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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I'll admit, one of my favorite things about this series is that Çeda lives up to her reputation -- sure, she'll be beaten in fights from time to time, but she's one of the best pit fighters in Sharakhai, and she lives up to it. I'm very salty that the illustrations inside are in black and white, though, since they're gorgeous and I want to see details.
We met Ceda, female gladiator of Sharakhai, in Twelve Kings of Sharakhai. There is considerable more background on Ceda and her environment in that full length novel. For that reason, I wonder if this short, a prelude from a time perspective, might be a bit of a challenge to new readers to the Song of the Shattered Sands series. (I also wonder if these events are referenced in Twelve Kings as I don't remember them.)
That said, this is an excellent short story that details a period of Ceda's life prior to Twelve Kings in which she becomes embroiled with a spiritual entity that can take over the body of a person. In my mind, it seemed akin to a Demon / Djinn. The story is separated into three parts. The first part has Ceda stumbling into contact with this creature (depicted beautifully on the cover). The second part is Ceda's attempt to break free of the creature and the third is .... related (not giving up any spoilers). I think I enjoyed the third part the best.
I really enjoyed this backstory and believe that it would have helped shape out Ceda views her world. (which is why I wonder if book 1 makes reference to the events and hope if it doesn't that book 2 will do so).
To sum up, it's an excellent short that helps mold our view of the world of the Twelve Kings. Its important to Ceda's character and well worth the read.
That said, this is an excellent short story that details a period of Ceda's life prior to Twelve Kings in which she becomes embroiled with a spiritual entity that can take over the body of a person. In my mind, it seemed akin to a Demon / Djinn. The story is separated into three parts. The first part has Ceda stumbling into contact with this creature (depicted beautifully on the cover). The second part is Ceda's attempt to break free of the creature and the third is .... related (not giving up any spoilers). I think I enjoyed the third part the best.
I really enjoyed this backstory and believe that it would have helped shape out Ceda views her world. (which is why I wonder if book 1 makes reference to the events and hope if it doesn't that book 2 will do so).
To sum up, it's an excellent short that helps mold our view of the world of the Twelve Kings. Its important to Ceda's character and well worth the read.
Video Review:
https://youtu.be/nO_oukDuTys
Wow! I really love how well this prequel novels ties into the main books. I definitely recommend reading this before (With) Blood Upon the Sand or immediately following because events that happen in Of Sand and Malice Made affect what happens in the second main novel. Fast-paced and engaging.
https://youtu.be/nO_oukDuTys
Wow! I really love how well this prequel novels ties into the main books. I definitely recommend reading this before (With) Blood Upon the Sand or immediately following because events that happen in Of Sand and Malice Made affect what happens in the second main novel. Fast-paced and engaging.
I love the desert setting, culture and mythology. Seems as though I don't read enough of those.
I absolutely loved the 70 page novella book 0.3. This one fell a bit short. I'm told as a series these books are good. Some more than others, so I'm not going to give up! I actually have a copy of [b:Evil is a Matter of Perspective: An Anthology of Antagonists|30636532|Evil is a Matter of Perspective An Anthology of Antagonists|Adrian Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466148043l/30636532._SY75_.jpg|51173696] on the way and [b:The Tattered Prince and the Demon Veiled|36449949|The Tattered Prince and the Demon Veiled (The Song of the Shattered Sands, #2.3)|Bradley P. Beaulieu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508565931l/36449949._SX50_.jpg|58153616] novella is in there. I'm already in motion to continue on with the series.
I absolutely loved the 70 page novella book 0.3. This one fell a bit short. I'm told as a series these books are good. Some more than others, so I'm not going to give up! I actually have a copy of [b:Evil is a Matter of Perspective: An Anthology of Antagonists|30636532|Evil is a Matter of Perspective An Anthology of Antagonists|Adrian Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466148043l/30636532._SY75_.jpg|51173696] on the way and [b:The Tattered Prince and the Demon Veiled|36449949|The Tattered Prince and the Demon Veiled (The Song of the Shattered Sands, #2.3)|Bradley P. Beaulieu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508565931l/36449949._SX50_.jpg|58153616] novella is in there. I'm already in motion to continue on with the series.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I decided to start "The Song of the Shattered Sands".
While I enjoyed "A Wasteland of My God's Own Making" last year, it did not convinced me about the series.
But "Of Sand and Malice Made" did and now I am excited for what is to come.
I need more desert setting in my life and I was surprised to see some inspiration from "1001 Arabian Nights'.
While I enjoyed "A Wasteland of My God's Own Making" last year, it did not convinced me about the series.
But "Of Sand and Malice Made" did and now I am excited for what is to come.
I need more desert setting in my life and I was surprised to see some inspiration from "1001 Arabian Nights'.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
First let me say that this book was absolutely lovely.
It is told as an collection of three short stories whose plots are interwoven, but can also be read separately. Bradley Beaulieu illustrates a tale of Çeda--before her exploits in Twelve Kings--and an ehrekh, a being borne of the old world. This is a good starter tale for someone new to the Song of the Shattered Sands, or a great little piece for some who hungered for more between Twelve Kings and With Blood Upon.
From a typical book I expect little more than a cover hiding words, but this held so much more. I expected really nothing when I sent out for this, so when it came I was pleasantly surprised. More than pleasant, the lovely illustrations before every story made me feel a little bad for actually reading this book. Compared to what I typically receive, this was a work of art.
So buy it, find it, check it out, just read it somehow. It is truly sublime, though it may take you a moment to get caught up in the story. Really my one and only critique, and I had to reach for it.
4.9-5 of 5 stars
It is told as an collection of three short stories whose plots are interwoven, but can also be read separately. Bradley Beaulieu illustrates a tale of Çeda--before her exploits in Twelve Kings--and an ehrekh, a being borne of the old world. This is a good starter tale for someone new to the Song of the Shattered Sands, or a great little piece for some who hungered for more between Twelve Kings and With Blood Upon.
From a typical book I expect little more than a cover hiding words, but this held so much more. I expected really nothing when I sent out for this, so when it came I was pleasantly surprised. More than pleasant, the lovely illustrations before every story made me feel a little bad for actually reading this book. Compared to what I typically receive, this was a work of art.
So buy it, find it, check it out, just read it somehow. It is truly sublime, though it may take you a moment to get caught up in the story. Really my one and only critique, and I had to reach for it.
4.9-5 of 5 stars
This is a pretty cool little book! I won this as well as [b: Twelve Kings in Sharakhai|24611565|Twelve Kings in Sharakhai (The Song of the Shattered Sands, #1)|Bradley P. Beaulieu|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434513419s/24611565.jpg|25652373] in a contest from the publisher without having read anything from this author. This little novella served as a nice introduction to the series and author, and I'm glad I started here.
It's a well-written story filled with mythology and magic. I'm story sucker for these types of settings, and I'm really easily sucked into the types of desert folklore that typically play into it. It seems like the author has a really full world here, and I'm excited to see what his full novels are like. I've got high expectations after this, and from what I've heard, Beaulieu lives up to them.
It's a well-written story filled with mythology and magic. I'm story sucker for these types of settings, and I'm really easily sucked into the types of desert folklore that typically play into it. It seems like the author has a really full world here, and I'm excited to see what his full novels are like. I've got high expectations after this, and from what I've heard, Beaulieu lives up to them.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood