Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.

I was not a fan of this book. There were a crazy amount of character perspectives. It was like every other chapter, you were reading about someone different. Half the time, I didn’t know who was who. I would’ve been fine with Malini, Priya, and the rebel leader. It’s hard to really connect to anyone when the story is all over the place. It was also an awfully slow read. I just felt like it drug on forever. By the time anything interesting started happening, I was so disconnected. I didn’t care about anything by the end; I just wanted it to be done.

This one took me a little bit to really get "into", but once I was invested I was FULLY invested. This world is so interesting and well-rounded.... some of the politics (like which kingdom was which and what every land was called and the whole empire thing and all of that) got a bit confusing for me at some points - but that's more of a personal failing than anything. It often takes me a bit of time to sort all of that out - ha!

The writing style/authorial voice here wasn't necessarily anything I'd obsess over, but it was above average in my opinion, for sure. The tone and atmosphere where well executed and I loved the various relationship dynamics at play, especially with Priya and Ashok. It wasn't a relationship to be admired, but it was raw and genuine and I felt like it was explored very well.

DNF 47%

morally grey lesbians team up to take down the empire in an epic adult fantasy.

I had this book on currently reading for 1 entire month and just had to give up because it was mind numbingly boring and was taking away my will to read. I was very excited to dive into the story but I clearly wasn't the target audience for this story.

The main characters, Malini and Priya, were very boring and while I was intrigued to know more about them I couldn't bring myself to care for their well-being. They had a lot of issues going on but the author wrote them in such a way that it feels like the characters don't actually have a personality and are carbon cutouts. So we have these underdeveloped robotic characters and we also have other random POV from characters that were also not developed. Why include so many POV if not even the main characters were written well? Now the antagonist was your run of the mill basic villain and he also wasn't that developed, he was just plain evil with no nuance to him.

My biggest is definitely the author's writing style. I read Empire of Sand and enjoyed the book but something about this story's writing style just made me want to close the book. There's a lot of descriptions and run on monologues and flashbacks and it's so slow that I started to lose interest in what was happening. I thought when going into the story that it was going to be action-packed but by almost half of the book they were still stuck in the temple with barely anything happening. I thought we were taking down an empire! The main characters really did not drive the plot forward.

This book was just highly disappointing and I would have continued but when I saw that I still had 4 hours to go plus 2 more books to this story?? I just could not do it

Desi fantasies will never stop exciting me. When I found out about The Jasmine Throne, I will admit I had barely any idea about what the story was. I went into it blind and was very much surprised with what I got.


The Jasmine Throne is a desi fantasy set in a world of magic and politics and misogynistic, patriarchal leaders. In the midst of it all we have our two main leads – Priya and Malini, one a servants-maid and one a princess in exile. Along with them are a host of varied side characters who play major roles too. When Priya and Malini’s paths collide, they have to trust each other – despite being from the enemy lines – and help to save each other’s lives. What follows is a stunning tale of love, family, loyalty and strength.


This was my first book from Tasha Suri and I was very impressed with the writing from the first line itself. Suri’s writing flow is marvelous and has a beautiful, lyrical charm to it. The narration was smooth and seamlessly fell into place with the varying POVs. From the first few lines itself I was completely drawn to the story and the world that was created. The world building was definitely one of the strongest parts of this book, followed by the characters.


The author built a fantastic world that felt so familiar and real. With the story taking place in different settings, we get to see contrasts between the places throughout. Most of the first half of the book took place in the sacred and feared, difficult to traverse Hiranya, which was a place that intrigued me the most. Then there was the Sangam and the temple, the deathless waters, which was another interesting element. As I said, the world building was perfect and detailed enough to arouse an image on my mind. The author took much care with the minute details, which added so much flair to the reading experience. For those not accustomed to the desi terms and references, the writing surely made it easy to visualize.


The visual aspect of the book was super on point. From the setting to the characters’ descriptions and their emotions, everything was so visually described that you cannot help but picture it playing out in your mind. The characters were another aspect that made reading so much exciting.
Right from the main characters to the side characters, everyone had distinctive personalities and aided strongly to the plot. What more – they all were so interesting to read about. Priya and Malini – although different in their upbringing – were very much alike despite. And the little kindling romance between the two was just adorable. Slow burn adorable! Ashok, Prem, Bhumika, Rukh and all the others were carefully crafted characters with their own secrets, and kept me wondering who to trust and who not to. It was a ride, I’d say.

