When we first see Priya in The Oleander Sword she is attempting to stem the “rot” in a rural village. Priya and her sister Bhumika have both endured dangerous rituals to become “thrice-born” and imbued with extraordinary powers drawn from the yaksa, the gods of their country. That means having to be especially careful with the one woman she has allowed herself to love, Priya, a ruler of Ahiranya, recently freed from domination by Parijatdvipa. Her every move from that point forward has to be shaped by the need to present herself not simply as a strong leader but as one favored by the gods and so destined to succeed in capturing the throne. She immediately faces a crisis of confidence with the nobles who have supported her.

It is a terrifying weapon, gripping her soldiers with the primitive fear that they may be following a false empress whom the gods wish to destroy. This is not normal flame but what appears to be a sacred fire that spreads wildly among her troops.

Malini, having refused to make that sacrifice, moves ahead with her plans, supported by rebel factions, and at the opening of the novel appears poised to succeed in a major battle.īut her plans fail when a barrage of flaming arrows hits her troops. The faith that guides the empire draws its power from the grisly burning deaths of highborn women who willingly sacrifice themselves to a terrible fate.

The story opens as the rebel princess Malini, now claiming the title of empress of Parijatdvipa, leads her army against a major force of her brother Chandra, the emperor backed by the priesthood of the realm.

The jasmine throne the oleander sword