Joined in 2023 
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Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya's souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And saving their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn will come at a terrible price. Stars. This did suffer some from second book syndrome, but I freaking loved it anyway! The Jasmine Throne was my favorite adult epic fantasy book last year so I could not wait to read this and while this book wasn’t quite as good -as it did slow down some in comparison- I really enjoyed it and I’m in love with this series. I personally had a really rough last week which included a bad pet scare and I spent a lot of time at emergency doggie vets (Lady, is still with us but we are waiting on tests to know more) so there were many times I just needed a great story that would transport my mind to another world and that was exactly what this book did. It was the perfect book at the right time for me and I could not be more thankful. It was also so beautifully written that even if I didn’t always love the story choices, I just didn’t mind.
The Oleander Sword is a book I have some mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it was classic Tasha Suri with lush prose, gorgeous worldbuilding, and a slowburning plotline. On the other hand, I did feel it suffered a little bit from second book syndrome.
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Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya’s souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And they soon realize that coming together is the only way to save their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn – even if it will cost them. DR: The Oleander Sword isn’t the only book you’ve had come out in 2022 – there’s also What Souls Are Made Of, your Wuthering Heights remix. What made you decide to write a retelling of Wuthering Heights, and what was the process like of doing it while you were still in the middle of writing this other huge series?
Agreed, that Malini can’t be on the throne for Priya and Malini to have a future. Also, the Yaksa are making changes to her (clearly because the knife wound burns unnaturally) and there’s no way she can be empress of Parijatdvipa if she gains the Ahiranyan temple type of abilities or the Yaksa make some changes to her appearance, which is entirely possible. I suppose Malini doesn’t have to step down voluntarily but I believe she will. For her to be deposed is too dark, I think. The cuteness that is Priya's and Malini's relationship is filled with way too much angst and pining for me in this book. I did, however, enjoy the two delicate connections, one involving Rao and the other Bhumika, a lot more. The prophecy of the nameless god—the words that declared Malini the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa—has proven a blessing and curse. She is determined to claim the throne that fate offered her. But even withrage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight. You know what I know. You know our ancient enemy comes. That is the war that lies upon the horizon…..The yaksa will return. The rot heralded them. They will come, and there will be war again.” There is also some attention to Priya’s tightness with her longtime friend, Sima. It’s important to Sima for them to be more equal, to feel useful and included, so Priya invites her to join her on the journey to Saketa.DR: Can you talk a little bit about how Priya and Malini came into your life? What was the genesis for The Burning Kingdoms? also, it's extremely frustrating to see the themes of colonization and imperialism that the series started off with get pretty much abandoned in this book. with the trajectory the plot takes, you can tell the author never truly cared about exploring those themes. I already wasn’t the biggest fan of most side characters in The Jasmine Throne, and the sentiment carried through The Oleander Sword. Rao, Aditya, and the rest of recurring pov characters don’t really offer much; they’re not easy to get attached to and are occasionally very irritating. Chandra seemed like a formidable force in The Jasmine Throne through Malini’s painful memories of him, but in this book, I almost wish Tasha Suri hadn’t given him a pov, because all it did was reveal him as a petulant idiotic child. It begins where the first book ended, with Malini embarking on war against her brother while finding her footing as Empress. Meanwhile, Priya, now an Elder and thrice-born from the deathless waters, leads alongside Bhumika as they try to manage the rot plaguing Ahiranya’s land and people.
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