Throughout, I was at the edge of my seat with these characters as I couldn’t bring myself to trust any. I loved Priya but at times I also judged her decisions, I won’t lie. Malini was a character who I was the most unsure about, and still am to be honest. But all together, they came in to create one hell of an adventure.


The plot now was the tricky part. Since I had no prior idea because I decided not to read the blurb, I was totally unaware of anything. The first few ten chapters were super intriguing that kept me hooked, as I hungrily turned every page to know more. However, the mid half of the book fell flat. For a couple of another twenty or thirty chapters, things moved so slowly that I almost lost my interest and in turn, it took me a couple of days to pick it up again. However, the story picked up pace once again, after which all the exciting things started happening.


One of the best parts was reading about all the desi references. The perfect descriptions of the food and the clothes, of the women and girls in beautiful sari, fighting in those clothes. It always warms my heart to read and visualize about women fighting in sari – there’s just something very homely about reading this on a Young Adult fantasy. You can well spot the South Asian influence on the story and it’s elements and I totally cheered for it!


The plot itself is a complex web of loyalty, survival, women power, strength and love. It is very cleverly woven, each subplot points carefully woven into the main plot with precise details. I loved how each character had their own arc and story of sorts, which made it much more thrilling to follow along beside them too.
But one of the things that took me back a bit while reading this was the lot of character POVs. There were just so many, and not in any sequential or patterned manner. Different character POVs kept popping up late or in between, and sometimes they didn’t play as big a part. The excess of characters made it a little difficult in actually getting into the story at first, I won’t lie. With each being in a supposed different setting initially, that took more time to let sink in.


However, it becomes easier by the middle. The bits of magical realism and scientific elements infused only makes the plot further complex as well as fascinating.


The Jasmine Throne is ultimately a high fantasy with clever plot and character craft that is bound to keep the readers hooked. I loved the fact that the story wasn’t just one dimensional but had so many layers that we as readers are left to unpeel as we progress. The end chapter was very chilling and I’m so excited to see where the story goes next.

Unique setting, and very well written characters. In general, I am always looking for more books to recommend to my students, and dammit if I haven’t found a new author. Very excited to see what else she has coming!

I typically have a very hard time reading high fantasy. My brain has a hard time keeping track of so much lore, so many characters, and so many separate plot lines. The Jasmine Throne was definitely an exception to this pattern. The writing is just /so/ exquisite, the character building and development is unmatched, and the story is so lovable and entertaining. I haven't had so much fun reading a book since Six of Crows, and there are many similar traits between that and The Jasmine Throne. If you like high fantasy, multiple character perspectives, drawn-out pining, sapphic romances, and wound cleaning, you'll love The Jasmine Throne. highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advanced copy for review.

I absolutely adored this! I love fantasy and welcomed the original setting found in The Jasmine Throne. The characters were well written to the point that I felt as though I were reading about real people. This is a book that is not to be missed and I would highly recommend this to all lovers of fantasy. They will not be disappointed!

The Jasmine Throne is an Indian inspired political fantasy filled with magic, death, and rebellion. We follow Malini, a princess imprisoned by her brother, and Priya, an orphaned maid servant with a secret. Those are not the only perspectives in this story though, and that’s where some of my issues lie.

The first two hundred pages of this book are slow. We jump between numerous perspectives getting small details here and there about what the bigger picture of this world is. I felt like I could never fully attach myself to one character because of the bouncing around. At one point we are reading from the perspective of a random guard/soldier during an attack. I feel like it would have been more impactful to see through the eyes of one of the characters we were already familiar with that was actually attacking.

I did enjoy the growth of both Malini and Priya. Their ARCs and how they overcame their own problems was an interesting journey to see. Even through the trauma and darkness of their thoughts, their own strengths remained and they took control of their own paths.

The last half of this book definitely picks up action wise and made the pacing faster. Revelations are made that I actually was not expecting. One of the side characters was my absolute favorite, Bhumika. She was a badass and I wish there would have been more from her perspective to see how she planned certain events out.

Overall, this was a solid intro to a much larger fantasy story. The world building allowed me to easily imagine what the author was describing. I’ll be interested to see where the story goes in the sequel.

Normalize sapphic fantasy starring two women of color with a background of rich culture and history but also angst and pining and wonderful cover.

This book lived up to the hype for me - “The Unbroken” is definitely a good recent release to compare it with. The worldbuilding for this novel was immersive; the setting brutal and beautiful. Certain elements of the plot felt predictable by the time we got to them, but overall the pacing worked for me and the storyline felt classic and original at once. Would recommend!

