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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Grief, War, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Classism
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
Maybe it’s not a good idea to write a review immediately after finishing a book, but I’m going to do it anyway.
The Lotus Empire feels incredibly slow to begin with, and Priya and Malini remain, for the bulk of the book, passive actors in a plot that mainly concerns them and puts them at odds with each other. For all I sometimes questioned Rao’s POV in this book, he and Bhumika serve as main agents of plot development for the first half or so of the novel. I feel like I managed to read through the first half of the novel so quickly because I’m attached to the world, its core cast of characters and how Tasha Suri’s writing. If the first book had been more of this it would've been hard to stay engaged.There were some things that I liked: the introduction of the temple children, as sad as them being chosen was; seeing Bhumika and Jeevan travel the world, and the depth of Jeevan’s feelings for her; Rao and Sima’s developing bond; seeing the world through Arahli Ala’s eyes, and his struggle to shake off Ashok, and seeing the yaksa struggle with the humanity that came from wearing flesh brought them.
However. The book really picks up at about ~60%/70%, and then I really couldn’t put it down. We finally get hints of what needs to be done to free Priya and Malini from their fates and save their homes and loved ones. They take a much more active role, and I think for the first time in this series, I really did believe in their love and their bond to each other. The climax that builds in that final third of the novel was chaotic and bittersweet and rough, but I was enthralled.
I’m still left with a few questions as to how some things played out the way they did, and I still have certain questions regarding certain characters and what became of them at the end. I found the ending satisfying.I did think it was surprising that all of the main characters survived—even if Priya had been dead for almost two decades—but I do appreciate that Suri probably didn’t want to lean into a bury your gays trope, even if the main theme of this book, in particular, was sacrifice. Overall, the universe was stunning and I loved the interwoven themes of faith, love, power, and sacrifice. The juxtaposition of Malini, Priya, and Bhumika—different women with different gifts, who love and are loved, capable of good deeds and terrible ones—was so refreshing to read. I loved their morally grey alignments, and how they could be both selfish and selfless at the same time. For me, that was the real highlight of this novel.
The Lotus Empire feels incredibly slow to begin with, and Priya and Malini remain, for the bulk of the book, passive actors in a plot that mainly concerns them and puts them at odds with each other. For all I sometimes questioned Rao’s POV in this book, he and Bhumika serve as main agents of plot development for the first half or so of the novel. I feel like I managed to read through the first half of the novel so quickly because I’m attached to the world, its core cast of characters and how Tasha Suri’s writing. If the first book had been more of this it would've been hard to stay engaged.
However. The book really picks up at about ~60%/70%, and then I really couldn’t put it down. We finally get hints of what needs to be done to free Priya and Malini from their fates and save their homes and loved ones. They take a much more active role, and I think for the first time in this series, I really did believe in their love and their bond to each other. The climax that builds in that final third of the novel was chaotic and bittersweet and rough, but I was enthralled.
I’m still left with a few questions as to how some things played out the way they did, and I still have certain questions regarding certain characters and what became of them at the end. I found the ending satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Religious bigotry
adventurous
emotional
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
Wow. What a heartfelt ending to a gorgeous story. Tasha Suri has truly created a beautiful and vibrant world that I have loved living in for these three books. She writes so distinctly for each character, and has given each conflicting convictions, that makes for such juicy conflict.
Truly by the end I was so wrapped in each scene that when the next chapter jumped into a different perspective I was in it. But I think the final 3 chapters will stay with me most of all.
Thank you Tasha Suri for writing this story. ❤️
Truly by the end I was so wrapped in each scene that when the next chapter jumped into a different perspective I was in it. But I think the final 3 chapters will stay with me most of all.
Thank you Tasha Suri for writing this story. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Death
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
This book has me genuinely looking at my other 5 star reads and thinking they don't deserve that title anymore.
A truly beautiful ending of an amazing trilogy and I wish I could talk about it more but I am genuinely speechless and in awe
A truly beautiful ending of an amazing trilogy and I wish I could talk about it more but I am genuinely speechless and in awe
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Blood, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Gore, Torture
I read the first two books a year ago and I kind of don’t remember what happened in them, so I found it hard to care about what was happening in this third book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Religious bigotry
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
I didn't know how the author would end this series in a way that was satisfying and fit the story but she did. I feel emotionally wrung out in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Minor: Torture, Injury/Injury detail