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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri builds a dark and almost claustrophobic fantasy world, set in an alt-India with central conflicts that are largely inspired by South Asian history and a deeply spiritual and elemental magic system. We have all the usual forces at work - an evil emperor, a slow-boiling revolution, and a colonized nation fighting for survival. While the action in this story is confined almost entirely to the shifting walls of an ancient and mysterious temple as our political coup takes shape, this tight focus is counterbalanced with rapidly rotating POVs through a large cast of characters.
At the center of our story, we have three primary female characters - Malini, Priya, and Bhumika - each navigating trauma and their own fight for agency and freedom. Suri develops complex, morally gray women, and Malini, the exiled sister of the emperor, and Priya and Bhumika, former temple children, each challenge the traditional roles often cast for women in fantasy. Malini is openly manipulative and ruthlessly seeks power and agency, while Priya explores the potentially monstrous aspects of her own power and the paths available to her people in their fight for liberation. And while Malini and Priya circle each other for the majority of the story, Bhumika, a side character with main character energy, observes from the shadows, building an army of loyal followers while she works around and against her husband and the empire he serves. At each turn, our female main characters outmaneuver the power-wielding men in their lives, at times in partnership and at times in opposition, but always to advance their own goals.
This is epic fantasy perfect for readers who love She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan, and not only for its strong sapphic romance arc (which is, of course, excellent). This, like She Who Became the Sun, explores the moral sacrifices people make for power, the bloody history of empire and the magic inherent to our world and its ghosts. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Classism, Misogyny, Child death, Colonisation, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, and War
thegillbird's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Confinement
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Homophobia
drsinoire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Blood, Death, and Violence
pagecalico's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved this book soooo much especially the relationship between Priya and Malani!!! The magic system is so unique and i loved the world building as well!!
The writing was so amazing and kept me so intrigued with the story!
Cant wait to read the second book!
The writing was so amazing and kept me so intrigued with the story!
Cant wait to read the second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Misogyny
murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book so much. The magic system was really intriguing and Suri’s characterisation was intimate and striking. I also enjoyed the exploration of the theme of patriarchy and its inextricable links to empire. I need to read the sequel as soon as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Violence
mv_7777's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Some pacing issues, especially with the romance. But overall really well done. Solid worldbuilding, and intriguing main characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, and War
sidra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There's a tagline for this book about a feminist revolution. It's accurate. I'm not sure I've ever read anything with this many women who eventually decide to take action, damned the consequences of society thinking they have overstepped. These characters have an amount of agency women usually don't have, even in books where readers think highly of the authors. (There is definitely short mentions of extreme violence originating from religion but I don't remember anything sexual and I think the author does an excellent job of not drawing it out.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
cyoussef11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was disappointing for me and honestly confusing in many ways. First, the world building was seriously lacking and it felt like the author just expected you to know certain things already while over explaining other things. The pacing was so slow and the fact that the POV changed every chapter and we got like 15 different character POVs made it feel even slower. You'd finally get to a point and think "oh good something is finally happening," and suddenly you're shifted to a different character's POV in a completely different part of the universe/story and you just have to sit and wait it out.
I was often confused by the magic system and how things worked or what things were in that regard until many chapters after something was first introduced.
I did not for a second buy the "romance" between Malini and Priya, there was nothing there and it felt forced and awkward. They spend time in captivity together, the tension is low at best, drags on forever, and then suddenly (3/4 through the book) they're making out in a river? suddenly they're saying "I love you" and then they have to be separated? come on. They never discuss their feelings really before then despite one random and awkward proclamation of "I want you and I can't help it!" and they didn't even discuss that proclamation 💀
Ultimately I don't think I found a single character likable which was disappointing. I'd heard great things about this book but I had to force myself to finish it.
I was often confused by the magic system and how things worked or what things were in that regard until many chapters after something was first introduced.
I did not for a second buy the "romance" between Malini and Priya, there was nothing there and it felt forced and awkward. They spend time in captivity together, the tension is low at best, drags on forever, and then suddenly (3/4 through the book) they're making out in a river? suddenly they're saying "I love you" and then they have to be separated? come on. They never discuss their feelings really before then despite one random and awkward proclamation of "I want you and I can't help it!" and they didn't even discuss that proclamation 💀
Ultimately I don't think I found a single character likable which was disappointing. I'd heard great things about this book but I had to force myself to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
ferlefur's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement
Moderate: Pregnancy, Colonisation, Homophobia, War, and Violence
secretsoup's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and War