21 magical science fiction and fantasy books to read in summer 2021
By Lacy Baugher
Summer 2021 release: The Jasmine Throne – Tasha Suri
A sprawling fantasy story that features rich world-building and at least a half dozen POV characters, The Jasmine Throne is one of the most exciting fantasy stories arriving on shelves this summer. It comes from Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand, and follows the story of two women – a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic – who must join forces to change the fate of an empire.
Because she refused to sacrifice her life in the name of her brother’s throne, Princess Malini now spends her days trapped and drugged in the Hirana, an ancient temple that was once a source of power to the Ahiranyan people. But Ahiranya is conquered and its ways are forbidden, so now this former temple little more than a dangerous ruin.
Priya is a servant with a dark secret – one that involves the very Hirana in which Malini is now kept – who must make the treacherous climb to the temple each night to serve the imprisoned princess. But as the two grow closer, both must weigh their loyalty to their people with their growing feelings for one another – and what they might accomplish if they worked together.
The official synopsis describes the story as follows.
"Exiled by her despotic brother when he claimed their father’s kingdom, Malini spends her days trapped in the Hirana: an ancient, cliffside temple that was once the source of the magical deathless waters, but is now little more than a decaying ruin. A servant in the regent’s household, Priya makes the treacherous climb to the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to play the role of a drudge so long as it keeps anyone from discovering her ties to the temple and the dark secret of her past. But when Malini bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to steal a throne. The other is a powerful priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze."
The Jasmine Throne is available on June 8.