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Cover of The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms, #2)

The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms, #2)

by Tasha Suri

🌶️fade to black·The Burning Kingdoms #2
4.3 on Goodreads (13,388)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll experience a heart-wrenching, immersive tale of love and revolution that leaves you emotionally devastated yet utterly obsessed.

Synopsis

"Alluring, action-packed, and gut-wrenching," (Publishers Weekly , starred review ), The Oleander Sword continues Tasha Suri's acclaimed Burning Kingdoms trilogy,in which a powerful priestess and a vengeful princess will change the fate of an empire. ** 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 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. Praise for the Burning Kingdoms "Will undoubtedly reshape the landscape of epic fantasy for years to come." — Booklist (starred review) "Lush and stunning…this sapphic fantasy will rip your heart out." — BuzzFeed News "Raises the bar for what epic fantasy should be." —Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights "This cutthroat and sapphic novel will grip you until the very end." — Vulture (Best of the Year) "It left me breathless." —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter "I loved it." —Alix E. Harrow, Hugo award-winning author of The Once and Future Witches "Suri's incandescent feminist masterpiece hits like a steel fist inside a velvet glove." —Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

The second book in Tasha Suri's Burning Kingdoms trilogy is where the sapphic tension between Priya and Malini finally combusts—750 pages of slow burn across two books before the payoff lands. Suri writes political fantasy with devastating emotional stakes, and the romance between a priestess and an empress-in-exile is inseparable from the war raging around them. The prose is gorgeous and dense, South Asian-inspired worldbuilding feels deeply lived-in, and the content warnings are real—this book deals with colonialism, religious violence, and body horror without flinching. Ends on a genuine cliffhanger that will wreck you.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.32 ★ (13.4k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

513 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2022

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

F/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Multi-POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Shiromi Arserio

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
forbidden lovemagic bondsecret heir/royaltysoulmate/destined bondsurvival romanceadventure romancesacrifice/martyrdom
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

romanticdarkintenseemotionalepicangstyatmosphericdramatic

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

lyricalatmosphericimmersivedramaticemotionallush

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

high

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

war-torn kingdomsurvival against impossible odds

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

priestessmorally gray FMCprotectorrebel leader / revolutionaryqueen / ruling monarch

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

forbidden loveslow burnmutual piningpower imbalancestar-crossed

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
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Spice Level 1

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

None

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionlonging glancestouch starvationeye contact intensity

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (18)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
suicideself-harmviolencegraphic violencedeathreligious traumaemotional abusegorewarcolonialismgriefbody horrorgaslightingfiresexismbloodcaptivityhomophobia/transphobia
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasymythological

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palacewar front / rebellionforest / wildernesstemple / church / monastery

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deitieselementalsmonstersnymphs

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

BIPOC MCbisexual MCbisexual LIsapphicqueer

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredcathartic releaseobsessedbeautiful grief

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

rainy weekendcozy eveningvacation

The Burning Kingdoms

The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #1)

#1 The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #1)

The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms, #2)

#2 The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms, #2)

The Lotus Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #3)

#3 The Lotus Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #3)

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️fade to black
PagesHow long the commitment is.513
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2022
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.32 ★ (13.4k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Burning Kingdoms #2
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