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:
- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
- Shuri by Nic Stone
- Scythe by Neal Shusterman
- Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
- The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
- The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
- Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
- Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri