Extremely good sequel to "The Jasmine Throne". The book was extremely interesting and I couldn't put it down. The writing is amazing and I also love the main characters and the romantic relationship in this book.

I binge read this book in an entire day and have no regrets. 2022 is the year of the second books in trilogies being phenomenonal books - no sophomore slump here - and I'm so here for it.

Sati being the base of one of the magical systems continues to be chilling. I encourage everyone who is curious about the historical events this series draws on to look up the history of the practice of Sati.

The surprise trope twist in the final two chapters is going to make for a thrilling third book. I'm already impatiently waiting for the third book to be released.


** I received an ARC from Netgalley and Orbit Books in exchange for a review**

Absolutely marvelous sequel to the first book. The writing, as seen in the Jasmine Throne, continues to be impeccable. The tender moments between Priya and Malani had my heart entirely. The story continued to develop and grow beyond my expectations and it was genuinely such a great time. I cannot recommend it enough.

I enjoyed the first book in this series quite a bit because of the lush world-building and memorable characters, but it had a plodding pace that made me feel as if every one of its 500+ pages was dragging by. I hoped that the sequel would do a bit more and move the story forward at a faster pace now that the groundwork was laid out in The Jasmine Throne. The Oleander Sword thankfully delivered in every way imaginable, and it had me so glued to the story that I finished the second half of the book in one sitting, which unfortunately necessitated an all-nighter that I'm now somewhat regretting. 🤣

One of the things I loved most about The Jasmine Throne was the beautiful world-building filled with fascinating magic and competing gods. The world felt old and storied, and the characters seemed like part of a much larger tapestry being weaved before my eyes. The Oleander Sword built on this by expanding the mythology of Ahiranya in ways I didn't expect and also provided greater insight into the beliefs and magic of the other religions and people of the kingdom. The yaksa were major players in some surprising ways, and their power and intent was both awe-inspiring and frightening.

I enjoyed the plot of this one a lot because there was so much payoff to the buildup in the first book. It was clearly a middle book because all the pieces were being positioned for what will likely be a mind-blowing finale, but there was also a very distinct story of its own here, as well. It was filled with political conspiracy, meddlesome priests, and tons of battle strategy and warfare. This was a masterful example of how to wrangle a large number of POVs into a compelling narrative that never felt like it let up and kept me on edge until the end. I also loved the culmination of the standoff between Malini and Chandra because it highlighted Malini's strengths, political cunning, and resourcefulness rather than simply the utilization of brute force. I'm not going to sugarcoat it... the ending left my mouth agape and my heart broken.

The strong personalities of the characters continued to shine in this installment. There were so many POVs, and each one felt unique and vitally important to the story. I enjoyed the dynamic between Malini and Priya much more in this book than I did the first. Their romance felt more real and visceral with their longing for each other oozing off the page. Most of the characters grappled with the theme of sacrifice in some way, especially sacrifice in the pursuit of power. They all approached it differently, and it was interesting to see the various ways the characters thought about the concept and how those viewpoints played a role in their actions. Additionally, this story once again provided excellent commentary on what it is like to be a woman in a patriarchal system and illustrated a variety of examples of strong women overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness in their own ways.

Overall, this was a fantastic installment in a captivating new fantasy series. If you enjoy high fantasy, this is a series that is not to be missed. It has everything a fan of fantasy could ask for, including excellent world-building, compelling characters, and exploration of fascinating and relevant themes. Therefore, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

While I did really enjoy this, it definitely left some things to be desired. I really enjoyed the relationships of everyone, but the main love just didn't draw me in as I wanted it to. I felt like Milani's motivations were a bit lacking and Priya was just a bit annoying. The ending was really good and I am excited about the next book, I just hope to get all my lingering questions answered.

If you haven’t yet read The Jasmine Throne, the first book in Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms series, go away. Read it. One of the best epic fantasies I’ve recently read, it succeeds with powerful themes, strong characters, and a propulsive plot.

If you have read the first novel in the series and enjoyed it, you will probably love this sequel just as much, if not more. Now, readers might get a bit angry at Suri and what she does with our emotions. But it’s a love/hate kinda thing that makes readers thirst for the next installment, holding onto hope.

If you read The Jasmine Throne, but didn’t really like it much… well… you’re a mystery to me. But, to be fair, no book is for everyone. The characters and themes of The Oleander Sword resemble the first novel, most clearly feminist themes of being seen and heard (respected) and having a freedom from control by a patriarchal society. I’m glad this didn’t change, and I enjoy how Suri takes these themes in new directions from where the plot of the series left off in the first novel’s end.

Malini has now been declared the rightful Empress of Parijatdvipa, but the opposition of her despotic brother Chandra remains, and the supporters of her elder brother Aditya (who has given up a throne as a Priest of the Nameless God) seem to only warily follow a female of the royal line. When the apparent use of Mother’s Fire by Emperor Chandra’s forces begins to cast doubts of the Mother’s blessings on Malini’s position, the Empress must make difficult choices to ensure her victory and Chandra’s defeat.

Meanwhile, Priya and Bhumika serve as co-rulers of Ahiranya, thrice-borne priestesses with the powers of the Yaska. With the fanatical Ashok lost to the waters, the former rebels under his command have now taken on the role of Mask Keepers within the new freedom the Ahiranyi people have achieved. However, the return of the worship-hungry and self-serving Yaska soon darken this vision of hope and freedom for the leaders.

Malini sends for Priya’s help, also seeking a reunion and continuation of their romance. However, the sacrifices that each must make for their own goals and people may make their partnership and love impossible.

The Oleander Sword is an excellent sequel to The Jasmine Throne, and a middle entry to trilogy that reminds me a bit of the feelings that The Empire Strikes Back evokes: dark and bittersweet, yet with some little bit of hope still remaining. Suri expands the world building of the first novel with a deeper dive into the deities of the Burning Kingdoms lands, most notably the Yaksa. But, she also expands details of the world with more political machinations among the representative lands of the Parijatdvipa Empire.

Though, I obviously enjoyed The Jasmine Throne, it didn’t really surprise me much in the plot development. It went exactly as I expected. (I may not have expected all the events to happen already in the first book.) What I loved even more about The Oleander Sword is that things became complicated in ways I didn’t necessarily foresee. The first novel is a bit of an underdog story, of three relatively powerless women defiantly seizing power. The Oleander Sword shows that this was decided not the end of their fight. Their defiance must continue, and worse threats to their freedom and agency than they ever imagined are coming.

Like its predecessor, this is a novel about surviving and sacrifice, but with increasing costs and difficulty, if not regret. Suri does interesting things with this that tie nicely into the building plot and epic fantasy world she’s created here, with its inspirations from Indian history and mythology.

This is a middle chapter that really made me curious and eager to see what happens, how it could possibly conclude, both for the characters and the themes Suri is tackling. I was fortunate to finish the first novel not long before I was able to get a copy of this sequel. Now the pain of the waiting game.

10/10 sequel! The Oleander sword did not suffer from like the slow pacing I find lots of second books have with - it was action packed from the start! I love learning more about the magic systems and world building, while still getting lots of time with our favorite two queers. Especially more about Priya's magic, the yaksa's and the mother's flame!

We also got to see a lot more of some of the side characters, like Sima and Lata, and Prince Aditya! At first I struggled with the many different perspectives (I usually don't do well with more than two!) but just like last time Suri hooked me in and every time we switched perspectives I wanted to read more of that person (it doesn't matter who it is!).

I don't want to give anything away but I'm super excited to see what comes next! (Now just having to wait is the struggle!!)

A good second book will build on the worldbuilding and character in the first book, keep you engaged the entire time and leave you desperate for more. Tasha Suri absolutely delivered on this and more with The Oleander Sword, the second in the Burning Kingdoms universe. This is a long book, a little over 500 pages, but I was absolutely engaged the entire time.

Taking place about a year after The Jasmine Throne ends, you still feel like almost no time has passed as the characters deal with the consequences of all they had done previously in order to accumulate power. A prevailing theme in these books is a sacrifice - what one is willing to give up for power and truly it just builds and builds in a way that ratcheted up the tension but never came at the sake of the characters.

There are more POV chapters in this book and every time we got a new one I would question, why is this here, bring me back to Priya or Malini or Rao but then BOOM all of a sudden everything would be clear and even more devastating which...bravo.

There is so much going on in this book I can't even begin to scratch the surface but this was a fantastic, heartbreaking, devastating, and tremendous follow-up to The Jasmine Throne. We are left at the end of this book stripped bare and hungry for more while also nervous for what could possibly happen next to top it. What are the actions of mortals when there are gods at play?

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant sequel! Despite being a little lost at the beginning (my fault, read the Jasmine throne a year ago) the characters quickly pulled me back in and refused to let go. The romance was amazing even when the characters weren’t together and the prose was both beautiful and brutal. I adored reading this fantasy-set reckoning with colonialism and religion, and loved what Suri did with the Yaksa and the different sects in this world. Thank you so much for the arc to the publisher and netgalley, this is a series I will be FORCING onto customers!

