Reviews with content warning for Addiction - The Jasmine Throne

Series title is apt. Giant fantasy books about kingdom-scale power struggles aren't my favorite genre, but I generally enjoyed this one. It's nice to see a fantasy South Asian setting, and I thought the different religions were a good way to insert magic into the story, although I'm still not sure what the Mothers do for anyone.

There's a lot of "people making ethically problematic decisions for the Greater Good" that I don't especially love, but, hey, it's part of the genre, and most of the characters are reasonably self-aware about it at least. Some good stuff about colonialism, but Chandra is so cartoonishly evil that the book doesn't really feel like it has a lot of nuance.

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majamatcha's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

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ienbdri's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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sofipitch's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A lot of what didn't work for me were the writing choices, this book did two things that I find exhausting which is over explaining concepts and a million POVs. And most of those POVs exist to overexplain the plot and what is going on with each piece as it moves. I just wish the author had more faith in her readers. This book is 500+ pages but feels like a prologue to the actual story. This isn't to say others won't like this book, it's got a lot going for it, particularly the rot and associated magic systems, and interesting characters (Bhumika!) But the structure was hard for me to get past

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cjreadstoomuch's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense

5.0

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bloodbrooxv's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

5.0

For sure one of my favourite reads of the year so far!
The prose is incredibly immersive, and the atmosphere created makes you feel like you're witnessing the events first hand.
Priya and Malini are gorgeous characters, each one with a deep purpose and a charismatic personality.
The plot, with all of its intrigues, keeps you glued to the pages. I can't wait to read The Oleander sword! (tradotto: FANUCCI MUOVITI)

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daffodilcherry's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

A really interesting book which beautifully sets up the wider world, a conflict and main characters. I liked both Priya and Malini as individual characters, and their relationship together. I can't wait to see how they change in the next books.
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:

["Then you're not the person you think you are," Priya said.
"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.]

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aklovekorn's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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