The Jasmine Throne

You have to love it when the roll of a dice can introduce you to a world and characters you know a small amount about at page one, and by the end of the book - and in this case; there are two more to go. You know this book has its claws in you and has made an impact on your thoughts and emotions. I knew of The Jasmine Throne, friends had told me about it and said I'd love it - they were right.”If I must burn, then I’ll take you with me, throne and all.”The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is part one in The Burning Kingdom series and I am still processing this beautifully written book, and wish I could have entered its pages on several occasions to save some of the characters so much pain and knock sense into others. This is a book that takes its time, and the romance certainly does but it’s so well-written that you don’t mind that build-up of emotions nor the many things that cause a princess and her maid to be reticent of what they feel for one another. There are many a reason as to why they shouldn’t and Tasha Suri explains that in such a manner that it not only makes sense whilst not liking the why, but also me showcases that initial reticence you often feel about making that first big step of openness about how you feel - especially if it’s as unexpected as it is for these two ladies.I knew little of the book bar from what a couple of friends had said about it a few years ago, and I had them under strict instructions even then to not share too much - and I’m so glad I did. They had told me you won’t realise what you have taken on when you begin, and they were right - the world of The Burning Kingdom is the immense Empire of Parijatdvipa. The land itself is vast but it’s not just that; as with any land that expands over time there are different faiths and their belief systems that often clash rather than blend, cultures and ways of life that change from area to area of the lands and their differing histories. All of this has been written with such care and visible love for the fictional world the author has brought to life, and it’s this attention to detail that can make it feel a little overwhelming at first but feels integral to the why of some many of the events that transpire and cause you as a reader to be on edge reading -because Tasha Suri doesn’t hold back on the tragedies and violence of the world we’re now invested in. In short, Parijatdvipa feels real.There are multiple povs throughout the book but most of the chapters are focused on our main female protagonists, Priya and Malini who have gone through so much already and through their chapters in particular. We get to understand so much of what has brought them to where they are now. Both deserve so much more than life has given them. They’re both such strong people in their own right and I loved how their feelings for one another didn’t diminish that self of self they have. The two may well be very different in their social standing, their beliefs and faith etcetera but you see also how that helps them in their worst moments and helps to broaden their understanding of the world they’re in.I could go on and on about this book, but I’d end up writing thousands of words - this was an epic read, and I felt a plethora of emotion as I delved further into the world and its people. If you are looking for a slow-burn sapphic romance within a wonderful expansive world with drama coming from all sides? Then this is for you.

Genre: Epic Fantasy 🪷✨Tropes/Themes: Inspired by Indian History and Epics; Multiple POV; Sapphic; Servant/Princess; Priestess; Queer awakening subplot 🌶️: 💖 (closed door, suggestive dialogue)Medium: audiobook 🎧CW: abuse, drugs, blood, body horror, confinement, death, fire used as a religious cleansing, mass murder, misogyny, violence, xenophobiaMild: homophobia, suicidal thoughts Review: “It’s burning worlds all the way down” 🔥 If you liked Priory of the Orange Tree, you’ll LOVE The Jasmine Throne! This is an immersive story, full of intensity with breaks of charming tenderness 🤌Told mainly from 2 POVs, I appreciated the extra POVs scattered throughout the story so much. The glimpses into the inner workings of important characters were unique and very satisfying. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series