Tasha Suri

Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne begins the powerful Burning Kingdoms trilogy, in which two women—a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic—come together to rewrite the fate of an empire. Exiled by her despotic brother when he claimed their father's kingdom, Malini spends her days trapped in the Hirana: an ancient, cliffside temple that was once the source of the magical deathless waters, but is now little more than a decaying ruin. A servant in the regent's household, Priya makes the treacherous climb to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini's chambers. She is happy to play the role of a drudge so long as it keeps anyone from discovering her ties to the temple and the dark secret of her past. One is a vengeful princess seeking to steal a throne. The other is a powerful priestess seeking to save her family. Their destinies will become irrevocably tangled. And together, they will set an empire ablaze. "An intimate, complex, magical study of empire and the people caught in its bloody teeth. It's about resistance and power, histories both personal and political, and the heroes who must become monsters to survive. I loved it.” —Alix E. Harrow, Hugo award-winning author ofThe Once and Future Witches

The Jasmine Throne

Jasper

You are the feeling of falling, the tidal waters, the way a living thing will always turn, seeking light.

, thought Rao, his thoughts sharpened by a hysterical edge of fury and despair. We 

'Yes,' Rao managed. 'Prem. He was.' His lazy grin. The ever-present wreath of smoke from his pipe. Those shrewd eyes, and the sheer kindness of him, always folded around the shape of a joke, a laugh, a drink. What was Rao meant to do without him? He shut his eyes. One heartbeat, that was all it took, to breathe through the sorrow that rolled over him.

'If you kill her,' she said, in a voice that seemed to come from somewhere far beyond her, from somewhere old and beyond mortal lifetimes, 'you do not know what you will make of me. I will see you ruined, Pramila. I will see your living daughters ruined. I will blot all that brings you joy out of this world. I will murder more than your flesh. I will murder your heart and spirit and the very memory of your name and your lineage. I vow it.'

A child should not be a chain, used to yoke a woman like cattle to a role, a purpose, a life she would not have chosen for herself. And yet she felt then, with an aching resentment, how Vikram would use their child to reduce and erase her. She hated him for that, for stealing the quiet and strange intimacy of her and her own flesh and blood and making it a weapon.

It took two days for the leaves on Priya's skirt to die.

That hurting her made him love her more intensely and want to hurt her all the more intensely too; as if destroying her was the only way to keep her pure.

The first time Malini learned how to hold a knife was also the day she learned how to weep.

Malini raised a hand, brushing her knuckles against the swelling of Priya's cheek. Her fingers trembled, still. Priya could feel the sting of the touch. It burned through her blood, sang, and she thought, 

How can you be this soft? Priya thought helplessly. How can you know what I am and look at me with eyes like that? How can you be so stupidly trusting?

Now that she knew Malini dreamt of fire, Priya began to dream of water.

The poet was not looking at him. The poet had saved his life.

What would be enough justice-enough blood, enough death, enough suffering-for an emperor who sought to burn his own sister to death?

She did not want to do this. She would regret doing this.

She wanted to do this. She wanted to know if she could.

If Guatam had brought her close to the bones of her past, the Hirana was the grave where the broken pieces of her memory lay at uneasy rest.

You're lucky, she thought, that I am not what I was raised to be.

She had not been blessed. She stood in the court, her head unadorned and her hair wild, like a living curse.

Chandra breathed in, a deep breath to give him the air for the joyous laugh that left him then. His mouth was full of the smoke of human char; the sickly perfume of dead jasmine. He had never tasted anything so sweet.

But first, she thought quietly, savagely, to herself, as the men around her kneeled and shouted her name. Malini. Malini. Mother Malini. Empress Malini. I am going to find my emperor brother. I am going to make Chandra kneel before his peers, humiliated and broken. And I am going to watch him burn.

Sendhil sat by the edge of the hut, a hood drawn low over his head. He looked to be sleeping, but Priya was sure he was not. You didn't sleep when a child you'd tried to murder returned to your home full grown.

But then, Ashok had always underestimated her. Just as Vikram had. Just as Priya had.

Fortunately, Bhumika never underestimated herself.

Maybe wanting more than what she had was selfish. Maybe it was a mistake. But she thought of all she had suffered, and all Ahiranya had suffered, and felt the kernel of anger in her chest bloom open.

Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

Mey-Thip Mortensen

"I promise you I'll come," Priya said to her. "I know you dont think much of prophecies. Or portents, or fate, or anything of that sort. But one day I am going to come and find you. By then, I expect you will have long forgotten me. Maybe I’ll only be able to walk the edges of whatever mahal you live in, but as…as long as you want me to, I’ll come. If you want me to find you, I’ll come."

