Publishers Weekly
09/30/2019
Suri’s sumptuous second fantasy in the Books of Ambha series (after Realm of Sand) returns to the Mughal, India–inspired Ambhan Empire. Arwa, a widowed noblewoman, does all she can to hide the fact that she is descended from an Amrithi barbarian mother and has feared but powerful Amrithi blood in her veins. The sole survivor of a massacre, Arwa retreats to a hermitage to grieve. But when she discovers that her blood may be the key to saving the crumbling Ambhan Empire from a curse, Arwa agrees to travel to the Imperial palace. There, she must navigate politics, the intricacies of courtly manners, and the whims of the emperor’s family. With help from the emperor’s illegitimate son, Zahir, Arwa peels back the layers of her mother’s culture and learns more about the forbidden magic of her blood. Meandering passages exploring Arwa’s mental state occasionally go on too long, pulling the reader out of the rich, sensuous culture of Ambha. Suri’s exquisitely detailed world and complex plotting make up for any shortcomings. Agent: Laura Crockett, Triada US Literary (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"A poignant story of finding one's place in a world warped by prejudice, court intrigue, violence, and sorcery....Those with a penchant for lyrical prose, intricate world building, beautifully imagined characters, compelling immersive folklore, and a fascinating look into a setting reminiscent of the Mughal Empire need look no further."—Booklist (starred review) on Realm of Ash
"Suri's companion to Empire of Sand continues to expand on the stark beauty and power of this magical realm. With striking characters and court intrigue, this story is dark, melodious, and memorable."—Library Journal (starred review) on Realm of Ash
"Sharp worldbuilding, authentic characters, and thoughtful explorations of prejudice and misogyny bode well for future volumes."—Kirkus (starred review) on Realm of Ash
"Sumptuous."—Publishers Weekly on Realm of Ash
"[A] feast of desert magic, palace intrigue, forbidden romance and veiled princesses making all their own hard choices. ... For all the imaginative scope and fresh worldbuilding, the heart of Suri's series beats in the chests of its indomitable heroines. Their every struggle and sacrifice, triumph and fear, resonate more deeply than the fates of whole worlds in less personal fantasies."—Shelf Awareness on Realm of Ash
"Suri takes us back to Ambha with Realm of Ash, an equally lush and tender narrative ... Realm of Ash is about anger as allowed - and how anger gets things done. Which makes both books, I think, stories that we deeply, deeply need right now."—Strange Horizons on Realm of Ash
"An ode to the quiet, fierce strength of women...pure wonder." —Samantha Shannon on Empire of Sand
"A stunning and enthralling debut that thoroughly swept me away....A quiet, powerful and unexpected love story set in a crushing world of magic and tyrants, Empire of Sand is a gripping tale."—S. A. Chakraborty on Empire of Sand
"A darkly intricate, devastating, and utterly original story about the ways we are bound by those we love."—R. F. Kuang on Empire of Sand
"Tasha Suri's beautiful prose, with its undercurrent of warm tenderness, hides a web of escalating tension and existential dread. By the time the spider appears, Empire of Sand will have you in its grip and you won't be able to put it down."—Peter V. Brett on Empire of Sand
"Genuine, painful, and beautiful. A very strong start for a new voice."—Kirkus (starred review) on Empire of Sand
"The desert setting, complex characters, and epic mythology will captivate readers of Suri's debut fantasy."—Booklist (starred review) on Empire of Sand
"Complex, affecting epic fantasy.... Intricate worldbuilding, heartrending emotional stakes... well-wrought prose."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Empire of Sand
"A brilliant debut that shows us a rich, magical world with clear parallels to this one...absorbing, heart wrenching, and triumphant. Highly recommended."—Kevin Hearne on Empire of Sand
"A lush, atmospheric and sweeping epic fantasy, a powerful story of resistance and love in the face of terrifying darkness. You'll want to devour Empire of Sand."—Aliette de Bodard on Empire of Sand
"Empire of Sand draws you into an intricately realized world of blood and secrets. An arresting and magical history told through the eyes of an indomitable heroine.I cannot ask for more."—Jeannette Ng on Empire of Sand
"The best fantasy novel I have read this year. I loved it!"—Miles Cameron on Empire of Sand
"Empire of Sand is astounding. The desert setting captured my imagination, the magic bound me up, and the epic story set my heart free."—Fran Wilde on Empire of Sand
"Tasha Suri has created a rich world full of beautiful and powerful magic, utterly compelling characters, high stakes and immersive prose. I absolutely loved it!"—Kat Howard on Empire of Sand
"Riveting and wonderful! A fascinating desert world, a compelling heroine, and a richly satisfying conclusion. Empire of Sand will sweep you away!"—Sarah Beth Durst on Empire of Sand
"A lovely dark dream full of wrenching choices and bittersweet triumph. This gorgeous, magic-woven story and its determined heroine spin hope from hopelessness, power from powerlessness, and love from desolation."—Melissa Caruso on Empire of Sand
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-10-28
This second installment of an epic fantasy series that draws on the history and culture of the Mughal Empire (Empire of Sand, 2018) takes place a decade later.
Unlike her sister, Mehr, who remembered their Amrithi birth mother and the rituals of their people, Arwa has done her best to embrace the Ambhan heritage of their nobleman father and follow the guidance of her Ambhan stepmother. But when a dark force slaughters her husband and all the soldiers under his command, Arwa owes her survival to her Amrithi blood, literally, as shedding it can ward off the spirits known as daivas. The new widow resolves to put the magic of her blood into the service of the Ambhan Empire, which has suffered a material and spiritual decline since the death of the Maha, the empire's near-immortal founder. She joins the emperor's bastard, Zahir, in a dangerous quest in the titular realm of ash, a dream world where one can encounter and absorb the memories of the dead. Arwa's blood eases the path to the Maha's memories, which Zahir believes can save the empire. But the other memories they encounter, and the political turmoil surrounding the emperor's decline, send them on an even more dangerous—but far more redemptive—journey. Arwa's gradual rebellion against the society that crushed her mother's people is an intriguing counterpoint to her older sister's more overt resistance in Book 1; Arwa must battle her own ignorance of her heritage as well as the forces arrayed against her due to prejudice and her placement in a noble court during a fight for the succession. She is a well-drawn and sympathetic character; even in 2019, readers will understand a situation in which a woman is forced to suppress personal qualities to fit an approved model of a smiling, submissive helpmeet. The novel is also a nicely crafted exploration of the implications of the previous volume; after centuries in which the gods were impelled to dream the positive fortunes of the Ambhan Empire, more negative forces are now in play to balance the scales.
Sharp worldbuilding, authentic characters, and thoughtful explorations of prejudice and misogyny bode well for future volumes.
