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adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For readers who: want to continue the series, enjoy morally gray main characters, enjoy political intrigue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did not like The Oleander Sword and I was very nervous heading into the finale, but Suri sticks the landing!
One of my big problems with TOS was that there were PoVs where the characters didn't accomplish a whole lot, and PoVs for characters that I didn't think needed them. This is still an issue in this book, where two characters get a handful of PoV chapters that were not needed for the narrative and involved in plotlines that didn't go anywhere... but at least the main characters are (mostly) doing useful things and are pursuing clear goals, making this book feel snappier and more impactful than TOS. I have some other quibbles with this book (particularly some actions taken by Malini and some things that are under-explained), but this was a solid book and a return to form of the first one.
I am very satisfied with the trilogy and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy in non-western settings, focused on morally complex female characters, and featuring queer characters where being queer is an important aspect of their person.
One of my big problems with TOS was that there were PoVs where the characters didn't accomplish a whole lot, and PoVs for characters that I didn't think needed them. This is still an issue in this book, where two characters get a handful of PoV chapters that were not needed for the narrative and involved in plotlines that didn't go anywhere... but at least the main characters are (mostly) doing useful things and are pursuing clear goals, making this book feel snappier and more impactful than TOS. I have some other quibbles with this book (particularly some actions taken by Malini and some things that are under-explained), but this was a solid book and a return to form of the first one.
I am very satisfied with the trilogy and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy in non-western settings, focused on morally complex female characters, and featuring queer characters where being queer is an important aspect of their person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Torture, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
adventurous
hopeful
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
I love women 🥹
An incredible end to an incredible series. The women are so empowering, complex individuals who are very open about the imperfections and struggles. Such strong relationships too!
Tasha Suri props to you 👏🏼 the most original and refreshing fantasy series I’ve read in a very long while. From the plot to the magic system to the characters. I loved reading this and I miss the world already.
An incredible end to an incredible series. The women are so empowering, complex individuals who are very open about the imperfections and struggles. Such strong relationships too!
Tasha Suri props to you 👏🏼 the most original and refreshing fantasy series I’ve read in a very long while. From the plot to the magic system to the characters. I loved reading this and I miss the world already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
reflective
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:
Complicated
I liked book 1 and 2 more but this was still very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the ending, how it all wrapped up but the first 350 pages were such a slog, nothing really happened, kind of boring too... Which is really sad, I was so excited for this book but it was a letdown
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Misogyny
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What a conclusion! I’ve been eagerly looking forward to reading The Lotus Empire since finishing the prior instalment, and it certainly did not disappoint. This is such a fantastic series that has so much that I love and look for in fantasy: multiple POVs (a lot of them), compelling + novel magical systems, a fully developed world (nations, religions, cultures, histories), and multi-faceted and morally complex characters. The ending of the previous book was very intense, and there is much grief and devastation in this one and throughout the series. I cannot recommend this trilogy highly enough.
Content warnings: death, murder, war, violence, grief, blood, fire injury / fire, suicidal thoughts, suicide, religious bigotry, forcible confinement
Thank you to Orbit & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War