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Daughters of Sand #1
The Grand Shahala
A deadly race could set them free... Or sentence them to a lifetime in chains.
Everyone knows winning the monster-racing Shahals means status, riches, and for an indentured servant like Sabine, freedom—except only men can compete. As her only means to a better life, Sabine must disguise herself as a man—Rider Nyx—and take her chances in the Shahals.
As an empath, Princess Ianthe is an abomination to her people. She’s desperate to find her mother’s tribe and learn to control the magic that could send her to an early grave. Instead, her father orders her to wed the winner of the Grand Shahala.
Two women with no choices, and only one way out - forming an unlikely alliance to beat the Shahals together, share the proceeds, and earn the freedom they both desire. Now Sabine is caught up in a web of lies and increasingly dangerous Shahals—made all the more difficult by her growing attraction to the sheltered princess.
Winning means freedom.
Failure means a life in chains.
And the most dangerous race is still ahead ...
The Grand Shahala is the first book in the thrilling romantic fantasy duology, Daughters of Sand. If you love deadly competitions, sapphic romances, and epic fantasy worlds, dive into The Grand Shahala!
Everyone knows winning the monster-racing Shahals means status, riches, and for an indentured servant like Sabine, freedom—except only men can compete. As her only means to a better life, Sabine must disguise herself as a man—Rider Nyx—and take her chances in the Shahals.
As an empath, Princess Ianthe is an abomination to her people. She’s desperate to find her mother’s tribe and learn to control the magic that could send her to an early grave. Instead, her father orders her to wed the winner of the Grand Shahala.
Two women with no choices, and only one way out - forming an unlikely alliance to beat the Shahals together, share the proceeds, and earn the freedom they both desire. Now Sabine is caught up in a web of lies and increasingly dangerous Shahals—made all the more difficult by her growing attraction to the sheltered princess.
Winning means freedom.
Failure means a life in chains.
And the most dangerous race is still ahead ...
The Grand Shahala is the first book in the thrilling romantic fantasy duology, Daughters of Sand. If you love deadly competitions, sapphic romances, and epic fantasy worlds, dive into The Grand Shahala!
391 pages, ebook
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Hypatia Rae
7 books18 followersHypatia Rae is a Canadian Fantasy author who writes stories about characters kissing. Sometimes humorous, sometimes a bit dark, they’re always LGBTQ+ friendly. Hypatia likes to tell fairytale-inspired stories with a twist, about strong leading ladies and the partners who can’t stay away.
In her real life, Hypatia lived a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers tale. Her favourite things to do aside from creating expansive worlds and setting her characters free, are reading those same kinds of stories, gardening and crochet.
Hypatia lives in a small town with her husband and an assortment of plants. You can find more about her books at www.hypatiaraebooks.com where you can sign up to her newsletter and get access to free stories from her catalogue and be the first to hear about new releases and specials.
In her real life, Hypatia lived a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers tale. Her favourite things to do aside from creating expansive worlds and setting her characters free, are reading those same kinds of stories, gardening and crochet.
Hypatia lives in a small town with her husband and an assortment of plants. You can find more about her books at www.hypatiaraebooks.com where you can sign up to her newsletter and get access to free stories from her catalogue and be the first to hear about new releases and specials.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘴?"
— ℕ𝕪𝕩.
💚 A "cursed", sheltered empath
💚 A fierce beast rider hiding her identity
💚 Third person dual POV
💚 Royal x slave
💚 A supportive sister
💚 What if ... We could mix and match animals?
💚 OM drama
Mulan, but set in a Middle Eastern inspired world with two POC main characters? 😳
I'll take as many of those as possible, please.
We've seen plenty of Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and East Asian inspired fantasy. And that's fine, really. Meanwhile, the rest of Asia is sitting in the corner waiting for representation 🤧 So I was thrilled when my reading bestie brought this book to my attention because she knows I love women. Like I said, we're besties 🤟🙂 Thank you again, Anna!!
Reading the blurb for The Grand Shahala once was enough to convince me to apply for the ARC, completely ignoring my responsibilities, my other ARCs, and eventually my sleep. Miss Hypatia Rae, look what you've done to me 👍
I have to admit, I struggled a little at the beginning. There was a lot of new vocabulary, the pacing was very slow, and this book even had its own curse words, which was honestly kind of hilarious for me mwehehe 😂
But the further I read, the more I could see how carefully the author had crafted this world. The setting feels rich and immersive; you can practically taste the sand beneath your shoes and feel the sun burning your skin. Hypatia Rae has a way with words that brings every detail to life, even for someone like me who isn't a huge fan of thirdperson POV 😩
As a protagonist, Ianthe caught my attention first. I remember thinking, hmmzz, if this weren't a sapphic book, there's a 90% chance I'd hate her because I. Just. Can't. Stand. Passive. Characters. Trust me, I have anemia, and one of the fastest ways to raise my blood pressure is to hand me a book where a woman is as useful as a decorative vase and spends the entire story looking pretty ☺️
Ianthe is pretty, yes, (holy meatballs, y'all should see the character art. It's AMAZING)) but somehow she never crossed into frustrating territory for me, even when she wasn't particularly proactive. Tbh, her sister deserves HUGE credit for helping her. Sorry, Ia!! 😭
She's an empath, and this is actually the first time I've read a book that explores that ability in depth. Sure, I'd heard of empaths before, but I'd always dismissed it as a useless superpower. Here, the author showed what an empath can do, how their abilities affect them, and how those abilities can change the people around them. She introduced the concept in a way that made me want to read more about it. And the way she described layer upon layer of emotion? Chef's kiss mwah mwah 🤌
Nyx, on the other hand, is a much more complicated character, and I have to admit ... I ughhh didn't really like her 😬That's coming from someone who loves evil women. Maleficent? Amy Dunne? Morgana? I'd happily call them mommies. But Nyx felt arrogant and a little too self absorbed for my taste. This girl barely listens to anyone, ignores advice even when it's for her own good, and is so deep in her "me vs the world" mindset that it becomes frustrating.
Gurl, what about you calm down?
There's strongheaded, and then there's Nyx. She's the kind of brooding protagonist I always avoid in straight romances.
