Article contributed by Annie McCann
I have been a fan of Maria’s work for some time. All of her books are great but I have to admit, this is a personal favourite and it has earned a special place in my “book loves of 2019” shelf. From the very start of the book, I was hooked! Maria writes so well and she has a unique talent of creating new worlds and characters in her books. The setting of this book reminded me of an amazing TV documentary called “Cities of the Underworld”, a show that takes us on a journey back in time to the ancient cities in the Middle East and the Cradle of Civilisation that have since been built up over time. In this case, The Eyes of Tamburah introduces us to the world of Koraha, a fiercely hot and unforgiving desert world. A world so hot, the people of the land are forced to live below ground due to the intensity of the desert heat and the sun above. The underground city is ruled by a wealthy Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess. Similar to her book Inside Out where characters move through pipes, the characters in this book travel up and down to simply move about through the underground desert city. What made this setting so interesting was how treacherous each level was depending on how high or how low one travelled.
Our protagonist is Shyla and I have to say, I really liked her – although Shyla is “sun-kissed” (an outcast, considered cursed by the Sun Goddess) she is renowned for uncovering innumerable archaic facts, lost artefacts, ancient maps, and obscure historical documents. I enjoyed her as a character due to her strength. She was a strong yet flawed character with undying loyalty, which was her motivation to set out on a perilous journey in the beginning. I was also mesmerised with her unique ability to read maps and stone tablets and I felt for her when her quiet life was dramatically interrupted when she was enlisted to find The Eyes of Tamburah – the legendary gemstones that bestows great magic to its wielder. These ancient objects can tip the balance of power and give whoever possesses them complete control of the city but chaos erupts when The Eyes got stolen and Shyla is blamed for the theft.
Shyla’s endurance and her strength made her a likeable character in my view. She was never afraid to admit vulnerability whilst adamant to fulfil her quest. Her will to continue even after torturous pain was equally impressive. The connections she establishes between two key characters of the story Rendor, the Water Prince’s commander who is given the task of tracking Shyla and her progress in finding the stolen eyes of Tamburah and Banqui, her friend and employer whose relationship with Shyla is an interesting one. Both of these characters were very well defined and yes I believe Rendor is now my new book boyfriend – something about guys who exude authority yet have a romantic streak.
Personally, I loved the structure of the book. An enriching mix of fantasy, adventure, suspense with a touch of romance filled with witty dialogue that made it very easy for me to grasp the new world and terminology. World building can be a complex endeavour, especially one as original as this one, but the way Maria structured the dialogue, it really engaged me. The fast-paced plot made it almost impossible to put down. I also found her use of referencing time through angles and sun-jumps pretty cool. I noticed this book gets pitched as Poison Study meets Tomb Raider but I found some of the scenes reminded me more of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom which made it even more exciting to read.
I feel this book really stands out from the other series I have read by Maria V. Snyder as I adore books that have an easy flow to read with an have an Arabian desert feel to it. I really enjoyed the plot, the action, the suspense and the characters. The setting is really one I can connect with and I am really looking forward to the next instalment of this amazing series. I am invested!
Special thanks to Harlequin Books Publishers for sending me the Advanced Review Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Eyes of Tamburah is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be reading The Eyes of Tamburah? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Treasure hunting has never been more dangerous… Tomb Raidermeets Poison Study!
New York Times bestselling author Maria Snyder begins an action-packed new fantasy series.
‘He thinks you are the thief…’
Shyla is a researcher who resides in the underground desert city of Zirdai, which is ruled by the wealthy Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess. Even though Shyla is sun-kissed – an outcast, considered cursed by the Sun Goddess – she is still renowned for uncovering innumerable archaic facts, lost artefacts, ancient maps, and obscure historical documents. Her quiet life is about to change when Banqui, an archaeologist, enlists her services to find The Eyes of Tamburah: legendary gemstones that bestows great magic to its wielder. These ancient objects can tip the balance of power and give whoever possesses them complete control of the city.
But chaos erupts when The Eyes are stolen soon after they’re found – and Shyla is blamed for the theft. Forced to flee, with the Prince’s soldiers and the Priestess’ deacons on her trail, Shyla must recover the jewels and clear her name. A quest that will unearth secrets even more valuable than The Eyes of Tamburah themselves…
Thanks so much for the lovely review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book!