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mj1588's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, War, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Pregnancy
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
fairyollie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wow. Tasha Suri is a force to be reckoned with here in fiction: her prose is lyrical and stunning; her worlds rich and robust; her characters complex, and I couldn't get enough. I am a big fan of epic fantasy, of complexity, of chaos, of rebellion and revolution, of political intrigue, and especially of sapphic couples, and all of those loves (and more) bloomed abundantly here. beautiful book, just stunning
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Misogyny, War, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Grief, Death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
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
sersi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Lesbophobia, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt
remescient's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
I wanted to love this book more than I did, but I think it really needed a more ruthless editor. There are parts that just get too mired in dialogue to be enjoyable, and the imprisonment on the Hirana could have benefitted from tighter writing. On the positive side, I adored the world building and the characters were interesting. It's a beautiful world, I hope we get to see more of it in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
barbiereads75's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Violence, and Drug use
kermitthefrog3000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.5
I was fully immersed in the Indian inspired world with such complex characters with even more complex relationships. Bhumika was an unexpected stand out POV character for me and the tension and dynamic between Priya and Malini were a highlight of the book. However, I was hooked on the magic system and the relationship these characters had with power both physically and in the form of their values and ideals. Will be jumping into the next book ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Colonisation
Moderate: War and Murder
micksland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 stars
Winner: 2022 World Fantasy Award
Nominee: 2022 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
___
This is a very intriguing epic fantasy novel inspired by various cultures on the Indian subcontinent. It takes traditional fantasy novel tropes and reinterprets them outside the Eurocentric motifs that many modern fantasy novels use.
I loved the character development throughout the novel. The main characters are Malini, the disgraced sister of the Emperor, and her maid Priya, who is much more than she appears. The author did a great job at exploring the different ethnic backgrounds, class differences, and religious beliefs of these characters as they seek to overthrow the Emperor. I do wish that the emperor had some more character development, because he is presented as simply an evil religious fanatic who needs to be replaced. If he had more page time, I think the narrative would have been stronger. Nevertheless, a very fun read and I’ll pick up the sequel!
Winner: 2022 World Fantasy Award
Nominee: 2022 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
___
This is a very intriguing epic fantasy novel inspired by various cultures on the Indian subcontinent. It takes traditional fantasy novel tropes and reinterprets them outside the Eurocentric motifs that many modern fantasy novels use.
I loved the character development throughout the novel. The main characters are Malini, the disgraced sister of the Emperor, and her maid Priya, who is much more than she appears. The author did a great job at exploring the different ethnic backgrounds, class differences, and religious beliefs of these characters as they seek to overthrow the Emperor. I do wish that the emperor had some more character development, because he is presented as simply an evil religious fanatic who needs to be replaced. If he had more page time, I think the narrative would have been stronger. Nevertheless, a very fun read and I’ll pick up the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide and Colonisation
ienbdri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Misogyny, Child abuse, Genocide, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Body horror, and Addiction
Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, and War