Myth: 4/5

Fighting for an empire, rebuilding a retaken home, Priya and Malini have been busy since they separated, each with their own responsibilities and goals. Though we have to wait awhile for these women to reunite in the story, Tasha Suri wouldn’t and couldn’t keep them apart forever.

Magic: 4.5/5

I loved the way the magic builds in book two of the trilogy. It plays with a favorite theme, magic has a cost. It also plays with the concept of putting on a show, with magic as the ultimate showman. I love the idea that people’s beliefs can be misguided by what they think they see, that in the game of taking and ruling empires, much is done simply for optics.

Overall: 4/5

“Power was a pleasure with many forms.”

This quote captures a lot of what I loved in this book. Malini’s constant fight for her destiny, for her power as empress. Priya’s growing magical power, her determination to save her people and those she loves. But of course, as it so often does, power comes with cost to the holders.

9 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/08/16/the-oleander-sword-by-tasha-suri-review/

Once an exiled princess and maidservant met in the darkness, and love was born.

Now prophesied the nameless god’s heir to the throne, Malini comes to take her place as Empress of Parijatdvipa, a position her brother Chandra isn’t likely to relinquish without a fight. In fact, he’d much rather she his sister’s blood stain the grass than welcome her home. But while Malini continues to collect allies in her fight, her victory is far from assured. As long as Chandra still controls the imperial throne, the army will follow him. The priests of the mothers—dead set on Malini giving herself willingly to the flame—will never recognize her claim. And so, the closer she gets to the capital, the closer the Empire comes to all-out war.

A war Ahiranya wants no part of.

Scarcely a year after expelling Chandra’s forces from their borders, thrice-born Bhumika and Priya now rule the Hirana as Temple Elders. While Bhumika rules as the representative of the Yaksa, Priya remains on the periphery—attempting to combat and control the Rot. But between pressure from the former rebels and the creeping plague, they have their hands full. Even without a war on their doorstep.

Despite both their standings, Malini and Priya’s destinies are intertwined. So when her Empress eventually calls, Priya’s heart stutters at the very thought of a reunion. Yet a shadow lurks in the recesses of her heart. Has Malini called for her as her true love, or her greatest weapon—one to be used and cast aside when it is no longer needed?

But despite Priya’s best efforts, the Rot is spreading. And something moves in the deathless waters, something that she can sense, but cannot see. Something that will change the fate of the Ahiranya and Parijatdvipa forever.

—

<i>He watched his sister walk around the ceremonial wedding fire, garbed in resplendent red, and thought,</i> My country is dying.
<i>He watched her bow for the garland, and thought,</i> Our father is dying.
<i>He watched her as she lowered her head for the wedding garland, and thought,</i> My sister will die.
And there is nothing I can do.

—

I mean, the beginning wasn’t great, but it could’ve been worse. I think a recap would’ve helped ease us in to the absolutely rough high-school-worthy romance told through the passing of notes behind the teacher’s back.

Ooof, that ending though.

In terms of a start to a fantasy epic, it’s not the best. But far from the worst. Leans into the sapphic romance, so if that’s your thing you’ll probably not mind. If you’re not a romance buff, it’s a bit of a slow burn, which thankfully takes off as we reach the plot in earnest (shortly before hitting the hundred-page mark). Not that the romance ends here, just it takes a back seat to the war on Chandra—the villain throughout most of the text.

If you were hoping for a new villain to despise, don’t worry, as Chandra isn’t alone. Though he will command most of your attention of the nearly five hundred pages. But muttering gives way to rumor around the halfway point; you begin to get a glimpse of where the series might be heading in the future. And Chandra—while still the main focus, the center of attention—isn’t alone anymore. Don’t get me wrong, this is still his book; if you’re not a fan of his Vaas-style villainy, it may be a long grind to the end.

…which is where we’re going next. Because… well, I’m not totally on board with it. The end, that is. It’s not bad per say, just—a bit of a cliffhanger that makes you remember it’ll take Tasha Suri at least eight months to write the final installment. Plus publishing and all… well, we’ll just be stuck on this for another year. Also, I’m not 100% clear with the motivations here, but we won’t get into that. Spoilers and all.

Now that I’m done with my minor concerns regarding the beginning and end, let me rave about that middle bit. Now, I’m not the fastest reader, but I read it in a day (from about the 150 page mark on). And it kills.

I mean, I have no criticisms or notes. None. For around four hundred pages the story was wholly immersive, thoroughly entertaining, almost an obsession in itself. Maybe more than “almost”. I enjoyed the first book but this one blew me away.

