Review: Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

Empire of Sand
by Tasha Suri

November 13, 2018

496 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
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.

Review

Empire of Sand is a powerful tale of choices. It's been a while since I've read a fantasy novel high in intensity and so full of emotion. I loved it.

Featuring an engaging plot with beautiful prose and dynamic characters Empire of Sand kept me absorbed in the world. The story flowed smoothly from one part to the next. But please proceed with caution as the plot does contain abusive situations- bloody and extremely hard to swallow ones. I only kept my head together because I knew in my heart justice would be served. Love conquers cruelty.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet Mehr and to get to witness her growth. Her change from a sheltered noblewoman into a confident young lady was a most satisfying journey. I loved her faith and conviction. No matter how the Maha belittled Mehr, her choices were entirely her own. She was her own person.

"You showed me what choices really mean." (ARC, p. 306). Amun is the ultimate love interest! His cool and calm demeanor was misunderstood as cruel and indifferent but I'm glad Mehr saw the real him. The way he treated her with the utmost respect and risked his life protecting her warmed my heart. Amun is someone I’d want by my side.

It would be interesting to have a sequel story to see how the Empire fares without the Maha manipulating the dreams of the Gods. A spin-off following Arwa would also be most welcome. If possible, I'd really just love to return to the world of Empire of Sand.

An outstanding debut fantasy Empire of Sand is complex and diverse. Tasha Suri is definitely an author to look out for!

 

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher and Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the ARC I received.