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Locus nominated. Winner of the Jaipur Literature Festival’s RA Award for Debut Writing. Winner of Starburst Magazine’s Brave New Words award 2019. Winner of the British Fantasy Award Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer 2019.

A nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. Tasha Suri’s captivating debut is perfect for readers of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.

The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the 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. Unbeknownst to her, she can manipulate the dreams of the gods to alter the face of the world.

When Mehr’s power comes to the attention of the Emperor’s most feared mystics, she is coerced into their service, as they are determined to harness her magic for the glory of the Empire. She must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist the mystics’ cruel agenda — and should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance…

Reviews

“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

“The best fantasy novel I have read this year. I loved it!”―Miles Cameron

“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

“I 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 Howard

“A darkly intricate, devastating, and utterly original story about the ways we are bound by those we love.”―R. F. Kuang

“This is the future of fantasy: rich, complex, unflinching. Empire of Sand is a stunning achievement.”―Mark Oshiro

“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

“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

“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

“An oasis of a story that you fall into, head-first. A mesmerizing tale full of magic and mystery.“―Sayantani DasGupta