This book is really hard to rate because the writing is really good, the author is very skilled. However, it was a very disappointing read for me.

There were too many Povs. I didn’t care about the other characters and adding their chapters felt so unnecessary and really slowed the book down for me. A lot of the side characters were barely developed so it all just felt jagged and boring. I wish the book was dual pov.

The characters were weak, even the main characters. Priya was kind of interesting, but Malini was just there for me. Their romance was even less interesting and just didn’t make sense to me. It felt like these two characters kept saying how deeply they cared for each other but I honestly didn’t know why or how that happened. I feel like this can be said for all the relationships in this book, none of them really made me feel anything. It felt like the story was missing something vital.

Malini’s character in particular was really frustrating. She was so bland and lifeless. I kept being told how cunning and clever she was, but I wasn’t buying it. It annoyed me every time I was told she possessed traits she just wasn’t showing. I really didn’t care about her arc because I didn’t care about her. Priya was more interesting, but things felt too convenient for her at times. Again, I kept being told things about her, but I wasn’t seeing it. She’s just your average protagonist. Both characters are meant to be morally grey, but I don’t know about that.

The plot was interesting but incredibly slow and repetitive. I kept wanting to put the book down and read something else. I zoned out and had to reread paragraphs. The pacing of this book killed it for me honestly, it was so boring. It felt like I was reading a never ending prologue. The introduction of the politics was fine, I enjoyed it. I think the rot as an illness is really interesting. I like the concept of the temple children and the nameless god. The setting was also really interesting. Like I said, the writing is really good and I think the author did a good job with the imagery and really making the setting come alive. That being said, I don’t think I care enough to read the second book.

bel 

This book is really hard to rate because the writing is really good, the author is very skilled. However, it was a very disappointing read for me.

There were too many Povs. I didn’t care about the other characters and adding their chapters felt so unnecessary and really slowed the book down for me. A lot of the side characters were barely developed so it all just felt jagged and boring. I wish the book was dual pov.

The characters were weak, even the main characters. Priya was kind of interesting, but Malini was just there for me. Their romance was even less interesting and just didn’t make sense to me. It felt like these two characters kept saying how deeply they cared for each other but I honestly didn’t know why or how that happened. I feel like this can be said for all the relationships in this book, none of them really made me feel anything. It felt like the story was missing something vital.

Malini’s character in particular was really frustrating. She was so bland and lifeless. I kept being told how cunning and clever she was, but I wasn’t buying it. It annoyed me every time I was told she possessed traits she just wasn’t showing. I really didn’t care about her arc because I didn’t care about her. Priya was more interesting, but things felt too convenient for her at times. Again, I kept being told things about her, but I wasn’t seeing it. She’s just your average protagonist. Both characters are meant to be morally grey, but I don’t know about that.

The plot was interesting but incredibly slow and repetitive. I kept wanting to put the book down and read something else. I zoned out and had to reread paragraphs. The pacing of this book killed it for me honestly, it was so boring. It felt like I was reading a never ending prologue. The introduction of the politics was fine, I enjoyed it. I think the rot as an illness is really interesting. I like the concept of the temple children and the nameless god. The setting was also really interesting. Like I said, the writing is really good and I think the author did a good job with the imagery and really making the setting come alive. That being said, I don’t think I care enough to read the second book.

Linara K.S

officially DNF-ing this book after months of trying.
It pains me to do it, but I can't keep pushing myself into further hating this. 
The exposition and world-building took up most of the first half of the story and no space was given for anything else really. The characters weren't given the necessary depth for me to be invested, and the stagnant plot didn't help either; I deluded myself into waiting, trying to push through the pages for something to actually go somewhere.

britt

i am so conflicted about this book. 

to start with, it took forever i felt like for anything to actually happen. like the first half is good but i rarely found myself picking up the book to find out what was going to happen next. it definitely picked up in the second half however. 

i somewhat don’t like how everything was tied up. like especially when it came to malini. i am in full support of her getting her revenge and becoming empress, but like the temple burning was lowkey lame and i don’t think the loyalties of the men around her are really justified. or at least we haven’t been shown that it’s justified. like even from the religious angle, i feel like they aren’t that zealous to suddenly follow her especially. 

i loved the overall feel of this book though. it being in a jungle and me living in a humid and rainy hell this time of year really clicked for me.

and ofc, i love priya. luv that soft-hearted bitch.

I really loved this book. The story was so beautifully written. The world and magic is hauntingly beautiful. And I fear for the story our characters are only partly through. I hope the next is just as amazing.

Lucille

Tatiana

The Jasmine Throne: 4.75/5


  There is no meaning in the universe: no fate, no high blood, no rights of kings over land. Everything is emptiness. The world only had meaning when we give it meaning.

I already want to re-read it. One of the best epic fantasy novels... ever?

Premise:
The Jasmine Throne takes place in an Indian-inspired setting called Ahiranya, a nation plagued by a peculiar disease known as the rot. The nation is on the verge of revolution due to the harsh Paraijatdvipan rule and the rot.

We are met with two main characters; Priya, who works in the regent household and tries to help 'rot-riven' children, has a secret, and Malini, the Emperor's disgraced sister. When Malini refuses to willingly burn on a pyre for 'The Mother,' she is sent to a prison called Hirana, which was once a temple, now abandoned, after the deaths of its children.

Malini discovers Priya's secret, and Malini requests Priya to become her one maidservant. As the two become closer and tensions rise, they realize they may have a few things in common.

Writing & Plot
Tasha Suri is an incredible writer. The world-building is mindblowing and easy to follow. That familiar feeling with Fantasy novels of not understanding the world was not the case. I found myself entranced by page one as Tasha Suri beautifully paints a fantastical world that is easy to get lost in.

The plot was so intricate, with so many moving parts that seamlessly blended. The religions, setting, worldbuilding, and fantastic elements are all * chef's kiss*. The one criticism I had is that much of the book is Malini trying to escape prison, and I wish that part moved a bit faster. However, it yielded more fantastic world-building. It truly is top-tier.

I also want to commend Tasha Suri for writing a vastly entertaining multi-POV story. The Jasmine Throne has so many different POVs, but they're all extremely distinct, engaging, and provide new insight.


  “Trust me, her face said.
That was the problem with making allies. At some point, inevitably, there came a moment when a decision had to be made: Could this one be trusted? Had their loyalty been won? Was their generosity a façade for a hidden knife?”

Characters:
The Jasmine Throne not only provides an incredible world but also delivers phenomenal characters. I don't even know where to start. Malini and Priya are so different, but they work. I enjoyed reading from each of their perspectives so much because they define a strong woman lead. Their relationship with each other is like no other. It is truly a rollercoaster, but the pining, hate, understanding, is top tier. When they finally kissed, I squealed!!

No character felt left behind in this book. With the multiple POVs, complex world, and intricate plot, I can see how it'd be easy to let a character slip through the cracks. This was not the case with The Jasmine Throne. Each character has a specific role to play within the book, which I loved. Although the reader may disagree with each character's decisions, each is so complex that it makes sense in terms of their being. 

Conclusion:
Not one thing went wrong in this book. Tasha Suri is a marvel, and this book raises the bar for all other fantasy books to follow. I am still recovering from the ending, but at the same time, I want to reread it all over again. This is the kind of book you can re-read multiple times and still find new plot points. This is 100% a new favorite. Tasha, please be kind to us in the sequel... or not ;)

had some issues with the pacing and all the povs (and the men) but bhumika is So Good? and i love that tasha suri just gets there's not only one type of strong female character (the classic badass) because WOMEN!!! let them be flawed; let their strengths manifest in different ways; let me support their rights and wrongs

fira

Cloudface

This book was beautifully written. It took me a while to get around to reading this one but I’m glad I did! The world building was so interesting and I love books with female leads who are complex people capable of being deeply selfish and loving all at once. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, which is great because lately I’ve read a lot of fantasy that does not make me want to read a sequel. I’m invested in these characters and I want to see where the story goes next!

Gillian Rose

Okay, so I don't think I was in the right mindset for this book even though I had really been looking forward to it! There's nothing wrong with it, I DID enjoy it, but I also feel like I could have enjoyed it a lot more than I did. And I blame my brain. It was a lot slower paced than I thought, and there were so many characters to keep track of in addition to the political intrigue and magic. Still I am looking forward to the next book and hopefully my brain will be more cooperative.

