The Jasmine Throne

2021 novel by Tasha Suri

The Jasmine Throne

First edition

Author| Tasha Suri
Language| English
Series| Burning Kingdoms trilogy

Release number

| 1
Genre| Fantasy
Publisher| Orbit UK

Publication date

| June 2021
Media type| Print (hardcover, paperback), e-Book
Pages| 576
ISBN| 9780759554160
Followed by| The Oleander Sword[1]

The Jasmine Throne is a fantasy novel by British author Tasha Suri published by Orbit UK in 2021.[2] An epic fantasy set in a world inspired by ancient India,[1][2] it is the first volume in the Burning Kingdoms trilogy.[3][4]

It won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 2022.[5]

## Plot summary

[edit]

The Parijatdvipan Empire rules over several vassal states, including Ahiranya. Ahiranya’s native language, religion, and culture have been suppressed; this has led to instability and rebellion. A new disease called the rot is leading to further stress.

Within an Ahiranyi temple called the Hirana, there is a source of power known as the deathless waters. By passing through the waters once, twice, or thrice, Ahiranyi temple children risked their lives in exchange for gaining magical powers related to the yaksa, nature spirits. During the Parijati conquest, some of the Ahiranyi elders betrayed their companions; most of the elders and temple children were massacred.

Prince Aditya leaves the traditional Parijati religion to become a priest of the nameless god, a religion belonging to the region of Alor. His brother Chandra ascends to the throne. Chandra is a religious fanatic and attempts to impose his beliefs on the empire. Malini, Emperor Chandra’s sister, refuses to sacrifice herself in a religious ritual and is exiled. A group of dissidents, led by Prince Rao of Alor, attempts to free Malini and place Aditya on the throne.

Malini is imprisoned in the Hirana. Priya is a former temple child who survived the massacre. She is a servant in the household of General Vikram, the Parijati Regent of Ahiranya, and his wife Bhumika. Priya saves Malini from an assassination attempt and becomes her personal maid.

Ashok, the leader of a group resistance fighters, is Priya’s older brother and another surviving temple child. He and his rebels hope to violently overthrow the occupying government. Ashok and his rebels drink their last supply from the deathless waters; they gain powers, but will die if they cannot replenish their store from the Hirana. Bhumika reveals herself as a surviving temple child and has Vikram executed, consolidating power for herself.

In exchange for independence for Ahiranya, Priya agrees to help Malini escape. Before they flee the Hirana, Priya seals the path to the deathless waters so that Ashok cannot reach them. Malini and Priya flee toward the city-state of Srugna and begin a romance. Bhumika, Priya, and Malini meet with Rao and Aditya. Priya agrees to save Ashok and his rebels on the condition that they recognize Bhumika as leader. Malini remains with her brother as the others return to Ahiranya.

Priya’s group returns to the Hirana. She and Bhumika become thrice-born, but Ashok dies in the attempt. Bhumika and Priya become elders, reinstating the traditional Ahiranyi religion.

Emperor Chandra sends a battalion to attack Aditya. The weak-willed Aditya is unwilling to sacrifice his soldiers, but Malini takes control, burning the temple of the nameless god to the ground. This kills all of Chandra’s soldiers, as well as some of Aditya’s priests. Malini claims power and is proclaimed as Empress.

## Reception and awards

[edit]

A review in Locus praised the book's morally grey characters and its "intense, vivid atmosphere".[3] Describing the novel as "lush, evocative, richly characterised, emotionally dense", Tor.com said that its main theme was the nature of power and its cost.[6] The relationship between its female protagonists Malini and Priya was praised by Library Journal,[7] which added that fans on Twitter and BookTok dubbed it part of the "Sapphic Saffron Trifecta" along with The Unbroken by C.L. Clark and She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The Oleander Sword". Publishers Weekly. 8 July 2022.
2. ^ a b Bourke, Liz (27 April 2021). "Sleeps With Monsters: In Conversation With Tasha Suri". Tor.com.
3. ^ a b James, Maya C. (5 October 2021). "Maya C. James Reviews The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
4. ^ Yoon, Elizabeth (10 January 2022). "On family, The Jasmine Throne and Gilmore Girls conservative politics". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
5. ^ "World Fantasy Awards 2022". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
6. ^ Bourke, Liz (8 June 2021). "The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri Is Complicated, Unapologetic, Powerful, Glorious". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
7. ^ Bliss, Laurel (1 April 2021). "The Jasmine Throne". Library Journal. Vol. 146, no. 4\. ProQuest 2505391351.
8. ^ Harris, Marlene (16 November 2021). "SFF 2022 Preview | 89 Titles To Read, Know, and Share". Library Journal. Vol. 146, no. 11\. ProQuest 2590063163.

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|

* v
* t
* e

* v
* t
* e

World Fantasy Award—Novel

1970s|

* The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (1975)
* Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson (1976)
* Doctor Rat by William Kotzwinkle (1977)
* Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber (1978)
* Gloriana by Michael Moorcock (1979)

1980s|

* Watchtower by Elizabeth A. Lynn (1980)
* The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (1981)
* Little, Big by John Crowley (1982)
* Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea (1983)
* The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford (1984)
* Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock / Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart (1985)
* Song of Kali by Dan Simmons (1986)
* Perfume by Patrick Süskind (1987)
* Replay by Ken Grimwood (1988)
* Koko by Peter Straub (1989)

1990s|

* Lyonesse: Madouc by Jack Vance (1990)
* Only Begotten Daughter by James K. Morrow / Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner (1991)
* Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon (1992)
* Last Call by Tim Powers (1993)
* Glimpses by Lewis Shiner (1994)
* Towing Jehovah by James K. Morrow (1995)
* The Prestige by Christopher Priest (1996)
* Godmother Night by Rachel Pollack (1997)
* The Physiognomy by Jeffrey Ford (1998)
* The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich (1999)

2000s|

* Thraxas by Martin Scott (2000)
* Declare by Tim Powers / Galveston by Sean Stewart (2001)
* The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin (2002)
* The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce / Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip (2003)
* Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton (2004)
* Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2005)
* Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2006)
* Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe (2007)
* Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (2008)
* The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford / Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (2009)

2010s|

* The City & the City by China Miéville (2010)
* Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (2011)
* Osama by Lavie Tidhar (2012)
* Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (2013)
* A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar (2014)
* The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (2015)
* The Chimes by Anna Smaill (2016)
* The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North (2017)
* Jade City by Fonda Lee / The Changeling by Victor LaValle (2018)
* Witchmark by C. L. Polk (2019)

2020s|

* Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender (2020)
* Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2021)
* The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (2022)
* Saint Death's Daughter by C. S. E. Cooney (2023)

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