Daniel Andrlik reviewed The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri (The Burning Kingdom, #2)
I am equally delighted and upset.
5 stars
I need book three like NOW. So good.
512 pages
English language
Published July 23, 2022 by Orbit.
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 with rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.
The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya’s blood. Now a thrice born priestess and an Elder of Ahiranya, she dreams of seeing her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is spreading through all living things. But she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.
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 …
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 with rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.
The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya’s blood. Now a thrice born priestess and an Elder of Ahiranya, she dreams of seeing her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is spreading through all living things. But she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.
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.
I need book three like NOW. So good.
Exceptional follow-up to what was a hard act to follow. It is 1am and I haven't been able to wrench myself from this book. I loved how Suri once again managed to weave the small and the great, the personal and the political, the tender and the grueling. She has a keen eye for the smallest inflections of the soul, and how they show in the body. Now I can't wait for the third book. The suspense is harrowing, in the best possible way. Thank you, Ms. Suri!
Second book in the Burning Kingdom series. So much amazing. This series is an absolute favorite, full of magic. Read it!
I generally have trouble keeping track of names, and the dizzying array of point-of-view characters made it too difficult to continue, especially in combination with the slow pacing. It makes it feel like too many people are talking and nothing is happening. Even the very brief battle wasn't enough to help. I tried to read it for two months but it started feeling like a chore so I stopped.