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 lush, dazzling, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy.
"An ode to the quiet, fierce strength of women. . .pure wonder." -- Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
"Stunning and enthralling." -- S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"A darkly intricate, devastating, and utterly original story." -- R. F. Kuang, author of the The Poppy War
The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the Ambhan 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.
And should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance. . .
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"A stunning and enthralling debut, Empire of Sand thoroughly swept me away. With wonderfully lyrical prose, Suri deftly balances fantastic world-building with a nuanced exploration of family ties and the lengths one will go for love. A quiet, powerful and unexpected love story set in a crushing world of magic and tyrants, Empire of Sand is a gripping tale of survival I'll be recommending for a long time!"
— S. A. Chakraborty
"[A] complex, affecting epic fantasy…Intricate world-building, heartrending emotional stakes, and Suri’s well-wrought prose make this a worthy addition to any epic fantasy fan’s bookshelf.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“[A] fantasy debut that draws from the history and culture of India’s Mughal Empire….[with] deft and textured characterization.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)The best fantasy novel I have read this year. I loved it!
— Miles CameronA brilliant debut that shows us a rich, magical world with clear parallels to this one: it has a sadistic leader with a cult-like following who warps the world for personal gain, a few individuals with the strength to resist him, and a planet seeking balance. But its core is a heroine defined by her choices, and her journey is absorbing, heart wrenching, and triumphant. Highly recommended.
— Kevin HearneEmpire of Sand is astounding. The desert setting captured my imagination, the magic bound me up, and the epic story set my heart free.
— Fran WildeI was hooked from the moment I began Tasha Suri's gorgeous debut novel, Empire of Sand. 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 HowardA darkly intricate, devastating, and utterly original story about the ways we are bound by those we love.
— R. F. KuangTasha 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. BrettThis is the future of fantasy: rich, complex, unflinching. Empire of Sand is a stunning achievement.
— Mark OshiroGenuine, painful, and beautiful. A very strong start for a new voice.
— Kirkus (starred review)Complex, affecting epic fantasy.... Intricate worldbuilding, heartrending emotional stakes... well-wrought prose.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)The desert setting, complex characters, and epic mythology will captivate readers of Suri's debut fantasy.
— Booklist (starred review)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 BodardRiveting and wonderful! A fascinating desert world, a compelling heroine, and a richly satisfying conclusion. Empire of Sand will sweep you away!
— Sarah Beth DurstA 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 CarusoEmpire 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 NgAn oasis of a story that you fall into, head-first. A mesmerizing tale full of magic and mystery.
— Sayantani DasGuptaA powerful story of empire, magic, and resistance, told with an intimate poignancy and emotional resonance.
— Rowenna MillerA study of elegance, eloquence and a unique example of how words can be used with restraint and care to create something wonderful.... The start of an incredible journey.
— Geek SyndicateImpressive, exciting.... Beautiful and evocative.
— Fantasy Book CriticBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Tasha Suri is an award-winning author of South Asian influenced epic fantasy novels. What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix is her first book for young adults.
Soneela Nankani is an award-winning narrator with over three hundred titles in many different genres including Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, and Nonfiction. She has garnered sixteen Earphones Awards, nominations for Audie and SOVAS awards, and was recently awarded AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voice Lifetime Achievement Honor. Her audiobooks have been featured in Best Audiobooks lists by AudioFile magazine and the Washington Post, among others. In her spare time, she loves to read (yes, really), learn languages, try new recipes, and travel. She lives in the DC area with her husband and two mischievous daughters.