Series: Burning Kingdoms #1
Published by Orbit on June 8, 2021
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 576
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
She would make herself something monstrous. She could be a creature born of poison and pyre, flame and blood.
The Jasmine Throne is the woman-centric epic fantasy that I’ve been waiting to read. Among several other POVs shine Malini, Priya, and Bhumika, women of diverse strengths in a world that pressures them to conform to patriarchal standards of women. Malini is calculating, manipulative, and ruthless. She hesitates not to use others or discard pieces to get what she desires. Priya is a temple child with special abilities; she only wants to protect her loved ones, and to free Ahiranya. She has a quiet strength that does not require her to hurt others. Bhumika, a mother-to-be, seeks to protect Ahiranya from her position as the regent’s gentle wife, a guise that cloaks a sharp mind for politics. I love how this book features women working with women (and not against one another). While their goals pit them against each other at times, the women recognize the need for unity.
The story opens with fire, as Malini’s heart sisters are burned on the pyre. Because she refuses to submit—to burn alongside them and become a mother of flame—her dictator brother, Chandra, exiles her to the Hirana. There, in the ancient temple, she spends her days in isolation. Though Chandra intends for the princess to reflect on her duty to burn, Malini has other plans. Plans to depose her brother from his throne—for her brother may deprive her of her connections, and poison her body with needle flower, but he cannot take away her mind or heart. And she desires vengeance.
Priya serves as a maidservant in the regent’s mahal. Along with others, she makes the treacherous climb to the top of the Hirana every night to clean the temple and make preparations for the day. Her plan: keep a low profile and accept the additional coin for serving the princess. But then Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature and draws the maidservant into her play for power.
A woman of my status and breeding … should serve her family. Everyone told me I should be obedient to my father and my brothers and one day, my husband. But [redacted] and [redacted] made their choices, and I didn’t simply accept those choices. I didn’t obey. Because [redacted] were wrong. But more than anything … I’m monstrous because I have desires.
This book is also about the ones we love and the complex bonds we have with them. Each character has been deeply influenced by others, in such a way that their thoughts and actions, and even non-actions, carry impressions of that person. The women have learned to conform to the ways of the world, or to be branded as monstrous for their desires, desires that would place them in danger. Rao is tied to prophecy that compels him to follow Malini. Bhumika has learned to love someone who has hurt Ahiranya, the home she loves and to which she gives her highest loyalty. Priya loves, is loved, and has been hurt by her brother (not by blood, but by their shared connection as temple children). Their relationship eventually leads her to make a complicated decision, on which I have mixed feelings, but which I appreciate because it presents a realistic portrayal of what it means to be family: sometimes, we make choices that we don’t know are right, but we hope they are because we want to believe in family.
There is a subtle pain the conquered feel. Our old language is nearly lost. Our old ways. Even when we try to explain a vision of ourselves to one another–in our poetry, our song, our theater masks–we do so in opposition to you, or by looking to the past. As if we have no future. Parijatdvipa has reshaped us. It is not a conversation, but a rewriting. The pleasure of security and comfort can only ease the pain for so long.
The Jasmine Throne also presents the complexities among a conquered people. Some fight with violence and are perceived as dangerous rebel groups. Some work within the system, ingratiating themselves with people in power and seeking to protect those they can. Some write and meet in secret, spreading their ideologies. Some work with outside groups, seeking aid where they can. Others keep their heads down and give what they can to the ones on the streets, the ones that most people pass by. Still others throw in their lot with whoever will have them, because they have nothing of their own.
Falling and rising are alike, in water, when you’re deep enough, and the deathless waters were a thing without ending. They were a cold, brilliant blue–the blue of the universe. The blue of stars enfolded in skeins of sky that contained all things.
Tasha Suri weaves these themes with beautiful, poetic language and rich details that bring the characters and world to life. Read The Jasmine Throne for morally gray, sapphic women, for strong female characters, for a richly detailed world inspired by Indian history and epics, and for a revenge story and an uprising.
The Jasmine Throne is one of my favorite reads of 2021. I can’t wait to read book 2!
Representation
Lesbian (main characters), world inspired by the history and epics of India, found family
Trigger warning
View Spoiler »For a more detailed description of a few TWs:
View Spoiler »Let’s Chat
Have you read The Jasmine Throne or plan to read it?
What are your thoughts?
Amber Elise @ Du Livre says
I’m so happy this is a favorite! It was a bit long to me, but I’m curious about book 2!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
Wow! This sounds really amazing!! I’ll definitely have to check it out!
Crystal says
The Jasmine Throne is fantastic. I hope you enjoy it!!