"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔."
The way Nyx treated her monster didn't sit right with me either. I won't go as far as calling it animal abuse, but if I were a vet in this universe, trust me, she'd be getting two or three bonks on the head. Especially because later we learn what the hanjas orb actually does to the animals, yet Nyx keeps talking about how much she wishes she had one. It made me wonder, did Nyx know about the side effects and just choose to ignore them???
"𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. '𝑶𝒉 𝒏𝒐. 𝑰𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒋𝒖𝒓𝒚. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕. 𝑨 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.' 𝑵𝒚𝒙 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕."
And don't even get me started on poor Qafar. This boy literally got yeeted out of the story 🙂 Dear author, WHERE WAS HE?? Qafar risked his life for Nyx as a fellow slave, but the moment she gained her freedom, she barely seemed to think about him. EXCUSE YOU. I kept waiting for Nyx to help him. I don't think it would've been too much to ask for a scene where she tells the Qirali sisters, "Hey, there's this slave boy who helped me a lot. Maybe we could help him too? Anyway, he's 10."
Look, I don't even like kids. I'm the type of person who sighs dramatically whenever a child shows up in a zombie movie. But seriouslyyy girl 😬
My other complaint is the OM drama.
I understand why the guy was there. The story needed a jealousy arc. But if I'm being honest, the way it was written made me uncomfortable because it felt too close to becoming a love triangle.
In a sapphic book.
With a man.
The horror 💀
You know what made it worse? I actually liked him. The guy gave off cinnamon roll with a brain energy. He was respectful toward Ianthe. He didn't treat her like an abomination the way everyone else did. He genuinely wanted to get to know her. And I couldn't help comparing him to Nyx 😭 If he'd been given a stronger backstory and more page time, I think I would've been very very conflicted.
"𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒅𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆."
Thankfully, the last 10% of the book really picked up the pace.
I honestly wish the entire novel had moved at that speed. Maybe some of the internal monologues could've been trimmed down a bit? Don't get me wrong, I still like the book. Ianthe was finally forced to act on her own. Nyx got a much needed slap to the ego. And it looks like we're about to get a full blown feminine rage arc in Zaphira???
Worth waiting for.
Also, I hope there are more kisses (and smut!!) in the sequel because what do you mean we have two girls spending an entire book staring at each other and they only kiss ONCE?
My heart: not okie, but it will persevere 🙂👍
— ℕ𝕪𝕩.
💚 A "cursed", sheltered empath
💚 A fierce beast rider hiding her identity
💚 Third person dual POV
💚 Royal x slave
💚 A supportive sister
💚 What if ... We could mix and match animals?
💚 OM drama
Mulan, but set in a Middle Eastern inspired world with two POC main characters? 😳
I'll take as many of those as possible, please.
We've seen plenty of Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and East Asian inspired fantasy. And that's fine, really. Meanwhile, the rest of Asia is sitting in the corner waiting for representation 🤧 So I was thrilled when my reading bestie brought this book to my attention because she knows I love women. Like I said, we're besties 🤟🙂 Thank you again, Anna!!
Reading the blurb for The Grand Shahala once was enough to convince me to apply for the ARC, completely ignoring my responsibilities, my other ARCs, and eventually my sleep. Miss Hypatia Rae, look what you've done to me 👍
I have to admit, I struggled a little at the beginning. There was a lot of new vocabulary, the pacing was very slow, and this book even had its own curse words, which was honestly kind of hilarious for me mwehehe 😂
But the further I read, the more I could see how carefully the author had crafted this world. The setting feels rich and immersive; you can practically taste the sand beneath your shoes and feel the sun burning your skin. Hypatia Rae has a way with words that brings every detail to life, even for someone like me who isn't a huge fan of thirdperson POV 😩
As a protagonist, Ianthe caught my attention first. I remember thinking, hmmzz, if this weren't a sapphic book, there's a 90% chance I'd hate her because I. Just. Can't. Stand. Passive. Characters. Trust me, I have anemia, and one of the fastest ways to raise my blood pressure is to hand me a book where a woman is as useful as a decorative vase and spends the entire story looking pretty ☺️
Ianthe is pretty, yes, (holy meatballs, y'all should see the character art. It's AMAZING)) but somehow she never crossed into frustrating territory for me, even when she wasn't particularly proactive. Tbh, her sister deserves HUGE credit for helping her. Sorry, Ia!! 😭
She's an empath, and this is actually the first time I've read a book that explores that ability in depth. Sure, I'd heard of empaths before, but I'd always dismissed it as a useless superpower. Here, the author showed what an empath can do, how their abilities affect them, and how those abilities can change the people around them. She introduced the concept in a way that made me want to read more about it. And the way she described layer upon layer of emotion? Chef's kiss mwah mwah 🤌
Nyx, on the other hand, is a much more complicated character, and I have to admit ... I ughhh didn't really like her 😬That's coming from someone who loves evil women. Maleficent? Amy Dunne? Morgana? I'd happily call them mommies. But Nyx felt arrogant and a little too self absorbed for my taste. This girl barely listens to anyone, ignores advice even when it's for her own good, and is so deep in her "me vs the world" mindset that it becomes frustrating.
Gurl, what about you calm down?
There's strongheaded, and then there's Nyx. She's the kind of brooding protagonist I always avoid in straight romances.
"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔."
The way Nyx treated her monster didn't sit right with me either. I won't go as far as calling it animal abuse, but if I were a vet in this universe, trust me, she'd be getting two or three bonks on the head. Especially because later we learn what the hanjas orb actually does to the animals, yet Nyx keeps talking about how much she wishes she had one. It made me wonder, did Nyx know about the side effects and just choose to ignore them???
"𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. '𝑶𝒉 𝒏𝒐. 𝑰𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒋𝒖𝒓𝒚. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕. 𝑨 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.' 𝑵𝒚𝒙 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕."