Prashanth Srivatsa

Begins strongly. Interesting worldbuilding - particularly the myth of the Yaksas - but wasn't invested in the stories of some of the characters. Overarching plot exciting enough to pick up the second book when it comes out.

grace richards

4.5,,, i fear bad things may be on the horizon for priya and milini

i thought i was gonna love this but idk .. it just felt really flat. some parts seemed to rush forwards so quickly and others dragged. i saw another review say that this reads like a prologue and i agree. it feels like the characters are underdeveloped, a lot of the world building is rushed or skipped over. IDK .. i just didn’t enjoy it that much. i’m hoping the next books will be better and leave room for developing the characters in more detail because the magic system and the world are very interesting & this couldve been so good 😭

Evil Lizzard

The magic in this book is stunning, and absolutely unique. The love story is superb. All characters are so interesting. The plot is intriguing. SUCH a good book! I can’t believe my luck that this is part of a series, and I can dive back into that world!!

Didi Chanoch

I was so exited to read this book since it is the first actual fantasy boom that I have read . I have read about 60% of the book but I can’t finish it and I don’t thing I ever will. I liked the first few chapters because I loved the setting of this book , but I don’t understand half of what I was reading and even though I liked the writing style I just had to put it down because I was so bored. I rate it 2 stars because it wasn’t a bad book at all , but it’s not for me. 

Amy Brain

Carrington Kinslow

** spoiler alert **
            "She thought of the feel of Ahiranya unfurling in her mind. Of power in her blood. Of what it meant to be touched by spirits, to be a temple child, a keeper of faith. To be... elemental." 

The best way to describe "The Jasmine Throne" is the perfect slow burn. Both the plot and the romance have a very gradual build up, but in a way that has you craving more. This was a story I was entirely immersed in and I could not put this book down. Tasha Suri does not overwhelm readers with info-dumping, as many authors do in their high fantasies. Instead, key plot points, relevant historical background, and the magic, is all revealed only when necessary. Does that leave some room for confusion throughout the beginning? Sure. But Suri's writing style, her characters, and the lush culture packed into this book easily keep you fascinated. 

Inspired by South Asian culture and mythology, "The Jasmine Throne" is so atmospheric, almost tangible. One of my favorite things to read about in fantasy novels are religions, and generally, just spirituality. I've always thought it adds depth to any novel when the beliefs and traditions of a world are directly tied to the magic system/magic users. I was captivated anytime Priya was in the deathless waters, interacting with the yaksa, and when she was wielding her elemental magic. There are just so many layers to this book. The history, the religion, the differing cultures, it was all so fascinating. 

"The Jasmine Throne" is very character-driven, which I appreciated so much as this is a slow burn. Loving these characters is what really kept me hooked throughout the book when the plot would occasionally stall. While the book's primary focus is on Priya and Malini, I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters' POVs as well. Especially Bhumika, whom I think is such a wonderfully nuanced female character, she's unlike so many other female characters and I wish more characters like Bhumika existed. Priya and Malini are such strong main protagonists, Malini in particular had incredible growth and the decision she made at the end of the book has me SO excited for the sequel. 

With her characters, Suri intimately explores morality, vengeance, justice, and loyalty. When one POV character died, I actually found myself very sad. I didn't even really like him, but his questionable morals were so easy to understand that while I didn't agree with him, I could still... get it, I guess. He was a man made by the wrongs done to him in his adolescence, and that is something that Suri made painfully clear while still making this character difficult to like. Suri doesn't imply in her writing who is right or who is wrong, who readers should or should not like. She's written various characters with so much depth to them, with their individual vices and virtues, and has entirely left it up to the reader to decide what to do with the information given to them. 

This book also has one of my favorite things ever, a sapphic romance. Priya and Malini have such intense romantic chemistry. I haven't rooted this hard for a book couple in a while. I loved their relationship growth from princess and maidservant, to wary friendship, to allies, to badass-empire-toppling-girlfriends. When they finally kissed, I could've died. I was so ready for it, and what better place to kiss than beneath a waterfall? And while this book had one of my least favorite tropes in the world, a couple who decides to part ways after just getting together, I actually think this was a wise choice. As much as I love Priya and Malini together, their plots needed to diverge. This actually works so well because of how great of characters they are. I can easily read them separated from one another because they are both SO interesting. The story doesn't stall when they're apart, which to me, is common in romantic books. I actually am very excited to read their chapters in the next book despite it being heavily implied it will be a long time until they see one another again. The ending of "The Jasmine Throne" set them both up for highly entertaining journeys in the next book. 

Ultimately, I don't have enough praise to offer this book. It is just phenomenal. Tasha Suri is an insanely talented and creative writer, I am immediately going to check out her other books and anxiously await the release of "The Oleander Sword." If you've been considering reading this book, I STRONGLY urge you to move it up on your TBR!!

