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gjkennedy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Also, I'm often really wary (as a feminist) of stories that are marketed as being such, as my typical experience has been books so caught up in the "feminist" they forget to be "stories" and undermine themselves a little in the process. This story so beautifully captured how being a woman affected the ambitions and the relations of the women characters without it being the centerpiece of the narrative. It was a constant thread of perspective, a factor of everything without being what this story is, which I think it a really good way of going about it, and I found myself underlining many passages that tied to my own experiences. I greatly enjoyed the skillful subtlety of it.
Absolutely adored this book.
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Confinement
Minor: Death and Grief
amber_tke's review against another edition
- 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
Tasha Suris writing us something I've never experienced before and I adored it. The way the writing bound me to the story couldn't make me stop reading. The world building was done so nicely and I loved the characters(especially Malini and Priya)
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief
schnaucl's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
So how do the followers of the nameless god learn their names when it's three pages of irrigation techniques? Do they have to keep going back to the temple to memorize it? It seems like the kind of thing that wouldn't be written down anywhere. This may have been mentioned and I just don't remember it. The idea that people's names are prophecy is interesting.
I like Rao, I hope we see more from him.
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Addiction, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
andromeda_1998's review against another edition
- 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 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!
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, War, Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Moderate: Pregnancy and Lesbophobia
blue_bird31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Genocide and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Grief
starccato's review against another edition
- 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
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
redthistle's review
- 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
My favorite thing about this book is the exploration of strength in women in multiple facets.
The main three female characters are amazing. Each woman demonstrates incredible strength in the face of a world that is very sexist and misogynistic. Their strength, however, is not all the same. Each one finds a different way to survive in a world which wants to destroy them, whether it be through physical strength to fight, emotional strength to do what is hard, or strength in cunning to manipulate perceptions to protect oneself these women are awesome.
I also found the relationship between
The final thing I loved from this book was the world that Tasha Suri created. I found it really engrossing and fascinating. The magic system is really cool and the richness of the culture which is woven into the high fantasy setting that she creates is beautiful. I am so excited to read further in this world.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Violence
monkymarzipan's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Terminal illness, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Suicide attempt
troisha's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Gore
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and War
soundlysmitten's review
- 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
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.
Who runs the world? ;)
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