Tasha Suri
Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha)

Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha)

From the publisher: "A nobleman's daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. A captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy. 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. When Mehr's power comes to the attention of the Emperor's most feared mystics, she must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist their cruel agenda. Should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance."

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The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms Book 1)

The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms Book 1)

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Modern Mrs Darcy team member Leigh mentioned this in WSIRN episode 291: The best books of summer (so far) as one of her favorites. From the publisher: "A ruthless princess and a powerful priestess come together to rewrite the fate of an empire. Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin. The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent’s household, biting her tongue and cleaning Malini’s chambers. But when Malini witnesses Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess desperate to save her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze."

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