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kxmsi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mhockenson's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of this book held such promise. Alas, the rest of the book was a huge let down.
futurememory's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is probably a 3.5 stars.
Empire of Sand was a very even, enjoyable read. It’s well paced, the daiva and the magic system are unique, and the mythology and world, based on Indian and Hindu beliefs and society, make for a very different read than traditional Western fantasy.
Mehr’s journey is one of sacrifice and love, of finding one’s place in the world. It reads surprisingly like YA sometimes (perhaps because there is a bit of coming-of-age here, even if the characters are a bit older), and not in a bad way.
I’m curious to see what Tasha Suri does with the second book in the series, because the way that this one ends is complete, but leaves interesting dynamics in place.
Empire of Sand was a very even, enjoyable read. It’s well paced, the daiva and the magic system are unique, and the mythology and world, based on Indian and Hindu beliefs and society, make for a very different read than traditional Western fantasy.
Mehr’s journey is one of sacrifice and love, of finding one’s place in the world. It reads surprisingly like YA sometimes (perhaps because there is a bit of coming-of-age here, even if the characters are a bit older), and not in a bad way.
I’m curious to see what Tasha Suri does with the second book in the series, because the way that this one ends is complete, but leaves interesting dynamics in place.
shelby7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
niniboo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thegildedfantasy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such stories are rare and even rarer were the feelings it instilled in me. I am beyond grateful for being able to journey along the characters on the course of finding balance, freedom, and happiness. It was a faithful portrayal of suffering, which I have admired deeply. Tasha Suri never disappoints. I can safely say she is one of my dearest authors. Her worlds always touch me deeply, and this book has done so, especially. Mher and Amun have a special place in my heart from now on.
moh's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Empire of Sand is the kind of fantasy that makes me feel like I'm living in a different world, full of characters I care deeply about. We really get into the main character's head as she discovers more about her powers and debates how to use them ethically when her options are painfully limited, all of which is totally my bookish catnip. There are a whole lot of marvelous, layered things going on around consent and power. The plot is a little slow to start, but the pay-off is excellent, and the world-building is stunning. I also appreciate that there are exactly zero cliffhangers, even though there is at least one more companion book in the works. (Yay! Many more of these, please.)
Soneela Nankani's narration of the audiobook is excellent. I especially liked the way she voiced Old Ma. Creepy voices in audiobooks usually make me giggle, but this was chillingly perfect. There are a lot of characters introduced early on, which tends to be hard enough for me to follow on audio that I switch to text, but I liked the narration so much I started over and made a cheat sheet of quick and dirty character notes.
Empire of Sand is the kind of fantasy that makes me feel like I'm living in a different world, full of characters I care deeply about. We really get into the main character's head as she discovers more about her powers and debates how to use them ethically when her options are painfully limited, all of which is totally my bookish catnip. There are a whole lot of marvelous, layered things going on around consent and power. The plot is a little slow to start, but the pay-off is excellent, and the world-building is stunning. I also appreciate that there are exactly zero cliffhangers, even though there is at least one more companion book in the works. (Yay! Many more of these, please.)
Soneela Nankani's narration of the audiobook is excellent. I especially liked the way she voiced Old Ma. Creepy voices in audiobooks usually make me giggle, but this was chillingly perfect. There are a lot of characters introduced early on, which tends to be hard enough for me to follow on audio that I switch to text, but I liked the narration so much I started over and made a cheat sheet of quick and dirty character notes.
lmskikun's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
maschram's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5