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cyoussef11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was disappointing for me and honestly confusing in many ways. First, the world building was seriously lacking and it felt like the author just expected you to know certain things already while over explaining other things. The pacing was so slow and the fact that the POV changed every chapter and we got like 15 different character POVs made it feel even slower. You'd finally get to a point and think "oh good something is finally happening," and suddenly you're shifted to a different character's POV in a completely different part of the universe/story and you just have to sit and wait it out.
I was often confused by the magic system and how things worked or what things were in that regard until many chapters after something was first introduced.
I did not for a second buy the "romance" between Malini and Priya, there was nothing there and it felt forced and awkward. They spend time in captivity together, the tension is low at best, drags on forever, and then suddenly (3/4 through the book) they're making out in a river? suddenly they're saying "I love you" and then they have to be separated? come on. They never discuss their feelings really before then despite one random and awkward proclamation of "I want you and I can't help it!" and they didn't even discuss that proclamation 💀
Ultimately I don't think I found a single character likable which was disappointing. I'd heard great things about this book but I had to force myself to finish it.
I was often confused by the magic system and how things worked or what things were in that regard until many chapters after something was first introduced.
I did not for a second buy the "romance" between Malini and Priya, there was nothing there and it felt forced and awkward. They spend time in captivity together, the tension is low at best, drags on forever, and then suddenly (3/4 through the book) they're making out in a river? suddenly they're saying "I love you" and then they have to be separated? come on. They never discuss their feelings really before then despite one random and awkward proclamation of "I want you and I can't help it!" and they didn't even discuss that proclamation 💀
Ultimately I don't think I found a single character likable which was disappointing. I'd heard great things about this book but I had to force myself to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, War, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Colonisation, Body horror, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Starvation, homelessness, brothels.cjreadstoomuch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, War, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Suicide, and Addiction
drlove2018's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Classism, War, Drug use, Death, Addiction, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror
imoran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, and Murder
Minor: Suicide and Panic attacks/disorders
hanarama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cw: homophobia, lesbophobia, misogyny, suicide, abuse, poisoning, burning, toxic relationships
The Good:
• Complex world building
• Wlw represtation
• Strong commentary
The Bad:
• Hard to keep track of characters
• Some PoV characters sound too similar.
• Very slow start
You Might Like This if You Like:
• Political intrigue
• Morally gray characters
• Slow burn romance
• The Daevabad trilogy
The Jasmine Throne features a wide number of PoV characters, though it primarily follows three women. Priya, Malini, and Bhumika. Malini is the exiled sister of the emperor. Refusing to ritualistically immolate herself for her brother, Malini is imprisoned in the Hirana, a ruined temple that houses an ancient power. Priya and Bhumika are former temple daughters, those that tended the Hirana before the emperor had the temple sacked. Priya agrees to serve as a maidservant to Malini, and inadvertently reveals her hidden strengths. Sensing an opportunity, Malini seeks to grow closer to Priya, and their fates become interwoven. Meanwhile, Bhumika deals with the growing political unrest and struggles to keep her people safe.
Outside of the three main women, it can be easy to mix up the other PoV characters. Many of them only have a couple chapters. Without very distinct voices, it's hard to remember who's narrating a particular chapter.
Despite this, Suri creates very evocative imagery. The setting is lush and inviting, with a lot to uncover. The world building is gradual, with more revealed throughout the novel.
In general, The Jasmine Throne is very slow burn, with everything building in intensity over time. In some regards, this is fine, but in others it can make it hard to get into the story. For the central romance, it works well, allowing the characters to build a connection before the romance begins. The slow pace of the plot outside of this though, makes it feel as though very little is happening.
Overall, an interesting story with a great setting. Because the first book was mainly set up, I'm interested to see how things pay off in the sequel. In particular, Malini and Bhumika are both set up as charismatic leaders, so I'm expecting them to clash in the future.
The Good:
• Complex world building
• Wlw represtation
• Strong commentary
The Bad:
• Hard to keep track of characters
• Some PoV characters sound too similar.
• Very slow start
You Might Like This if You Like:
• Political intrigue
• Morally gray characters
• Slow burn romance
• The Daevabad trilogy
The Jasmine Throne features a wide number of PoV characters, though it primarily follows three women. Priya, Malini, and Bhumika. Malini is the exiled sister of the emperor. Refusing to ritualistically immolate herself for her brother, Malini is imprisoned in the Hirana, a ruined temple that houses an ancient power. Priya and Bhumika are former temple daughters, those that tended the Hirana before the emperor had the temple sacked. Priya agrees to serve as a maidservant to Malini, and inadvertently reveals her hidden strengths. Sensing an opportunity, Malini seeks to grow closer to Priya, and their fates become interwoven. Meanwhile, Bhumika deals with the growing political unrest and struggles to keep her people safe.
Outside of the three main women, it can be easy to mix up the other PoV characters. Many of them only have a couple chapters. Without very distinct voices, it's hard to remember who's narrating a particular chapter.
Despite this, Suri creates very evocative imagery. The setting is lush and inviting, with a lot to uncover. The world building is gradual, with more revealed throughout the novel.
In general, The Jasmine Throne is very slow burn, with everything building in intensity over time. In some regards, this is fine, but in others it can make it hard to get into the story. For the central romance, it works well, allowing the characters to build a connection before the romance begins. The slow pace of the plot outside of this though, makes it feel as though very little is happening.
Overall, an interesting story with a great setting. Because the first book was mainly set up, I'm interested to see how things pay off in the sequel. In particular, Malini and Bhumika are both set up as charismatic leaders, so I'm expecting them to clash in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
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