Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

15 reviews

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

i rly wanted to like this book, but ultimately we just didnt click. one thing i highly value in my reading experience is a book's ability to make me feel things, and unfortunately the jasmine throne lacks in this department.

while this book is suffused w/ much needed and appreciated diversity, whether it be in terms of south asian-influenced worldbuilding, characters, AND sapphic characters (desi sapphics, cmon!!!), i didnt feel connected to the characters: even when they were in peril, i didnt feel too affected, knowing that they would be fine eventually (idk if this is bc of the third person pov, but other similar books worked fine for me??). this might also be borne from a lack of urgency and any sense of danger--i just felt disconnected from it all, like i was being bouyed by the ocean wave that was the book, but didnt rly care where it took me. 

and while the worldbuilding is lush and at times unique (esp the hirana-related magic, sangram, the rot, etc.), it feels incomplete, and esp small for a supposed epic fantasy, and the maps certainly dont help. my issue is the scale of  parijadtvipa isnt clear; we dont know how far each city-state is from parijat and one another, and rn it feels like the empire is composed of 5 cities, which idek whether is the case bc everything feels incongruent and unexplained. although the history and lore of the world are strong, i wouldve liked a clearer picture of the empire's scale itself. 

nevertheless, i do like the feminist take on this, and its exploration of issues, like how religion is wielded to  further ppl's own ends; the patriarchal and misogynistic view of the montrosity and mediocrity of women; fate vs independent action; means vs ends, etc. the desi sapphic rep is also much appreciated. i truly wish i liked this more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

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

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

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

soundlysmitten's review

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-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

5.0

The Jasmine Throne takes place in a lush fantasy world inspired by India. It tells an utterly feminist story complete with intriguing magic, masterful scheming, unlikely allies, and a sliver of sapphic romance.

It took me about a month to get through this book. To be a fair, I’m a hopelessly slow reader. The pace is also admittedly slow to start, but I don’t actually see that as a flaw. There’s a lot to learn about this new world, its intricate culture and magic, its history and politics. As the first installment in a trilogy, The Jasmine Throne lays its framework down thoroughly. But more than that, beautifully. You just have to be patient—take time to absorb it all—in order to fully appreciate the story and the eloquent language used to tell it.

Told in third-person past tense with multiple narrators, The Jasmine Throne is an impressively woven tale. The main POVs belong to our hidden priestess, Priya, and captive princess, Malini. But there are a number of other secondary POVs that contribute to the full scope of the political landscape. I appreciated being given a glimpse into the minds of other players in the conflict/seeing how they interpret the world and their role in it. All of the characters are authentically complex and the author provides interesting insight regarding their motives, revealing their different faces as the story unfolds. As for the romance, it takes a backseat to Priya’s personal development and the action of the overall plot. But I found that realistic considering the circumstances.

The theme that struck me most deeply is the pursuit of liberation for an oppressed people. Parijat’s aim to obliterate Ahiranya—in livelihood and identity—is heavy, and I feel emotionally invested in seeing things made right. Another theme that struck a chord with me is the untangling of the twisted way those in power warp religion to support flawed and wicked agendas. And I absolutely loved the hopeful way the book ends.

With three formidable women stepping up to replace their evil, misguided, inept male counterparts.

Who runs the world? ;)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia

anaguana's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Racism

achingallover's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit