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spopqueen 's review for:
Empire of Sand
by Tasha Suri
dark
emotional
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
I have a lot of thoughts on this book but I loved how character driven the story was and the slow burn relationship that formed throughout the story! The expressions of both romantic and platonic/familial love in this book were so pure and I absolutely adored it.
Mehr seemed like a very real character, she’s soft hearted and trying to be a good person in a cruel world and situation and I loved the Amrithi’s relationship with the world around them and the rites they perform.
The Amrithi in particular were so interesting to me. I really liked the discussion of imperialism and the erasure of marginalized cultures as a result of that. Mehr laments at one point that the Empire doesn’t hate the Amrithi, they genuinely just don’t see them as people at all. I really loved how Mehr tries to stay connected to her Amrithi culture even though she has been raised in the heart of the empire. I really loved that she was able to reconnect with her roots throughout the story.
Mehr to me showed that a female character can be strong even if she is soft hearted and vulnerable. I feel like a big opinion I see in book circles is that a female character isn’t strong per-say unless she is snarky, ruthless, and cutthroat. Well, Mehr isn’t really snarky. Or ruthless. Or cutthroat. She’s scared, she’s sorrowful, she’s sheltered, but she learns so much about herself and what’s she’s capable of throughout the book. She becomes so much more sure of herself and the power that she truly holds and I loved that for her.
Also I know people get annoyed by the message of the power of love, but it was so beautiful in this book. It is after all the most hopeful thing out there. It drives us to make so many different decisions. Mehr is guided by love: love for her sister, Amun, her heritage, and for herself. Her love bleeds out through the pages and Suri did an excellent job portraying that and revealing Mehr to us.
Now, if you DO want ruthless and more morally gray characters, Siri’s next book, the Jasmine Throne, follows a Princess and her girlfriend burning kingdoms and fighting oppressors and I will deifinitey be tuning in! It was just nice with this book to have a softer story at the forefront, but the Jasmine Throne sounds awesome too!!! I need a badass story every once in a while😅
The villain in the story is one of the most terrifying I’ve read about. I felt a deep sense of dread anytime they were in the story so that’s I know the characterization for the Maha was very well done. The Maha’s followers had a very creepy cult vibe that also shook me. The Maha actually reminds me a lot of Horde Prime from SheRa! Very similar vibes.
I absolutely loved hearing about dream fire and the descriptions for it were so ethereal. After reading this book I want to experience a dreamfire storm for myself!
The middle of the book does get a bit slow, but if you hang on until the last third, it’s amazing and totally makes up for any stagnant parts in the middle. Again, this is character driven and while there is a very interesting plot, the main story lies in the characters and the ways in which they make a path for themselves.
Which brings me to the main relationship in the book. Mehr and Amun are one of the greatest OTPs that I’ve read about. I absolutely loved their characterization and the slow burn between them that turned from mutual distrust to undying devotion. It was so compelling and beautiful to read about. I will be thinking about them for a while!!
Although this book is marketed as the first in a duology, I would go into it with a stand-alone mindset. The main storyline is wrapped up in this book and it does not end on a cliffhanger. The second book follows Mehr’s younger sister, Arwa, years later. I definitely plan on reading it because I cannot get enough of this universe. The second book definitely seems more like a spinoff.
Overall, I really loved this book and it’s very much worth reading :)
Mehr seemed like a very real character, she’s soft hearted and trying to be a good person in a cruel world and situation and I loved the Amrithi’s relationship with the world around them and the rites they perform.
The Amrithi in particular were so interesting to me. I really liked the discussion of imperialism and the erasure of marginalized cultures as a result of that. Mehr laments at one point that the Empire doesn’t hate the Amrithi, they genuinely just don’t see them as people at all. I really loved how Mehr tries to stay connected to her Amrithi culture even though she has been raised in the heart of the empire. I really loved that she was able to reconnect with her roots throughout the story.
Mehr to me showed that a female character can be strong even if she is soft hearted and vulnerable. I feel like a big opinion I see in book circles is that a female character isn’t strong per-say unless she is snarky, ruthless, and cutthroat. Well, Mehr isn’t really snarky. Or ruthless. Or cutthroat. She’s scared, she’s sorrowful, she’s sheltered, but she learns so much about herself and what’s she’s capable of throughout the book. She becomes so much more sure of herself and the power that she truly holds and I loved that for her.
Also I know people get annoyed by the message of the power of love, but it was so beautiful in this book. It is after all the most hopeful thing out there. It drives us to make so many different decisions. Mehr is guided by love: love for her sister, Amun, her heritage, and for herself. Her love bleeds out through the pages and Suri did an excellent job portraying that and revealing Mehr to us.
Now, if you DO want ruthless and more morally gray characters, Siri’s next book, the Jasmine Throne, follows a Princess and her girlfriend burning kingdoms and fighting oppressors and I will deifinitey be tuning in! It was just nice with this book to have a softer story at the forefront, but the Jasmine Throne sounds awesome too!!! I need a badass story every once in a while😅
The villain in the story is one of the most terrifying I’ve read about. I felt a deep sense of dread anytime they were in the story so that’s I know the characterization for the Maha was very well done. The Maha’s followers had a very creepy cult vibe that also shook me. The Maha actually reminds me a lot of Horde Prime from SheRa! Very similar vibes.
I absolutely loved hearing about dream fire and the descriptions for it were so ethereal. After reading this book I want to experience a dreamfire storm for myself!
The middle of the book does get a bit slow, but if you hang on until the last third, it’s amazing and totally makes up for any stagnant parts in the middle. Again, this is character driven and while there is a very interesting plot, the main story lies in the characters and the ways in which they make a path for themselves.
Which brings me to the main relationship in the book. Mehr and Amun are one of the greatest OTPs that I’ve read about. I absolutely loved their characterization and the slow burn between them that turned from mutual distrust to undying devotion. It was so compelling and beautiful to read about. I will be thinking about them for a while!!
Although this book is marketed as the first in a duology, I would go into it with a stand-alone mindset. The main storyline is wrapped up in this book and it does not end on a cliffhanger. The second book follows Mehr’s younger sister, Arwa, years later. I definitely plan on reading it because I cannot get enough of this universe. The second book definitely seems more like a spinoff.
Overall, I really loved this book and it’s very much worth reading :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence