Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha #1) by Tasha Suri
Published: November 13th 2018 by Orbit
Review:
Myth: 5/5
Mehr goes through sweeping change throughout this book, by the end, I almost didn’t remember that she started out as a nobleman’s daughter, living in relative luxury, even if not in family comfort. Her journey is epic as her half-Amrithi heritage makes her the target for the Emperor’s mystics.
I always end up loving arranged marriage/forced marriage stories, and Suri threads the needle perfectly with Mehr and Amun with the forced proximity, begrudging, growing, respect for each other and an eventual slow burn true bond. Chef’s kiss as they try and find their way through their bound circumstance with each other and within the empire.
Magic: 4/5
I love the layers to the magic building in this story. While it’s quickly known that Mehr has magic in her blood, she has a rather simplistic understanding of what that means. We, as readers, learn the rest along with Mehr, and it’s unravelled piece by piece as Mehr adjusts to her new situation.
Overall: 5/5
A beautiful fantasy world with a rich history of the god’s protection, mortal’s greed and the balancing of the scales. A slow burn romance built from an arranged marriage adds a gripping romantic tension that makes the story un-put-down-able.
Other books in the series:
