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booknerd151's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
srishtis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Really engrossing fantasy read weaving together South Asian culture, religion, & historical details. Mehr annd Amun are so tortured, and I only wished they received a bit more respite during the ending, which felt a little rushed to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Classism
shredderreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
nithyaez's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful world-building, inspired by Mughal India, with strong characters and a lovely, slow-burn romance.
I do think that Tasha Suri’s Jasmine Throne series is marginally better; it’s feels more epic, with more vivid characters beyond the main cast and many interconnected storylines, and Suri’s writing is simply more honed. It makes sense, as Kingdom of Sand is her debut novel. However, if I’d read this first, I’d not have known Suri could be even better, and it was still an easy five stars for me. (Jasmine Throne is just, ugh, so good and deserves six out of five stars).
I do think that Tasha Suri’s Jasmine Throne series is marginally better; it’s feels more epic, with more vivid characters beyond the main cast and many interconnected storylines, and Suri’s writing is simply more honed. It makes sense, as Kingdom of Sand is her debut novel. However, if I’d read this first, I’d not have known Suri could be even better, and it was still an easy five stars for me. (Jasmine Throne is just, ugh, so good and deserves six out of five stars).
brittney_tyler's review against another edition
4.0
Star Rating: 3.5 stars
After hearing about this book through BookTube, I decided to try it as I tend to like Middle Eastern fantasy (The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Charkaborty was my favorite book of last year.). However, the synopsis of this book is very misleading, and ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped. This book tells the story of Mehr, the half-Amrithi illegitimate daughter of the governor of Irinah, as she tries to find her place in a world where her people (Amrithi) and their way of life are slowly disappearing.
The best thing about this book was how healthy the relationship was between Mehr and Amun. Their relationship starts out being an arranged, political marriage, but I really enjoyed them slowly learning about each other and eventually starting to love and care about each other, especially when it came to Amun refusing to consummate their marriage until Mehr was completely consenting even when it caused him actual physical pain to wait. As a Westerner who lives in the Deep South, I don’t have much exposure to arranged marriages or other cultures in general, so it was really exciting to see one portrayed that was actually healthy.
Although I do think that their relationship was very healthy, I did not think that it should have been the main focus of the novel. The story is about the Amrithi’s connection to the land and how the empire they live in is manipulating that connection or at least it is supposed to be, but in my opinion, the romance completely takes over and the plot is just there to further the romance. I prefer stories that have deep and complex layered plots, and if they have romance, it is just icing on the cake, and that is not what I got with this book. 3.5 stars and on to the next one!!!!!!!!
After hearing about this book through BookTube, I decided to try it as I tend to like Middle Eastern fantasy (The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Charkaborty was my favorite book of last year.). However, the synopsis of this book is very misleading, and ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped. This book tells the story of Mehr, the half-Amrithi illegitimate daughter of the governor of Irinah, as she tries to find her place in a world where her people (Amrithi) and their way of life are slowly disappearing.
The best thing about this book was how healthy the relationship was between Mehr and Amun. Their relationship starts out being an arranged, political marriage, but I really enjoyed them slowly learning about each other and eventually starting to love and care about each other, especially when it came to Amun refusing to consummate their marriage until Mehr was completely consenting even when it caused him actual physical pain to wait. As a Westerner who lives in the Deep South, I don’t have much exposure to arranged marriages or other cultures in general, so it was really exciting to see one portrayed that was actually healthy.
Although I do think that their relationship was very healthy, I did not think that it should have been the main focus of the novel. The story is about the Amrithi’s connection to the land and how the empire they live in is manipulating that connection or at least it is supposed to be, but in my opinion, the romance completely takes over and the plot is just there to further the romance. I prefer stories that have deep and complex layered plots, and if they have romance, it is just icing on the cake, and that is not what I got with this book. 3.5 stars and on to the next one!!!!!!!!
jes7037's review against another edition
I got about halfway through, but for some reason it just wasn't working for me. It's written well and there were definitely parts I liked, but nothing really grabbed my attention. The magic system was kinda interesting, but everything else... Just meh overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Death and Blood
dezzella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book took me a little to get into, but once I did I devoured this. I'm really glad I stuck with it a bit longer because I ended up really loving this. I really loved our main characters and the world this is set in. It's fantasy with dark elements (discrimination against various peoples, misogyny, mild violence).
Our main character, Mehr, finds herself in an arranged marriage and eventually at the whim of a mysterious being. She and her new husband are made to serve him for his own deeds. The characters are pretty in depth, I think they were wonderfully done. I also loved the writing style in this. It is more so focused on the fantasy plot aspects, and Mehr trying to gain her own freedom and understand her power, but there is a touch of romance too. The romance is a slow burn, fade to black, forced proximity. These two struggle at first and it's really lovely to see how things develop from there.
Overall, this is a great fantasy book (with a little bit of romance). I enjoyed it and thought it wrapped things up well. I believe the second book is about a different character, but I haven't looked too much at it yet.
Our main character, Mehr, finds herself in an arranged marriage and eventually at the whim of a mysterious being. She and her new husband are made to serve him for his own deeds. The characters are pretty in depth, I think they were wonderfully done. I also loved the writing style in this. It is more so focused on the fantasy plot aspects, and Mehr trying to gain her own freedom and understand her power, but there is a touch of romance too. The romance is a slow burn, fade to black, forced proximity. These two struggle at first and it's really lovely to see how things develop from there.
Overall, this is a great fantasy book (with a little bit of romance). I enjoyed it and thought it wrapped things up well. I believe the second book is about a different character, but I haven't looked too much at it yet.
caitibeth's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! I'm glad I did, because I've been looking forward to it for a while now, and it definitely delivered. Rich worldbuilding, great characters, wonderful setting. A thoroughly good book that I devoured without once putting it down (luckily it's Christmas week and I can do that!)
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
amrithi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder