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shadowearitei101's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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 was an enjoyable book. Not sure why it was chosen for the romance book club but hte subplot of the romance is quite compelling. I liked the world building and characterization. Overall a stong book but I kept comparing it to her later work which I like much better unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was a very atmospheric book about the story of Mehr, a young woman who is the illegitimate daughter of nobility, her mother being of a people the empire is hunting down. She goes a lot through her hardships - arranged marriage, prejudice, abuse by a religious figure of the empire, amongst other things. I think the only thing preventing me from rating higher is that the plot beyond the main relationship is not the most memorable, and a bit guessable - but overall very solid.
This was a quiet book more about her growth into a woman that can use her innate magic to call on the gods and shape their dreams, instead of just a tool for the empire to keep their political power. Not much happens plot wise, much is done via conversation, the rites (dances) she performs, and introspection.
One thing that helps lend her strength is through her respect, then friendship the eventual romantic relationship with her husband. Amun was a stranger to her when they married, as it was arranged by the powers that be to keep her, and therefor her magic, under control. He is a quiet man that lived a terrible life and is without hope for escape until they work together to free themselves and their people.
This was a quiet book more about her growth into a woman that can use her innate magic to call on the gods and shape their dreams, instead of just a tool for the empire to keep their political power. Not much happens plot wise, much is done via conversation, the rites (dances) she performs, and introspection.
One thing that helps lend her strength is through her respect, then friendship the eventual romantic relationship with her husband. Amun was a stranger to her when they married, as it was arranged by the powers that be to keep her, and therefor her magic, under control. He is a quiet man that lived a terrible life and is without hope for escape until they work together to free themselves and their people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Xenophobia and Colonisation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
karatics's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cursing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
msradiosilence's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Tldr; I love Amun and Mehr, and I really liked how well rounded this book is.
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/empire-of-sand/
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/empire-of-sand/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
gattolino_nn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
I tend to struggle with slow paced books, but this was worth the pace. It really helped build the atmosphere when reading and it pays off in a number of ways.
I really liked how the book was set out. It was surprisingly not at all what I was expecting when I read the blurb, but I still found myself enjoying it.
There was a lot of build up and tense moments that by the end of the book felt more rewarding when they were resolved. I thought the ending was really well done, and put a smile on my face.
I found that the relationships in this book, whilst not super complex to follow, felt like there was more happening than the standard tropes or stereotypes that we often see in writing. I enjoyed reading that, but it does feel like if this book followed the same characters and was a longer series these relationships would have spanned into a more complex and compelling part of the story.
This book, whilst not what I was expecting, was still a good read. I found the characters interesting and the story intriguing. I cannot wait until I can go to the bookstore and get the sequel. It follows different characters and it seems like a bit of time has passed so I'm interested to see how that will play out.
I really liked how the book was set out. It was surprisingly not at all what I was expecting when I read the blurb, but I still found myself enjoying it.
There was a lot of build up and tense moments that by the end of the book felt more rewarding when they were resolved. I thought the ending was really well done, and put a smile on my face.
I found that the relationships in this book, whilst not super complex to follow, felt like there was more happening than the standard tropes or stereotypes that we often see in writing. I enjoyed reading that, but it does feel like if this book followed the same characters and was a longer series these relationships would have spanned into a more complex and compelling part of the story.
This book, whilst not what I was expecting, was still a good read. I found the characters interesting and the story intriguing. I cannot wait until I can go to the bookstore and get the sequel. It follows different characters and it seems like a bit of time has passed so I'm interested to see how that will play out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
griffinthief's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Abandonment
perpetualpages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
CWs: Themes of Imperialism; death and parental death; descriptions of blood, injury, murder, and graphic violence; references to suicide and suicidal ideation; references to self-harm and blood magic (for ritualistic magic); manipulation; magical stripping of consent; misogyny
I finally did the thing, and wow I love this so much.
Empire of Sand is a story that unflinchingly examines the long-term, cyclical effects of Imperialism and interrogates how effected communities can ever hope to heal from it. It shows a character who is struggling to find agency within a system that was designed to strip her of her freedom and choice. When your choices are forcibly taken away, how to you navigate intention and how do you reclaim agency over your decisions and your personhood? Over hundreds and hundreds of pages, EOS painstakingly peels back the layers of these questions, presenting us with a powerful heroine determined to restore balance to this world at all costs.
