“National Velvet with monsters and a big helping of palace intrigue, Race the Sands is monstrous (literally), heartwarming, and empowering in equal measure. An incredibly fun and inspiring read.” – Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the NightingaleIn this epic standalone fantasy, the acclaimed author of the Queens of Renthia series introduces an imaginative new … epic standalone fantasy, the acclaimed author of the Queens of Renthia series introduces an imaginative new world in which a pair of strong and determined women risk their lives battling injustice, corruption, and deadly enemies in their quest to become monster racing champions.
Life, death, and rebirth—in Becar, who you are in this life will determine your next life. Yet there is hope—you can change your destiny with the choices you make. But for the darkest individuals, there is no redemption: you come back as a kehok, a monster, and are doomed to be a kehok for the rest of time.
Unless you can win the Races.
After a celebrated career as an elite kehok rider, Tamra became a professional trainer. Then a tragic accident shattered her confidence, damaged her reputation, and left her nearly broke. Now, she needs the prize money to prevent the local temple from taking her daughter away from her, and that means she must once again find a winning kehok . . . and a rider willing to trust her.
Raia is desperate to get away from her domineering family and cruel fiancé. As a kehok rider, she could earn enough to buy her freedom. But she needs a first-rate trainer.
Impressed by the inexperienced young woman’s determination, Tamra hires Raia and pairs her with a strange new kehok with the potential to win—if he can be tamed.
But in this sport, if you forget you’re riding on the back of a monster, you die. Tamra and Raia will work harder than they ever thought possible to win the deadly Becaran Races—and in the process, discover what makes this particular kehok so special.
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I received an arc copy of this from netgalley in exchange for a review.
The cover is what drew me to this book. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I do. It’s what draws my attention. And then I read what the book was about and I was intrigued. Kehoks are people who have been bad in their past life causing them to be born into this hateful beast. But in the book, these people use them to race, which is a dangerous thing. Kehok’s cannot be reasoned with. But there’s a twist in here and it’s a good one. I began to suspect a bit but I was still into it. It was a bit of a slow start and I didn’t truly get lost into it until the ending but the premise of the book is amazing. I just couldn’t get completely lost in it like I do some books. However it wasn’t a bad read at all. Just the first part of the book went on a little too long.
Title: Race The Sands
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: April 21st, 2020
Rating:
Race The Sands is the most recent Young Adult Fantasy Novel by season author Sarah Beth Durst, I came across this book while browsing through the titles on NetGalley. If you follow my blog, you’re probably tired of hearing me say I chose a book because of its cover, but alas, it’s a habit I have not yet managed to break. As a summer-born, bonified Leo, I was immediately drawn to the majestic metallic lion gracing the cover over the book. I will say that most of the time, the books I chose this way usually don’t disappoint me, though that doesn’t always prove true.
Race the Sands is one of the most original works of fantasy I have read in a long time. it’s a unique concept I have never read before. Race the Sands is a book about Karma, reincarnation, and racing. Are you intrigued yet? I’ll give you a bit without spoiling the book for you. Those with dark souls are reborn as the most monstrous creatures imaginable, beast called Kehoks. Kehoks can be any combination of animals, insects, and reptiles. Still, you know one instantly because their very existence is an affront to nature itself, they are vicious, dangerous monsters, inherent killers.
Well, in this world created by Durst, Kehoks are raced, yes people get on them and race them, across the sands of Becar, for fame and fortune and the guarantee of living their next life in human form. The protagonist is a woman name, Tamra. Tamra is a retired rider previous champion who is now a bit down on her luck. At the opening of the story, Tamra is working at the stable training rich brats to be racers. When all that goes to crap, Tamara’s benefactor gives her one last chance to redeem herself or be cut off. Tamra is to secure a new Kehok and a rider who she must mold into champions in only five weeks.
Sounds pretty cut a dry, right? Well, you’d be WRONG; there’s nothing cut and dry about this story. Race the Sands is a book of action and political intrigue. Durst keeps you both entertained and informed but still guessing. The book is filled with wonderful, strong, relatable characters who are well developed and complex. These characters bond with the reader and each other as the story goes on. Race the Sands is a great book. I’m excited to have read such an original story. I rate the book five stars and recommend Race The Sands to lovers of the Fantasy or Young Adult genre’s.
I’ve come to realize that I can count on Sarah Beth Durst for truly unique world-building.
The mythos she builds RACE THE SANDS on is like nothing I’ve read before: an innovative take on reincarnation twined with religio-political power. Because it’s so different, it takes a couple of chapters to sort of wrap your hands and mind around it, but once you get that grip, hold on for a wild ride. I love that Durst uses the mysticism in her stories to explore dark instincts of human nature, and I adore that the undercurrent here, as in the Queens of Renthia series, is one of willpower. Her heroines have to confront forces of chaos and destruction, which may seem to be wild nature or utter monsters, but which are truly dark mirrors for the human condition. It’s deftly done and wonderfully compelling.
I always adore Durst’s characters, too. They’re always complex people with real wants and needs driving their actions — and they evolve, as do those stressors. Tamra’s economic needs shift into something of greater scope; Raia’s immediate need for security morphs into a quest of both self-discovery and political consequence. Though she’s of secondary focus, (I have to say that I *really* enjoyed Lady Evara, whose Slytherin instincts to do good but still seek advantage within it are a worldview I can totally sympathize with.)
I read this book as the pandemic crisis has been gripping the world. It drew me into the point where I could forget those troubles for a few hours — and that is no mean feat. I can heartily recommend RACE THE SANDS as a worthy escape into another world, lushly drawn and emotionally vivid.