Realm of Ash (The Books of Ambha)
Loosely based on the Mughal Empire, Realm of Ash lures its reader into the story with richly imaged, lapidary prose. Against a background of opulence and treachery, of subtle magics and vivid demons, we follow the path of the newly-widowed Arwa, the only survivor of a daiva attack on her late husband’s fort, Darez. All she wants now is peace, and the Hermitage of Widows seems the perfect place to hide from the world and the demons she saw cause madness and death at Darez Fort.
But the daiva follow Arwa, so she joins the household of Princess Jihan, who wants her favorite brother as next emperor – because to add to the Empire’s woes, the old Emperor is dying, and his sons are in a deadly struggle for the throne. Then Arwa meets Prince Zahir, who’s striving to find a cure for the demon-haunted, dying empire.
Struggling to survive, Zahir and Arwa enter another realm, hoping to find a weapon against the daiva and save the Empire: the Realm of Ash, which mirrors earthly reality. The Realm carries its own dangers, and the daiva aren’t what they appear to be. But the Realm of Ash is the only road to peace, and both Arwa and Zahir grimly resolve to follow that road to its end.
Battling religions, imperial intrigue, and dangerous magic, plus two likeable main characters, produce a fascinating novel. This is second in a series, and it’s not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one. Familiarity with the Mughal Empire and its rulers increases the enjoyment of this novel, but such familiarity isn’t necessary for a reader to find this book’s compelling storyline enthralling – and the magic system is a refreshing change from the use of European magic systems. As a fantasy, this is top-notch.