I was completely blown away by the characters in this story, especially, and how they fought every day to stay true themselves—and to each other—in the face of inevitable destruction, pain, and loss. The story argues that choice is not merely about action, but rather it's about connection and intention. It's about forcibly wresting what we've always been taught to believe about ourselves from the hands of those who seek to erase us and taking the time to understand what is true to us on our own terms. It's about how rebellion and the reclamation of power comes begins with small acts of defiance in private, in the margins of what is unspoken.
The relationship between Mehr and Amun is so beautiful and tender. Despite the situation they're in, despite the powers they're both forced to succumb to, they find a way love each other that they get to define themselves, and that reciprocal connection between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. I appreciate how the story shows us that being "strong" doesn't mean you can't depend on other people and lean on those around you to bolster that strength. There was such a wonderful give-and-take between Mehr and Amun that really moved me and kept me invested in the story.
The other highlight, for me, was the magic system and how it deeply ties spirituality, culture, and dance to magic itself. It's rare to see magic that's so concentrated within the movements of the body and the meanings behind those movements, how there's even more power when two people are moving in sync, and I found those descriptions to be especially powerful. There's such a deep connection not only between the magic users, but between the dancer, the earth, and the Gods. That was a major feature in the story, and I think the magic was showcased in such a brilliant way.
The only thing I found slight fault with was the pace of the story. Going into it, I knew it was a slower-paced book—which is totally fine and something I tend to enjoy in my fantasy novels—but I personally didn't feel like the slow pace was quite warranted. There were large portions of the story that felt a bit repetitive, and there were times when we were forced to go through the same routine of chores, practice, failure, and pain without much changing. I thought the story could've afforded to be a bit tighter in some areas, but at the same time I understand that sitting with the characters in those moments is part of what makes their resilience and their triumphs that much more satisfying.
Overall, this was a powerful and unforgettable story that I'm going to be thinking about for years to come. I can't wait to read the companion novel, hopefully soon, and then absolutely anything Tasha Suri decides to write after that for the rest of time!
I finally did the thing, and wow I love this so much.
Empire of Sand is a story that unflinchingly examines the long-term, cyclical effects of Imperialism and interrogates how effected communities can ever hope to heal from it. It shows a character who is struggling to find agency within a system that was designed to strip her of her freedom and choice. When your choices are forcibly taken away, how to you navigate intention and how do you reclaim agency over your decisions and your personhood? Over hundreds and hundreds of pages, EOS painstakingly peels back the layers of these questions, presenting us with a powerful heroine determined to restore balance to this world at all costs.
I was completely blown away by the characters in this story, especially, and how they fought every day to stay true themselves—and to each other—in the face of inevitable destruction, pain, and loss. The story argues that choice is not merely about action, but rather it's about connection and intention. It's about forcibly wresting what we've always been taught to believe about ourselves from the hands of those who seek to erase us and taking the time to understand what is true to us on our own terms. It's about how rebellion and the reclamation of power comes begins with small acts of defiance in private, in the margins of what is unspoken.
The relationship between Mehr and Amun is so beautiful and tender. Despite the situation they're in, despite the powers they're both forced to succumb to, they find a way love each other that they get to define themselves, and that reciprocal connection between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. I appreciate how the story shows us that being "strong" doesn't mean you can't depend on other people and lean on those around you to bolster that strength. There was such a wonderful give-and-take between Mehr and Amun that really moved me and kept me invested in the story.
The other highlight, for me, was the magic system and how it deeply ties spirituality, culture, and dance to magic itself. It's rare to see magic that's so concentrated within the movements of the body and the meanings behind those movements, how there's even more power when two people are moving in sync, and I found those descriptions to be especially powerful. There's such a deep connection not only between the magic users, but between the dancer, the earth, and the Gods. That was a major feature in the story, and I think the magic was showcased in such a brilliant way.
The only thing I found slight fault with was the pace of the story. Going into it, I knew it was a slower-paced book—which is totally fine and something I tend to enjoy in my fantasy novels—but I personally didn't feel like the slow pace was quite warranted. There were large portions of the story that felt a bit repetitive, and there were times when we were forced to go through the same routine of chores, practice, failure, and pain without much changing. I thought the story could've afforded to be a bit tighter in some areas, but at the same time I understand that sitting with the characters in those moments is part of what makes their resilience and their triumphs that much more satisfying.
Overall, this was a powerful and unforgettable story that I'm going to be thinking about for years to come. I can't wait to read the companion novel, hopefully soon, and then absolutely anything Tasha Suri decides to write after that for the rest of time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent