The fate of an empire rests in the hands of a young woman with magical blood and nothing left to lose, and an outcast prince determined to save his family at any cost, in this “dark, melodious, and memorable” new fantasy (Library Journal, starred review) from the author of Empire of Sand.
The Ambhan Empire is crumbling. A terrible war of succession hovers on the horizon. The only hope for … crumbling. A terrible war of succession hovers on the horizon. The only hope for peace lies in the mysterious realm of ash, where mortals can find what they seek in the echoes of their ancestors’ dreams. But to walk there requires a steep price.
Arwa is determined to make the journey. Widowed by a brutal massacre, she’s pledged service to the royal family and will see that pledge through to the end. She never expected to be joined by Zahir, the disgraced, illegitimate prince who has turned to forbidden magic in a desperate bid to save those he loves.
Together, they’ll walk the bloody path of their shared past. And it will call into question everything they’ve ever believed…including whether the Empire is worth saving at all.
“Those with a penchant for lyrical prose, intricate world building, beautifully imagined characters, [and>
Together, they’ll walk the bloody path of their shared past. And it will call into question everything they’ve ever believed…including whether the Empire is worth saving at all.
“Those with a penchant for lyrical prose, intricate world building, beautifu>
Together, they’ll walk the bloody path of their shared past. And it will call into question everything they’ve ever believed…including whether the Empire is worth saving at all.
“Those with a penchant for lyrical prose, intricate world building, beautifully imagined characters, [and>
Together, they’ll walk the bloody path of their shared past. And it will call into question everything they’ve ever believed…including whether the Empire is worth saving at all.
“Those with a penchant for lyrical prose, intricate world building, beautifully imagined characters, [and] compelling immersive folklore…need look no further.” — Booklist (starred review)
The Books of Ambha
Empire of Sand
Realm of Ash
Realm of Ash stayed with me for weeks. Anyone who has ever been raised by family who wanted to crush a part of your identity to make you fit better into what society deems acceptable will probably highlight huge passages. It’s heartbreaking and cathartic and healing. Haunting and beautiful.
This is a slow burn romance with very skimmed/non-explicit sex, but the tenderness and intimacy are remarkable.
This book can be read independent of Empire of Sand but I don’t know why you’d want to. <3
Empire of Sand
What a ride!
Never in my life did I think I’d be so emotionally wrecked over a book! Especially one in which I spent a good chunk not being overly fond of the main character.
Honestly, if you invest in just one fantasy series this year it should be this one.
If you love fantasy romance, this is absolutely the book for you.
If you love complex, character driven fantasy that delves deep into magic, history, and culture but aren’t fond of “romance books” (like me) then this is also the book for you!
With everything else going on, you’re likely to forget your even reading a romance book.
Now, let’s talk about the narrator for a moment.
Soneela Nankani does a BRILLIANT job narrating this audiobook! Her voices are well crafted, distinct, and true to the text. Even her male voices are impressive. On top of that, she is an absolute master of vocal inflection. I could literally hear the emotion in every line of dialogue. And her tempo changes throughout are nothing short of incredible. Her reading speed on any given scene is a perfect indicator of the tension in that scene.
As it my wont, I will forego a discussion of the plot. I’m sure there are dozens of reviews that will delve into that.
As I said above, throughout much of the text I wasn’t particularly fond of Arwa as a character. In the beginning (at least to me), she comes across as rather spoiled and self-entitled while simultaneously naive. I’m also not fond of the way she continually moulds herself into whatever other people (her family, host, etc) want/need her to be.
That said, I do really like Zahir. He’s intelligent, inquisitive, and more honorable than any other man in the book (maybe in the series so far). Although he’s capable of great violence, he’s also a gentle soul.
Now, there are (perhaps) one or two conflicts that feel somewhat contrived and arise from characters refusing to see what’s in front of them. But the occurrences of such are far less common than in many other character driven stories (especially those with as strong an element of romance).
I love the deep dive into the history, mythology, magic, and planar landscape of the world Tasha Suri has created. The way much of it works is absolutely fascinating.
The culture is equally fascinating and so different from anything in my personal experience that I can’t help being captivated by it.
We get to meet an entirely new type of supernatural creature in this book (which comes with delving into the world’s history as well as in the present as a direct consequence to the events of Empire of Sand) that I find incredibly interesting. This is not the simple “Monster” that is seen in so many fantasy books, but something very complex and fascinating in its own right.
And, of course, later in the book we get to link directly with someone from the first book and I won’t lie, I absolutely loved that!
Now, if I had to name something that could be a criticism for this book, it would have to be in the prose itself (I can find no fault whatsoever with the characters, the world, or the story). Don’t misunderstand, the author’s prose is beautiful, no question. But the use of passive voice seems just a bit excessive, especially since much of it does not feel necessary.
But that’s it.
In all other ways, I really couldn’t have asked for more.
And at last we come to the finale.
Truthfully, they’re were several points where I legitimately worried about just how Arwa and Zahir were going to even survive their travails. But rest assured, there is no Deus Ex Machina here.
The ending comes together in what can only be described as absolute brilliance. I was completely blown away by the way the climax comes together. This is one of the very few books I’ve read this year that I couldn’t help bursting out in applause with exactly what happens.
And in the final wrapup at the end, I legitimately cried.
I don’t think I could give any book higher praise than that.
I’m so glad I allowed myself to be convinced to give these books a chance, and I can’t wait to see the next book in the series!
I really really loved Tasha Suri’s first book last year and I was very excited to get this one… at the library. I just love Ms. Suri’s worldbuilding and writing and I really liked her subtle exploration of female power in a traditional society. A fantasy win for me!
A brilliant follow up to the first book! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!!!