Reviews with content warning for Medical content - The Jasmine Throne

The Jasmine Throne immerses you in the deathless waters and the smoking pyre of an intricately beautiful world. While it took me quite some time to get into it, once I did I sped through the book.

I loved the moral complexities, the complex worldbuilding, the magic, and the politics. The characters were a bit hit or miss for me at first, but as I continued to get to know them I grew to love them as well. I particularly enjoyed Rao, but of course, I also loved Priya and Malini.

It's hard for me to say what made this book a four star read for me and not higher. It might be because I was in a bit of a slump as I read the first half of the book, but I didn't get the *vibes* that I get with a five star book. I will definitely be continuing with the series, and will be grabbing The Oleander Sword soon!

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mistyfoot19's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

4.25

I really liked this book, and would love to read the sequels and other books like it. I did find it to be a bit slow to draw me in, even though a lot of the action was ongoing for much of the book. It felt almost wrong, given the events of the book to mark it as slow-paced, but it took me a long time to get a handle on the plot. Despite that, I really loved and enjoyed the story, and the characters, and am happy I read it!

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lolajh's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

A BEAUTIFUL lesbian slow burn romance

(first kiss isn’t until after page 400)

between a princess and her maidservant, set in India and depicting the varieties of Indian cultures, histories, stories, and morals from different regions. And plant magic! The main characters’ corruption into morally grey characters was perfectly illustrated, creating a lot of tension and pining and unsaid thoughts between them that gave me butterflies a couple times. Their chemistry and love and developing trust for each other leads to the pair discovering and learning to love all parts of each other. They are perfect. Loved seeing some women experiencing rage and revenge and strength, especially Malini, the princess, who proved to not be the “pathetic” person women in royalty is often portrayed to be like and rather someone wanting to overthrow her brother, the emperor, for the good of her empire and people. Both Priya and Malini are such unique and independent people on their own outside of their relationship, which makes their story so special and enjoyable to read. Priya has to learn to control and manipulate her powers well enough in order to fight, (would love to see some training scenes with her and Bhumika in the next book to see her develop her fighting style) and Malini has to stand up for herself after being a doormat walked on for a lot of her life.

That forest scene where they’re surrounded and Priya circles Malini trying to protect her? SO GOOD. And then Malini proving her own power by manipulating the attackers, overcome by rage and wanting to avenge her empire from the rebels so much that she puts both of them in danger and no longer being under Priya’s protection really showed her character that I ended up truly loving. And then every single kiss scene between them is perfect - the imagery and descriptions of what each of them are thinking and doing gave me butterflies! Like the waterfall scene was perfect, as well as the scene in the tent at the end, and when they’re in the woods kissing in front of everyone and not caring about who sees. Even before they confess their feelings when Priya is still her maidservant, her being company to Malini as she gets sicker and holds her hand and washes her and tells her stories FUCK.

And when they are together, boy are they just perfect: the face touches, breathing each other’s name, forehead touches, just everything is so pure and wonderful. And despite Priya’s overwhelming strength that could overpower Malini easily, she NEVER hurts her, even when Malini is hurting Priya. She cannot bring herself to ever harm her. This book BREAKS ME.

And that ending????? Priya becoming a thrice-born elder of Ahiranya and Malini the Prijat empress? These women are powerful as FUCK. Especially Malini just becoming empress when her brother refuses, god I love her.

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melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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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.

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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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.

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