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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
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
booksthatburn'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Child death
laurenfro22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Violence, and War
yavin_iv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Body horror, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Pregnancy, War, and Emotional abuse
hanarama's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
foreverinastory'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
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.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and War
nowheregirl'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
4.0
I have to say, I was not disappointed and even though I had some issues with this book it have still found a way to my heart.
The worldbuilding in this book, as well as conflict, were something with great potential but I am not really fond of execution. The pacing in this book was kinda slow and I consider some of the plotlines a little dragged - there were a couple of scenes in this book where I thought "okay, but why couldn't it be done sooner?". Also, the stakes felt much lower than they were told to be and I would really like to see more of a main villain, whom I only met twice in the whole book.
However, as I am done with my complaints, I must say there were a lot of things in this book that I loved. First and most important of all. Women. Holy shit, I love women. And especially ambitious, morally gray women who make their own path in the mysogynist world. Three main heroines were absolutely amazing. Malini, the imprisoned princess seeking to overthrow her brother, the emperor, was written wonderfully and I found her journey really interesting and powerful. She also had a great dynamic with her love interest and other main character, Priya. And, ah, Priya. I loved her so much – women, who wielded such a powerful magic, who was able to both kill people and take care of sick, homeless child.
But, above all,I adored Bhumika and her characterisation. How, at first, she seemed soft and gentle, nothing but the regent's wife and mother to be. But oh, she turned out to be so much more. She was incredibly strong and persistent, women, who managed to gain her husband's men loyalty, a politician far more competent than anyone expected her to be. I loved it, how, even though everyone underestimated her, she was really the key to her nation's freedom.
Oh, and also, this book had lesbians holding a knife to the other's ribs and kissing under the waterfall. What more do you need?
Graphic: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Misogyny, and Sexism
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
achingallover'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit