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daffodilcherry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wheelhouses: rich worldbuilding, fantasy with female main characters, South Asian inspired fantasy, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, plant based magic, dark fantasy with misogyny without sexual assault / sexual violence.
Favourite quotes:
"But I'm going to have to be, Priya. I need to be - the part of me I need to be - can't be good. Or soft. Not to do what's needful." Priya said nothing. She simply tilted her head, listening.
"I am going to have to carve out a new face. A face that can pay the price I need to pay. I am going to become monstrous," Malini said, tasting the weight of the words upon her lips, her tongue. "For so long I have only wanted to escape and survive. But now I am free, and for the sake of my purpose... for the sake of power," she admitted, "I am going to become something other than human. Other than simply not good. I must."
Priya hesitated. Said, finally, "I'm not sure that's what being powerful means. Losing yourself."]
[Priya looked at Malini. At her back, a forbidding line. "I promise you I'll come," Priya said to her. "I know you don't 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." There were so many things Priya didn't know how to say.
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 sought the deathless waters. Just as I sought my brother. Just as I seek all things-without thought, with nothing but want.]
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, and War
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Love. As if love excused anything."
A high fantasy about Desi lesbians challenging the government and burning shit down (as they should!) The Burning Throne kept me on the edge of my seat, set in a crumbling empire dealing with a magical illness that makes people grow plants on them and a brewing rebellion, starring likable and stabby characters with shifting allegiances.
The cast is centered around mainly women, mostly our queer protagonists, and all of them are Desi and it was nice to see that diversity in an adult high fantasy. This was really fun to buddy read because of the characters and how well developed and defined they are. I will say I kind of wish there was a little less jumping around so many perspectives with them as it would occasional hinder the pacing. That's a small critique though as mostly the transitions are consistent with the core cast of characters with Priya as the main protagonist.
It's fun? Would that be the right word? Like, it's not a light read per se since it is about war but it is entertaining because of the fast pacing, prose that goes down easy, and blorbos. It's perfect for fans of 'good for her' stories!
Specific TWs: illness (magical), drug addiction including symptoms of withdrawal (fictional drug).
Graphic: Drug abuse and War
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Murder
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, War, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Death, Grief, Body horror, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Child death
aklovekorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Death, Violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
dewugging's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Grief
Minor: War and Homophobia
separatedhats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Lesbophobia
nekoshka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Confinement, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Child death, and Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
plesiosaurys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, Death, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, War, Child death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Addiction, Drug use, and Violence
leanne_miron's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Addiction, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
greymalkin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death