tatisbooks 's review for:

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

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The Jasmine Throne: 4.75/5

There is no meaning in the universe: no fate, no high blood, no rights of kings over land. Everything is emptiness. The world only had meaning when we give it meaning.

I already want to re-read it. One of the best epic fantasy novels... ever?

Premise:
The Jasmine Throne takes place in an Indian-inspired setting called Ahiranya, a nation plagued by a peculiar disease known as the rot. The nation is on the verge of revolution due to the harsh Paraijatdvipan rule and the rot.

We are met with two main characters; Priya, who works in the regent household and tries to help 'rot-riven' children, has a secret, and Malini, the Emperor's disgraced sister. When Malini refuses to willingly burn on a pyre for 'The Mother,' she is sent to a prison called Hirana, which was once a temple, now abandoned, after the deaths of its children.

Malini discovers Priya's secret, and Malini requests Priya to become her one maidservant. As the two become closer and tensions rise, they realize they may have a few things in common.

Writing & Plot
Tasha Suri is an incredible writer. The world-building is mindblowing and easy to follow. That familiar feeling with Fantasy novels of not understanding the world was not the case. I found myself entranced by page one as Tasha Suri beautifully paints a fantastical world that is easy to get lost in.

The plot was so intricate, with so many moving parts that seamlessly blended. The religions, setting, worldbuilding, and fantastic elements are all * chef's kiss*. The one criticism I had is that much of the book is Malini trying to escape prison, and I wish that part moved a bit faster. However, it yielded more fantastic world-building. It truly is top-tier.

I also want to commend Tasha Suri for writing a vastly entertaining multi-POV story. The Jasmine Throne has so many different POVs, but they're all extremely distinct, engaging, and provide new insight.

“Trust me, her face said.
That was the problem with making allies. At some point, inevitably, there came a moment when a decision had to be made: Could this one be trusted? Had their loyalty been won? Was their generosity a façade for a hidden knife?”

Characters:
The Jasmine Throne not only provides an incredible world but also delivers phenomenal characters. I don't even know where to start. Malini and Priya are so different, but they work. I enjoyed reading from each of their perspectives so much because they define a strong woman lead. Their relationship with each other is like no other. It is truly a rollercoaster, but the pining, hate, understanding, is top tier. When they finally kissed, I squealed!!

No character felt left behind in this book. With the multiple POVs, complex world, and intricate plot, I can see how it'd be easy to let a character slip through the cracks. This was not the case with The Jasmine Throne. Each character has a specific role to play within the book, which I loved. Although the reader may disagree with each character's decisions, each is so complex that it makes sense in terms of their being.

Conclusion:
Not one thing went wrong in this book. Tasha Suri is a marvel, and this book raises the bar for all other fantasy books to follow. I am still recovering from the ending, but at the same time, I want to reread it all over again. This is the kind of book you can re-read multiple times and still find new plot points. This is 100% a new favorite. Tasha, please be kind to us in the sequel... or not ;)