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readingwithkaitlyn'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
4.5
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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, War, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Suicide, and Addiction
flowingleaves'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: Sexism, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, War, Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Colonisation
Moderate: Blood, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Homophobia
kshertz'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? No
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Violence, War, Abandonment, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
cassieslibrary'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: Drug use, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Misogyny
krows_ink's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
But in all seriousness the world building in this book is insane, I love all the different religions and how different people use them. I also really enjoyed the discussions of fate and power. The romance in this book is exquisite too.
Overall an excellent book and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. This is a truly feminist story in my opinion.
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child death, and War
Moderate: Homophobia
mossylibra'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Classism, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Misogyny, War, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
tangoscore'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: War, Sexism, Murder, Violence, and Colonisation
daffodilcherry'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
Wheelhouses: rich worldbuilding, fantasy with female main characters, South Asian inspired fantasy, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, plant based magic, dark fantasy with misogyny without sexual assault / sexual violence.
Favourite quotes:
"But I'm going to have to be, Priya. I need to be - the part of me I need to be - can't be good. Or soft. Not to do what's needful." Priya said nothing. She simply tilted her head, listening.
"I am going to have to carve out a new face. A face that can pay the price I need to pay. I am going to become monstrous," Malini said, tasting the weight of the words upon her lips, her tongue. "For so long I have only wanted to escape and survive. But now I am free, and for the sake of my purpose... for the sake of power," she admitted, "I am going to become something other than human. Other than simply not good. I must."
Priya hesitated. Said, finally, "I'm not sure that's what being powerful means. Losing yourself."]
[Priya looked at Malini. At her back, a forbidding line. "I promise you I'll come," Priya said to her. "I know you don't think much of prophecies. Or portents, or fate, or anything of that sort. But one day I am going to come and find you. By then, I expect you will have long forgotten me. Maybe I'll only be able to walk the edges of whatever mahal you live in, but as... as long as you want me to, I'll come. If you want me to find you, I'll come." There were so many things Priya didn't know how to say.
The moment I saw you, I felt a tug. You are the feeling of falling, the tidal waters, the way a living thing will always turn, seeking light. It isn't that I think you are good or kind, or even that I love you. It is only that, the moment I saw you, I knew I would seek you out. Just as I sought the deathless waters. Just as I sought my brother. Just as I seek all things-without thought, with nothing but want.]
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, and War
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Love. As if love excused anything."
A high fantasy about Desi lesbians challenging the government and burning shit down (as they should!) The Burning Throne kept me on the edge of my seat, set in a crumbling empire dealing with a magical illness that makes people grow plants on them and a brewing rebellion, starring likable and stabby characters with shifting allegiances.
The cast is centered around mainly women, mostly our queer protagonists, and all of them are Desi and it was nice to see that diversity in an adult high fantasy. This was really fun to buddy read because of the characters and how well developed and defined they are. I will say I kind of wish there was a little less jumping around so many perspectives with them as it would occasional hinder the pacing. That's a small critique though as mostly the transitions are consistent with the core cast of characters with Priya as the main protagonist.
It's fun? Would that be the right word? Like, it's not a light read per se since it is about war but it is entertaining because of the fast pacing, prose that goes down easy, and blorbos. It's perfect for fans of 'good for her' stories!
Specific TWs: illness (magical), drug addiction including symptoms of withdrawal (fictional drug).
Graphic: Drug abuse and War
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Murder