The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Pages: 512

Publisher: Orbit 

Released: 16th of August 2022 

Series: The Burning Kingdom #2 

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 the strength of the 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. Thrice born priestess, Elder of Ahiranya, Priya’s dream is to see her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is slowly 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 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.

What I Have to Say 

I'm not always into big chunky fantasy books with tons of politics and different threads you have to follow, but this series is something special. Suri has a way of writing that makes it really easy to keep track of everyone and understand what's happening all the time. It was also really easy to get into this book despite not remembering much from the previous book, she had reminders of what happened worked in so subtly that I barely noticed they were there. 

I love all the different religions in this book and how they all seem to have some truth to them. In this book you could really see the different religions start work against each other and the consequences of that. It really feels like there are different gods out there with their own believers and different feelings about how things should be. 

I love Malini and Priya together. They work well as a pair whilst having some interesting contrasts in personality. I have a fondness for Priya but I love how Malini is ambitious and pragmatic (and all the traits that are often see as bad in a women) and is still treated as a sympathetic and worthy of love. Priya pulls at my heartstrings, Malini is my empress. 

The ending of the book naturally had me devastated, so definitely don't read it without tissues to hand, and I can't wait for the next book. 

(5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with this copy for review.