The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms Book 1)

A captive princess and a maid with forbidden magic come together in this sapphic Indian-inspired historical fantasy. Princess Malini is kept imprisoned in the Hirana temple by her dictator brother. According to their religion, women can only become pure and holy by being set ablaze on pyres but Malini refuses to burn. Instead, she’s going to orchestrate a coup. Priya is soon drawn into the plot and their destinies become entangled. They can’t trust each other but they need each other if they’re going to survive. MMD team member Leigh mentioned this in WSIRN episode 291: The best books of summer (so far) as one of her favorites.