Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

60 reviews

imds's review against another edition

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: War

andromeda_1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

The jasmine throne is one of the books from my Illumicrate book box subscription. And it’s one of those books that I was really hyped for. I expected a great deal since it started to gape on TikTok and well they aren’t wrong. It’s a great book, with a big fantasy setting, a lot of representation and a great story. 

The characters 
This book has multiple pov’s but it focuses the most on Malini and Priya. I really enjoyed these characters. They are strong female leads with a bit of a morally gray side to them. One thing I liked less though is that is didn’t really ship them. I shipped Priya more with Sami. But that is just my opinion. 

Plot 
The story is fun to read but a bit predictable at some points. Not that that is a bad thing persé but I would have liked more plottwists. 

Worldbuilding 
The worldbuilding is beautifully done. The world is rich with magic, beautiful history and mythology and it is really detailed. We haven’t learned everything this world has to offer so I’m waiting for the next book in this series. The book is slow in the beginning though. It picks up the pace at around 150/170 pages.  I have to admit that this is one of those books I almost put down, which would have been a shame. 

Storytelling 
This book is beautiful written, but to the point. It has some magical quotes but the beginning of the book felt really dry to me. 

Recommendations 
I would recommend this book to lovers of the unbroken and the deavabad trilogy. Check the triggerwarnings before reading! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pregnancy and Lesbophobia

aseel_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

this was such a great read. I really enjoyed the world and if I am correct, the huge Indian history/mythology element to the fantasy, it was very refreshing and written beautifully. 

the characters were super complex and nuance and I just loved their motives and development. I really liked their sweet/side romance, it was a good touch to the story, not over powering nor ridiculous (no insta love thank god). 

the pacing was definitely slow and it felt like the book kept going, instead of being less of a plot book because it was slow, it just kept having a new event but I also really enjoyed all of the events, so I can't complain that it kept going.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury

starccato's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and War

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I love the worldbuilding, but where THE JASMINE THRONE really shines is in characterization. The various factions are complicated enough to imply tangled motivations and longstanding tensions, but the focus on just a handful of really important characters makes it easier to track. Priya and Malini are the heart of this books, with a few other characters occasionally taking turns in the spotlight as their unique perspectives become relevant. By the time each minor or secondary character gets their chapter they’re already known, so it feels like filling in a missing piece and it makes the whole narrative better.

There was a hugely traumatic event which is a political concern for some characters but a world-shattering transformative event for others. The details of what happened are slowly described throughout the story as they become relevant, sometimes as information someone needs to know and sometimes as catharsis when an affected character talks about what they went through. There’s a lot of grief and pain from that night, bubbling out to shape current events as some want to move on, others want to fix things, and a powerful few want things to keep burning.

A great story and an excellent start to the series, read this for a slow burn sapphic romance with many secrets.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, and Colonisation

Minor: Child death

venkaism's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

yavin_iv's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and War

melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

Holy crap I loved this book so much! I truly understand why this is part of the "Sapphic Trifecta!"

The relationship in this book is so beautiful!!!! It's a slow burn, quasi-enemies-to-lovers, and also like... these vibes. How do I explain this...This is not the relationship where they put each other above everyone else...nope, they ladies are DEVOTED to their causes and they aren't gonna let something like love stop them. I don't know I just love it.

The magic in this book is so interesting! I seriously love the River magic and the once born and twice born and thrice born! I love the Rot and everything that goes along with it. I love the world building and OMG I cannot wait for the sequel to this book!!!

10/10 highly recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury

foreverinastory's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

 Thank you Sapphic Trifecta.

Rep: sapphic BIPOC female MC, sapphic (lesbian coded) chronically ill female MC, BIPOC supporting cast, queer side characters mentioned in a historical context.

CWs: Abandonment, addiction, blood, past mentions of child abuse, chronic illness, colonisation, confinement, death, drug use (poison), emotional abuse, fire, injury/injury detail, lesbophobia/lesbomisia (general queerphobia/queermisia), medical content (depictions of withdrawal), misogyny, murder, physical abuse, sexism, violence, war. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ghulsona's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

I have been impatiently waiting to read this book ever since I read the description earlier this year, and I was not disappointed when I was finally able to get my hands on a copy! First thing's first, the world-building was epic and so impressive! If I were able to create a world half as rich and intricate as the one Tasha Suri builds for us in this book, I would be so satisfied with myself. The histories, magics, and different faiths and peoples introduced in this book were really fleshed out and I'm excited to learn more about them in the following books, specifically the sacrifice of the mothers, and the Alorans and the Dwarali  *insert eye emoji*.

The writing was so good! The prose wasn't overly flowery, but was still vivid and beautiful. A particular favorite of mine were the descriptions of the yaksas! Emotions were conveyed so well - I teared up many times while reading this in the middle of night. The book never felt like it was moving too slowly or too fastly, and I never felt bored with the plot. Sometimes, I feel like some authors have rely too much on twists and surprising their readers to keep them hooked, but even with knowing how most things would go, I was still very hooked. Every character has a good motivation and purpose, and when POVs were switched, it flowed very naturally. 

Speaking of characters!!! Malini was an instant favorite - I love me some scheming and morally gray women, especially when they're princesses. Her rage and thirst for vengeance against her brother, her many masks, her desire to be monstrous and vicious  - I loved her so much, truly. Bhumika and Rao were also favorites, and I'm very glad that POVs weren't confined to the two main characters and that we were able to get into the minds of such fantastic characters. And Priya!!! I liked how she can be terrifying and angry and vengeful at times, but in the end, she just has such a good heart. And I know they weren't really characters, but I am dying to read more about Malini's heart sisters, Narina and Alora. The glimpses of them we viewed in Malini's visions absolutely gutted me. I really did appreciate all the characters that were introduced, no matter how big their role - they all felt very tangible and human, and someone that you could empathize with, just a little.

I want to gush more about this book, but I have homework to do, so I will just end this here. Go read "The Jasmine Throne", you won't regret it!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Misogyny