"The Jasmine Throne" - 5/5 Stars

Beyond excited to share my thoughts. This was a fast ride! I loved the characters, the powerful bond between Priya and Malini just had me hooked! The world building did start off slow but the author made sure to incorporate one of my favorite aspects in a book, yes, HISTORY. I love learning origins and the whys, Tasha Suri did just that. The elements in this world gave me aladdin and mulan mixed, absolutely spectacular. The descriptions of scenery and plot were beautiful, the Indian culture truly showed. I was impressed with the characters, definitely badassery going on. The hunger for power and determination to fix what's broken. I am a sucker for a strong female lead and in this one we had TWO!

Thank you so much to Orbit UK for sending me an early copy of this book! Looking forward to reading more about this world! This has been added to my favorite reads this year.

Julia Avila

This was a bit slower paced that I thought it would be but I still loved it. So beautifully written with interesting characters who all have interesting relationships with each other. I don't rate 5 stars because I did feel like the book dragged a bit near the middle. Now that the world is established, I'm really excited for the next book to see where the story's going. Praying I don't get my heart broken 🙏

Lillian

3.5/5, rounded up.

likes:
- world-building
- strong female characters
- the relationship b/w priya and malini
- bhumika
- writing style

dislikes:
- pacing
- the rebels aren't really fleshed out and i dislike ashok but i wish there was more expansion on how violent revolution works instead of just having them being the bad guys

maybe i'll write something longer if i feel like it. for now, although it wasn't my fav, it's a good start and i'm definitely looking forward to the sequel

Aditi

This was so boring. I was looking forward to this one since I’ve previously enjoyed Suri’s writing and all the positive buzz this was getting had my hopes up. The beginning was promising. The world which was set up and the characters that were introduced were interesting to me. The writing was still something that I enjoyed, it flowed naturally and didn't feel clunky at all. But that’s kind of it.

I was promised morally grey main characters but neither Malini nor Priya fit that bill. Malini was barely present for the first half, and in the second half I didn't find her very compelling. The side characters, especially the men, weren't developed enough for me to be invested in them at all. I can’t even recall the names of most of them and I just finished the book. The pacing was off, with new povs being introduced over halfway through the book. I didn’t even care enough to follow the story. I found myself zoning out a lot. 

The only character I found remotely interesting was Bhumika but she wasn’t enough to carry this story. I found the romance to be bland and boring, as well. I didn't understand what made Malini and Priya care about each other and I failed to see why I should care about them.

This book was too long to have left so many things unexplained about the world and the magic system. I understand that this might be expanded upon in the future books but there should’ve been enough in this one itself to make me excited about what’s to come rather than leave me confused about what happened. I didn't feel attached to anything because I was never given enough information to care. I liked the concept of the book and what it was trying to do but the execution just didn’t work for me.

Paige mandia 

i really enjoyed this! i definitely understand why this novel has gotten so much hype over the past few months. the world that tasha suri created is so beautiful and im absolutely fascinated by the magic system. i don’t think ive read anything quite like it before and everyone knows i love a good water = rebirth symbol (thomas foster i will never forget you). but as always my favorite part of the novel was the characters. i can fluctuate a lot on whether or not i like a multiple point of view novel, but the jasmine throne KILLED the multiple povs. the pacing was perfect and i never found myself disappointed when i saw whose point of view was next. i loved hearing all the characters voices—both villain and protagonists. priya and malini are such wonderful protagonists and i am just in love with them and am so excited for them to reunite in book two (if not a little scared as well…) but honestly the stand out for me was rao. i am fascinated by his story and how it all came together and am so excited to see more of him in book 2. i feel like there’s so much growth to be had and potential for how the rest of the trilogy will play out…… i have a feeling it’s gonna get even better.

Lia Yuliana

Update 30/05/2021

Find me review on :  An Ode to Fiction
Official Release Date : 8th June 2021 (US) & 10th June 2021 (UK)
Buy the book :
 Amazon |  Book Depository

4.5 / 5 ⭐️


  
    “Only the worthy could rise.”
  


ARC provided by the publisher Orbit UK through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A story about a princess and a maid servant that is trying to break free from the prison of their past all the while burning empires to the ground. Tasha Suri is back with a new series kicking it off with a fiery first book The Jasmine Throne.

