Scan barcode
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
You have to like a book that forms "a mystical order of two."
It's a well-chosen follow-on from #1, which you should have read first.
It's slow in places, rambled off-arc in places, got repetitive in others; but that's balanced by good parts. There's a grand final confrontation with the human Bad Guy, and it's believable from what we've been shown in earlier scenes. There are some good quick portraits of subsections of this society, sketching why it's not a sustainable model for an empire.
It's VERY predictable: Arwa and Zahir, Parviz and the whole bog-standard court scene, Mehr and even Eshara haven't been onstage for ten pages when we know what's going to happen with them. Ordinarily that would be fatal, but somehow here it doesn't matter, because the focus is held on the triangle of Arwa, Zahir and the mystery.
Early on I worried about the old authorial trope of "feeling strong emotion? don't eat or sleep, and make damn sure the reader knows it." But it faded after a while.
This seems to be #2 of 2, and that feels right. The story has been neatly told.
It's a well-chosen follow-on from #1, which you should have read first.
It's slow in places, rambled off-arc in places, got repetitive in others; but that's balanced by good parts. There's a grand final confrontation with the human Bad Guy, and it's believable from what we've been shown in earlier scenes. There are some good quick portraits of subsections of this society, sketching why it's not a sustainable model for an empire.
It's VERY predictable: Arwa and Zahir, Parviz and the whole bog-standard court scene, Mehr and even Eshara haven't been onstage for ten pages when we know what's going to happen with them. Ordinarily that would be fatal, but somehow here it doesn't matter, because the focus is held on the triangle of Arwa, Zahir and the mystery.
Early on I worried about the old authorial trope of "feeling strong emotion? don't eat or sleep, and make damn sure the reader knows it." But it faded after a while.
This seems to be #2 of 2, and that feels right. The story has been neatly told.
ratcousin's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Realm of Ash was was some what unexpected to me. I didn't know I I was going to like following Arwa as much as I did Mehr, but in the end I enjoyed this book as much if not more than the first one in the Duology. I almost feel like you could read this Duology in reverse and get more out of this book because a lot of the events of the first book are part of the mystery that Arwa is trying to uncover. This book also had almost an dark fantasy vibe than the first one, so if you didn't love the first one, I'd still recommend you give this a shot
caramm's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dumbarton's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ok7a's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
thoughtsstained's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Full review posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
Y'all, the guilt I've felt over not reading Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri. I really, really enjoyed her debut, Empire of Sand. (Don't even get me started on The Jasmine Throne. I am so excited to reread it and it's sequel when the third book comes out during the holidays.) I think I waited so long to read Realm of Ash because I was mad to not be with Mehr anymore (who I LOVE).
What a fool I was. I should have known to trust Tasha Suri. Arwa's story was just as captivatingly beautiful and heartbreaking as her sisters'.
I am so, so glad I finally read Realm of Ash. Tasha Suri was already an auto-support author for me, but it's so good to have that decision supported and cemented even further. If you've been sleeping on reading this duology, I'd highly, highly recommend it. Especially if you enjoy passionate, fierce female leads, an incredibly evocative atmosphere and slow burn romances.
Y'all, the guilt I've felt over not reading Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri. I really, really enjoyed her debut, Empire of Sand. (Don't even get me started on The Jasmine Throne. I am so excited to reread it and it's sequel when the third book comes out during the holidays.) I think I waited so long to read Realm of Ash because I was mad to not be with Mehr anymore (who I LOVE).
What a fool I was. I should have known to trust Tasha Suri. Arwa's story was just as captivatingly beautiful and heartbreaking as her sisters'.
I am so, so glad I finally read Realm of Ash. Tasha Suri was already an auto-support author for me, but it's so good to have that decision supported and cemented even further. If you've been sleeping on reading this duology, I'd highly, highly recommend it. Especially if you enjoy passionate, fierce female leads, an incredibly evocative atmosphere and slow burn romances.
maudalorian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
It was exciting to see the rich world Tasha Suri dreamed up in Empire of Sand come into its own here. Character work is definitely one of her strengths as a writer; Arwa and Zahir were as loveable as Mehr and Amun (I wish we'd gotten to see more of them!) , although I found myself wanting more out of their romance. Like with the first book, the pacing and story didn't always work for me but the setting and character dynamics made up for it. I'm sure I'll buy Suri's other series as well.
suchita's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
philineselavy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5