Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was epic and amazing! The storytelling is incredible. I devoured this book and look forward to more from Tasha Suri.

HOLY CRAP this book is amazing!

I gave Jasmine Throne 4 stars; while the story itself was a bit slow for me, I was in awe of Tasha Suri's talent.

Oleander Sword, on the other, is a clear 5 star read. All the character development and world-building from JT definitely pays off in OS. The board has been set and it's time to watch as our favorite characters really play the game.

I was a bit nervous going into The Oleander Sword because The Jasmine Throne was one of my top reads of 2021. I was worried that my expectations were too high to meet, but I can safely say that I loved this book with my entire heart. It does have the same dense writing and huge expanse of characters like its predecessor, but just like the first, I loved the slow build to the climactic ending. But I'll get to the ending later.

The main distinction between this book and the former is that The Oleander Sword dives deeply into war themes (one year time jump since TJT) and also the lore of Ahiranya's temple, specifically the yaksa. While these two main plots are extremely different and enrapturing, Tasha Suri finds a way to weave them together perfectly into a bow that only enhances the other. We may have two plots externally, but they are much more similar and driven by the other than we believe. The latter in Ahiranya definitely beat out the war in terms of my personal interest. I had more emotions while reading those chapters— aka pure, unadulterated terror. I even had to shut my eARC a number of times to resist the urge to run away screaming, which was not even possible because I read this on a plane. I felt just as trapped as my favs.

Going into this sequel, I immediately thought that the romance would be pretty much nonexistent since Priya and Malini are separated, but there are some sweet surprises along the way. Tasha gave us some joy— albeit briefly—and then proceed to pull my heart clear from my chest. It certainly left me a gaping wound via this long finale wait. Morever, there's a few other romantic points of pining for other characters. Nothing as prominent as our lovely ladies but it was sweet to see those small moments of gentle flirting, protectiveness, and occasional happiness.

Now this isn't truly a surprise for me because I absolutely adored Bhumika in the first book, but even with her few chapters in this book, she shined! I honestly think she may be my favorite part of the sequel besides the lore expansion. Her growth as a leader, a friend, and a mother is phenomenal. Her decisions and feelings throughout this sequel brought me further to tears than any other POV. She just felt the realest of the POVs, and all I wanted to do was sink my hand beneath the pages and pull her out into our world. At one point while reading Bhumika's chapter, I was sitting on a plane wanting to pound my freaking armrests because of the unfairness and sacrifice that she goes through. All the rebels and people around her like to say she's this heartless coward that left the temple for the empire, but she's... She's so much more than that, and I'm so happy that within this book she proves all of them wrong. I'll be screaming in Bhumika court until the end of time.

I can't say much, but I think this ending may be one of the most brutal that I have ever read. Priya literally made me think I was dreaming at one point because WHAT, HOW, WHY. Bhumika only added to those feelings of misery. Chaos just hit the fan and Tasha decided to go full steam ahead with as much heartache as humanely possible. I recommend a stack of tissues for those last 100 pages because you'll be reeling from all the whiplash from every chapter.

Overall, I think if you enjoyed the first book, then you'll have pretty similar feelings on the sequel. Tasha only leans into her writing style more, which was exactly what I wanted. I don't really know how I'm going to wait for this finale. I needed it like a week ago when I was finishing TOS on the plane.

My thanks to Orbit books, Tasha Suri and Netgalley.
Love, love, love this story!
Has it only been a year since the last book? Really? Seems like I've been waiting forever! Here it is!
Was it good? Yeah, it was. Am I now counting the long days until the next book? Yep!
Things have changed in this book. War is on. Malini against her brother. Emperor/Empress.
Priya? Well, far as I'm concerned Priya is the heart and soul of this story. I adore her.
Whereas the first book was lush, this one wasnt. This book "let the shit hit the fan."
I had to re-read the first book before going into this one. What I discovered is that while the first book was very character driven, this second book focused on character development and EVERYTHING that could possibly go wrong! Crikey!😜 Lisa likey!
Was it as engaging as the first book? No.
But really, what the hell do you expect? Second books develop a saga. War, bluster. Blah. First books develop character. Third books? Jeezum crow! I'm ready!

I was so excited to return to this world, and it did not disappoint! while I didn’t like it as much as book one, this was a wonderful follow up and a solid middle book. My main complaint it’s just that though, it felt like a metal book, lots of preparing for the finale, slogging through different plot shifts, and reinforcing the characters that we know and love. What I did really like about it is that we got more of the magic system and learned more about the religion in this world. I found that aspect of it quite fascinating and of course I also loved the romance. It won’t get us higher rating as a first book because the novelty of the world was somewhat lost and it did read like a metal book. Im really looking forward to the finale !

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC.

Malini has been crowned Empress by a prophecy, but she must wage war against her brother to truly gain the throne. She has many allies, but there's one in particular she's missing. Meanwhile, something is....deeply, deeply wrong in Ahiranya.

Okay....where do I start here. What a story. What a series. Thank you Tasha Suri for my life. This was everything I wanted and more. Rich worldbuilding, complex characters and relationships, beautiful writing. I did not want to put this one down like at all. It broke through my usually short attention span and had me reading for several hours at a time. Finished this one in about two sittings actually. If you enjoyed the first book, I think you will love this one.

An unflinching tale of love, betrayal, survival, and sacrifice. The stakes are raised in this one, and I'm sure they'll be raised even farther in the next, and I can't wait.

well, tasha suri has done it again. what a book!

firstly, i’d just like to talk about how much i loved the jasmine throne. when i first read it, i instantly loved it. the characterization??? the worldbuilding?? the relationship between priya and malini?? i was hooked. i ended up re-reading it and i’m pretty sure it was my top book of the year. i was so, so, so excited for the oleander sword. so, when i got the email that i received this arc?? i ran around my room screaming in excitement. and my god did it deliver. suri has written an excellent sequel that lives up to the first book.

first, i wanna talk about the plot. so, this book follows malini as she tries to wrest control of parijatdvipa from her brother chandra and commands an army, and also follows priya as she settles into being an elder of ahiranya and tries dealing with the rot. besides following priya and malini, we also start following bhumika, who holds a higher diplomatic position in ahiranya. the plot is intricate and neatly-crafted. i think my favorite part of this novel was the ending. it is so heartbreaking, but so well-done and really keeps in suspense for the final book. this book will break you, put you together and then break you again.

next, the characters. all three of the leading characters(priya, malini, and bhumika) were written SO WELL. i really need to stress that all three of the leading women were written so well, and that you can really sense their individual voice and character. i also enjoyed a certain choice of malini’s near the end. well-deserved.

next, the romance. malini and priya’s romance…so good. they start off the novel writing letters to each other which is??? so good. they end up reuniting later in the novel due to…circumstances and the longing, the yearning between these two??? my god i folded.

third, the writing. WOW is it as good as ever. i tend to not know how to describe writing, because i’ve never been able to find the words how to accurately describe how i feel. however, i think one of my favorite things about this series (besides literally everything else) is the writing.

the oleander sword is magnificent and an excellently-executed sequel. this was one of my most anticipated releases and suri has not only delivered, she has surpassed my expectations. also now i am so excited to see the conclusion to this exceptional series.

Sometimes I try to be fancy with my reviews but I'm just gonna cut straight to the chase with this one: The Oleander Sword was absolutely incredible--not just a stellar novel in its own right, but also a sequel that improves upon its (already excellent) predecessor in almost every way.

I don't even know how to review this because I honestly don't have a single bad thing to say about it. Everything about The Oleander Sword worked for me. It's such an ambitious novel; it takes big leaps--with its characters, its plot, its worldbuilding--and it sticks the landing with every single one of them. The world feels so much more expansive in this installment, which is exactly what you want out of a sequel. Because Suri has already adeptly laid out a solid foundation for her world and characters in the first book, the sequel allows us to delve more into that world, and to get a broader view at how its pieces fit together. What's more, The Oleander Sword takes seriously the ramifications of the events of its predecessor; where The Jasmine Throne planted some important seeds for us, The Oleander Sword allows us to see them grow. Maybe this doesn't seem all that praiseworthy--aren't all second books of a series expected to follow up on the events of the first?--but it is. The Oleander Sword is impressive not just because its excellent as its own self-contained story, but because it delivers on what its predecessor sets up. Suri's writing promises, and then follows through.

Onto the characters, which are the beating heart of this book, and which I ADORED. Of course, I have to start with Priya and Malini, whose dynamic just blew me away. The Oleander Sword is a much more romantic book than The Jasmine Throne, and it is so much the better for it. I say this not just because I love reading romance, but also because the romance adds a real sense of stakes and gravity to the story. Priya and Malini's romance is tender and heartfelt, extremely personal to both them, but at the same time it's inextricable from the political power dynamics that they find themselves instrumental to. Their relationship cannot exist outside their political circumstances precisely because it is very much part of shaping those circumstances. And let me tell you, it is just SO damn compelling to read about!!!!!! The intimacy! The honesty! The angst! More than anything, I found it all to be incredibly moving. Suri has such a deft hand when it comes to writing about these characters' feelings and vulnerabilities; they never feel anything more, or less, than human.

I've talked a lot about Priya and Malini, but I also want to spotlight some of the other character dynamics that we get here. One of my favourite dynamics--one that was a real pleasant surprise for me--was the relationship between Rao and Aditya. We got to see a bit of these two in the first book, but the way their dynamic evolves in this one was so interesting. Aditya is very much still his elusive self, a little aloof and a lot inwardly focused; what changes here is the way Rao relates to him, and the way that the events of the plot alter their dynamics. And I loved getting to hear more from Rao, too. I felt much closer to him this time around, and could really sympathize with how adrift he felt amongst all the political machinations he's caught up in. I also want to mention Bhumika, who is also an absolute standout, as per usual; we've always known her to be ever competent and resourceful, but this book sees her challenged to her core. I don't want to give too much away, but her POV was easily one of the most poignant ones of the book.

Finally, I want to mention the writing, because Suri's prose is just luminous. I don't know how she does it, but there is something about Tasha Suri's work that is always so extremely readable. Her prose is easy to read but never plain or boring. It has a real sense of grace and economy to it; it says what it needs to say and says it well.

The Oleander Sword was a lot of things--emotional, engaging, well-paced and -plotted--but what stood out to me most after finishing it was how epic it felt. The story of this series has grown so much more expansive with this second installment, and I cannot tell you how unbelievably excited I am for the final book. Like, if the second book has already done this much, then I can't even begin to imagine what the third one will do.

Thanks so much to Orbit for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley!

This was a fantastic second part to this series, and I really enjoyed the way both Malini and Priya come into their own, in their individual ways. it was not a book where I could guess what would happen - especially the very ending, and I so appreciate that. Very much looking forward to the conclusion.

How does one even translate all their feelings and emotions into a review. This book made me really care for Aditya and Rao. In the previous installment, I felt so-so about them. Now Tasha Suri has made me care for their interactions together and for their immense love and selflessness they have for one another. Rukh, Padma and Sima are the light of my life. Rukh and Sima are protectors, loyal and so damn brave. I love how Priya refers to Padma as a little grandma and egg. Padma is the best screaming, running one year old there is. Malini is just so smart and resilient. I love her brutal honesty and mischievousness. Priya is soooo giving. The way her and Bhumika give themselves over for their country. Their is a side romance and it is just *chef’s kiss.* I don’t care for man/woman relationships but my god did this feel so good. Also I have to say this, I knew Priya and Malini were gonna be like that in bed! Malini is just……she makes me melt. Yes the end is sad. Yes I am anxious for how the next book is gonna go. Yes I can’t wait to read the last book. Yes I would put myself through this hurt again

I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was to receive and ARC of this book from NetGalley and it did not disappoint at all! The Oleander Sword is the second book in the Burning Kingdoms trilogy. As a reader I've always thought middle instalments of trilogies can sometimes be tricky as they balance keeping the momentum of the first book going while setting up for the finale, but honestly Tasha Suri could teach a masterclass on how to write a perfect second book. If you loved The Jasmine Throne like I did you absolutely must pick up The Oleander Sword!

This book picks up nearly a year after the events of The Jasmine Throne. Empress Malini has been gathering her allies to fight her brother for the throne, meanwhile Priya is a temple elder in Ahiranya trying help her people after years of suffering. Eventually though circumstances require Malini to call for Priya's help in her political and military campaigns and the two are reunited. Suri has managed to create a complex and compelling world filled with political intrigue, prophecies and magic. This book really ups the stakes and deepens the relationships between the characters (Hello chapter 41!!!). Even outside the two main characters I was obsessed with all the side plots and how they're wound together. I also love Bhumika so much and I'm dying to know what happens next with her.

The only negative I have is that I have to wait at least a year for the next book and I don't know that I'm strong enough to survive the wait!

Just as good as the first, THE OLEANDER SWORD picks up where Suri left off and continues the lush worldbuilding and tightly plotted story of our sapphic Empress and her guard-turned-priestess.

As much as I loved the last book, this one felt slow. The characters and world are well crafted, but there is a plot that takes up half the book and won't be resolved until the next.

Malini and Priya's love burns brightly throughout the book, and not much time is wasted getting the two together. Their love is the thing of fairy tales. Haven't been able to tell if this means they will live happily ever after or be blind and wandering the desert at the end.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

As good as the first book, I can’t wait for more! Tasha Suri has a real gift for world building and fantasy based on Mogul India.

I went into this book going "sometimes - second books aren't as good as the first and it's okay"

Sometimes, Tasha Suri hands you your heart in a book and then, brutally stabs it 23 separate times. This. was an incredible sequel and an absolute masterclass in fantasy and queer storytelling. When I hold this book in my hands for real it will be simply a physical place for my tears to land while I lament waiting for the next.

A must-read of 2022 ( and maybe, always).

The Oleander Sword cemented the Burning Kingdoms series as one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed The Jasmine Throne, but I did find the world to be a bit confusing. There was a lot going on, and the multiple POVs made it difficult to figure out the different sides and all of the political intricacies. Starting this book, though, I felt like I had a much better understanding of the world Suri created, and I really, really loved this book. Things took an even darker and creepier twist, and I'm really enjoying the yaksa plotline, as well as Malini and Priya's relationship. Beware the cliffhanger--I'm already dying to get my hands on the third book!

The Jasmine Throne was one of my favorite books of 2021 and its sequel, The Oleander Sword has only deepened my love of the series.
The book starts off about a year after the events of the first with Malini fighting for her throne in Parijatdvipa and Priya and Bhumika rebuilding Ahiranya as temple elders. Malini is facing difficulties with the highborn men in her army, many of whom wish Aditya would claim the throne. Priya and Bhumika are fighting against the rot and trying to bring the once rebels and the high-born Ahiranyi together to create a new governing system. While physically separated, Priya and Malini’s fates are still entwined and they soon realized that coming together is the only way to save both their kingdoms. But at what cost?
This book ripped out my heart in the best way possible. While I loved Priya and Malini from the first book, this book deepened my love for them and so many of the side characters. All of the characters in this story are so well fleshed out that they feel like real people. And some of the things that happened in this book made me ache for them.
One of the things I love most about the series is how wonderfully it weaves together so many storylines. All of the perspectives in this book come together in this beautiful enmeshment, even small one-off POV chapters add so much to the overall story.
The world of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy is rich with many fully developed nations that all have their own customs and beliefs but you can also see the common threads that weave through them all.
Honestly, I am just in awe of Tasha Suri’s writing and storytelling abilities. She has created this world and these characters that I am deeply invested in.
And that ending! I can’t believe I have to wait another year for the final book and to see where the story goes next.

This book did a beautiful job expanding the world and our characters. The angst and tension and the need for the two main characters to be together. I can’t wait for the third book.

This book was a giant rollercoaster. It's usually hard for a sequel to live up to its predecessor but Ms. Suri definitely had no issues with making this book enjoyable as the first one.

Sometimes it was hard to keep tabs on so many characters but eventually I kind of got the hang of it. There's so much story building and each chapter had something crucial to add to the story. I never wanted to put the book down.

I loved this book so much and I will be trying to get a physical copy of the book when it comes out. I can't wait for the 3rd book to be released too!

Absolutely speechless. Tasha Suri has done it once again with The Oleander Sword, the long awaited second book of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy. The tension is immaculately written, the characters are well-rounded, each of them toeing the lines between good and evil,

There was also quite a bit of heartbreak in this book as well. Where The Jasmine Throne was heavy with context and was akin to smoldering ambers, this book was a blazing fire. I was hooked onto every word. Priya and Malini test the limits of whatever they have created with one another -- how much can they get away with? how much can they sacrifice? And how will the people around them suffer? And some of the lines -- Tasha Suri knows how to capture yearning and angst so well. I was marveling at the beauty of it all.

I ended up tearing up in public spaces (only slightly!) at the end and felt dread in the moments I had to tear myself away. I will definitely be grabbing a copy for my shelf when this comes out in August. I am already excited for book three.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit for this opportunity!