I should not have put this off as long as I did - my fears about this book being a slow read because it was epic fantasy were baseless. Not only does it largely live up to the hype, it reads really really fast as well. And the romance subplot is exquisite - sapphic, morally gray, with with a strong hurt/comfort element.

Malini has been imprisoned in the Hirana - an ancient, decaying temple - for disobeying her emperor brother and refusing to be executed by burning. And if this is not enough, she is also sick from slowly being poisoned by the servant who was sent there with her. Priya is one of the maidservants cleaning her rooms and, secretly, a former temple child. Each has her own reason to hate the empire.

What I loved the most about the book were the characters and their complexity. Priya and Malini's POV chapters are mixed with the occasional chapter from the POV of someone else, and everyone has their own goals and their own preferred means to achieve them, most of them quite ruthless. I liked that. It also affects the romance. Priya distrusts Malini, given her manipulative tendencies and being the princess of the very empire that colonised Ahiranya, which causes much tension between them, but both of them are drawn to each other. I loved the slowly developing romance - a character taking care of their sick love interest is my absolute favourite thing ever (cough) and there is plenty of that here.

The same approach also shows in the worldbuilding. There are several factions that hate the empire and are forced to cooperate because of that, but have little in common aside from that, ranging from only wanting the emperor replaced with another but not caring about Ahiranya, subtle rebellion, or liberation at all costs, no matter how much blood and lives it takes. It has a lot to say about power and how it changes people. In addition to political tensions, there is also the threat of a magical incurable plague, that manifests itself as plants growing under the skin.

If intrigue, f/f romance with lots of hurt/comfort, epic fantasy with an Indian-inspired setting, or plant-based magic sound good to you, you should absolutely go for it. I am very curious to see where this series will go next.

I read the first book in Tasha Suri's previous series, Empire of Ash, and I liked it ok. This one though completely blew my mind. I loved everything in it - the Indian history/mythology inspired setting, the MCs and the secondary characters and all the complex relations among them, the high-stakes suspense plot, the tender f/f romance, the magic elements.

It's a brilliant, very evocative and complex fantasy with strong f/f romantic elements.

I loved the writing, it was smooth and easily flowing and unlike many fantasy stories, especially when it's first book in a series, there was no info dump and I never felt overwhelmed with too many details about the world or the magic system. rich.

The story is told from multiple POVs and they worked so well for me. Each voice was distinctive, giving strong individuality and important insight in the overall story. I was deeply invested in all the subplots and loved how they culminated in Priya and Malini's plot, both romantically and intrigue/suspense wise.

The romance element is lovely but not central to the story, it's just one aspect of Priya and Malini's growth in the story. The focus, in my opinion, falls on the two women coming into their own powers, after the world had forced them to make themselves small, almost invisible in order to survive and, often, to escape the wrath and violence of the men around them.

This book is all about strong women and how they navigate the world around them. Priya and Malini were amazing, but also Bhumika, Sima and basically I loved all the female characters. They are angry and prickly, often scared but also determined as they reclaim their place in the world. They are morally grey, going full black occasionally, but they are also caring and loyal. The moments they show tenderness and vulnerability - they melted my heart.

Most the female characters can be described as quintessential unlikeable heroines - the are on a journey where they are no longer hiding their power desires in all senses, they are no longer hesitant to act, instead they reach out and grab the power that inherently belongs to them. Same goes for their desires, both physical and of their soul - it's a slow process but in the end they are ready to pursue them with no shame or regret.

Apart from the growth of strong female characters, this story is also about strong relationships - friendship, rivalry, revenge, love in all their dimensions. I loved how nothing about the relationships in the story is just black or white, there is a lot of grey there but also lots of bright colours of hope and future.

Overall, this is an amazing epic fantasy with strong f/f romance elements and I absolutely mesmerized by it. Can't wait for its sequel coming in 2022.

Add to Goodreads / Buy on Amazon

Note: I am adopting a new rule regarding Content Warnings in my reviews. I will quote them from the author's site if available, adding things on my own discretion is necessary.

