The Jasmine Throne - Review

Book Review:
Title: The Jasmine Throne
Author: Tasha Suri
Publisher: Orbit
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"She could make herself into something monstrous. She could be a creature born of poison and pyre, flame and blood."

One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne.
The other is a priestess searching for her family.
Together, they will change the fate of an empire.
   Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of powerful magic – but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
   Priya is a maidservant, one of several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to attend Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, as long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides. But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled...

If there’s one thing The Jasmine Throne and Tasha Suri excels at, it’s characterisation. More specifically, the characterisation of women in this story. Well developed, complex and just so fresh. Don’t get me wrong, the men in this story are also well developed and complex, but the women truly are the core and heart of this story.

Priya and Malini, our two main ladies, as well as Bhumika, the regent’s wife, are morally-grey, sharp and so incredibly determined. Their personalities vary, which makes them individually unique, yet they all have this fierce spark within them. In a world where women are undermined and mistreated, these three utilise their perceived ‘weaknesses’ as a way to achieve their desires. And I respect that. Outwardly and initially they appear subservient, but then you read their thoughts, and you see that these women are ready to do anything to survive and succeed.

Our two main ladies, Priya and Malini, should be enemies, given that they fall on opposite sides of the playing field, but very quickly they recognise their shared fire and spirit and, despite their own agendas, develop a deep level of mutual respect. While they do remain wary of each other, they can’t deny this magnetic pull between them, which leads to a tender, slow-burn romance. I really appreciated how the romance was handled – although there was this initial attraction between the two of them, the progression felt very natural, and their romance never actually deterred them from their own journeys.

The world-building in this book was another positive element. It was so rich and so vibrant – I, myself am Indian, so I definitely felt a slight personal connection to the world and the culture. From the names, to the food, to the clothing. And although this is an epic fantasy, parts of it felt very familiar, which made me feel pretty warm inside. Other than the culture, we see a lot of political intrigue, with Malini wanting to overthrow her brother, mingled with an intricate and fascinating magic system, and discussions surrounding misogyny and sexuality.

However, despite the amazing characters and world-building, I did find it hard to fully immerse myself into the story at hand at times. The Jasmine Throne is definitely a slower paced book, which does allow you to truly appreciate the world, but I was left wanting the plot to move a little faster, with slightly more action. The second half, more specifically the final 20%-ish, had a good balance, and I found it much easier to immerse myself, but the first half felt slightly like we were still just setting up the world and story. Priya and Malini, for example, don’t really properly interact until the 25% mark. This can be pretty common in epic fantasies, so it definitely won’t bother everyone, but personally it did feel a little too slow at times and therefore I struggled to stay connected.

Regardless, overall, I did enjoy this novel and I do plan on continuing on with the series. The ending was great and sets the sequel up so nicely – this series can go in many directions, and I’m excited to see which route it takes – all I ask is that Priya, Malini and Bhumika survive and are HAPPY and HEALTHY.

Fierce women, brilliant world-building, a slow-burn f/f romance, political intrigue, and a unique magic system – there is something for everyone in this book. If you enjoy rich, fantasy settings with cut-throat women who wish to turn an empire on its head, pick up The Jasmine Throne.

3.5 Stars
Goodreads