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cinnamonandpancakes'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
Priya and Malini are both excellent characters with depth and compelling inner worlds. I adore reading characters growing into the shape they must fill to achieve their goals and these two do it very well.
Graphic: War and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
Minor: Religious bigotry and Xenophobia
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
venkaism'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
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
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
runpinkyrun'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
mothie_girlie'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: Violence, War, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
annettewolf'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
4.75
Yes, there are a lot of POV characters. But there's also a lot of chapters that are from the eyes of a very minor (or inconsequential) character, but which serve a very specific narrative focus from being told in that perspective. This is a story of colonizers and the colonized, rebellion and war, magic and religion. And even with all of those big themes, we spend so much time with our primary characters that it's so easy to fall in love with them.
Some of the characters snuck up on me, tugging at my heart in ways I didn't expect. Others I liked from the start, like Priya and Malini. Everyone has such amazing depth. I'm really impressed by how well-rounded they all are, how real their choices and emotions felt.
The disparate cultures, histories, and religions come together to create a truly complex world. We get a healthy taste of the mythology of the Ahiranya, the colonized people, some of whom are bent on rebellion. And in the middle of all of this are Priya and Malini. Priya is the unwilling center upon which everything else turns. And Malini works on stage and behind the scenes, orchestrating as much as she can. I love that they are both so central in such different ways.
The ending felt a little bit anti-climactic, in some ways. It's more about character growth than it is about more life-or-death situations. But there's important plot stuff happening, getting our characters situated for the next stretches of their complicated, often dangerous lives. I am eager for the next book, so I can spend more time with these characters, and find out what happens next.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fully-fleshed out, magical fantasy with themes of rebellion, politics, and warring religions. But also, anyone who loves a strong, complex main character. You've got two excellent choices, in Priya and Malini. And let's face it--the fact that it's all sapphic is just the perfect icing on the cake.
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
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
bbillings23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Violence, War, and Religious bigotry
soundlysmitten'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
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