An astonishingly accomplished debut, set in a richly realised world. ... Suri’s character work in this novel is top-notch, a reward and a delight to read. ... Deftly written, compelling, and brilliantly full of heart, Empire of Sand is a very promising opening to Tasha Suri’s career. I’m really looking forward to what she does next.
Mehr is a near perfect heroine ... It is always wonderful to read a story spun from a culture other than the typical Western European one. Empire of Sand, with its colonial narrative showing an abused, subjugated minority exploited and despised by those in power, is especially meaningful because it is a tale that speaks to the conversations of our own time and place. Beautifully written, this thought-provoking heartfelt love story is the perfect book for fantasy/fantasy romance fans.
In her debut novel, Empire of Sand, London-based author Tasha Suri crafts a dazzling epic that is sure to enthrall fantasy and non-fantasy readers alike. Set in a world inspired by Mughal India, the book presents an engaging, relatable heroine who struggles to survive in a world seemingly designed to destroy her ... Suri beautifully sketches Ambha and its people into a vivid, lively universe that makes readers want to dive in and understand the history of every palace Mehr enters, every daiva that appears. So it’s understandably disappointing that the nature of dreamfire, the Amrithi relationship with the daiva, and the rites Mehr and the other Amrithi enact aren’t fully explained. The world-building is teased but not fulfilled, leaving readers wanting more and feeling frustrated that they might not understand how Mehr manages to do what she does. Either way, Empire of Sand is the first book in a series that this reviewer is certainly excited about.
One must hope that this book is a harbinger of a coming flood of other fantasies that draw on traditions and cultures outside the confines of Northern Europe ... there is something undoubtedly refreshing about a form of magic that is expressed in gesture instead of words. Those accustomed to the usual run of epic fantasy will find familiar elements...But Suri’s deft and textured characterization breathes new life into these elements; she even takes a tired and often cloying trope—the triumph of the power of love—and makes it seem genuine, painful, and beautiful ... A very strong start for a new voice.
[A] complex, affecting epic fantasy ... Alongside the fantasy setting’s courtly intrigue and magic, Suri explores deeper questions of power, love, and the human cost of prosperity and order ... Intricate worldbuilding, heartrending emotional stakes, and Suri’s well-wrought prose make this a worthy addition to any epic fantasy fan’s bookshelf.
