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“It felt used. Lived in. Kissed by battle. Exactly the way she liked it.”

What is the Book about?

On runners glide proud merchant ships across the Sand Sea to Sharakhai, cradle of civilization and home of the Twelve Kings. Centuries ago, the gods themselves bestowed unimaginable power upon them, and since then, they have ruled the wondrous city with an iron hand.

At just 19 years old, orphan Çeda has risen to become a cunning thief and celebrated arena fighter. Yet, she will never forget that night when her mother was executed in the name of the Twelve Kings. Seeking revenge, Çeda allies herself with various shady characters and becomes embroiled in a conspiracy where her mother’s death plays a much larger role than she could have ever imagined.

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Rating
Plot ★★★★★
Characters ★★★★★
Excitement ★★★★☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★★☆

Favourite Character
Çeda

My thoughts while reading it

Who doesn’t enjoy facing challenging puzzles and feels extremely delighted when, after some time, one manages to solve them? That’s how this book feels. A special dopamine rush as you gradually receive the answers. What truly happened on that fateful night 400 years ago when the gods and the Twelve Kings made their pact? While stability and peace have reigned among the desert tribes since then, at what cost? And what secret surrounds the death of Çeda’s mother, Ahya? Questions that soon unearth surprising and even alarming truths, turning Çeda’s life upside down and even putting it in jeopardy.

The entry into the story came quite easily for me. You’re immediately thrown into the midst of the action, which is not to be seen as a disadvantage. You experience Ceda right away in her role as an arena fighter—in all her beauty, grace, and vibrancy. You grasp her presence and immediately connect with her. She’s powerfully and intricately crafted, and one can’t help but lose their heart to her.
Ceda is an incredibly amazing protagonist who deeply resonated with me. Her journey isn’t easy, and with every line, you feel more of the despair and fear within her. Yet, you also sense the anger and the desire for revenge beneath it all. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying her on her journey—hoping, fearing, suffering, and just being with her. One learns more about her and her life. By traveling back into the past at certain intervals, one also discovers more about the background, which I really enjoyed. Ceda faces several hurdles and experiences here that make her grow and shape her. Nothing is easy, not even for a second. She feels pain, despair, and anger. With such passion and vitality that you can feel it down to your fingertips.

Another crucial character alongside her is Emre. There’s something truly special about him that you can’t ignore. He’s mysterious, harboring darkness within, but also a lot of light. I never managed to completely understand him, and precisely that made him so intriguing in my eyes.
In addition, there are other characters who are equally interesting and complex. None are alike, and there’s always something new to discover. They’re crafted with a great deal of attention to detail. They’re tangible, believable, allowing you to delve into their innermost thoughts, yet there’s still so much more to uncover and explore.

Usually, I’m not fond of desert settings, but here, this setting is taken to a whole new level. And Beaulieu excels in capturing the oriental atmosphere with its exotic scents, bustling bazaars, and dusty fighting pits. One detail that immensely thrilled me: sand ports with ships navigating through the desert. And sand surfing. Simply brilliant! A desert city that embodies a completely unique world and, precisely because of its mysterious rulers, appears incredibly intriguing and alien. All in all, I could vividly and clearly envision the world before me. We gradually get to know and assess this world bit by bit; thankfully, Beaulieu avoids a reckless, overwhelming immersion into the cosmos with thousands of names and places, as has become almost expected in other fantasy works. He starts in detail with the combat-rich daily life of our main character and guides us through her eyes to the various relevant actors or groups, which are listed again in the glossary at the end of the book. Magic plays a minor role in Sharakhai. People are aware of its existence—there are the Kings with their unknown powers, deities, and demonic creatures—but for the majority of the residents, it does not infiltrate everyday life, except for the forbidden consumption of stimulating plant leaves.

A deeply engaging story that constantly blurs the line between good and evil; nothing is simply black or white but rather filled with nuances. It forces one to think deeply about whom to trust. A tale brimming with intrigue and extraordinary characters, set against a fully imaginable and well-thought-out world. Its oriental setting adds an extra layer of uniqueness. The beginning might feel a bit lengthy for some, but it’s definitely worth sticking with it, as you’ll be rewarded with a multifaceted story that leaves you eagerly anticipating an exciting sequel.

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Reading Recommendation? ✓
Favourite? ✓