The time has finally come for me to complete my true calling of reading all three books from the unofficial but official Sapphic Holy Trifecta. If you’re not familiar with the trifecta is three adult fantasy sapphic books releasing in 2021 that consist of The Unbroken by C. L. Clark, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, and lastly The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri. I can announce confidently that I have read all three as The Jasmine Throne completes my list. In all honesty, I had zero expectations for the book but after seeing many tweets from mutuals and authors reassuring me that I will love The Jasmine Throne I decided to give it a try. Looking at the rating above it is clear that enjoyed the book. Before I start my review I would like to appreciate the beauty that is Priya on the cover of the book. Designed by Laura Penepinto and cover art done by Micah Epstein (@micahepsteinart), the fiery colours and the flowers on the borders of the book amplifies the beauty of the art much more. Not just that it resonates well with the story and represents what you can expect when reading the book perfectly! Also if you look closely there’s vine details and the Priya is sitting on the steps on the Hirana!! I love this cover, it is truly magnificent!


  
    “Are we fighting a war right now, Malini?” “Yes,” Malini said. “We always are.”
  


After the success of The Books of Ambha duology, Tasha Suri is back with a new series that will entice readers with its glorious floral imagery and heartfelt burning passion to destroy empires titled Burning Kingdoms with it’s first book releasing on June 8th 2021, The Jasmine Throne. The story follows Priya, a maidservant that works for the household of the regent, as she tries to find her memories long burned away by the flames of her past. One day when the princess is sentenced to exile in the Hirana, a sacred temple of the yaksa, Priya takes a chance to gain more coin and find clues to connect with her past on the Hirana. When another servant’s attempt to discover the Hirana’s secrets went awry, Priya is pushed to use the power she once held and expose her true identity that she has buried for years. This reveal also exposes Priya to the last person she wants her identity to be known to, the princess of Parijatdvipan empire, Malini. Finding use in the not-so-normal-maid servant Malini decides to ally herself with Priya, her last remaining hope and only ally that can help her survive.

The setting of the story is exquisitely vivid and magnificent as it serves as the center piece for The Jasmine Throne. Tasha Suri’s writing brings forth a beautiful yet cruel world that is filled with botanical opulence and raging purifying fires. This is my first time reading an Indian inspired fantasy, it felt like I am watching a blank canvas being painted with the landscape of Hiranaprastha. From the hustle and bustle of the market, to the lush thick green forest, to the beautiful garden surrounding the rose palace, and the view while on a dangerous climb to reach the Hirana. Suri’s writing is filled sensory description either smell, touch, taste, or sound; while reading the book you can surely feel all these things. It could be the cacophony of smells at the market, the nails digging into flesh, the taste of flower scented candy, or the swish of a sari. These small details captured me immediately and I was hypnotized beyond my mind. Even the plague that has befallen the people of Ahiranya is well described down to every detail, it made my body feel like it had to look away but I wanted to keep reading. The botanical body horror is just *chef’s kiss*. And I love when Suri mentions flowers. The floral orgasm that is contained in this book is just wondrous. By all means, I am no botanical expert but I appreciate the many variations of flowers mentioned in this story and how it all ties in with the world. The title itself has contains my favorite kind of flower, JASMINE.


  
    Fate had not named her. But the choices men had made, and the choices she had made—when her brother had pressed a knife to her neck, when her brother had tried to see her burn—had shaped her and given her a purpose.
  


Besides the beautiful setting there is the on going political struggle within the Parijati Empire. Though in this first book there aren’t many political sequences but the few scenes Suri included in the story is impactful and monumental to the story. The current ruler of the Parijatdvipan empire is a misogynistic sadist radical that is on a mission to “purify” the world of the Ahiranya people. It can be said that the emperor is on a mission to commit ethnic cleansing against the Ahiranyi. The religion this ruler worships is a religion that views sacrifice of women to burning as an act to achieving divinity, hence the name Mothers of the Flame. I love seeing the parallels between the Parijati and Ahiranyi not just in religion but in culture as well such as : The Parijati are more conservative than the Ahiranyi, Ahiranyi doesn’t see gender as an issue when it comes to partners, while the Parijati sees women as lesser especially the ones that deny the flames and is patriarchal. I was fully immersed into the world and I find it fascinating to see how everything connects in the story. Just thinking about it gives me chills!


  
    She thought of the feel of Ahiranya unfurling in her mind. Of power in her blood. Of what it meant to be touched by spirits—to be a temple child, a keeper of faith. To be . . . elemental.
  


