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… 

Tasha Suri’s debut fantasy novel, Empire of Sand, is one of several recent books that Orbit has done an outstanding job of promoting prior to its release. I was so excited to get a copy of this one, and it did not disappoint! Empire of Sand is quite unique…it’s really unlike anything I’ve ever read in a lot of ways. Suri’s writing is beautiful without ever being gaudy, and she’s delivered a book that’s very deliberately paced, yet really captivating. This is the very definition of a slow burn! 

This is the story of Mehr. She’s the daughter of the Governor of Jah Irinah, which is part of the Ambhan Empire. Mehr’s mother, an Amrithi, has been exiled, leaving Mehr & her little sister, Arwa, under the watchful eye of their kinda-wicked stepmother, Maryam. And so although Mehr is the daughter of a nobleman, because she is half Amrithi, she lives an extremely sheltered life. The Amrithi are the descendants of the Daiva, shadowy desert spirits. The Amrithi have become nomads, facing persecution by the Emperor. The blood of an Amrithi contains magical powers. Power that Mehr herself has inherited.

Mehr’s world is thrown into complete upheaval when she finds herself in an arranged  marriage, and taken from her home, where her magic will be exploited by a cruel leader known as the Maha.

I think where Empire of Sand is so successful is in giving us a protagonist who isn’t hacking & slashing her way through the book (which I’m obviously a big fan of as well!!), but who is thoughtful, measured, self-confident, and determined. Mehr feels everything quite deeply, and loves with her whole heart. It’s her love for her sister, her friends, her husband, and her people that drives her. 

Mehr’s relationships throughout the book are fascinating & deeply-layered. She & her husband, Amun, are at the center of the plot, and the evolution of their relationship is quite complex, and more than a little steamy.

I really enjoyed Empire of Sand overall. As I mentioned, this is not a book that crashes along frenetically. Tasha Suri takes her time with her characters, and also with the India-inspired desert setting. She really has a way of transporting you into the moment as you read, and her descriptions of this harsh but beautiful environment are lovely. This is a great debut, and I’m looking forward to reading more in The Books of Ambha (crossing my fingers for much more Arwa in the next book…such a brave little kid….gah, what an awesome character!!) 

Thank you to Orbit Books for sending me a copy!! Empire of Sand releases TODAY!!