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A review by mackenzierm
Of Sand & Silk by Claire Butler
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Henri has claimed King Heroux’s Merovian kingdom in a battle of skill and a deadly trial. The deserts of Merovia is like nothing Henri has ever experienced. The punishing heat and different customs are all things that Henri will have to become accustomed with. The people of Merovia are not enthusiastic about having a new foreign king, nor are the kings of the other 4 kingdoms in Merovia. Malik is the former regent and brother of King Heroux, and while he understands the frustration and hatred of the people, there are more threats than meet the eye for Malik to concern himself with the handsome new king. When the Silk Rose is gifted to Henri with hopes of securing an alliance, motives and loyalties are put to the test. The Silk Rose has her own secrets and refuses to be sacrificed.
After having read Claire’s first duology, Redwood, I was beyond excited to read her next endeavor. It’s been incredible to see her writing style develop over the course of her published books to date and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for her future projects. I knew OF SAND & SILK would be a continuation for one of the characters from Redwood and had an inkling it would be Henri, so I was very excited to see that I was correct!
Henri quickly became one of my favorite characters in Redwood so it was lovely to see his story continue. Henri was set to be King in the Redwood books but never took his reign until he won the battle against Merovia’s King Heroux, thereby taking over his empire. Henri is setting out to be a just and fair king, with his eyes set on a safe kingdom with equity as his main goal. I loved seeing Henri’s character growth here in comparison to Redwood as well as over the course of this story.
OF SAND & SILK is a Middle Eastern inspired story and can be read as a standalone from the Redwood duology. It is told in multiple POV: Henri, Malik, Thalia, and Ele. I really enjoyed that Ele followed Henri to Merovia and love the bond that they share. I also enjoyed the developments that occur between each of these four main characters. The romance aspect of this story was a lovely turn of events and I am so happy with how it evolved! I really liked Malik and Thalia’s characters and can’t wait to see what the next book brings for them.
The plot is interesting, well-paced and well-executed. There’s plenty of political and sexual tension, as well as great risk and a good amount of action as Henri discovers his new kingdom. The fantasy aspects of this story are discreet and easy to follow, perfect for beginner fantasy readers. The ending is a cliffhanger leaving me eagerly awaiting the next book!
I would like to thank the author, Claire Butler, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
After having read Claire’s first duology, Redwood, I was beyond excited to read her next endeavor. It’s been incredible to see her writing style develop over the course of her published books to date and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for her future projects. I knew OF SAND & SILK would be a continuation for one of the characters from Redwood and had an inkling it would be Henri, so I was very excited to see that I was correct!
Henri quickly became one of my favorite characters in Redwood so it was lovely to see his story continue. Henri was set to be King in the Redwood books but never took his reign until he won the battle against Merovia’s King Heroux, thereby taking over his empire. Henri is setting out to be a just and fair king, with his eyes set on a safe kingdom with equity as his main goal. I loved seeing Henri’s character growth here in comparison to Redwood as well as over the course of this story.
OF SAND & SILK is a Middle Eastern inspired story and can be read as a standalone from the Redwood duology. It is told in multiple POV: Henri, Malik, Thalia, and Ele. I really enjoyed that Ele followed Henri to Merovia and love the bond that they share. I also enjoyed the developments that occur between each of these four main characters. The romance aspect of this story was a lovely turn of events and I am so happy with how it evolved! I really liked Malik and Thalia’s characters and can’t wait to see what the next book brings for them.
The plot is interesting, well-paced and well-executed. There’s plenty of political and sexual tension, as well as great risk and a good amount of action as Henri discovers his new kingdom. The fantasy aspects of this story are discreet and easy to follow, perfect for beginner fantasy readers. The ending is a cliffhanger leaving me eagerly awaiting the next book!
I would like to thank the author, Claire Butler, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.