It wouldn’t be a fantasy story if it didn’t have a certain aspect of magic in it and can I say out of all the books I’ve read this year the magic in The Jasmine Throne is one of the most intriguing magic systems I’ve encountered in a while. Starting the book it took a while for the magic to be revealed and when it was done the gradual ascent to understanding the Yaksa magic is satisfying. As someone that loves a religion based magic that derives from gods I am living for the lore. I wanna talk about the magic but it might spoil everything so I will try to be vague as possible. The magic in The Jasmine Throne is a type of communion magic and grants power to the chosen followers of the Yaksa. Yaksa is an elemental being that I can only imagine looking like a Treant but more humanoid. Only the chosen followers are worthy of the yaksa’s powers and there are layers to achieving full power to manipulate the earth, grow plants, and control nature all together. There are three trials that they must survive through with unpredictable results, those who aren’t worthy die during these three trials. If they survive the first trial they are granted a taste of power and gradually the powers will mature after passing the second then third trial. Though the magic is like a battery, they can fade with time the longer they are separated from the Hirana. It is not that easy either to receive the powers because not everyone is worthy. Anyone can hone the powers but the action is similar to drinking water from a pond and not from a creak with flowing water.

Suri’s concept for the Yaksa magic is interesting and well balanced. Personally, I am an admirer of checks and balances in books that have a magic system. The Jasmine Throne clearly achieved this balance magnificently without it being too intensely technical to the point it breaks the mood of the plot, it is weaved well within the world building and done slowly for readers to follow. Any reader can easily grasp the magic! I have to say it is the perfect example of a well structured magic system that is well engrained within the world similar to the Green Bones in Jade City by Fonda Lee.


  
    She could make herself something monstrous. She could be a creature born of poison and pyre, flame and blood.
  


Suri expertly integrated heavy topics such as women’s role in a patriarchal society, being queer, discovering one’s identity, oppression, and so on through her world building and characters. I have mentioned in the previous paragraphs how brilliant Tasha Suri’s world building is now I want to get to the good stuff which are characters! In The Jasmine Throne there are two core characters that serves as the fuel to the story, they are Priya and Malini. Both characters are very well fleshed out with clear motivation and purpose. Their dynamics are full of yearning and deeply intimate. Suri’s writing definitely extends the vulnerability to readers even more as the emotions bleeds out from the page everytime these two characters share a moment together. Each scene between the two in the Hirana, where they bargain or share their dreams or open up to one another readers get a glimpse of how broken they are. They both have deep wounds that is caused by familial love that are sometimes too fierce and intense it burnt them. I liked that their relationship blossomed into something beautiful where they both find solace in each other as they give in to their vulnerability and shed all their defenses. I want to say that both character’s development are like ping-pong they bounce of each other. But if I compare them, Priya’s character development is much clearer and whole. In the story Priya’s development is more structured and apparent to me. While Malini’s only started developing nearing the middle around 50-60% into the book. Since it is the first book I can see that the story is much more centered around Ahiranya and Priya, I think we can hope to see more development from Malini in the second book.


  
    “This face. This face right in front of me. The face you’ve shown me, the fact that you kissed me. I know it. I know you,” said Priya. “I know exactly who you are. There are other versions of you that I don’t know. But this one . . .” Her fingers were against Malini’s lips. “This one is mine.”
  


There are other characters with strong presence that Tasha Suri included in the POVs besides the Priya and Malini. They are Rao, Bhumika, Prem, and Ashok. I want to shine the spotlight to Bhumika, the wife of the regent of Ahiranya, one of the female characters that plays a big part later on in the story. Bhumika’s arc is probably the second most interesting compared to the other characters, the first being Priya. Bhumika is the embodiment of a strong woman getting shit done, the woman sacrificed herself and her true calling to protect the people of Ahiranya by marrying the regent. Her whole arc contains commentary about how society views women and how it views a woman’s value is limited to having kids while sitting being pretty. There are similarities between Malini and Bhumika as they are both highborn women with cunning abilities to manipulate and maneuver through many political obstacles in their way. They both strongly radiate the aura of gaslight, gatekeep, girl boss! Even though I can’t talk about all of the characters in The Jasmine Throne rest assured that the characterization is well done with believable development and are very well fleshed out. There’s no character that feels like a side character and each character will have their own moment to shine in the story.


  
    “I wanted peace. I was willing to pay the price that peace demanded, however broken that peace was. … , I will do what is needful. I will take up the role that was once mine.”
  


