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lopre012's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
evilkittenchan's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars for the first half of the book, 4 stars for the last.
indy_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emmaaaad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
readinginspace3's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5*
Is Tasha Suri even capable of writing a bad book? Seems like she’s not.
Is Tasha Suri even capable of writing a bad book? Seems like she’s not.
mastersal's review against another edition
5.0
Jan 2022:
After almost a year this book remains on my mind and I keep thinking about how well it did with it did. I am upping the rating to 5 stars because this in hindsight was a fav of the 2021 year.
———
Mar 2021 review:
So I bought this book for my Kindle in May 2019 and it’s taken me almost two years to get to it - and in the end I had to get the physical book from the library.
Basically … what the book has taught me is that I should not buy fantasy books on my Kindle as I tend to forget about them and I miss out.
This was a great debut novel set in Indian inspired fantasy land (I actually recognised the map - joy!!). I am not sure about the Mughal setting per se but I loved some of the inspirations. The magic system - based on dance - made me think of Bharatanatyam. I am not sure what is what the author meant to evoke but that was running through my head.
Side note - I would love to see this book brought to screen - Bollywood if you are listening, please get on that asap please.
Word-building aside, this is probably one of the best fantasy romances that I’ve read in recent memory. I am usually very specific of the hybrid as usually one or the other hybrid takes a backstreet. Here the romance is integral to the plot but also balanced in that it matters to the world and the story and themes. I really enjoyed the control and balance between both - which would make this book kind of mindblowing for me.
The plotting is a little on the slow slide as the romance gets a fair amount of focus in the middle of the book - but I really appreciated that. It kind of fit into the world and the magic system being explored. There is a surprising lack of violence-as-a-solution here which I appreciated quite a bit.
The last 80 pages though really picked up the pace with plot points coming fast. To be honest, some of these elements could have used a little more breathing space. Yes, it would have made the book longer but I would have been fine with that!
Some slight wobbles but really good - 4 stars. I am excited to see more from this author especially with her new trilogy coming this year (in 2021).
Side extra video which is also worth checking out as it was kind of what I saw Mehr and Amun as:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR4Sy3yV_4Q)
After almost a year this book remains on my mind and I keep thinking about how well it did with it did. I am upping the rating to 5 stars because this in hindsight was a fav of the 2021 year.
———
Mar 2021 review:
So I bought this book for my Kindle in May 2019 and it’s taken me almost two years to get to it - and in the end I had to get the physical book from the library.
Basically … what the book has taught me is that I should not buy fantasy books on my Kindle as I tend to forget about them and I miss out.
This was a great debut novel set in Indian inspired fantasy land (I actually recognised the map - joy!!). I am not sure about the Mughal setting per se but I loved some of the inspirations. The magic system - based on dance - made me think of Bharatanatyam. I am not sure what is what the author meant to evoke but that was running through my head.
Side note - I would love to see this book brought to screen - Bollywood if you are listening, please get on that asap please.
Word-building aside, this is probably one of the best fantasy romances that I’ve read in recent memory. I am usually very specific of the hybrid as usually one or the other hybrid takes a backstreet. Here the romance is integral to the plot but also balanced in that it matters to the world and the story and themes. I really enjoyed the control and balance between both - which would make this book kind of mindblowing for me.
The plotting is a little on the slow slide as the romance gets a fair amount of focus in the middle of the book - but I really appreciated that. It kind of fit into the world and the magic system being explored. There is a surprising lack of violence-as-a-solution here which I appreciated quite a bit.
The last 80 pages though really picked up the pace with plot points coming fast. To be honest, some of these elements could have used a little more breathing space.
Spoiler
For example, Mehr talking to the daiva was a little too convenient and could have been flushed out a little more.Some slight wobbles but really good - 4 stars. I am excited to see more from this author especially with her new trilogy coming this year (in 2021).
Side extra video which is also worth checking out as it was kind of what I saw Mehr and Amun as:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR4Sy3yV_4Q)
ammonoids's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
A fantasy without too much exposition, a beautiful world and a unique magic system. This one's a keeper : )
krilllian's review against another edition
4.0
A book about women, magic, consent, empire, romance, and relationships, Empire of Sand is an enchanting read. Suri creates a magic system full of life, with dance, daggers, and Daiva - magical spirits that inhabit the desert.
Empire of Sand tells the story of Muhr, a young woman kept secluded in her Governor father's household, despite her mixed heritage making her more of an outcast than a true noblewoman. Muhr's journey takes her through a series of impossible choices, each time testing what she values more.
The characters in this book, and the romance that is central to the plot, are beautifully written and I consumed this book wanting to know what would happen to them. While some of the plot could have been a bit more fleshed out to make it more believable for the reader, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fantasy that will transport you to a city on the edge of a desert full of magic and mystery.
Empire of Sand tells the story of Muhr, a young woman kept secluded in her Governor father's household, despite her mixed heritage making her more of an outcast than a true noblewoman. Muhr's journey takes her through a series of impossible choices, each time testing what she values more.
The characters in this book, and the romance that is central to the plot, are beautifully written and I consumed this book wanting to know what would happen to them. While some of the plot could have been a bit more fleshed out to make it more believable for the reader, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fantasy that will transport you to a city on the edge of a desert full of magic and mystery.
theplantsalivesed's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it. The way that the characters worked through ideas of choice, consent, freedom, and love were all approached in a rather unique and sensitive way.
I wish more had happened or more was fit in. The world especially felt kind of empty and bare-bones, and although our main characters get fleshed out quite a bit, almost everything and everyone else felt a bit lacking somehow. (Nothing a sequel can't fix?)
Anyways, again, a good book that I don't regret reading.
I wish more had happened or more was fit in. The world especially felt kind of empty and bare-bones, and although our main characters get fleshed out quite a bit, almost everything and everyone else felt a bit lacking somehow. (Nothing a sequel can't fix?)
Anyways, again, a good book that I don't regret reading.