A review by lcasswrites
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I did a re-read of this prior to starting book 2 in the series because I couldn't remember anything that had happened! I actually found I enjoyed this more the second time, perhaps because I was in more of a mood for it. What I enjoyed most was the rich Indian-based fantasy world that this series is based in. Suri writes it in intricate and fascinating detail without making you feel like you're plodding through miles of exposition. The two female leads are anything but Mary Sues. They're complex, flawed, unapologetically strong, and don't always do the right thing. It leaves the reader in a constant state of wondering which way they're going to go (in relation to the wider story and to each other). In what seems like a deliberate choice by the author, a lot of detail about what is going on in the wider world around the protagonists story is left out - covered in high level detail only - which can sometimes be a little jarring. But the narrow focus on Malini and Priya, and the fight of the Aharanyi in the city where it all happens, is beautifully wrought.