Reviews with content warning for Drug use - The Jasmine Throne

I love women!!

But in all seriousness the world building in this book is insane, I love all the different religions and how different people use them. I also really enjoyed the discussions of fate and power. The romance in this book is exquisite too.

My only critique is that I wish I cared a bit more about Ashok before he died. His death didn’t really impact me too much. But Prem made me so sad!! That was messed up. I wanted him and Rao to kiss :(

Overall an excellent book and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. This is a truly feminist story in my opinion.

Content Warnings

daffodilcherry's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.]

Content Warnings

More...