A Lazy Reader's Review of "The Jasmine Throne" by Tasha Suri

Synopsis

    Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters – but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

    Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini's chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so 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. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

Review

    Oh my god this is an absolute win for me. You don't know how happy I am to have been able to find a fantasy book that I both liked and did not take place in a European medieval setting. Nothing but a triumph.

    The writing. I love how beautifully Suri is able to describe her settings and characters. I listened to the audio version of this book and it honestly felt like I was watching a movie in my head. I love the examination of how a patriarchal society views women as "monstrous". Malini is considered monstrous because she refused to burn and was thus considered impure and Priya is considered monstrous for her magical abilities. The world building is also the stuff of dreams. 

    I loved the heavy Indian influence that was sprawled all over the book. From the clothing, the foods, the architecture, etc. Ugh, so good. So refreshing. I also thought the magic system was done exceptionally well too. I like when magic systems are rooted in the physical realm and I think this book really did it for me. Love the fact that it's plant magic and all. The prose and the dialogue were also superb and real. This book might make it difficult for me to go back to medieval Europe inspired fantasy books. 

    The characters were so real. Finally, a book that has strong female characters that are still able to keep their femininity. I dislike reading about strong female characters that are considered thus because they embrace masculine traits, as if being overly feminine is inherently weak. Bhumika is definitely being added to my list of badass fantasy female characters. The author gives every female character such nuance and I'm just so obsessed. Priya, a lowly handmaiden who has been ripped away from her people and culture, is hardened by her past but is still kind and willing to help others. Malini, a disgrace princess who refused to burn and is now kept prisoner, is clever, stubborn, and cunning in her attempts to escape and fulfill her ambitions. She had not allowed her situation to fully bring her down. The romance between these two women was also so lovely. I mean, come on! Morally grey lesbians who use each other for their own gains but can't help but fall for each other? I ate that shit up.

    Overall, I highly recommend this book and I absolutely cannot wait to pick up the second book.

Sept. 8, 2024 – Sept. 12, 2024

★★★★★

Favorite Quote: "Malini wanted to explain that being monstrous wasn't inherited, as Priya seemed to believe it to be. It was something placed upon you: a chain or a poison, bled into you by unkind hands."