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A review by keysmashhh
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Plot: 3.5/5
Character: 3.5/5
Relationships: 4/5
World-Building: 3.5/5
Genre: 4/5
Plot: OMG this was a big book, despite being so much shorter than Priory of the Orange Tree, I really felt like this book dragged on. I think this has to do with it being set in one place for 80% of the book, after a while I really just wanted something to happen outside of the Hirana/the surrounding city. Even once the book picked up and they were on the move I kind of didn't feel invested in the actual plot. I liked the change of scenery but I didn't really feel a change of pace until the last 5% of the book. I think some of the world-building could have been shortened and the action sped up a bit. I did enjoy the use of visions/flashbacks which really helped keep me invested in finding out more about the past. I have to say my main motivation for getting to the end of the book was to find out what Rao's secret name was and even that reveal fell a bit flat for me.
Character: PREM!!!!!!!!! :(((((((((((( <3 - best character! rip / Rao was cool, I generally liked his POVs and felt the most excited to read them. I felt a bit meh about Priya and Malini - I think they suffered a bit too much from main character syndrome and I started getting a bit sick of their voices. Bhumika really grew on me as the book progressed and I felt like she had the best story arc across the book. None of the other characters stood out to me, I think the ensemble cast sort of blended into the background of the narrative.
Relationships: I mean I knew the book was sapphic going into it so Priya and Malini's relationship wasn't a shock but I actually enjoyed their romance build-up. I liked that it wasn't insta-love instead more of an "I can use this person for my own gain... oh wait I kind of like them." But the real romance had to be Prem and Rao - I mean come on, I was really rooting for those two but.... plot happened. :(
World-Building: I've read some really similar fantasy books recently and I have to say this one was somehow my favourite and my least favourite in terms of world-building. I loved the history aspect, the religious beliefs and how they all worked together and contrasted each other (particularly fascinated by the nameless gods/the names of the kids being prophecies) But I also felt very confused when it came to the lore for most of this book - at points I felt like it was a bit too complicated and distracted me from the plot of the book. I think there's a balance to be struck in terms of exposition and world building and sometimes it felt a bit heavy handed.
Genre: I really enjoyed this type of book recently and this one was comfortabley in the middle of the pack. It didn't have the suprisingly amazingly easy reading experience of the Ivory Key but it didn't make me feel super uncomfortable like some other's I have read. I would tentitvely reccomend it to a friend but make sure to emphasise the v. slow pacing. I have realised there is clearly a book 2 and whilst this one interested me, I just don't think I can bring myself to pick up another slow book in this universe.
Character: 3.5/5
Relationships: 4/5
World-Building: 3.5/5
Genre: 4/5
Plot: OMG this was a big book, despite being so much shorter than Priory of the Orange Tree, I really felt like this book dragged on. I think this has to do with it being set in one place for 80% of the book, after a while I really just wanted something to happen outside of the Hirana/the surrounding city. Even once the book picked up and they were on the move I kind of didn't feel invested in the actual plot. I liked the change of scenery but I didn't really feel a change of pace until the last 5% of the book. I think some of the world-building could have been shortened and the action sped up a bit. I did enjoy the use of visions/flashbacks which really helped keep me invested in finding out more about the past. I have to say my main motivation for getting to the end of the book was to find out what Rao's secret name was and even that reveal fell a bit flat for me.
Character: PREM!!!!!!!!! :(((((((((((( <3 - best character! rip / Rao was cool, I generally liked his POVs and felt the most excited to read them. I felt a bit meh about Priya and Malini - I think they suffered a bit too much from main character syndrome and I started getting a bit sick of their voices. Bhumika really grew on me as the book progressed and I felt like she had the best story arc across the book. None of the other characters stood out to me, I think the ensemble cast sort of blended into the background of the narrative.
Relationships: I mean I knew the book was sapphic going into it so Priya and Malini's relationship wasn't a shock but I actually enjoyed their romance build-up. I liked that it wasn't insta-love instead more of an "I can use this person for my own gain... oh wait I kind of like them." But the real romance had to be Prem and Rao - I mean come on, I was really rooting for those two but.... plot happened. :(
World-Building: I've read some really similar fantasy books recently and I have to say this one was somehow my favourite and my least favourite in terms of world-building. I loved the history aspect, the religious beliefs and how they all worked together and contrasted each other (particularly fascinated by the nameless gods/the names of the kids being prophecies) But I also felt very confused when it came to the lore for most of this book - at points I felt like it was a bit too complicated and distracted me from the plot of the book. I think there's a balance to be struck in terms of exposition and world building and sometimes it felt a bit heavy handed.
Genre: I really enjoyed this type of book recently and this one was comfortabley in the middle of the pack. It didn't have the suprisingly amazingly easy reading experience of the Ivory Key but it didn't make me feel super uncomfortable like some other's I have read. I would tentitvely reccomend it to a friend but make sure to emphasise the v. slow pacing. I have realised there is clearly a book 2 and whilst this one interested me, I just don't think I can bring myself to pick up another slow book in this universe.