In The Lotus Empire, the final book of Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms trilogy, Malini and Priya find themselves in a final confrontation of sorts, though it feels more like an uneasy meeting than a true showdown. While the story has its strong points, particularly with Prince Rao’s journey of healing and growth, the book could have benefited from a tighter structure—perhaps even as a duology. Rao’s perspective was refreshing and purposeful, making him the most active character in this entry, while Malini, Priya, and Bhumika often seemed adrift, moving around without achieving much.

The plotline involving Varsha’s attempted betrayal felt tacked on and resolved too quickly to add real intrigue. The yaksa, who in previous installment promised menace, ultimately lacked a clear agenda (apart from Mani Ara), diminishing their impact. Similarly, the romance between Priya and Malini felt underdeveloped, with limited interaction to support their deep commitment by the end. Though The Lotus Empire effectively ties up loose ends, it didn’t capture the tension or depth of the earlier books, in my opinion. Overall, a satisfying conclusion, but it left me feeling less invested—3 stars.

First of all, I would like to say thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me an ARC of this book!!! The Goddess of the River and The Lotus Empire are my two most anticipated reads of this year and both times I was approved to read the books a little earlier - so thank you so so much:".

However, how do you write a review to one of your favorite series' ending? I won't lie and say that reading this series had brought me joy and happiness because I'm pretty sure I spent 80% of it either screaming or crying for multiple reasons but that's part of the experience I guess LOL. However, this series was the first fantasy series I read that makes me feel represented in terms of seeing Hindu mythology being used and seeing all the familiar names and words not to mention it also having a sapphic romance on top of it?? I couldn't thank Tasha Suri enough for what she has given me.

To me, The Lotus Empire delivered such a satisfying conclusion to the series. We were left with quite big cliffhangers and questions at the end of the second book - Priya betraying Malini, Bhumika's memories being removed, the Yaksas taking over the temple. It was interesting to see the aftermath of everything that happened in the Oleander Sword for all the characters in the beginning of this one. One thing I loved about this series is how there's always something new to expect. Stakes became even higher for everyone with the presence of Yaksas and the rot spreading, but also we still get introduced to new characters and new world-building.

Like the other parts of this series, the characters have always been the strongest point for me (not to say that the other elements aren't because Tasha Suri is just brilliant at writing). I loved being back with Priya, Malini, Bhumika and Rao in this world even though it genuinely stressed me out seeing how much they had to suffer in this book. It's interesting to see the contrast between how both Priya and Malini had to step into leadership roles in this one. Priya and Bhumika have always been the most interesting one to me because despite their softness, there's so much strength and determination in them and how they both cared so much for their friends and family. Malini was more angry and vicious in this one but that's understandable given the amount of misogynistic priests and people trying to make her sacrifice herself and also her grief of losing Aditya. I've grown to love Rao as well throughout reading this series and I liked how we get to see more of him explored in this last book.

The Lotus Empire for me was more action and plot-heavy than the previous books and since the characters spent most of the book apart from each other, the romance was not as strong as the first or second to me. But that doesn't mean it was lacking - I think the fact that Priya and Malini were separated and after the betrayal made the build up to the romance even better especially with the angst and yearning from both sides</3. I also really loved seeing the development between Bhumika and Jeevan in this one too, and the new friendship dynamics that were explored between our main characters and our side ones.

Starting The Burning Throne 2 years ago truly was one of my best bookish decisions I've made. This series has constantly been a series I look forward to reading every single year and these characters have truly wormed their way close to my heart so finally finishing the series feel bittersweet to me. I'll never stop recommending this series to everyone looking for a new fantasy series to scream and cry to</3

After being disappointed by book 2 in this trilogy, I was curious to see if I would enjoy this one again. The pacing was definitely faster than in the second book which was a good thing, however I found the plot to be all over the place and not cohesive. There were some POVs I don't think we needed, I would've preferred it if we spent more time with the two mains. It was overall a good conclusion to the story though, the ending was very fitting and I was happy with how things ended.

A good ending to the amazing trilogy by Tasha Suri. This is such a vivid and creative world that she crafts with a unique magic system and a complex cast of characters. The cultures and communities were a joy to read and seeing how the world developed with really enjoyable too. Of course, Priya and Malini are central to this plot and their development was really interesting to read over the course of this book.
I will say - though that the pacing wasn't as great in this final novel as it was in the first two and it meant that some parts of the plot dragged and dawdled whereas other sections zipped past so quickly I had to reread it to make sense of it. However, this was a fun series and i'm so glad I read it. I will follow Suri's future work with keen interest!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Lotus Empire has firmly cemented The Burning Kingdoms as one of my favourites series ever. Tasha Suri is an author I continue to be in absolute awe of, the way she handles such a strong and expansive cast of characters, dipping in and out of multiple POVs and balancing the creation of such a complex world is something to behold.

