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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A stunning conclusion to the trilogy and evidence of just how well-built this series is as a whole. This picks up right where we left off at the end of Oleander Sword, adding a few new POVs into our rotation right at the start and building out the ancillary conflicts at play in this stage of the war. Suri's writing is so lush, and her ability to build intensity through rapid POV changes and surrealist scenes is remarkable. Once again, the yaksa stole the show for me in this installment, keeping us unsettled while building out the God-lore of this universe.
For long-time fantasy readers, Suri's intentional focus on female agency in every single story line is so refreshing - in a literary world where women are so often sidelined to martyrdom or romantic plotlines, we see in Suri's world what it looks like when men deliver on these fantasy expectations. What does it look like when men sacrifice themselves for an empress, when men express unrequited love and longing, when men are at the center of emotional court politics and manipulation? And more important, what does it look like for women to direct generals, for women to negotiate international alliances, for women to claim God-power, for women to reject self-sacrifice, for women to live (gasp) selfishly? This genre is so dominated by male writers, that it is exciting to see authors like Suri subverting so many of the classic epic fantasy devices for her purposes, and then putting at the very center a heart-wrenching sapphic love story.
Cannot recommend this series highly enough - it's dark, unsettling, romantic and adventurous, and it will satisfy those who love seeing immortals meddling in human chaos. So, so good. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary advanced reader copy.
For long-time fantasy readers, Suri's intentional focus on female agency in every single story line is so refreshing - in a literary world where women are so often sidelined to martyrdom or romantic plotlines, we see in Suri's world what it looks like when men deliver on these fantasy expectations. What does it look like when men sacrifice themselves for an empress, when men express unrequited love and longing, when men are at the center of emotional court politics and manipulation? And more important, what does it look like for women to direct generals, for women to negotiate international alliances, for women to claim God-power, for women to reject self-sacrifice, for women to live (gasp) selfishly? This genre is so dominated by male writers, that it is exciting to see authors like Suri subverting so many of the classic epic fantasy devices for her purposes, and then putting at the very center a heart-wrenching sapphic love story.
Cannot recommend this series highly enough - it's dark, unsettling, romantic and adventurous, and it will satisfy those who love seeing immortals meddling in human chaos. So, so good. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary advanced reader copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
what a perfect, enthralling, riveting, and emotional end to a perfect, enthralling, riveting, and emotional series. The Lotus Empire is simply stunning. excellent and beautiful prose, enticing story, captivating characters, full of grief and despair and hope and magic. how do I move on now that it is over? I wish I could read it, and the whole series, for the first time again and again. but instead, I will carry it with me for as long as I live, recommending it to everyone around me. do yourself the kindest and biggest favor and read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
dark
emotional
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
If I thought the ending of book 2 could prepare me for the heartbreak of having to deal with the fallout in this book, I was wrong. The prose continues to be stunning even as I just scream at Malini and Priya to kiss and make up already. The "and" there being the critical piece.
If you're looking for a series that carries feminine rage throughout the entirety, I cannot recommend this one enough. It's so good and the rage is just so powerful. This series is for everyone who supports women's wrongs (and also their rights). From the first book Malini and Priya are asking each other "but what if I could make you worse and become worse for you" and I just think that's beautiful.
I can see myself reaching for this series time and time again as well as shouting at all my friends to read it.
I am so honored that Orbit and NetGalley would give me the opportunity to read this stunning conclusion before it came out. I'm so excited for my finished coy to arrive!
If you're looking for a series that carries feminine rage throughout the entirety, I cannot recommend this one enough. It's so good and the rage is just so powerful. This series is for everyone who supports women's wrongs (and also their rights). From the first book Malini and Priya are asking each other "but what if I could make you worse and become worse for you" and I just think that's beautiful.
I can see myself reaching for this series time and time again as well as shouting at all my friends to read it.
I am so honored that Orbit and NetGalley would give me the opportunity to read this stunning conclusion before it came out. I'm so excited for my finished coy to arrive!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-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
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion expressed in the following review.
I had a hard time writing a coherent review for The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri because all my brain wanted to do was squeal about how much I love this series and its finale. The Lotus Empire was my most highly anticipated read of 2024 and I’m thrilled to inform you that I loved it just as much as I expected. Tasha Suri brings her epic fantasy series to a close in a rollercoaster of yearning, grief, and hope.
I had a hard time writing a coherent review for The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri because all my brain wanted to do was squeal about how much I love this series and its finale. The Lotus Empire was my most highly anticipated read of 2024 and I’m thrilled to inform you that I loved it just as much as I expected. Tasha Suri brings her epic fantasy series to a close in a rollercoaster of yearning, grief, and hope.
***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE JASMINE THRONE AND THE OLEANDER SWORD***
The Oleander Sword left our story at an explosive end. Aditya and Chandra died during Malini’s fight for the throne and Priya betrayed Malini to please the Yaksa. The Lotus Empire begins with the fallout. By allowing so many major plot points to happen during the second book, Tasha Suri created an opening for The Lotus Empire to further develop her characters and their relationships as they processed the events of The Oleander Sword and explore new plot points. Once Malini takes the throne, the story shifts to focus on the ancient power awakening in Ahiranya.
The Yaksa were the most interesting antagonists I’ve seen in a long time. Aside from their motivation to claim the world and individual personalities being well developed, there is something deeply horrifying about having the gods you worship rise from the dead, only to realize they care nothing for you except as a means to reach their goals.
CHILLS.
Having such well-developed villains made The Lotus Empire much more tense and emotionally tumultuous.
The magic system also being tied to religion in The Burning Empires series was such an interesting concept. It created more depth to the different cultures depicted in the series by showing what types of gods they worshipped, what power they valued, and how they viewed sacrifice. The magic system in this series is one of my favorites just because of how well it ties into the worldbuilding. Throughout the series, Suri created a very rich and colorful world where each character has a distinct cultural background.
With each new book, I felt Suri got better and better at moving her different pieces to create multidimensional conflict. I especially liked Rao’s point of view in The Lotus Empire, maybe because his grief made him more interesting. Suri was always good at developing her different POVs but I think this final book is when she took herself to another level. Suri deepened the character development of each of her secondary main characters, and almost every character played an active, central role in the story. Even minor POV characters served to add more tension as people used the instability of Malini’s new power to try and orchestrate their own plans.
Bhumika was another character that I really enjoyed during The Lotus Empire. Initially, I was disappointed when she gave up her memories because I thought it would set her character development back, but I ended up really liking how her amnesia was portrayed. Though she can’t remember her past, the reader can easily see that she is still herself. She’s cunning enough to piece together parts of her past and her relationship to Jeevan, even if she’s unwilling to face those facts. Also, anyone who meets Bhumika recognizes her high-born mannerisms and comfort with authority. Through Bhumika’s memory loss, Suri shows her reader that even without their memories, people’s history is still etched into them.
Now, onto our main characters…
Since The Jasmine Throne, Priya stood out to me as one of my favorite main characters ever. I am a sucker for kindhearted characters, and Priya is such a gem. As much as she claims to hollow herself out to claim power, she never loses her love for her people. I love that Priya found her strength through her desire to protect people.
Having said that, Malini really stood out to me in The Lotus Empire as a masterfully written character. If ever you’ve looked for a morally grey hero that’s NOT willing to sacrifice themself or the people they love to save the world, I’m begging you to read this series. Malini is strong and kind, she wants to make the world better, but she also wants to live to see it get better. She wants to be the person to shape the world and be remembered as the one who changed it. I loved how unashamedly ambitious she is. It made her more human and relatable. Who really wants to die? Who wants to give up the power they fought and sacrificed for? Not most people and certainly not Malini. This makes her more interesting as a character and definitely allows her to say the most romantic, swoon-worthy lines to Priya (even when she’s trying to kill her).
And, yes. The yearning and sexual tension between Malini and Priya was unparalleled.
After reading The Lotus Empire, I am so happy that I started this series back in 2022. I’ve had so much fun waiting for each new book in the series and recording my thoughts. I cannot recommend this series enough. If not for the immaculate worldbuilding and epic battles, come for the stabby sapphic romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Self harm, Religious bigotry
*Self immolation/self harm are also mentioned*