Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri: A Book Review + Free Graphics

Has somebody ever snuck up and surprised you with a giant tackle-hug? That’s exactly what Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri did to me. It tip-toed up, completely knocked me off my unsuspecting feet, and encircled me about in its arms of literary perfection.

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Empire of Sand

From the Kitchen of: Tasha Suri Servings: The Books of Ambha #1

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Published by Orbit on November 13, 2018

Classified as Fantasy, Adult

Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

Obtained as an eBook

Cook Time: 496 pages
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A nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods.Empire of Sand is Tasha Suri’s captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy.

The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the Empire for the power in their blood. Mehr is the illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor and an exiled Amrithi mother she can barely remember, but whose face and magic she has inherited.

When Mehr’s power comes to the attention of the Emperor’s most feared mystics, she must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist their cruel agenda.

Should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance…

Empire of Sand is a lush, dazzling fantasy novel perfect for readers of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.

CLICK HERE TO SEE CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS

Coerced sexual acts, violence, intense pain, physical and emotional abuse.

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My Review of Empire of Sand

What I Liked

• 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.

What I Liked Less

• The pacing! If you’re expecting the lightning-fast, action-packed narrative style that has come to characterize the YA genre, then you won’t find that here (this book isn’t even categorized as YA anyways). Instead, Empire of Sand is a deliberately-paced novel that moves forward with slower, more thought-provoking purpose. I personally found this to fit well with the author’s writing style, but others might not enjoy this aspect as much.

The Final Verdict

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri is without a doubt one of the most excellent fantasy novels I’ve ever read, debut or no. 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.

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Have you read Empire of Sand? What did you think of it?

What are some other Adult Fantasy novels that you love?

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