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…
The Amrithi can trace their lineage back to the desert spirits and the gods that came before that. There is magic in Mehr’s blood, and the only time she finds any real happiness is when she performs the rites of her ancestors. These rituals, driven by movement and intense contemplation, make Mehr feel alive, they make her feel connected to something far bigger than herself. The culture that surrounds Mehr is often stifling and controlling. To be able to remove herself from that, however briefly, offers moments of perfect peace. Mehr finds herself forced into an impossible situation; her only option to leave everything she has ever known behind.
Empire of Sand is a novel driven by a strong central relationship. When Mehr meets Amun, another young Amrithi, she is unsure of his motives. He seems aloof and disinterested but the more time they spend together the more Mehr realises how alike they are. There is a common ground that they share, and this creates a strong bond between them both. Amun also has problems of his own. He is bound by strict vows he has made to the Maha, a religious leader. The Maha demands total obedience in all things. This leaves Amun unable to refuse any request, he has to follow orders however vile they may be.
I’m not religious, but I do find that I am endlessly fascinated by the concept of religion. The pressures it can place on individuals and the power it can exert. The Maha and his followers have become totally corrupted by the power they wield. The group of mystics exist only to serve the Maha’s twisted will. They are fanatical towards their leader, but you get the impression the Maha views them as little more than a resource. He will happily kill or torture any one of them just to make a point. He is entirely consumed by his own self-righteousness. I’m always a little amazed how people manage to justify their actions just because they think they have some sort of divine right. The Maha is the perfect example of this attitude.
Suri’s vivid prose makes the sights and sounds of the desert come alive. The blistering heat feels almost palpable. There is a sense of desolation tinged with a stark beauty. Living in this harsh environment makes people hard and unyielding. Distrust seems to be commonplace. It is only within Mehr we find a single flicker of hope.
The journey that Mehr and Amun share is transformative for them both. By story’s end they are distinctly different from when we first met them. I’m always impressed when an author totally nails the evolution of their characters. Every action and reaction felt measured and realistic. I’m always impressed when a writer manages to pull of this particular feat. Great fiction has to have great characters.
Empire of Sand is confident, solidly entertaining writing that weaves together to form an engrossing tale. Tasha Suri’s debut is well executed and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are looking for a character driven fantasy, then this could well be the book for you. I would certainly recommend you check it out.
My musical recommendation to accompany Empire of Sand is the soundtrack to Agora by Dario Marianelli. I was looking for something that captures the evocative tone of the author’s writing and this music feels like a good fit.
Empire of Sand is published by Orbit and is available now. A sequel is set to follow.
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