It took me fifteen days to finish reading this book, because I would pick it up and put it down — not because it was boring or bad, but because it’s a very filling kind of read that didn’t feel right to consume all at once.
Here are my thoughts:
First, this is my best read of 2018. I know I bought and finished this in January of 2019, but please understand that I find this the best book I’ve read in an entire year. It’s very, very good.
The writing is beautiful. It’s flowery and strongly stylistic without coming across as pompous or hollow. It feels dramatic, loving, and emphatic. Not once did I roll my eyes at the way something was described, or at something a character said. I’ve read a lot of books lately with dialogue and phrasing that is meant to be catchy and quotable to the reader but wholly inorganic or out of place in the story itself. The writing of this book, however, is the exact opposite; there is nothing but sincerity in it.
The characters also feel sincere, and more importantly they feel like they belong in the setting. There isn’t a single character in the story that feels shallow or belittled by their role as a “side character.” They’re all fully realized, with their own motives and feelings and lives, even if those lives aren’t the focus of the story. This, also, is a nice breath of fresh air.
The setting IS the plot, in a way. And both are incredibly unique and very satisfying. The world building is front and center, but not in a history book kind of way so much as it’s been woven into the story itself. Honestly, I loved the setting the most out of anything in this book. I can’t even put it into words what makes it so fantastic but it just is. I loved it, and I can’t wait to return to the world in the following books.
The main character, Mehr, is wonderful and I love her. She was strong in a brittle way, and flawed in a believable way. I loved her spirit and her stubbornness and I especially loved her hope. Her circumstances are very dark at times, and she reflected that darkness occasionally, but I loved watching her overcome all of it — sometimes with help, and sometimes all alone.
I have only a few gripes about this book. There are a few scenes or side details that I felt weren’t wholly important to the main plot, or the development of the characters — or in a few places I felt the pacing moved too quickly, or the buildup was ruined by a sudden turn of events. I’ll probably never be super enthusiastic about the main male lead, Amun, either. However, rather than ruining the experience or lessening it, I just felt grateful for these little gripes because it shows how a story doesn’t have to be perfect to its reader to still be incredibly good.
It’s that good, that flaws I’d hold irredeemable in other works simply become a part of this one’s charm.
I wish this book was higher up on the bestseller list, because it honestly deserves it.
Anyone who’s looking for a richly detailed fantasy world that’s unique and breath-takingly magical with believable characters and gorgeous prose coupled, who won’t mind spending a little more time enjoying these wonderful things? This is a good book for you, I think.
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4-stars: 'Empire of Sand' by Tasha Suri
Thanks to my local library, I was able to find and borrow Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri. This is the first book that I’ve read by Tasha Suri, and it was a much different Fantasy that I’ve read so far, and I enjoyed it.Storyline/My Thoughts: I’m so glad I found something different to read because I was having difficulty finding something to read lately. I didn’t want to end up in a reading slump again as I did over the summer. Tasha Suri’s Empire of Sand helped me not getting into a slump. The minute I started reading, I knew I would have a hard time putting down the book.The story is mainly in Mehr’s POV, with a few others getting a small POV, too. She’s a nobleman’s daughter that has magic abilities due to her Amrithi mother. Her father exiled Mehr’s mother a long time ago due to her being Amrithi. The Amrithi have been known to the Empire to be outcasts, and they have been persecuted for a while in the Empire for their magical power in their blood. This means Mehr has to learn her Amrithi abilities from someone else because she has magic in her blood. One night Mehr’s magical abilities are made known by the Emperor’s mystics, and they have come for her. Her father doesn’t want her to go with them, especially since his daughter is being forced to marry someone they have chosen for her. Mehr doesn’t want anything happening to her father, stepmother, and little sister, so she goes with the Mystics to marry the man they have chosen. Her soon-to-be-husband is going to protect Mehr from the person who has controlled him for years by doing something that will put them both in danger if it’s found out. The Mehr meets the person who wants to control her, the Maha, and she realizes he has his own cruel plan, and she doesn’t want anything to with it.I don’t want to give anything away, so I will stop by detailing anything else. Here are some things I enjoyed about Tasha Suri’s debut novel:I loved reading a South Asian Fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire, as per the author. At the end of this book, readers will find out with the FAQ on how and why Tasha Suri wrote the Books of Ambha. I always love finding out how authors came up with their stories.The writing style was unique compared to other authors I’ve read, and I enjoyed it. It’s very detailed, and Tasha Suri did a fabulous job with the world-building.I loved Mehr’s character because she’s different from other female protagonists. She knows she’s in danger with the Maha and the mystics, but she’s not going to give up, especially when she has her husband, Amun, who is there with her.There’s some romance in the book, but it’s not the main focus in the story, which I enjoyed. I read many romance books, but sometimes I want books that focus more on the story and how the characters grow.I didn’t think I would like Amun, who Mehr was married to, but he’s a tortured soul. I love a male protagonist who has been through a lot and will fight back. He protects Mehr from the beginning, and in the end, he’s there for her, too. He becomes the one person that Mehr can trust.I loved the ending of this book because Mehr realizes what the Maha is doing. Nope, not spoiling it for anyone.I could go on and on, but I don’t want to end up spoiling anything. The only thing that bothered me when reading this book was that it was a slow start for me. The action didn’t come until the middle and end of the book. It didn’t prevent me from getting through the book, though. I was intrigued the minute I started finding out more about Mehr and her abilities. I needed to know what was going to happen. Overall, this book receives four stars from me. I’m anxious, though, to dive into the next book, which has Mehr’s little sister as the main protagonist, and she’s grown up. I’m thankful to my local library for having this book and the next book.Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Books of Ambha series.Trope: Marriage of Convenience; Arranged Marriage; Slow BurnTriggers: Physical Abuse from Antagonist to Protagonist; Murder/DeathWould I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of an Adult Fantasy book/series that involves magic, mythology, and gods, then you’ll enjoy this book/series by Tasha Suri. If you are looking for a South Asian-inspired fantasy story, you need to check out this book.
Top reviews from other countries
Emm Campero
Nice worldbuilding but a bit repetitive
Reviewed in Mexico on February 4, 2020
Ashwini A.
Beautifully written
Reviewed in India on October 23, 2020
Ashwini A.
Reviewed in India on October 23, 2020
Mehr, a nineteen years old illegitimate daughter of a nobleman governor, is almost always looked down upon for being half Amrithi and half Ambhan. Her father shields her from the worst of it but her stepmother is always making sure that Mehr is very aware of the thin line between being a proper Ambhan woman and being a mixed race. Amrithi is a race of people who are said to be descended from daivas, who themselves descended from gods. However ever since the new religion and empire rose to fame, Amrithi people have been discriminated, exiled and persecuted for simply being Amrithi and following their traditions. However, Mehr is stubborn and still follows most of the rites and dances that Amrithi people revere and during one of the storms while she’s performing the rites, she’s found by Emperor’s priests and then, not even her father could save her from her fate. She’s married into the Maha’s way of life by being forced to marry another Amrithi, a man called Amun who’s bound to the new religion and god.
I’ll talk about the writing first, because, my goodness, the writing is so lush and beautiful. The fantasy was weaved in with the historical influences so well that I was surprised to find clues about the history. It was weird at first but in the best way possible. I think, the author writes in such a way that feels like nothing is happening on the surface but so many things are changing between chapters and so subtly that sometimes it took me by surprise because I just wasn’t expecting such subtlety. It’s not quite the purple prose, it’s simple and clean writing delivered in such a way that made me feel like I was reading something quite exquisite. I loved the way world-building and changes in perspective and realisations were written because they all happen so quietly that it just…takes you by surprise to realise that you have learning about this world all along.
The characters. Gosh, Mehr and Amun are written so well, their romance is done so brilliantly. I generally don’t take to romance but this one, I whole-heartedly supported because of the way it was written. Where Mehr is strong-willed and stubborn, Amun is caring and strong in his quiet way. Where Amun might not talk or was not able to talk, Mehr made it easier for him to reveal it slowly and easier. They had proper discussions, they talked. There wasn’t a moment where I felt that they were being frustrating and dumb or making all the wrong choices because they were in throes of love/passion. There’s trauma for them both of different kinds but they work through that, they have trust in each other and respect each other.
Overall, a quiet fantasy book wherein the characters actually talk to each other and romance is done quite well, a book that’s about choices, sacrifices and faith. I loved it and I can’t wait to read the next book based in this world.
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Cliente Kindle
Originale per certe cose, meno per altre
Reviewed in Italy on July 14, 2020