Empire of Sand

The Books of Ambha

By: Tasha Suri

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Winner of the RA Award for Debut Writing, Jaipur Literature Fest, 2019

Locus Award for Best First Novel runner-up, 2019

A nobleman's daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. Empire of Sand is Tasha Suri's captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy.

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....

Empire of Sand is a lush, dazzling fantasy novel perfect for fans of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.

©2018 Tasha Suri (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A stunning and enthralling debut, Empire of Sand thoroughly swept me away. With wonderfully lyrical prose, Suri deftly balances fantastic world-building with a nuanced exploration of family ties and the lengths one will go for love. A quiet, powerful and unexpected love story set in a crushing world of magic and tyrants, Empire of Sand is a gripping tale of survival I'll be recommending for a long time!"—S. A. Chakraborty

"The best fantasy novel I have read this year. I loved it!"—Miles Cameron

"A brilliant debut that shows us a rich, magical world with clear parallels to this one: it has a sadistic leader with a cult-like following who warps the world for personal gain, a few individuals with the strength to resist him, and a planet seeking balance. But its core is a heroine defined by her choices, and her journey is absorbing, heart wrenching, and triumphant. Highly recommended."—Kevin Hearne

Waited way too long to listen

I tried starting this book a few times and had trouble getting into it. I finally had a bit of time in the car, and although it starts slow, it builds beautifully. This book is compelling in the way that it draws you in, revealing the characters, and making you feel for them. It has been a while since I read a book I just couldn't put down/stop listening to, but Empire of Sand did that for me. This is one I will listen to again and again.

Board

This book moved so slow I could not stand it. There was no action and I am still confused by what is happening on the larger scale. I am going to read the next one since I bought it already but I was very bored. The speaker was great though!

it was okay..

I started this audio book twice before I actually continued on. For some reason it didn't grab me in the first few chapters. Then things picked up a bit, then got slow..then picked up. I'm not sure that I will continue this series. this book ended without a cliffhanger so I really dont need to know what happens next. Overall an average read and I did enjoy it.

good story

hard to get into at first, but keep listening, its a great story! the narrator was great!

Slow burn

I read it because it takes place in the desert and it has south asian influences. But it felt a little slow and honestly depressing what the main character had to go through and endure. However, I’m glad I stuck through with it because I got to see a little bit of character development and I gained a newfound respect and understanding for the main character. She is a strong one.

Really good world building

But lacks good pacing and needs some help from an editor. Enjoyable overall. I feel like there's a better story somewhere in the future.

A Quiet Story

The author created a backdrop of a remarkable world peopled with characters you enjoy loving and hating. The story is long, but compelling. There us action, romance, and pathos. I enjoyed it.

A Tale About Identity

This story started out slow as the author built the world her characters lived in. Her lyrical prose also contributed to the pace and the mood of the story. The narrator added to the melancholy tone - although I am not sure if that tone was meant to showcase culture. Her writing style reminded me of the way Circe was written.

Tasha Suri wrote a beautiful story about being true to one's self, one's identity, one's heritage. She also wrote a heartwarming love story that made me reflect about marriage vows and defining one's self within the bounds of marriage.

The mythology she created was clearly explained and defined. Her hope-filled tale tugs at the heartstrings and ends on an inspiring note.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy mythology, magic systems/worlds, and fans of love stories.

Empire of Sand book 1?

I enjoyed reading something very different from all the (predictable story line) fantasy books I’ve read. The story is interesting and while not a page turner, enjoyable. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the narrator had been less dramatic. I gave it 4 stars as I imagined it if I had read, not listened to it. The dramatic reading made my view of the characters skewed. For example Meher comes off as a weak, pleading girl but is truly a strong, capable woman.

Great narrator and story

Wonderful narrator, though the quality is a bit echoey, and interesting story. First audiobook I've completed and would highly recommend!