It’s really hard on its characters, though. Tasha Suri really owes her characters a break. But if she did that, Book #3 would just be a polite discussion over tea, so… well, maybe there’ll be a happy ending and everyone will live happily ever after?

Yeah, or maybe not.

I am incredibly impressed by this sequel. The development with Malini and Priya was amazing both separately and together. I am ecstatic for the final installment of this trilogy.

Advance thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for this book!

After reading the Jasmine Throne a little while ago, I could not wait to read the next book, and so I was so excited to start the second one, and I have to say, it was wonderful! The pacing of the story, the writing, the interactions and romance, all of it was AMAZING! I absolutely loved what Tasha Suri has done with the Jasmine Throne, and that talent continued on in The Oleander Sword!

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this book!!!! I absolutely adored the Jasmine Throne and being able to see Priya and Malini continue their story is absolutely EVERYTHING my sapphic fantasy loving heart could have asked for.

While the Jasmine Throne was more broody, slow burn, knife to the throat in the romance aspect, The Oleander Sword delves into a deeper and more complicated relationship. Additionally, we lean more heavily into the political dynamics of the war Malini has waged against her brother. In order to save her own life, Malini must unite her people, raise an army, and challenge the ways of the past. In doing so, she puts her life, her love, and her family on the line. Meanwhile, Priya is dealing with an internal battle. She has sworn her allegiance to Malini and put her own life at risk. Not to mention, she is suffering the effects of the Rot and figuring out who she is.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book, this series, and this author. BRB while I patiently wait for book #3 to be released!! Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Jasmine Throne was one of my favorite releases last year, and I was dying to read the sequel! While I had a lot of issues with the pacing of this book, I ended up really enjoying it. The Oleander Sword is a slow-paced sequel that culminates in a thrilling ending that you won’t see coming.

This review contains spoilers for book one.

Malini has claimed her prophesized role as the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa but is struggling to fight her brother’s forces. Similarly, Priya is now a thrice-born elder and one of the rulers of Ahiranya, yet the rot that she fights is growing nearly out of her control. When their paths cross again, the two of them must do what it takes to reclaim their rightful places against the people who would rather see them burn.

Sequels are hard to review, I find, and it doesn’t help that this book sadly struggled from second-book syndrome. Please know that I really did enjoy it at the end, but my feelings about the first three-quarters of the book make it difficult for me to pick out what I enjoyed about the story without spoiling anything. I’ll start with what I enjoyed first though.

I loved the prose; Suri’s writing is hauntingly gorgeous, captivating you at every turn. She writes so many lines that cut you to the bone in such few words that I shivered a few times while reading this book. She also captures yearning, especially between Malini and Priya, exquisitely. I highlighted so many passages throughout the story. The different points-of-view are also handled very well. It’s easy to fall into each person’s head and to switch between the different chapters and plot lines.

The tension that I remembered from the first book definitely returned at the end of this story. I inhaled the last 20% so quickly that I was surprised that I had reached the ending. I obviously can’t talk too much about what happens, but the last part almost completely made up for my nearly apathetic feelings during the first 80% and I cannot stress how impactful that statement is.

Normally, if I enjoyed the ending this much, I would gloss over my negative feelings. Unfortunately though, it’s impossible to ignore just how slow the first 80% is. I know that this is a slow-burn fantasy but it was so hard for me to get through the majority of the book. It almost felt like Suri didn’t know what to do with Priya and Malini for the first half, so we just get pages and pages of nearly the same thing. Even Bhumika’s chapters, where something actually was happening, felt dragged out because it didn’t feel like her plot had to take that long to get to the point that it did.

I’m not trying to discourage you from reading this book, especially if you loved the first book and were looking forward to this one. If anything, I’m just letting you know that if you’re bored, you’re not the only one. And! The ending is definitely worth it, so please just keep reading.

While slow at first, The Oleander Sword builds up to an intense ending that I couldn’t take my eyes off. I loved the writing and the characters, and I can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy. If you loved The Jasmine Throne, I think you’ll enjoy The Oleander Sword as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, violence, murder, emotional abuse, misogyny, body horror,

After the prophecy that has named her the rightful Empress of Parijatdvipa, Malini is well on her way to deposing her cruel brother. Although she anticipates being defied at every turn, her newly-appointed status as a ruler chosen by the gods has left her more open than ever to criticism and hardship. Meanwhile, Ahiranya has finally found its freedom from imperial oppression, and Priya has risen fully to her position as an Elder. The magic that flows through her body, however, is changing -- and Priya is no longer sure if she knows what she's capable of. As the war rages on, Malini realizes that she needs Priya -- her secret weapon -- and against all odds, they find themselves together once more... but will their reunion end in happiness, or destruction?

I don't read many series these days, but after I finished The Jasmine Throne, I was so happy to find out that it was going to be a trilogy. Not only did I instantly fall in love with our two heroines, Priya and Malini, but I was also captivated by the magic system and the gorgeous world Suri has created. So, does the sequel live up to the amazing potential captured in the first book?

In my opinion, yes. We are once again following Malini and Priya, as well as several other characters introduced in the first book (including Bhumika, who I simply adore), and it felt like coming home to jump into their shoes again. Now, they're contending with even bigger problems than they were before, Priya with her new role as an Elder (a role that she isn't quite sure how to embrace) and Malini with keeping the faith she's engendered in her new followers. This book is much bigger than just Malini and Priya, though, and I felt like there was more of a focus on what's happening outside of them this time around.

The Jasmine Throne got some criticism for its many POVs, and, if anything, I did feel that this problem is not fixed -- if anything, it felt as if there were even more perspectives and characters to contend with. For me, it's not a problem, but I think that some people will struggle with it. There were moments where I wondered why, exactly, we were getting a certain character's perspective, or following a particular storyline, as it seemed to add nothing overall to either the plot or pacing. I'm also confused as to why, instead of allowing us to enter into the head of Varsha, Chandra's new wife, we are given the POV of her brother. I think it would have been more interesting (and fitting) to let us see the world and her marriage through her eyes.

Those are my main complaints; otherwise, I was just as enchanted by this entry into the series as the first. The moments between Malini and Priya were beautiful, and truly made the novel shine. I also love Bhumika, and you really get the chance to fall for her in this book.

While it wasn't perfect (like I thought The Jasmine Throne was), this is a solid second book, and I'm excited (and scared!) for the final installment.

[4.25/5] thank you to netgalley and orbit books for giving me an arc!

the oleander sword (also known as rao's no good horrible very bad couple of weeks) is the riveting sequel in tasha suri's burning kingdom series after the jasmine throne and WHAT a sequel. i can't attest to this book suffering from second book syndrome being that i vaguely remember the first book but i THOUROUGHLY enjoyed this book and dare i say it, enjoyed this one more than the first. while it takes a little while to truly feel immersed in the world again, once you are, this book is incredibly gripping and you are lost in it as you follow the many different perspectives (and while i felt some were unnecessary, i enjoyed the different storylines we saw and how they fit together). there were so many quotes and lines i saved because WOW and to be honest, priya and malini's relationship truly is one of the many strengths this book has. their scenes truly are one of a kind in the amount of want and yearning written in such a heartfelt way it makes you feel and it is wonderful to read. this book answered some questions and created even more and overall i'm eagerly anticipating book 3!

posted to goodreads and storygraph:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4280346568
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ed1124c1-a895-439a-bd1f-113fb4ab5b7e

I would say I have no words for this book but that would be lying. This book broke me into pieces, bound me together, and then proceeded to break me again - this time for good.
The prose was utterly gorgeous, rich and fantastic. As a desi person, seeing my nation's roots in every bit of this book brought me immense pleasure and joy.
I cannot wait for the next book.

Book 2 of the Burning Kingdom series by Tasha Suri "The Oleander Sword" comes out tomorrow! Though I did see some in a B&N last week...
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC.

At the end of Jasmine Throne things were...better than they started. Priya is one of the Temple Elders, Malini has her army and is going after her crazy brother. But some people just want to see the world burn. *Jazz hands away in foreshadowing*

Reasons to read:
-Some people from the first book still need to be unalived and I'm a stickler for to do lists
-Still part of the Sapphic Trifecta with The Unbroken and She who becomes the sun, so do with that info what you will...
-Answers!
-Justified revenge!
-I appreciate the escalation the story is taking
-The sheer audacity of bros dying rather than have someone fix their bs
-Oh look emotional damage
-Whatever color green that cover is?!?! Look at it!

Cons:
-Every spicy scene hit right when I was entering a store!!! How the books always know?

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Tasha Suri has done it again. The Jasmine Throne delivered morally grey Sapphics with the power to reshape their world thrown on their backs and I was excited to see where the story went next.

The Oleander Sword absolutely crushed it. Suri set up such an interesting dynamic between are three leading ladies (Priya, Malini, and Bhumika). Priya struggles with being an elder and having the power her brother always wanted while trying to cure the rot, Malini grapples with her new title of Empress, and Bhumika continues to hold it all together the best she can.

I couldn't put this book down and I absolutely love this series and cannot wait for more.