The Jasmine Throne

The Jasmine Throne is a 2021 fantasy novel by Tasha Suri. The novel is the first part of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy and draws inspiration from Indian history and culture. It is set in the fictional Parijatdvipan Empire in a vassal state named Ahiranya, which is on the verge of rebellion due to years of cultural and religious suppression. The story follows Priya, a maidservant who once belonged to a group of temple children with a magical connection to the land, and Malini, a princess imprisoned after she refused purification in a ritualistic death by fire. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to alter the empire’s future. The novel received critical praise for its characters and atmosphere and won the 2022 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.

This guide refers to the 2021 e-book edition published by Orbit, an imprint of Hachette.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss anti-LGBTQ bias, colonial and sexist violence and discrimination, physical and emotional abuse, murder, nonconsensual drugging and addiction, and the killing of children.

Plot Summary

Ahiranya, a vassal state of the Parijatdvipan Empire, suffers from instability and “the rot,” which is a disease that causes plants to grow from the bodies of the infected.