The Lotus Empire

About this book

This sweeping epic fantasy brings the acclaimed Burning Kingdoms trilogy to a heart-stopping close, as an ancient magic returns to Ahiranya and threatens its very foundations, Empress Malini and priestess Priya will stop at nothing to save their kingdoms--even if it means they must destroy each other. ? "Suri brings her Burning Kingdoms trilogy to a breathtaking crescendo in this epic grand finale. This sends the series out on a high note." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Malini has claimed her rightful throne as the empress of Parijatdvipa, just as the nameless gods prophesied. Now, in order to gain the support of the priesthood who remain loyal to the fallen emperor, she must consider a terrible bargain: Claim her throne and burn in order to seal her legacy--or find another willing to take her place on the pyre. Priya has survived the deathless waters and now their magic runs in her veins. But a mysterious yaksa with flowering eyes and a mouth of thorns lies beneath the waters. The yaksa promises protection for Ahiranya. But in exchange, she needs a sacrifice. And she's chosen Priya as the one to offer it. Two women once entwined by fate now stand against each other. But when an ancient enemy rises to threaten their world, Priya and Malini will find themselves fighting together once more--to prevent their kingdoms, and their futures, from burning to ash. ? "[The] delectable conclusion to a landmark epic-fantasy series that touches on faith, leadership, politics, friendship and found family, grief and recovery, sacrifice, the roles of women, colonialism, and love." --Booklist (starred review) Praise for the Burning Kingdoms trilogy: ? "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