A review by micksland
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4 stars

Winner: 2022 World Fantasy Award
Nominee: 2022 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel

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This is a very intriguing epic fantasy novel inspired by various cultures on the Indian subcontinent. It takes traditional fantasy novel tropes and reinterprets them outside the Eurocentric motifs that many modern fantasy novels use.

I loved the character development throughout the novel. The main characters are Malini, the disgraced sister of the Emperor, and her maid Priya, who is much more than she appears. The author did a great job at exploring the different ethnic backgrounds, class differences, and religious beliefs of these characters as they seek to overthrow the Emperor. I do wish that the emperor had some more character development, because he is presented as simply an evil religious fanatic who needs to be replaced. If he had more page time, I think the narrative would have been stronger. Nevertheless, a very fun read and I’ll pick up the sequel!
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