This book was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. It was nothing I expected and everything I could have wanted. I was hooked throughout, constantly needing to know what happened next.

At the story's core is, of course, Malini and Priya. After The Oleander Sword I was desperate to see how their relationship would end of in this book. Their time apart and time together was handled perfectly. The hate they're meant to feel for each other and the love they have, the deep desperate connection between the two of them was just,,,, they are the couple of all time. They are the characters of all time. I love them and their dynamic so much. So many of their interactions were just beautiful and raw and perfect. And the ending,,, I don't want to spoil but it served both their characters so well. Malini didn't burn, she did what she wanted with power and now she and Priya get to be together and explore the world and just,, they deserve it.

And, as with the previous books, I loved Priya's other relationships. Her bond with Rukh (who I adore, he was so good with Padma and the temple children) really shone in this book, and though they weren't physically together as much her friendship with Sima and sisterhood with Bhumika continued to just be wonderfully crafted and developed.

Bhumika was just incredible in this one. It's incredible how a character who has lost her memories can still be written in such a recognisable way.

I also loved Rao so much in this one, they way he was caught and tied in grief for Aditya and loyalty to Malini/Parijatdvipa. He was so, so good at fostering connections in this one that allowed the heart's shell and mother's flame to be (re)discovered for the war against the Yaksa. He also killed Hemanth and he fucking deserved to die! I also loved his friendship with Sima (love a wlw/mlm friendship!) and their ending finding something new elsewhere in the world together.

I also loved getting the perspective of Arahli Ara, the Yaksa with Ashok's face. There was something to seeing the Yaksa's desperation for life and their revulsion towards the mortality and meat and emotions that taking the bodies of their worshippers was leading them to. Seeing their desperation to live alongside the desperation of all the human characters also wanting to live drove home the growing mortality of the Yaksa, yet it didn't make them sympathetic. A fine line was handled well and never crossed. At the end, when the Yaksa met their fate their was no sympathy for them, nothing that superceded the gladness that everyone else would live.

So many other characters were also just brilliantly written - Jeevan, Lata, Ganam, Sanvi, Shyam, Sahar. I hated some, I loved some, and for some it was both. Just incredible writing.

Just, this book was phenomenal. This trilogy was phenomenal. I love the world of Parijatdvipa and Ahiranya. I love the way the gods are written, they way they push into the mortal world from the void. The way the religious groups are kinda corrupted against a mortals own interests from that, how both the Mothers and Yaksa created a culture of sacrifice and death amongst the ranks of their worshippers. I just love, love, love this world. And if ever it was returned to with any beloved characters from this series on their travels, or any new characters, I would be glad to dive back into it. But this was a perfect conclusion; the story was wrapped up with no unsatisfying loose ends, no needless deaths or unearned victories. I will miss having read these books for the first time, but I am glad to have read them.

Burning Down the House

If you haven’t read the previous two books in Tasha Suri’s Indian-inspired sapphic fantasy series, “The Jasmine Throne” and “The Oleander Sword”, you should go and finish those right now, and not read any further. Just trust me that they are really that good. Two women torn between their love for their kingdoms and for each other. Old magic, old gods, epic battles, epic romance. Everything you could want from a series like this, all while setting the patriarchy on fire as an added bonus.

By this point, Malini is the Empress of Parijatdvipa, and Priya is the Thrice-Born Elder of Ahiranya. And they are quite distinctly at war. At the end of the last book, things were not looking particularly great for their relationship. What with the former having been stabbed by the latter, who was herself being gradually hollowed out by an ancient god in exchange for her powers. Not to mention that the Yaksa’s plans for the world increasingly seem like a bad deal for the humans.

I was a little worried if this book could possibly be a satisfying conclusion to the story, and more worried about just how emotionally devastating it would be in the process. Well, suffice to say, this book gradually hollowed me out too, then filled me up with something else entirely. It’s really well done, and feels like an appropriately epic end to the saga. The Burning Kingdoms is now one of my favourite fantasy series of all time, and I definitely recommend this.

Thanks to Little Brown Book Group for the review copy, and to Tasha for writing this.

I love this series so much, It's so rich in culture. So beautifully written, and a fantastic end to the story.
I can't wait to read more from this author!

The Lotus Empire didn't always feel as successful as its predecessors, and I found the pacing to be clunky at times - however, it was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and the ending gave me goosebumps. I found the multiple perspectives trickier to get my head round this time - despite it often being a feature of novels I love, I did find myself occassionally losing the thread of the plot. I would have liked more interaction between Priya and Malini - but also realise that the plot would be less engrossing if that were the case. I found this a slower read than the other books in the trilogy, but can see myself revisiting it and uncovering little details I'm sure I missed.