Do y’all have those genres that you always say you don’t like, even though you have a not-insignificant number of books on your shelf in those genres? I always say I don’t like historical fiction or secondary world fantasy, I believe for the same reason in both cases, that being that I’m not good at making pictures in my head so I have a hard time submerging myself in fictional worlds. What I mean, I think, is less that I can’t enjoy historical fiction or secondary world fantasy, and more that I require to be sold a little harder on books in those genres, which in turn means that when I do read books in those genres, they are frequently quite excellent. Empire of Sand is one of those.
Set in an empire inspired by the Mughals, but with magic, Empire of Sand follows a biracial girl called Mehr who is forced into a marriage with one of the Emperor’s mystics. The Maha, leader of the empire’s religious community, has detected the powerful magic that lives in Mehr’s Amrithi blood, and intends to compel her cooperation in a dark rite that will bind the world to the Emperor’s will (and his own). Alone in a foreign land, separated from everyone she loves, Mehr must find a way to protect her people without sacrificing her beliefs.
Listen, you’re going to be shaken when I tell you this news, but I really? loved? the worldbuilding??? I AM NOT A WORLDBUILDING LADY. Yet here we are. I actually consulted the map. Suri did an incredible job of tying worldbuilding in with emotions, and I think that’s what worked for me. For instance, Mehr has grown up with her Ambhan father and his new wife, but maintains a feeling of connection with her Amrithi mother through the Amrithi religious practice of danced rites. (This is actually what puts her on the wicked Maha’s wicked radar!) We learn that Amrithi blood wards off daiva when Mehr’s baby sister Arwa sees one and calls for Mehr to come protect her. It’s all done in this lovely, organic way that both builds the world and connects the reader to the characters.
Another thing I loved was the slowly developing relationship between Mehr and her husband, Amun. Forced marriage is one of those tropes that can be very, very hard to do well, but Suri made it work for me. The big thing for me is that Amun makes it clear immediately that he doesn’t want to have sex with Mehr, not just because it would be a violation for her (which he recognizes), but because it would be a violation for him too. It made me sad that this felt so revelatory to me, but it did; so often, media suggests that men are willing/excited to have sex under absolutely any circumstances. And it’s the start of Mehr’s, and the reader’s, realization that Amun is doing his best under miserable circumstances, just as Mehr herself is.
Empire of Sand is the first in a series WAIT COME BACK but it’s a standalone novel. The next book will be set in the same world, but will deal with the adventures of a minor Empire of Sand character many years on from the events of Empire of Sand. This is thrilling for me because of how thoroughly invested Suri got me not just in these characters (although come on, I’m a sucker for an MC making unthinkable sacrifices to protect their siblings), but also in this world. I’m dying to see what happens to the Empire after the choices Mehr makes, and I’m so excited that I’ll have the opportunity to do that.