paperback, 485 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 2018 by orbit.
A nobleman's daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. Empire of Sand is Tasha Suri's captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy. The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the Empire for the power in their blood. Mehr is the illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor and an exiled Amrithi mother she can barely remember, but whose face and magic she has inherited. When Mehr's power comes to the attention of the Emperor's most feared mystics, she must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist their cruel agenda. Should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance... Empire of Sand is a lush, dazzling fantasy novel perfect for readers of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.
I went back to read this book because I had really enjoyed the characters and relationships in the Jasmine Throne and Oleander Sword. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the magic, but I personally struggled to enjoy the relationship between Mehr and Amun here that felt like it should have been the emotional backbone of the novel.
The great characters and the gripping drama little by little reveal a deep story about coercion, agency and freedom.
