Empire of Sand and Lost Souls

Review of:
Empire of sand and lost souls
Author:
Ella Mina
Reading method:
Downloaded review copy for free in my Kobo books account after Ella Mina asked me to join the blogtour.
Publisher:
The Olive Branch Library.
Genre:
Dark romance
Cover and blurb:
Quote:
“She had fought tooth and nail to bring him into this world. Her golden boy… She struggled to have him; I won’t struggle to kill him….”
‘Years of filth—dirt, excrement, and dust—had melded into a breeding ground for horrors seen and unseen’
The story:
He marries her to save his kingdom. She marries him to kill him.
In a land where betrayal simmers beneath the surface, she knows only one thing: revenge. After losing someone dear: a blood oath is sworn. Her plan: infiltrate the kingdom that shattered her world. By marrying the charming but unsuspecting prince, she positions herself as the perfect heir to the throne—but trust doesn’t come easily. As she navigates the glittering but perilous court, she must unravel the tangled web of dangerous secrets that could destroy everything. But as her feigned affection for the prince deepens, she faces a brutal question: can she kill her husband in cold blood? In this electrifying tale of deception and desire, a woman’s quest for power leads her to question the very nature of loyalty, love, and the price of revenge. Will she emerge victorious, or will the shadows of her past consume her?
My reading experience:
I never read a book written by Ella Mina. But It did do some promotion for her book Zwarte Arend for The Olive Branch Library. When I had a trial period at Kobo books first thing I did was getting me the E-book of Zwarte Arend
When Ella Mina searched for bloggers for the blogtour of her book Empire of sands and lost souls I did not hesitate to react. I almost missed the boat by almost forgetting to download the E-book for free on Kobo. But I did and I started reading.
After I started reading I could not stop anymore. The chapters carry the name of the character where the chapter is about. All chapters are short. The characters really come to live while you read about them. This is due to the visual and cinematic writing style.
I felt, smelled, tasted and heard everything during reading this story. In fact I watched the world through the eyes of the different characters and experienced how they saw and experienced their world. I got to learn their inner feelings and their behaviour.
This story is filled with mystery, heart gripping situations, devastated moments, cruel and gruesome acts but also filled with passionate love between lovers.
But there is also a grim and dark setting sensible. Most women in this story are even stronger than men. They know how to defend themselves, they take responsibility for themselves and guard those who require protection with their lives.
In the beginning I did not understand the purpose of the story. But that makes this such an exciting and fascinating story to read. Once you have put the tiles of the puzzle together it also clicks in your mind.
I found this fact wonderful. The constant fear factor, the feeling of coming harm left me breathless. Some characters I really disliked because of the way how they lived their lives. Their actions filled with suspicion, maintain their power to rule over anything and anybody. And what they cannot achieve with words they solve in an other way. The taste of revenge was never tasted so bitter.
Sherezade would eat her heart out. She was able to sooth her lover with 1001 stories to see a new morning everyday. The royals in this story should be aware of finding the wolf in sheep’s clothing soon. Otherwise they will not face another morning.
One should have ears and eyes everywhere. Not giving everyone their trust and their heart.
The plot is a cliffhanger and makes you desperately long for part two.
I also found the list with explanations of foreign words very convenient and the trigger warning informed you of what to expect.
I would love to read more stories of Els Mina, especially part two of this story. But It cannot wait to read and review all of her other books.
I am a fan of the splendid and talented way she can tell a story and drag you into the world of the story.
Ella Mina Thank you for letting me participate in your blogtour.
My opinion:
I give 5 stars.
This story has it all. Detailed worked out characters. Some steal your heart while others keep irritathing you to the bone.
You can trust nobody in this story. There is betrayal, danger and covering up the real intensions everywhere.
The writing style is visual and cinematic.
The plot is a master cliffhanger making you long for reading part two of the story.