CW: per author's website:
Explicit violence including immolation and self-immolation
Gender-based violence (this does not include sexual assault)
Homophobia and internalised homophobia
Suicidal ideation
Self-mutilation
Abusive family dynamics
Child murder
Body horror (plant-based, cosmic)
Forced drug use and depictions of addiction/withdrawal

Tasha Suri has a new book out, inspired by ancient Indian epics called The Jasmine Throne. Suri rose to fame with her first duology of books Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash. The author has established herself as a rising voice in fantasy inspired by South Asian culture. Now Suri takes her penchant for corrupt Empires and powerful magics into a new series that begins with the powerful book The Jasmine Throne. Let's take a look at the beginning of this new novel from Tasha Suri, as she embarks upon her Burning Kingdoms trilogy.

The story revolves around two women from very different backgrounds. Priya is a maid, with secrets buried so deep that she has almost forgotten where she truly comes from. Malini is a princess who has been exiled from her homeland by her brother - the Emperor. Both of them have been deeply affected by the patriarchal Empire that burns women alive for being "impure."

Malini is imprisoned by her brother in the ruins of an old temple. And soon enough, Priya is drawn to the place. She is driven there by the forbidden magic in her blood. And a secret history that only a select few are aware of. Eventually Priya finds herself landing the position of Malini's personal maid. And the two of them discover that they have the power to change the Empire together. In the midst of all of this is a brewing revolution; a deadly disease called the rot that is spreading across the land, and unseen forces that will change the fates of our heroines forever.

There are a lot of things to enjoy in The Jasmine Throne, and the world-building is no exception. Suri draws from her own South Asian culture and history to bring the world to life. Inspired by ancient Indian epics, The Jasmine Throne is a refreshing new fantasy title. And one that demonstrates perfectly how much there is to explore as the genre begins to shift away from familiar Eurocentric fantasy. 

The Jasmine Throne is very concerned with the way imperialism and colonialism affects those under the rule of a despot. Much of the story takes place in Ahiranya. This land was conquered by the larger Empire, and absorbed into the country of Parijatdvipa. The people of Ahiranya are barely treated as citizens of the Empire. Their culture and traditions have been eroded and forgotten. There is some history here, that is mentioned throughout the text but will surely have a larger impact in later books.

The people of Ahiranya once held great magical abilities that gave them control over the natural world. The temple where Malini finds herself imprisoned is called the Hirana. It was once the home of magic users who were able to utilize the power of the "deathless waters." Temple initiates immerse themselves in this underground pool, and if they survive then they are granted powerful magics. Passing through the waters more than once can make one even more powerful, and each time an individual is 'reborn.' 

And this is where Priya's secret comes into play. She was once a child of the temple. Raised on the Hirana from birth until the day the all of the temple children were burned alive. Priya and a few others survived this gruesome fate. But they were left to their own devices on the streets of the city below. 

For years Priya has kept this secret about her past. And her mind has blanked out much of the events of her past due to the trauma. She is seemingly content to be a faceless maidservant, and in her free time she tries to do her best to help the poor souls suffering from the deadly disease known as the rot. But when Priya returns to the Hirana and meets Malini, she must face her past and learn how to utilize her abilities.

And learn quickly she must, as we soon discover that there are others seeking the deathless waters. And that those who consume the waters will die if they do not get more. In grappling with her own memories and abilities, Priya will come face to face with someone from her past. This leads to an intense moral dilemma on her part, and Suri explores these complicated feelings with a deft hand. Every character in the story is memorable and remarkable in their own way. And the relationships at the heart of the story make every passage feel all the more urgent and vital. 

The character of Malini is an intriguing one, a nuanced and complex female protagonist with a lot of morally grey areas. While Priya constantly thinks of herself as a bad person, it is very clear that she is the moral center of the book. However, Malini is a bit different. Raised as a princess of the grand Empire, she also struggles with the trauma of her past. Her brother Chandra is vicious and cruel, so of course he would become Emperor. The beginning of the book finds Chandra burning alive two of Malini's handmaids, and dearest friends. This is supposed to be an act of devotion, one that will protect the Empire from the spread of the rot and the magic of the Ahiranya. But Malini refuses to go quietly to her pyre, and instead is sent to die slowly in the Hirana. 

It is clear that Malini is the smartest individual in her family. And it was obvious to me that she is the one who should rightfully be ruling the Empire. The only reason Chandra became Emperor is because her oldest brother gave up the throne to become a monk in service to a nameless god. Neither of these men seem to deserve the throne. But over the course of the story I couldn't help but wonder if that throne should even exist in the first place. But Malini is dedicated to replacing her mad brother with a better ruler. She demonstrates time and again her own cunning, intelligence, strategic savvy, and ruthlessness. She will do whatever it takes to remove him, even if she is seen as heartless or cruel by those around her. 

