Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha, #1)

by Tasha Suri

A NOBLEMAN'S DAUGHTER WITH MAGIC IN HER BLOOD
AN EMPIRE BUILT ON THE DREAMS OF ENSLAVED GODS

Mehr is a girl trapped between two cultures. Her father comes from the ruling classes of the empire, but her mother's people were outcasts, Amrithi nomads who worshipped the spirits of the sands.

Caught one night performing these forbidden rites, Mehr is brought to the attention of the Emperor's most feared mystics, who try to force her into their service by way of an arranged marriage. If she fails in their bidding, the gods themselves may awaken and seek vengeance...

From British debut author Tasha Suri, Empire of Sand is a lush and beautiful tale set in a magical world inspired by medieval India.

'Empire of Sand thoroughly swept me away' 
S. A. Chakraborty, author of CITY OF BRASS

'A darkly intricate, devastating, and utterly original story about the ways we are bound by those we love' 
R. F. Kuang, author of THE POPPY WAR

'Astounding . . . the epic story set my heart free'
Fran Wilde 

'The best fantasy novel I have read this year'
Miles Cameron 

Reviewed by Kat @ Novels & Waffles on

5 of 5 stars

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Empire of Sand is without a doubt one of the most excellent fantasy novels I've ever read. Complete with a richly complex India-inspired setting, well-developed characters, and a soul-piercing writing style, all I can say is this: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PICK THIS BOOK UP.

The writing! I never would have guessed that Empire of Sand was Tasha Suri's debut novel. It's one of the most excellently, most superbly written books I have read in recent memory. Page after page is full of amazingly-crafted sentences that are not only poetically lyrical, but also pack powerful emotional punches. Suri's lush wordsmithing has left my heart bruised and bleeding, and I mean that in the best possible way.

The world! Empire of Sand is set in a complex Mughal India-inspired fantasy world that is an intricately woven tapestry of political intrigue and rich culture. Each fictional thread worked seamlessly together to create something that was colorful, unique, and an utter delight to read.

The characters! Wow, Tasha Suri's characters danced their ways right into my soul. The strong, self-realized heroine, Mehr, has a distinctive narrative voice that swirled off the page. She and her love interest, Amun, were so well developed that they blew through me like a powerful sandstorm and left me in total awe. Not only that, but Mehr and Amun's slow burn relationship was so pure and realistically written; it shattered me and then pieced me back together again.

The magic system!Sleeping gods who dream fire. Mystical dances, rites, and sigils that can bend the fabric of reality. Blood that protects and wards against ancient demons called daiva. Raging sandstorms that are manifestations of divine dreams. Empire of Sand has all this and more. As somebody who reads almost exclusively fantasy novels, I've seen my fill of magic systems. But never have I seen one quite like this, and I love it to infinity and beyond.

The themes! In the end, this is ultimately an empowering story about sacrifice and choice. It expertly shows how our choices can liberate us and our sacrifices can build us, even when we feel caged or trapped. Especially then.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 January, 2020: Finished reading
  • 30 January, 2020: Reviewed