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Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri

Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
Started: 17 June 2021
Finished: 13 September 2021

Hello again, reading slump! Again, let’s not blame the book too much. Though, I was a little less invested in Realm of Ash than I found myself for Empire of Sand. This entry takes place in the same world as Empire but is a companion book, told from the point of view from Mehr’s sister, Arwa. It can be read as a standalone, but it builds on many concepts and more importantly consequences of the first book, so I’d strongly recommend reading Empire of Sand first.

So, what did I think about Realm of Ash? It was good, with some pacing issues in the beginning. Overall, it had many elements I liked, political intrigue, exploration of new elements of the magic system, wonderfully developed characters. The first act is slow going, and I wasn’t really invested until Arwa makes it to the palace and meets Zahir. It truly is a very different book from it’s companion, and Arwa is a much different character than her sister. Suri’s writing contains a lot of reflection, and interiority, so if you’re looking for a beautifully rich fantasy world with less hack and slash and more exploration of ideas like grief, duty, overcoming trauma, family, woven with romance and incredibly high stakes, Realm of Ash is worth your time.


2021 Reads:

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