Tasha Suri: Empire of Sand

 Hi everyone

This is my review for Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand. I got my copy from Bol.com.
Empire of Sand is the first book in Suri's duology The Books of Ambha.

"Mehr is a girl trapped between two cultures. Her father comes from the ruling classes of the empire, but her mother’s people were outcasts, Amrithi nomads who worshipped the spirits of the sands.
Caught one night performing these forbidden rites, Mehr is brought to the attention of the Emperor’s most feared mystics, who try to force her into their service by way of an arranged marriage. If she fails in their bidding, the gods themselves may awaken and seek vengeance…"

Unfortunately, Empire of Sand felt really mediocre, and I won’t be continuing this series.

The biggest issue for me was that I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. I didn’t care what happened to them, what they did, or how they felt; I never became invested in their journey.
The magic and religion system also felt rather ridiculous at times. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once, especially when it came to Mehr’s heritage and this world’s lore. It just didn’t resonate with me.

That said, the writing itself was good, and the atmosphere was rich and immersive. Suri creates a vivid world, and I could feel the desert setting and its cultural tensions. 

While Empire of Sand had some strong elements, it ultimately wasn’t for me. The pace dragged, and I didn’t care enough about the characters to keep going. 
Still, I’m open to trying another book by Tasha Suri because her writing has promise, and I’m curious to see if her other works click better for me.

Have you read Empire of Sand or anything else by Tasha Suri? Did you feel differently, or did it fall flat for you too? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena