by Tasha Suri
she never tried
to fit a pattern
that didn’t fit her.
She didn’t waste her time
trying to smooth herself
into something
she wasn’t.
She was powerful
because she forged
her own path.
The Christians
in Onyshkivtsi
built a shrine
to honor her.
The shrine marks a spring
whose temperature
is forty-three degrees
all year,
rain or shine.
Even in the snow.
It is said
that it was once home
to hundreds of swans.
Righteous Anna used to
feed and care for them.
But Mami says the swans
don’t go there anymore.
There is rot
in the old growth—
the Kodari forest
senses these things.
I sense things too.
The rot in our community.
Sometimes it’s not enough
to be good,
if you treat others
with disdain.
Sometimes there’s nothing
you can do
but fly away,
like Anna did.
By Tasha Suri
THE BOOKS OF AMBHA
Empire of Sand
Realm of Ash
Praise for
Empire of Sand
“A stunning and enthralling debut, Empire of Sand thoroughly swept me away. With wonderfully lyrical prose, Suri deftly balances fantastic worldbuilding 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 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 Hearne
“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
“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 Bodard
“Genuine, 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.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“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, headfirst. A mesmerizing tale full of magic and mystery.”
—Sayantani DasGupta
“A powerful story of empire, magic, and resistance, told with an intimate poignancy and emotional resonance.”
—Rowenna Miller
1. A single family’s tombs.
2. A tree similar to a cherry.
3. Carrion-eating birds with bright plumage, often kept as garbage-eating pets.
4. A handheld firework.
5. Khir. Affectionate. Elder brother.
6. A small, slightly acrid fruit.
7. A native, very hardy Khir plant with seven petals on its small highly fragrant flowers; the root is used for blue dye.