Throughout The Jasmine Throne, author Tasha Suri explores the many faces that these women must wear to exist in the world. Both Priya and Malini have spent their lives wearing different masks for the world, in order to both protect themselves and get ahead. So when the two of them meet, there is a slow unraveling of these masks. Until they reach a point where it seems only they know the true face of the other. They don't quite trust each other. But there is a growing affection and attraction between the two that feels inevitable.

The slow burning romance between Priya and Malini is an important element of the story, but it is never the focus. Instead it is a natural part of their identities, that they slowly begin to accept. Although there is an implication that women who are attracted to other women in the Empire are considered "impure" and likely to be burned alive by Chandra, there is not actually any homophobia in the text. It is an interesting contradiction, that I'm sure will be explored further as the series progresses. 

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is a beautifully written book. Her evocative language brings to life the scents and textures of this Indian-inspired world. And the chemistry between Malini and Priya is electric. In fact, the relationships at the heart of the book are all extremely believable and relatable. From the tension between siblings who both love and detest one another, to the brewing romance between the two women at the center of the story. It all works extremely well in setting up this new fantasy trilogy from author Tasha Suri, as The Jasmine Throne kicks off her new Burning Kingdoms series. We recommend this title for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart, and Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse.

I don't think this is the book for me. I do not enjoy books that are slow paced with little plot. I couldn't get into this book, even though I read over 30% of it. I do appreciate the opportunity to read it.

5 stars

The best 2021-published book I’ve read so far.

After enjoying Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri’s earlier duo of romantic fantasy novels set in an India-based world, I decided to request an ARC of The Jasmine Throne, the first novel in her new Burning Kingdoms trilogy.

Priya is a servant in the regent’s Mahal in the city of Hiranaprastha, in Ahiranya, a once-independent country now subjugated by the empire of Parijatdvipa.

Long ago, it was Ahiranya that ruled the region. Ahiranya’s leafy gods, the Yaksa, gifted their temple’s elders with terrible powers that enabled Ahiranya’s rule. Then, in Parijatdvipa, three women (now worshiped as the Mothers) immolated themselves, and with that sacrifice, some Parijatdvipans gained flame-based powers that drove the Yaksa away from the human world. Parijatdvipa now rules not only Ahiranya but three other countries/city-states.

Ahiranya’s ascendancy, known as the Age of Flowers, is long over now. Ahiranya has been under Parijatdvipan rule for generations, and is viewed by many in the empire as its dregs. It’s a poor country; outsiders come there for the pleasure houses and not much else. The regent, Vikram, in whose kitchen Priya works, was appointed by the emperor to rule Ahiranya.

There has recently been a change in emperors. The old emperor died and his heir, Aditya, disappeared into a monastic life in Alor (one of the other countries). Chandra, the new heir, is cruel and sadistic, and his most recent act as emperor was to order his sister and her two attendants to immolate as the Mothers did. Vikram worries about what that sadistic cruelty means for Ahiranya and for himself.

In her spare time, Priya goes to the market to purchase food and sacred wood for the city’s sick stray children. The wood is a treatment for rot, a terminal illness that causes plant material to sprout in the bodies of the infected (those who have the sickness are treated like lepers even though rot isn’t contagious, so many rot-stricken children end up on the street).

It is near the market that Priya meets Rukh, a boy with rot. She can’t afford to purchase sacred wood that day and she doesn’t know if Bhumika, the regent’s wife, will agree to give Rukh work and shelter, but she goes out of her way to obtain them for him and succeeds. Rukh reminds Priya of the child she once was and she’s driven to postpone his inevitable death.

This is a partial review. You can find the rest at Dear Author, here: https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-a-reviews/a-minus-reviews/review-the-jasmine-throne-by-tasha-suri/

My Review: The Indian Fantasy Story I’ve Been Waiting For
Rep: South Asian MCs, LGBTQIA+

I haven’t read many South Asian-inspired fantasy novels, but this one was absolutely perfect and I enjoyed every minute of it!

The Pros: What Worked For Me

I loved the South Asian influence strewn throughout this book. Everything the author described was so easy to visualize and there were so many nods to South Asian culture that I really appreciated. There were so many moments that reminded me of things I can find in my own home, which I really loved. What really struck me as I was reading was the way in which the author wrote her descriptions; not only was it accessible, but it also forced the reader to think of these South Asian features as the norm. We need more of that in the world!

There are some seriously stellar characters in this novel. Quite a few of them get their own POV through alternating chapters. This allowed for deeper complexities and personalities to shine, which made the reading experience more enjoyable. Priya is one of my obvious favourites, but I also really enjoyed reading from Bhumika’s perspective.

The plot was so intriguing! I was hooked from the first page and could not put the book down. There are strong feminist undercurrents in the novel, but they don’t overtake the actual story. I wanted to know what would happen to all of the characters, and the fate of the Ahiranyi people was always at the forefront of the novel. There is politics, subterfuge, coups…. everything you could ever hope for from a well-thought-out story!

The worldbuilding was fantastic. It was richly described and came alive for the reader so easily. I thought the magic system was really unique and I wanted to learn more about it – hopefully, the next book in the series will reveal more on that! The different kingdoms were also fascinating to read about, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about them in the sequel.

The Cons: What I Didn’t Like

Nada. There wasn’t a thing I didn’t love about this book – and I’m a picky person!

Overall, The Jasmine Throne has shown itself to be a masterful new fantasy series. If you are looking for something unique with South Asian inspiration, I strongly urge you to check out this book!

First off.... What an interesting world Tasha Suri has created!! The world is Indian inspired and examines a kingdom, Ahiranya, oppressed by an empire, Parijat, that rules with an iron fist. In this kingdom the people are cut off from their religion, their stories, cultural practices, even their once welcomed same sex unions. Their emperor has deemed his sister impure (among other things) and has ordered her to sacrifice herself to the pyre to cleanse herself. This death is meant to be holy but she sees it as it is, cruelty. She refuses to die and is therefore sent to live in imprisonment in a defunct temple. This temple has its own dark history as the site of a once bustling religious site, boasting waters below that can give you power untold if you survive the rite. But the elders of this temple began to fear the powerful children that returned from the water and were killed by fire themselves. Priya and a few others were able to escape but have had to live hidden since then. Priya is the handmaiden to the current regent’s wife and is tasked with becoming Malini’s servant. Neither girl is what she seems and each are willing to do whatever it takes to gain what they want.

We follow quite a few POV but by far my favorite was Malini. I absolutely adore a morally gray woman who is not afraid to do what she needs to survive and who takes what she wants. Priya and Bhumika are also wonderful characters and so different in their own rights. If you want a sweeping sapphic love story entwined with political intrigue and a fantastic magical aspect this is the story for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

The story is set in the cultural milieu of the Indian subcontinent and the author Suri does a very good job finding the balance between elements that would be familiar to western readers and the foreign/exotic details that make the world unique and compelling. One advantage of reading on a Kindle app is that I can quickly look up existing terms if needed. The principal conflict comes from a typical conqueror/conquered dynamic, where the cruelty and oppression of the ruling emperor and his sycophants feeds an undercurrent of sedition and rebellion. There are also elements of social strata conflict and gender [role] bias that play an important role in the story. The magic system is a hybrid religious and [nature] spiritual/supernatural format with a nominal Hindu feel, where certain rituals [bathing in sacred waters] and physical matrices [sacred wood] can generate, hold and distribute “gifts” (aka magic). There is a hint of desperation in the mix from a mysterious pandemic (aka ‘the rot’) that helps develop very sympathetic main characters. The two protagonists begin in different social strata with a shared antagonist (the Emperor) that helps to push the two together until they can develop a much deeper/emotional/somewhat romantic relationship … and here I think the author does a fantastic job with the slow burn that doesn’t overwhelm the story. Realistic and complicated family dynamics add even more to the over all drama. While the ending does set the stage for the sequel (which I am looking forward to reading), it is was a solid enough conclusion that the book can stand alone.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheJasmineThrone #NetGalley

I'm a little nervous that I'm not going to be able to write a good review because of how complex this book is (in the best way), so prepare for a chaotic review. There is so much action and things happening right from the start of this book. I loved everything about this book: the characters, the world, the plot, etc. The world is so unique and interesting, it doesn't feel like anything I've read in a while. There's going to be 2 more books in the series so I'm so excited to see how Priya and Malini's story continues in the next ones! I definitely recommend this book for fans of fantasy, and if you're looking for a new and unique story!

An absolutely stunning novel. Suri weaves epic with romance, beauty with battle, and an enchanting tale of love. There's so much to unpack, the vicious vengeance, the desperate pursuit of help, and an empire that must be set ablaze. The writing was gorgeous. I hung off Suri's every words. 5 stars.