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adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Genre: Epic Fantasy šŖ·š”ļø
Tropes/Themes: Inspired by Indian History and Epics; Multiple POV; Sapphic; Priestess/Queen; Feminine Power/Wrath; Deities
š¶ļø: š¶ļø (cracked door)
Medium: audiobook š§, narrator Shiromi Arserio
CW: explicit violence (including war, immolation, self-immolation); gender-based violence; misogyny; homophobia and internalized homophobia; self-mutilation; abusive family dynamics; child endangerment and abandonment; grief and loss; forced familial separation; body horror (plant-based, cosmic, gore); colorism; suicidal thoughts and ideation
Review:
I just need to ship my heart to Tasha Suri, she rips it out of my chest enough (if you happen to read this, donāt worry itās a joke). I canāt believe Iām done. Im greedy, I want more š
This series has it all: love, longing, heartache, war, political intrigue, adventure, magic, gods, demigods and a million other things. I dreamt of Parijat and of being on the Hirana š„¹ my soul left my body at every turn and Iām not sure itās back yet
Shiromi is such a wonderful narrator. The little addition of things like teeth chattering in the cold and actual inhales and exhales when written were so tasteful and well done! I will definitely be on the look out for more of her narrations
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
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 itās not a good idea to write a review immediately after finishing a book, but Iām 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 Raoās 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 Iām attached to the world, its core cast of characters and how Tasha Suriās 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 Jeevanās feelings for her; Rao and Simaās developing bond; seeing the world through Arahli Alaās 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 couldnāt 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.
Iām 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 survivedāeven if Priya had been dead for almost two decadesābut I do appreciate that Suri probably didnāt 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 Bhumikaādifferent women with different gifts, who love and are loved, capable of good deeds and terrible onesāwas 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 Raoās 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 Iām attached to the world, its core cast of characters and how Tasha Suriās 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 couldnāt 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.
Iām 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
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*Excuse name misspellings, I listened to the audiobook.
**There are Issues with chapter numbers in audiobook- it always said I was 3 chapters behind.
**There are Issues with chapter numbers in audiobook- it always said I was 3 chapters behind.
Pet peeve- this author uses āinclined [their] headā SO often. I had this issue with āgristleā in the first book, which the author sid manage to use only twice, I think.
Maybe reading the audiobook was my problem as I read the half of the Oleander sword by physical copy and loved it, but I just could not get myself to care about this story. I ended up waiting for the chapters from Bhumikaās POV because the other main characters two were so intense but also monotonous.
Sima, Bhumika, and Row had perfect character arches, with
Malini a close second.
Overall this book was fine. I never really looked forward to it but looking back I know it was a good story.
āTo live you will need many masks.ā
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Vomit, Stalking, Alcohol
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. ā¤ļø
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. ā¤ļø
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
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Murder, War
Minor: Sexual content
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
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 an experience!
I was already in love with the series from the get-go, and that cliff-hanger left me starving for more. And this final installment really, really ended the series in a fitting and satisfying way.
The first half is a little slow, taking it's time and moving pieces around to establish the conclusion. I'm really glad that none of the supposed solutions were easy and painless. It would've really taken from the darkness of this world of things we're easy.
The second half (and especially the final eighth) of the book was fast-paced, chaotic, and really left me wondering how exactly it was going to be resolved and, of course, how devastating it was going to be.
The epilogue:it's incredibly vague on details, which I like, but our girls Priya and Malini are together, maybe in literally eternity. I wasn't expecting such a happy (relatively speaking of course) ending after so much devastation, but I'm satisfied. .
My first ever 5/5 book, no notes. Definitely going to check out more of Tasha Suri's works because wow!
I was already in love with the series from the get-go, and that cliff-hanger left me starving for more. And this final installment really, really ended the series in a fitting and satisfying way.
The first half is a little slow, taking it's time and moving pieces around to establish the conclusion. I'm really glad that none of the supposed solutions were easy and painless. It would've really taken from the darkness of this world of things we're easy.
The second half (and especially the final eighth) of the book was fast-paced, chaotic, and really left me wondering how exactly it was going to be resolved and, of course, how devastating it was going to be.
The epilogue:
My first ever 5/5 book, no notes. Definitely going to check out more of Tasha Suri's works because wow!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Minor: Confinement, Torture, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent
adventurous
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
bhumika, my beloved <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood