Deepa’s Reviews > The Lotus Empire > Status Update

I guess this is a curtain call. I feel like I’ve been reading this series for 3 to 4 years. It’s a great series. The politics is very slow simmer. I know that for quicker readers this will be like wading through sand. I think fantasy readers need this. I think the romance in this book is softer and more whisper like than anything but persistent. Suri has endless potential. Read her now.

I don’t hate the ending. But I think it’s hastily done. It’s a little neat for my taste. What are the motivations and wills of gods and almighty beings? Yaksa’s are this out of control element in this book. They were called to protect their people but you can never just call a god with single ambitions. They want their own lives . Not in a totally greedy way but as survival.

she would need put Priya first. If she ever wants a shot with her, really, it would need to be high. That’s what I felt Priya brought bk 1. Bk2 Priya really yes and no right. Yes its a little angsty reunions but it also is very in line bk 2 romantic letter writer Malini I’m just saying. This she’s not running to check on Priya. I never know fully how much or little she feels. There and not. I had a good time.

I remember bk 1 . The scene where Ashok is surrounding Priya and Mal. Priya sneaking out Mal’s letters for her. I felt Mal was manipulating Priya. I love Mal I do but I said then and I meant it. Malini would one day need to prove her love for Priya. The way she sacrifices Priya and uses her it’s hard to just take. I couldn’t. I specifically the way priya chose her over everyone one day if she ever wants a shot

It’s about Adithya and choice. if you know what it is I think it’s dark but so savy and truthful. It feels intelligent because I also wondered the same thing. Am I reading the undertones correctly or have I forgotten something that was there.

The other question for me does she care about Rao or does she think she can use him. We finally really get an answer. I think it’s such a good one for how far they’ve come.

Malini doesn’t capitulate her own authority even with Rao. She’s sending him off. Using his father’s wealth for her kingdom. There was this undercurrent of she’s assessing him. The question is for what: usefulness always. the other thing we see it this book: malini knows why which allies ally with her. she knows rao not because of his loyalty for the nameless but to adithya. She says something I hurrahed over

It took me a long time to figure out Rao’s relationship to Malini. I think he was rightly angry and disappointed in her and himself. There is almost a resentment for what he has to do. Aditya. Malini on her part is a survivor. She claws her way out of situations. She’s someone who for better or worse I wouldn’t trust. She has to be calculating. I always felt like Rao sees that in Malini. prophecy takes over his life

We have really interesting example of power and wars. Hunger, famine, and disease being just as important as seizing lands, and wealth. Influence and righteousness. Suri draws this word with such rich context layer by layer. I am not dreamconnections kinda gal. It’s enjoyable but still a cop out. sorry.

I finally hit little bit of drag: I love the ongoings. This conception of yaksas as consuming. as devotion being transactional. The fear of erasure. The burdens of tradition and custom and bonds of persecution and strife. Priya.. I feel like I read too much today. I like so much of multiculturalism in the story. Alor, Sruguni, Parjitdvipa, Ahiryana. Nameless priests being separate and different. Much of this old news

I really never NEVER understood why so many people thought this was romance heavy. A lot of different people said this i just cannot see it.