setting is wonderfully rich and detailed. Highly, highly recommend.
<i>Content warning:</i> explicit violence, war, colonialism, self-immolation, immolation, child murder, addiction

Thank you so much to Orbit Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had my eye on The Jasmine Throne for the longest time, ever since Tasha Suri first announced it as an epic ancient Indian-inspired fantasy novel late last year. This is the first adult epic fantasy that I have ever read and it did not disappoint! The story follows Malini, a princess deemed traitorous to her empire by her dictator brother and Priya, a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic assigned to watch over Malini while she’s held captive. Their paths become irrevocably tangled as Malini seeks to depose her brother from his throne and Priya aims to find her family, changing the fate of an empire. Overall this story was full of interwoven histories of numerous characters and detailed stories of ancient magic and sorcery and I would have to give it 4 stars!

The main reason why I would give this book 4 stars was because I found the worldbuilding and magic system hard to wrap my head around at the beginning of the book. As a reader, you’re immediately thrust into the world of the The Jasmine Throne and therefore it took some time for me to fully understand what was going on in the story. Once I reached the halfway mark, I was starting to pick up the lore of the novel much better. There also is a full ensemble of characters, each with their own POV chapter, and often it was confusing trying to remember how each character was related to one another and what their motives were. Thankfully, I found a cast of characters listed at the back of the book, which helped me keep track of the role each character played in Priya & Malini’s story.

Tasha Suri’s storytelling and writing is deeply poetic and lavish. The scenes between Malini and Priya were so beautiful and I found myself excitedly waiting to read their POV’s chapter again. I hung onto every moment, no matter how small, that was shared between them while Malini was held captive and while they were making their own journey later in the story. I think their arc felt extremely natural to me and I found the ending to be quite realistic as well. I personally really loved Malini’s growth as a character. From the start of the book, Priya always seemed like the more headstrong of the two, but I was glad to see Malini have more bite as a character instead of playing into the subdued princess trope. The Indian representation was amazing too! I loved all the descriptions of the food, jewelry, clothes, weaponry, etc. And to be completely honest, seeing that each of the characters’ names were common Indian names that I immediately recognized made me feel like I was going on an adventure with my friends, peers, cousins, etc. and that honestly gave me such a great feeling as an Indian-American reader. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Burning Kingdom series and see where Priya and Malini’s story goes next!

I'm glad I took my time with this. It has been a while since I last fell in love with a fantasy book, and this right here is an absolute gem.

Malini, the princess of Pariyat, wants her dictator of a brother, the Emperor, out of his throne. To do that, she must consistently face her nightmares and find new allies. After being exiled and brought to Ahiranya as a prisoner for her punishment, Malini meets Priya, a maid servant and a temple daughter. Priya has secrets of her own. Together, they made a deal that would benefit both of their countries, while trying not to lose themselves in the process.

This was my first book by Tasha Suri and I must say that I enjoyed it. The tension, the rich world-building, and the lush writing were present from page 1. The action started right away, and I couldn't help but be impressed by the author's ability to keep things entertaining, planting seeds of surprises here and there. There are about 10 povs in this book, but do not let that sway you. The characters—their broken hope, fractured resistance, and questionable morals, are what made this book extra special. I loved how complex each of them are. How one character could be so cunning, while one pretends to be weak. How one character started out victorious, until another comes in to put them in their rightful place. The last chapters made me scream and suffer and still, I was grateful. I would battle kingdoms for and with Priya, Malini, Bhumika and Rao.

If you're looking for an epic fantasy to add to your ever-growing tbr, look no further. This book has a beautiful Indian-inspired world, sapphic contents and a group of morally grey characters that will make you want more. Book 2 can't come soon enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an earc!