Just finished The Poppy War? Next up read The Jasmine Throne…
If The Poppy War left you craving more stories that weave real-world cultural histories into epic fantasy without pulling punches, Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne is your next obsession. Set in a vividly realized world inspired by Indian epics and Mughal history, it follows two complex women—one a captive royal scheming her way back to power, the other a rebel with a dangerous magical gift—who must navigate betrayal, forbidden desire, and the moral ambiguities of resistance.
"If your thing is "morally grey lesbians who long to set an empire ablaze and are set ablaze by their longing for each other/washing each other's hair/holding sharp-edged knives to each other's ribs/kissing beneath a waterfall" you should definitely pre-order this book!"— chai (thelibrairie on tiktok) ♡, Goodreads
What makes this a stellar follow-up to Kuang's work is how it scratches the itch for non-Western fantasy that's intellectually meaty yet totally immersive. Think anti-colonial fury meets slow-burn tension, all wrapped in prose that's as lush as a monsoon garden. Readers who loved Rin's anti-hero journey will vibe with the protagonists' flawed ambitions and the way Suri dissects the costs of ambition.
Like The Poppy War, this novel doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of empire and resistance. It's got that same gritty edge, with a magic system tied to nature and decay that echoes the shamanistic highs and lows in R.F. Kuang's tale, but shifts the focus to intimate power struggles within a crumbling empire rather than outright battlefield carnage.
"5 gleaming, golden, sapphic stars. This is my first full 5 star read of the year, and a new favourite."— Ellie, Goodreads
What Sets It Apart
Published in 2021, it's fresh enough to feel current but builds on the diverse fantasy wave that The Poppy War helped ignite. Its queer representation adds a fresh layer of emotional depth, appealing to those ready to explore love and loyalty in the shadows of war-torn worlds. Perfect for book clubs or solo binges, earning praise for its atmospheric storytelling and thematic boldness without overwhelming with gore.