As a reader I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Jasmine Throne it checks everything that I look for in a fantasy book from the down to earth and believable characters, the character interactions, the amazing world building, the underlying topics within the story, etc. But there were moments when the pacing of the story is too slow for me especially during the ending. The way that the ending went down the flow is like a roller coaster ride, there is a climax then it dips then climax again then dips and so on. It felt like there are too many climaxes and dips. Even though the ending was wrapped up nicely and left at a good note to start the second book, for me it felt slightly draining because of the constant escalation then dips. When I got to the big moment it became anti-climactic and fell flat for me, when it was supposed to be the moment that delivered the last smash. Please mind this is just a small thing in an all round awesome book and I was sick while reading that could also play a factor too. Nonetheless, it didn’t not hinder me from loving the story as a whole.


  
    The moment I saw you, I felt a tug. You are the feeling of falling, the tidal waters, the way a living thing will always turn, seeking light. It isn’t that I think you are good or kind, or even that I love you. It is only that, the moment I saw you, I knew I would seek you out. … Just as I seek all things—without thought, with nothing but want.
  


Final thoughts, The Jasmine Throne is a book filled with sapphic yearning between two strong characters that is driven to set an empire ablaze. It is a vivid, nuanced, and a story that wakes your senses with in depth world building, beautiful atmospheric writing, and underlying themes that challenges the expectations and limitations of woman in a patriarchal world. Complete with a cast of characters that is as equally as commanding in presence and wonderfully fleshed out. I will say it again, Tasha Suri created a banger of a first book to a promising trilogy that I will keep my eyes out for. Fair warning, there are trigger warnings for this book that readers should pay attention to before picking this book up. I am very excited for this book to be released in June and I can’t wait for readers to meet Malini and Priya, especially Bhumika. Pre-order your copy now or wait until it’s release or request it at your library or buy the e-book. Please read this book! It will not disappoint and thank me later ❤

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

In this "fiercely and unapologetically feminist tale of endurance and revolution set against a gorgeous, unique magical world" (S. A. Chakraborty), two women--a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic--come together to rewrite the fate of an empire. Exiled by her despotic brother, Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance, while trapped in the Hirana, an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin. The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent's household, biting her tongue and cleaning Malini's chambers. But when Malini witnesses Priya's true nature, their destines become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess seeking to save her family. Apart, they are dangerous. Together, they will set an empire ablaze. "Suri astounds with the spellbinding epic fantasy that launches her Burning Kingdoms trilogy . . . . a fierce, heart-wrenching exploration of the value and danger of love in a world of politics and power . . . . This is a blade-sharp, triumphant start to what promises to be an exciting series." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "An intimate, complex, magical study of empire and the people caught in its bloody teeth. It's about resistance and power, histories both personal and political, and the heroes who must become monsters to survive. I loved it." --Alix E. Harrow, Hugo award-winning author of The Once and Future Witches "Like the magic in this tale of reclaiming power, The Jasmine Throne will work its way under your skin with Suri's compelling characters and gorgeous, effortless prose." --Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies

Ava Noreen

This book was spectacular, it had everything I could have ever wanted- south-asian based fantasy, a sapphic romance, self-affirming nature magic, themes of feminism and broken families and sibling relationships- AND the writing was gorgeous and smooth and immersive.
There will never be another book like this. I literally cannot wait for the sequel. 1000/10 would recommend.

Naty Corbett

This was a pretty epic book. The book is told through the eyes of around 6 or so different characters throughout, and while this gives the book a greater depth in points of view, I did find it to be not quite clunky at the beginning but something that didn't allow me to get into the flow and story for a while. The book spends the first 20% setting up the pieces before the story really starts to take off and once it does you're going to struggle to put it down.

The two main are protagonists Priya and Malini, and I could read their chapters all day. I loved how their relationship evolved throughout the series, having to gain a little trust at a time. Figuring out how to not try and uphold their own ideals while dealing with the internal turmoil of politics, religion, and the feeling of betraying a memory all the while helping the other. 

I feel like this author luxuriates in making the reader wait for the payoff. She does this more or less quite well for much of the book, but as I stated earlier, I sometimes found the very beginning to be a bit much when changing from Priya and Malini to one of the lesser side characters. To me, it felt like a false start or something. It just kinda ruined the rhythm of reading for me; some of these chapters were quite cryptic so to not tip the hat to let us know who they were working for before it was time to be revealed. These were paid off later on and I knew that while I was reading it but it was something that took a little bit of the enjoyment away in the moment.

I will say, that I spent much of the last couple of chapters with goosebumps on my arms. Sol yeah, I liked it.

The Jasmine Throne

Reviews

Highlights