Empire of Sand

Empire of Sand, Tasha Suri???s fantasy debut novel inspired by Mughal India, is magnificent. Though there is plenty of darkness within its pages, there is also an abundance of light as the main characters fight back against evil and injustice???not with the strength of force and weapons, but with the strength of hearts and minds. It???s a wonderful exploration of themes like choice and connection, and it???s also a treasure trove of rich storytelling with its vibrant characters and relationships, fascinating world, and beautiful writing.

In short: I loved Empire of Sand and found it deeply affecting.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Full Review on My Website

I finally finished this book after putting it off for a long time, but I think I was appreciate it more now. It has stunning characters and a beautiful love story, a very familiar but also novel world building and a steady pace that makes you wanna savor the book. Mehr and Amun are perfect examples of resilience and quiet strength, who fight for their freedom and love in the limited ways they can - I admire them so much and I can't think of many characters I've felt similarly about in recent times.

I listened to the audiobook and I have to say it felt very soothing in a way and I would highly recommend it. And if you like your fantasy stories to be written on the more contemplative side rather than blazing through the narrative, then you should definitely give this one a try.

Started out as a 5 star read, ended as “only” a 3.5 to 4 star one. But I am very much hooked and want more of this world!