And don't even get me started on poor Qafar. This boy literally got yeeted out of the story 🙂 Dear author, WHERE WAS HE?? Qafar risked his life for Nyx as a fellow slave, but the moment she gained her freedom, she barely seemed to think about him. EXCUSE YOU. I kept waiting for Nyx to help him. I don't think it would've been too much to ask for a scene where she tells the Qirali sisters, "Hey, there's this slave boy who helped me a lot. Maybe we could help him too? Anyway, he's 10."
Look, I don't even like kids. I'm the type of person who sighs dramatically whenever a child shows up in a zombie movie. But seriouslyyy girl 😬
My other complaint is the OM drama.
I understand why the guy was there. The story needed a jealousy arc. But if I'm being honest, the way it was written made me uncomfortable because it felt too close to becoming a love triangle.
In a sapphic book.
With a man.
The horror 💀
You know what made it worse? I actually liked him. The guy gave off cinnamon roll with a brain energy. He was respectful toward Ianthe. He didn't treat her like an abomination the way everyone else did. He genuinely wanted to get to know her. And I couldn't help comparing him to Nyx 😭 If he'd been given a stronger backstory and more page time, I think I would've been very very conflicted.
"𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒅𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆."
Thankfully, the last 10% of the book really picked up the pace.
I honestly wish the entire novel had moved at that speed. Maybe some of the internal monologues could've been trimmed down a bit? Don't get me wrong, I still like the book. Ianthe was finally forced to act on her own. Nyx got a much needed slap to the ego. And it looks like we're about to get a full blown feminine rage arc in Zaphira???
Worth waiting for.
Also, I hope there are more kisses (and smut!!) in the sequel because what do you mean we have two girls spending an entire book staring at each other and they only kiss ONCE?
My heart: not okie, but it will persevere 🙂👍
June 17, 2026
4.5⭐️ An epic, fairly quick paced fantasy with a dash of sapphic romance. Thank you to the author for an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Our main characters are both desperately trying to grab for freedom. One is a servant, disguised and secretly participating in the monster races hoping for the grand prize. The other is a princess that is neglected and used. Her father declares SHE will be the grand prize of the race and the plot ensues.
Lovely slow burn, glacial ;), with sapphic yearning. Interesting world building that is wonderfully crafted throughout. With that ending, I am so ready for the next story! Recommend!
Our main characters are both desperately trying to grab for freedom. One is a servant, disguised and secretly participating in the monster races hoping for the grand prize. The other is a princess that is neglected and used. Her father declares SHE will be the grand prize of the race and the plot ensues.
Lovely slow burn, glacial ;), with sapphic yearning. Interesting world building that is wonderfully crafted throughout. With that ending, I am so ready for the next story! Recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the arc! All opinions in this review are my own.
I feel like this book fluctuates between a 3.75-4 but I decided to just go with 3 stars for now. This book took the idea of horse racing but made it fantasy. It was very character driven so I’ll do a little breakdown of the main characters:
Ianthe: an empath who is seen as a witch and is loathed by her father because of that ability (that loathing felt very surface leveled. WHY are the empaths treated like that? Where did the rumors that they could mind control people come from? I wish that got explored even a teeny bit more). She is (I’m pretty sure) bi. Despite being the older sister she acts like the younger one and is a bit naive, though I guess it’s to be expected with how sheltered and isolated she’s been.
Nyx/Sabine: an indentured servant/racer (think jockey) who wants to set her mother free. The terms of her and her mother’s servitude was never really explained. What was the debt? Who caused it and why? How did no one notice that an indentured servant who probably wasn’t fed well was built like a cake made of straight beef? We never really got more than surface level with her and I mourn that.
Zahra: The younger sister and the perfect little princess. Her story was also not really developed. Which, okay, she’s a side character, but I wish we got more. I know she was a good person but she often felt like a spoiled brat.
WHAT I LIKED:
-The setting! A MENA inspired fantasy world with pretty decent worldbuilding??? Sign me up! The worldbuilding could have been deeper and I wish we got to know more about the lore and the cultures and whatnot, but the main focus was really on the monsters, which I also loved (even if the breeding of strange beasts to make stranger beasts for racing purposes reminded me solely of Horsey Game lol).
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
-The pacing. It raced (pun intended) at points so much so that it felt like we were just skimming over the actual plot. I want to know MORE. I want more lore! More character depth! More more more!!!! Who did Ianthe’s father hire for the race? What is the magic system? Why is Ianthe/the empaths so hated? Who the hell is Mathias and where did he come from and WHY? Sure, some of these questions were touched on but if I was a teacher and this was a paper I was grading I wouldn’t give full points for explanation.
-The insta-lust-ness. Not quite insta, I guess. But there was no yearning. No pining. No crushing. Just “oh hot lady let’s kiss then never talk about it again, also run this race and win bc I have to marry the winner.” Bleh. I wanted my sapphic yearning, but oh well.
-The “cliffhanger.” I saw another review raving about it. It wasn’t a cliffhanger really. Maybe just not for me, since the plot was incredibly predictable. I could tell you exactly how it ended after just reading the first two chapters. Maybe I read too much.
All in all this was a fun read! I’ll probably check out the rest of the series when it comes out. If you like sapphic sports romances but made fantasy, this is for you. Thank you again to the author for the arc.
I feel like this book fluctuates between a 3.75-4 but I decided to just go with 3 stars for now. This book took the idea of horse racing but made it fantasy. It was very character driven so I’ll do a little breakdown of the main characters:
Ianthe: an empath who is seen as a witch and is loathed by her father because of that ability (that loathing felt very surface leveled. WHY are the empaths treated like that? Where did the rumors that they could mind control people come from? I wish that got explored even a teeny bit more). She is (I’m pretty sure) bi. Despite being the older sister she acts like the younger one and is a bit naive, though I guess it’s to be expected with how sheltered and isolated she’s been.
Nyx/Sabine: an indentured servant/racer (think jockey) who wants to set her mother free. The terms of her and her mother’s servitude was never really explained. What was the debt? Who caused it and why? How did no one notice that an indentured servant who probably wasn’t fed well was built like a cake made of straight beef? We never really got more than surface level with her and I mourn that.
Zahra: The younger sister and the perfect little princess. Her story was also not really developed. Which, okay, she’s a side character, but I wish we got more. I know she was a good person but she often felt like a spoiled brat.
WHAT I LIKED:
-The setting! A MENA inspired fantasy world with pretty decent worldbuilding??? Sign me up! The worldbuilding could have been deeper and I wish we got to know more about the lore and the cultures and whatnot, but the main focus was really on the monsters, which I also loved (even if the breeding of strange beasts to make stranger beasts for racing purposes reminded me solely of Horsey Game lol).
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
-The pacing. It raced (pun intended) at points so much so that it felt like we were just skimming over the actual plot. I want to know MORE. I want more lore! More character depth! More more more!!!! Who did Ianthe’s father hire for the race? What is the magic system? Why is Ianthe/the empaths so hated? Who the hell is Mathias and where did he come from and WHY? Sure, some of these questions were touched on but if I was a teacher and this was a paper I was grading I wouldn’t give full points for explanation.
-The insta-lust-ness. Not quite insta, I guess. But there was no yearning. No pining. No crushing. Just “oh hot lady let’s kiss then never talk about it again, also run this race and win bc I have to marry the winner.” Bleh. I wanted my sapphic yearning, but oh well.
-The “cliffhanger.” I saw another review raving about it. It wasn’t a cliffhanger really. Maybe just not for me, since the plot was incredibly predictable. I could tell you exactly how it ended after just reading the first two chapters. Maybe I read too much.
All in all this was a fun read! I’ll probably check out the rest of the series when it comes out. If you like sapphic sports romances but made fantasy, this is for you. Thank you again to the author for the arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2026
The Grand Shahala by Hypatia Rae gets a 5/5 from me.
It’s a sapphic fantasy that circles the lives of Sebine, an indentured servant known as Nyx when racing, and Ianthe, a quiet and insecure Crown Princess. Sebine wants to win her freedom by winning the Grand Shahala, whereas Ianthe has a marriage arranged for her with another rider. Both women meet and attempt to overcome their hurdles, coming together at first as allies, that becomes something more.
Okay, before I get into the review itself, I need to gush about that first chapter because there’s only one other book I reviewed with a good chapter. This one supersedes that one. I’m cognizant that Rae is a seasoned writer, yet even experience doesn’t always mean a great entrance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Part I has an image of the leads, so it integrates readers into the world quicker. Granted, some readers like to imagine the characters, but the art works for me. I’m not a stickler for perfect grammar, I don’t mind many errors if the story is coherent, so when I say there’s perfection in chapter 1 in terms of structure and style, I mean beyond the basics. No part of the chapter snags with dual POVs from Sebine and Ianthe. Plot wise, chapter 1 shows the race that becomes the pivotal plot, and it also shows the beautiful motif of Ianthe dazed by Sebine racing, and the danger of revealing her true self (the scarf covering her falls in the duration). The cherry on top comes from established personalities within the first few pages, and the context-based world building, meaning no exposition dumps.
With that aside, I cannot stress the appreciation I have of the writing style throughout. Once we get past the context-based lore in later chapters, things progress quickly. Between the two characters, Sebine has a stronger voice whereas Ianthe’s almost becomes defined by her inexperience in the world and insecurities. Although it’s clear why she’d be this way in consideration of her father, the patriarchy borders as stereotypically villain. Zahra, Ianthe’s sister, gets an honourable mention for being more than a secondary character. Cheerful, rebellious, and resilient, has no issues challenging her father when need be.
Overall, the lows of the narrative are minimal, and easy enough to read past. Yes, I wish Ianthe had been a stronger character, yet simultaneously, the narrative focusing on a race as its centrepiece feels unique. It’s a political story, yes, but one whose stakes are different than the usual. Therefore, the complete rating is earned and I highly recommend this novel to sapphic lovers.
It’s a sapphic fantasy that circles the lives of Sebine, an indentured servant known as Nyx when racing, and Ianthe, a quiet and insecure Crown Princess. Sebine wants to win her freedom by winning the Grand Shahala, whereas Ianthe has a marriage arranged for her with another rider. Both women meet and attempt to overcome their hurdles, coming together at first as allies, that becomes something more.
Okay, before I get into the review itself, I need to gush about that first chapter because there’s only one other book I reviewed with a good chapter. This one supersedes that one. I’m cognizant that Rae is a seasoned writer, yet even experience doesn’t always mean a great entrance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Part I has an image of the leads, so it integrates readers into the world quicker. Granted, some readers like to imagine the characters, but the art works for me. I’m not a stickler for perfect grammar, I don’t mind many errors if the story is coherent, so when I say there’s perfection in chapter 1 in terms of structure and style, I mean beyond the basics. No part of the chapter snags with dual POVs from Sebine and Ianthe. Plot wise, chapter 1 shows the race that becomes the pivotal plot, and it also shows the beautiful motif of Ianthe dazed by Sebine racing, and the danger of revealing her true self (the scarf covering her falls in the duration). The cherry on top comes from established personalities within the first few pages, and the context-based world building, meaning no exposition dumps.
With that aside, I cannot stress the appreciation I have of the writing style throughout. Once we get past the context-based lore in later chapters, things progress quickly. Between the two characters, Sebine has a stronger voice whereas Ianthe’s almost becomes defined by her inexperience in the world and insecurities. Although it’s clear why she’d be this way in consideration of her father, the patriarchy borders as stereotypically villain. Zahra, Ianthe’s sister, gets an honourable mention for being more than a secondary character. Cheerful, rebellious, and resilient, has no issues challenging her father when need be.
Overall, the lows of the narrative are minimal, and easy enough to read past. Yes, I wish Ianthe had been a stronger character, yet simultaneously, the narrative focusing on a race as its centrepiece feels unique. It’s a political story, yes, but one whose stakes are different than the usual. Therefore, the complete rating is earned and I highly recommend this novel to sapphic lovers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was very kindly sent an ARC of this book in advance, but my opinions are all my own.
I joined Ms Rae's team after the first Beyond the Veil book because I was spellbound by her writing; this holds true for The Grand Shahala as well, except that a little something feels missing in this one. I'll try and explain.
The characters are interesting, but we don't learn a lot about them beyond one or two things, which is a bit of a shame since we spend so much time with them. Ianthe, Nyx, Zahra, and the other side-characters only really seem to operate from one motivator rather than several the way you generally do when you think about it.
The world is gorgeous and I love the desert setting. I've loved it for eons, since reading Broken Sky and then watching podracing in Phantom Menace.
Come to think of it, I kept thinking pod racing while reading about these monsters racing haha
But I wish we understood more about why the Qafik hates Ianthe so much. I can infer that her mother will play a large role in the second book, and it has a lot to do with her, but we also aren't given a lot to go on as to WHY empaths are so hated. What caused this? Who started it? Obviously someone somewhere did something, similar to what Ianthe did at the end with Nyx and the firesol, and word spread. People fear results of actions before they fear words. It would have made sense that someone somewhere said more - the perfect scene would be when Nyx is being served breakfast and asks the chaka girl why everyone fears the Amani so much. YES she's supposedly a desert witch, but WHY do they think that? Is there a legend? A history?
It would go a long way to explaining why her father positively loathes Ianthe, outside of her being a carbon copy of her mother who apparently betrayed him or planned betrayal. Or what he believes it is, which probably amounts to the fact he was being mean to a little girl, her mom was having none of it, and he threw a hissy fit that she didn't agree with his brainfarts.
My vote is on this last.
I actually thought the book would end with the Grand Shahala win, so I'm pleasantly surprised it went a little further. I'm interested to see how this develops, what Mathias' role will be (he sounds Russian by his descriptions), and where we go from here.
Also for some reason Nyx DID actually read as a man to me, which IDK if that was the point but thought I should mention it LOL
I joined Ms Rae's team after the first Beyond the Veil book because I was spellbound by her writing; this holds true for The Grand Shahala as well, except that a little something feels missing in this one. I'll try and explain.
The characters are interesting, but we don't learn a lot about them beyond one or two things, which is a bit of a shame since we spend so much time with them. Ianthe, Nyx, Zahra, and the other side-characters only really seem to operate from one motivator rather than several the way you generally do when you think about it.
The world is gorgeous and I love the desert setting. I've loved it for eons, since reading Broken Sky and then watching podracing in Phantom Menace.
Come to think of it, I kept thinking pod racing while reading about these monsters racing haha
But I wish we understood more about why the Qafik hates Ianthe so much. I can infer that her mother will play a large role in the second book, and it has a lot to do with her, but we also aren't given a lot to go on as to WHY empaths are so hated. What caused this? Who started it? Obviously someone somewhere did something, similar to what Ianthe did at the end with Nyx and the firesol, and word spread. People fear results of actions before they fear words. It would have made sense that someone somewhere said more - the perfect scene would be when Nyx is being served breakfast and asks the chaka girl why everyone fears the Amani so much. YES she's supposedly a desert witch, but WHY do they think that? Is there a legend? A history?
It would go a long way to explaining why her father positively loathes Ianthe, outside of her being a carbon copy of her mother who apparently betrayed him or planned betrayal. Or what he believes it is, which probably amounts to the fact he was being mean to a little girl, her mom was having none of it, and he threw a hissy fit that she didn't agree with his brainfarts.
My vote is on this last.
I actually thought the book would end with the Grand Shahala win, so I'm pleasantly surprised it went a little further. I'm interested to see how this develops, what Mathias' role will be (he sounds Russian by his descriptions), and where we go from here.
Also for some reason Nyx DID actually read as a man to me, which IDK if that was the point but thought I should mention it LOL
Review of advance copy
A thrilling tale about desperation, identity and freedom, and the lengths two women will go to in efforts to overcome them. Whether a poor chaka servant girl, Sabine, or the Amani, Ianthe, eldest daughter of the Qafik, the land's ruler, both will go to extreme measures to find their freedom. One to escape her life of servitude, the other to escape the wrath and fear of her father and his court.
Added in to the mix are a varied bunch of side characters with either hearts of gold or self-absorption to spare. Sabine - or as she prefers, Rider Nyx - having experienced no love or respect from her own family, is astounded and cautious when her path crosses that of Ianthe and her sister Zahra, who combined don't have a mean bone between them. Nyx struggles with this outpouring of sincerity and care, second-guessing and discounting its authenticity, having had no such thing in their past.
I thoroughly enjoyed the parallel explorations of gender identity and neurodiversity woven into the central theme of the story - striving for the freedom to be your authentic self when your situation and those around you are expecting you to fit their ideas of "normal". Both FMCs hide behind masks, one for protection, the other for inspiration. Their struggles just to survive against the tide of expectations and rumors felt so solid you could cut it with a knife. Ianthe's struggles to read peoples' emotions and behaviors also felt extremely well done, much akin to neurodiverse struggles with empathy and social cues.
And call me a sappy (Sapphy?) romantic, but that kiss, after all their turmoil? Woo! I lit up like the Firesol!
The story builds steadily, stakes rising as Nyx gains some ground, Ianthe some concessions, their relationship tumultuous from the start. As events unfold we're propelled towards the end like a gorleo that's rounded the fourth turn of the Shahal, never letting up, right until we cross the finish line! Spoiler - we then fly out over the edge of a cliffhanger! You'll be left scrabbling in the dust, searching frantically for the next book as if your life depends on it!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily, and I'm going to be counting the days till I can continue Nyx, Ianthe, Zahra and Massou's adventure!
Added in to the mix are a varied bunch of side characters with either hearts of gold or self-absorption to spare. Sabine - or as she prefers, Rider Nyx - having experienced no love or respect from her own family, is astounded and cautious when her path crosses that of Ianthe and her sister Zahra, who combined don't have a mean bone between them. Nyx struggles with this outpouring of sincerity and care, second-guessing and discounting its authenticity, having had no such thing in their past.
I thoroughly enjoyed the parallel explorations of gender identity and neurodiversity woven into the central theme of the story - striving for the freedom to be your authentic self when your situation and those around you are expecting you to fit their ideas of "normal". Both FMCs hide behind masks, one for protection, the other for inspiration. Their struggles just to survive against the tide of expectations and rumors felt so solid you could cut it with a knife. Ianthe's struggles to read peoples' emotions and behaviors also felt extremely well done, much akin to neurodiverse struggles with empathy and social cues.
And call me a sappy (Sapphy?) romantic, but that kiss, after all their turmoil? Woo! I lit up like the Firesol!
The story builds steadily, stakes rising as Nyx gains some ground, Ianthe some concessions, their relationship tumultuous from the start. As events unfold we're propelled towards the end like a gorleo that's rounded the fourth turn of the Shahal, never letting up, right until we cross the finish line! Spoiler - we then fly out over the edge of a cliffhanger! You'll be left scrabbling in the dust, searching frantically for the next book as if your life depends on it!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily, and I'm going to be counting the days till I can continue Nyx, Ianthe, Zahra and Massou's adventure!
June 21, 2026
I really loved this story!
The start of the book was incredibly strong, setting up the main characters' situations really well. I was really engaged the first half of the book. The second half was also really good, but I want to draw attention to how well written the first half of the book is. I loved how the story unfolded, giving us ample time to get to know Nyx and Ianthe before they meet each other.
I thought all characters in the story were rather strong. Nyx and Ianthe obviously have the most depth as the main narrators, however I like the attention and detail given to Zahra and Massou, who were both important side characters. I liked that they independently had different relationships with both Nyx and Ianthe. The descriptions of Yanna, Hachmud, and Ianthe's father were also rather interesting, even if characters like Yanna and Hachmud lived in sort of a grey area.
I loved the setting for the story. I actually really like that the author kind of plops us into the book in the middle of all the action and doesn't explain too much of what's going on and you have to piece it together. There was a glossary, but it's not really even necessary because the context explains a lot of the words really well.
The writing flows well and keeps you engaged. I didn't mind switching between narrators, which can sometimes be annoying in other stories. I felt like each switch happened seamlessly and didn't leave me annoyed that I was leaving one perspective for the other. The descriptions area interesting and the story draws you in.
My only issue is that Anyway, this isn't a huge deal, I just wish it had been addressed. I'm sure the sequel may address this, so I look forward to seeing it!
Overall, I really loved this story. The setup for the sequel was well done and I'm anxiously waiting to see what happens to all of these beloved characters. I cannot wait for book 2!
The start of the book was incredibly strong, setting up the main characters' situations really well. I was really engaged the first half of the book. The second half was also really good, but I want to draw attention to how well written the first half of the book is. I loved how the story unfolded, giving us ample time to get to know Nyx and Ianthe before they meet each other.
I thought all characters in the story were rather strong. Nyx and Ianthe obviously have the most depth as the main narrators, however I like the attention and detail given to Zahra and Massou, who were both important side characters. I liked that they independently had different relationships with both Nyx and Ianthe. The descriptions of Yanna, Hachmud, and Ianthe's father were also rather interesting, even if characters like Yanna and Hachmud lived in sort of a grey area.
I loved the setting for the story. I actually really like that the author kind of plops us into the book in the middle of all the action and doesn't explain too much of what's going on and you have to piece it together. There was a glossary, but it's not really even necessary because the context explains a lot of the words really well.
The writing flows well and keeps you engaged. I didn't mind switching between narrators, which can sometimes be annoying in other stories. I felt like each switch happened seamlessly and didn't leave me annoyed that I was leaving one perspective for the other. The descriptions area interesting and the story draws you in.
My only issue is that Anyway, this isn't a huge deal, I just wish it had been addressed. I'm sure the sequel may address this, so I look forward to seeing it!
Overall, I really loved this story. The setup for the sequel was well done and I'm anxiously waiting to see what happens to all of these beloved characters. I cannot wait for book 2!
June 23, 2026
Review of an Advance Copy from the author.
An incredibly well-executed example of stellar world-building and fantastic ability of the author to abide by the highly effective writing technique of 'show don't tell'. A bit slow at the start, but the pace quickens much like the Shahal-races in the story. A fantasy tale set in a world you can feel, with likeable characters that are very well fleshed-out. Slow-burn romances that are hopefully going to be fleshed out in book two. An ending that invites and entices the reader to read book two.
Ianthe is one of our main protagonists. She borders on annoying at the start, and her repetitive actions are perhaps grating, but these quickly fade in prominence. Her actions are justifiable and she is a very well-rounded character.
Zahra, the beauty. I usually don't like characters that are too perfect to be realistic, but in this case it works in a strange way because that is the way that Miss Zahra is perceived by everyone around her too. It adds to the authenticity of her character's experience.
Nyx. Strong, unyielding, determined Nyx. A character with a backstory that is so complicated that it takes the reader a while to get to know her. The angst and drive of her character is well captured. And her determination and love of running (the races) was oddly relatable to me as a horse rider myself.
Massou. I pity the poor boy just as Ianthe does, because he is simply a boy in love. And love tends to make such fools of us.
The animal mixes was an interesting addition to the tale, and one I enjoyed thoroughly.
The entire world is made very real and it comments on many modern systems still in place that puts women as the perceived weaker sex in a submissive position. I liked the fact that at least for the women in this story, they are definitely fighting back with a ferocity that the female gender is very much capable of.
I am looking forward to book two.
An incredibly well-executed example of stellar world-building and fantastic ability of the author to abide by the highly effective writing technique of 'show don't tell'. A bit slow at the start, but the pace quickens much like the Shahal-races in the story. A fantasy tale set in a world you can feel, with likeable characters that are very well fleshed-out. Slow-burn romances that are hopefully going to be fleshed out in book two. An ending that invites and entices the reader to read book two.
Ianthe is one of our main protagonists. She borders on annoying at the start, and her repetitive actions are perhaps grating, but these quickly fade in prominence. Her actions are justifiable and she is a very well-rounded character.
Zahra, the beauty. I usually don't like characters that are too perfect to be realistic, but in this case it works in a strange way because that is the way that Miss Zahra is perceived by everyone around her too. It adds to the authenticity of her character's experience.
Nyx. Strong, unyielding, determined Nyx. A character with a backstory that is so complicated that it takes the reader a while to get to know her. The angst and drive of her character is well captured. And her determination and love of running (the races) was oddly relatable to me as a horse rider myself.
Massou. I pity the poor boy just as Ianthe does, because he is simply a boy in love. And love tends to make such fools of us.
The animal mixes was an interesting addition to the tale, and one I enjoyed thoroughly.
The entire world is made very real and it comments on many modern systems still in place that puts women as the perceived weaker sex in a submissive position. I liked the fact that at least for the women in this story, they are definitely fighting back with a ferocity that the female gender is very much capable of.
I am looking forward to book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this e-arc. Here is my honest review.
Holy smokes! This book is a masterpiece. I was hooked from the first chapter. We have a fast paced plot, high stakes, family drama, two FMC POV, and an empath??
Starting with the plot. I have never read something like this before. We have Nyx, racing to win her freedom. Its almost like racing horses but with monsters. I really enjoyed getting to learn about the different monsters and how they were bonded together (which 2 creatures were bonded to create one). I will say i wouldve loved to dive more into HOW this happens, ie what is the process?
I really enjoyed the two FMCs point of views. Its not often that there is a love interest between two females and it was a breath of fresh air. I can not wait to see how feelings will develop in the second book (if they do).
Ianthe struggles with her ability as an empath. People see her and assume the absolute worst. They fear her, are repulsed by her, and she feels it all. I hope we get to dive more into her abilities in the next book!
The world building is masterfull. Although it was a bit confusing at first, we're even given a new language that I ended up actually picking up on by the end. I was able to read sentences and know "oh that means thank you". Seeing how the chaka live and how they're treated held such an impact to how much really rode on our FMCs, Nyx, shoulders.
I am absolutely destroyed with that cliffhanger. I need to know what will happen next? Where'd the little boy go? The sweet silk making/ dyeing couple. Both Imas? Im so impatient and excited to see what happens next!
Im rating this book 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ Fantastic job!
Holy smokes! This book is a masterpiece. I was hooked from the first chapter. We have a fast paced plot, high stakes, family drama, two FMC POV, and an empath??
Starting with the plot. I have never read something like this before. We have Nyx, racing to win her freedom. Its almost like racing horses but with monsters. I really enjoyed getting to learn about the different monsters and how they were bonded together (which 2 creatures were bonded to create one). I will say i wouldve loved to dive more into HOW this happens, ie what is the process?
I really enjoyed the two FMCs point of views. Its not often that there is a love interest between two females and it was a breath of fresh air. I can not wait to see how feelings will develop in the second book (if they do).
Ianthe struggles with her ability as an empath. People see her and assume the absolute worst. They fear her, are repulsed by her, and she feels it all. I hope we get to dive more into her abilities in the next book!
The world building is masterfull. Although it was a bit confusing at first, we're even given a new language that I ended up actually picking up on by the end. I was able to read sentences and know "oh that means thank you". Seeing how the chaka live and how they're treated held such an impact to how much really rode on our FMCs, Nyx, shoulders.
I am absolutely destroyed with that cliffhanger. I need to know what will happen next? Where'd the little boy go? The sweet silk making/ dyeing couple. Both Imas? Im so impatient and excited to see what happens next!
Im rating this book 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ Fantastic job!
Review of advance copy
3.5⭐
This is an interesting story about horse racing and The Grand Shahala is the absolutely most important racing event of whatever the time system used in the story. But instead of horses, think monsters - a mix-up of different beasts combined together into one through magic, something like a griffin or a cockatrice.
The plot was fairly predictable but it was still enjoyable seeing how it all unfurled with little bits of plot twists sprinkled here and there.
The world building was limited and only revolved around the city of Zaphra, with I think elements of arabic, sub saharan and Indian themes within.
Of the main characters I think I liked Sabine/Nyx the least since she acts like a stubborn ass for most of the time. While Ianthe has learned timidness to survive. But it's understandable since this is yet another story about women living within an oppressive patriarchal society where women hold no fortune, power or property.
The story itself is supposed to be fast paced but it actually felt really slow for me and I was dragging my feet trying to finish this. This is probably because of the overlong description about everything.
There wasn't much to the romance since it only began a few chapters towards the end but will most probably be fleshed out later on.
In summary this was quite enjoyable and entertaining to read. The ending itself was a rather difficult situation to be in for all our heroines, and is obviously to be continued since this is planned as a duology. I actually look forward to seeing how it all turns out in the second book.
I received a free ARC via Booksirens.
This is an interesting story about horse racing and The Grand Shahala is the absolutely most important racing event of whatever the time system used in the story. But instead of horses, think monsters - a mix-up of different beasts combined together into one through magic, something like a griffin or a cockatrice.
The plot was fairly predictable but it was still enjoyable seeing how it all unfurled with little bits of plot twists sprinkled here and there.
The world building was limited and only revolved around the city of Zaphra, with I think elements of arabic, sub saharan and Indian themes within.
Of the main characters I think I liked Sabine/Nyx the least since she acts like a stubborn ass for most of the time. While Ianthe has learned timidness to survive. But it's understandable since this is yet another story about women living within an oppressive patriarchal society where women hold no fortune, power or property.
The story itself is supposed to be fast paced but it actually felt really slow for me and I was dragging my feet trying to finish this. This is probably because of the overlong description about everything.
There wasn't much to the romance since it only began a few chapters towards the end but will most probably be fleshed out later on.
In summary this was quite enjoyable and entertaining to read. The ending itself was a rather difficult situation to be in for all our heroines, and is obviously to be continued since this is planned as a duology. I actually look forward to seeing how it all turns out in the second book.
I received a free ARC via Booksirens.
June 13, 2026
An epic, high-stakes tale of a desperate grab for freedom. Two women in very different circumstances, both longing for a different life. One a servant, lowest of the low, secretly participating in monster races for money, and maybe a little glory as well. Racing in the official runs, aiming for the grand prize, is her only option for true freedom, but for that she needs more money than she has... The other is a princess, she should be the most glorified and loved woman in the kingdom, but she was born with the power to read emotions and a physical marker of her difference. She is shunned, neglected and used, forced into submission. Her sister is her life's only light, but she cannot rely on her. When her father declares it is time for her to be married, to the winner of the Grand Shahala, a crazy plot leads to their secret sponsoring of a rider of great potential...
The politics, the world-building, the plot was all excellently done. It was well-paced, balancing the slow development of romantic feelings between the two MCs with the reality of racing, the differences in their status, the politics of their world and the slow build to the inevitable end. The winner of the Grand Shahala must reveal their face, no longer entitled to their secret identity... The princess faces marriage, her abusive father controls the proceedings, their plan could make or break everything. The ending is abrupt, painful, choked.
An engaging, thrilling read, with an intense cliff hanger...
The politics, the world-building, the plot was all excellently done. It was well-paced, balancing the slow development of romantic feelings between the two MCs with the reality of racing, the differences in their status, the politics of their world and the slow build to the inevitable end. The winner of the Grand Shahala must reveal their face, no longer entitled to their secret identity... The princess faces marriage, her abusive father controls the proceedings, their plan could make or break everything. The ending is abrupt, painful, choked.
An engaging, thrilling read, with an intense cliff hanger...
August 20, 2026
ARC Review, This is my honest thoughts.
The Grand Shahala is a fantasy book, with a very slow burn sapphic romance in it. This book builds an in depth look into the city and surrounding areas, but not much past that, at the moment the farther reaches of it’s world at large isn’t important to the reader. I have a feeling this may change some in the next book. We meet 3 MC’s in this book 2 of them are the daughter’s of the ruler and one is a peasant that is indentured, and is trying to find ways to pay off her debt to gain her freedom. Along the way the 3 cross paths while the sister’s are striving for their own freedom from their father and the expectations placed on them as the next inline to rule. All 3 of them become close during their time of trying to scheme up a way to help them all achieve their goals. The oldest of the sister’s and the peasant, have a strained relationship at the beginning due to misunderstanding of what empaths are capable of, with time the strain lessens and attraction takes it’s place for the most part. There is a ton of sapphic yearning, in this epic slow burn with only one kiss. Personally I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one, I wished I could of started as soon as I finished this one. The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger.
The Grand Shahala is a fantasy book, with a very slow burn sapphic romance in it. This book builds an in depth look into the city and surrounding areas, but not much past that, at the moment the farther reaches of it’s world at large isn’t important to the reader. I have a feeling this may change some in the next book. We meet 3 MC’s in this book 2 of them are the daughter’s of the ruler and one is a peasant that is indentured, and is trying to find ways to pay off her debt to gain her freedom. Along the way the 3 cross paths while the sister’s are striving for their own freedom from their father and the expectations placed on them as the next inline to rule. All 3 of them become close during their time of trying to scheme up a way to help them all achieve their goals. The oldest of the sister’s and the peasant, have a strained relationship at the beginning due to misunderstanding of what empaths are capable of, with time the strain lessens and attraction takes it’s place for the most part. There is a ton of sapphic yearning, in this epic slow burn with only one kiss. Personally I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one, I wished I could of started as soon as I finished this one. The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger.
Review of advance copy
4.75
🏇 ARC Review 👩❤️👩
I just loved this book! I loved this story and the relationships between the characters so much!
I love a good games/trials trope, so having a set of Shahalas, races, into his book was right up my alley. Plus, the animals racing are 'monsters' like a lion crossed with a gorilla. So cool!! I want to participate! (Altho I'd probably fall off and be trampled, sooooo I probably shouldn't 🤣)
The relationships between Zahra, Ianthe, and Nyx were so enjoyable to read.
There's this dichotomy between Sabine and Rider Nyx that's fascinating to see. In another world, with different acceptance, I could see her/his...their life having gone in a very different direction. But, in this patriarchal society, being who you are isn't really allowed.
And then Nyx and Ianthe. 🥰 Oh my goodness. I loved their relationship. The way they related to each other and Nyx's acceptance of Ianthe's empathy abilities had to be so....heartwarming for Ianthe who had to have had a rough childhood with her gift being considered witchcraft.
If you're looking for a Pride month read, you love games/trials books, or you like reading about relationships developing, you may like this book.
Triggers: Violence
🏇 ARC Review 👩❤️👩
I just loved this book! I loved this story and the relationships between the characters so much!
I love a good games/trials trope, so having a set of Shahalas, races, into his book was right up my alley. Plus, the animals racing are 'monsters' like a lion crossed with a gorilla. So cool!! I want to participate! (Altho I'd probably fall off and be trampled, sooooo I probably shouldn't 🤣)
The relationships between Zahra, Ianthe, and Nyx were so enjoyable to read.
There's this dichotomy between Sabine and Rider Nyx that's fascinating to see. In another world, with different acceptance, I could see her/his...their life having gone in a very different direction. But, in this patriarchal society, being who you are isn't really allowed.
And then Nyx and Ianthe. 🥰 Oh my goodness. I loved their relationship. The way they related to each other and Nyx's acceptance of Ianthe's empathy abilities had to be so....heartwarming for Ianthe who had to have had a rough childhood with her gift being considered witchcraft.
If you're looking for a Pride month read, you love games/trials books, or you like reading about relationships developing, you may like this book.
Triggers: Violence
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me first start by saying that I absolutely loved this author's Beyond the Veil Series! It was five stars all around and I couldn't put a book down until I finished! Sadly, I cannot say that about this book. It was a slow read for me for a few reasons. First, I couldn't determine the time era for this Arabian Nights type theme. The setting was definitely Middle Eastern but when? Which fantasy world? I struggled with my eBook as there were so many words that needed either to be determined from context clues or just guessed at. I did know a couple, ima, for instance. It would have been very helpful if the Glossary of terms was at the beginning of the book. As an eBook, the beginning would allow for a little flipping to get the meanings, at the end is unwieldly. Then the racing-monsters, really? The mashup of animals was bizarre and not something I could get into. Even fantasy animals would have been better than mashups of real animals. I was OK with the characters, felt sad for Ianthe and how she was treated. I could sympathize with Sabine/Rider Nyx as her backstory gave purpose to what drives her now. All in all, a good plot, but execution needs improvement.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an ARC review.
The book comes out very soon, and if you like epic fantasy, adrenaline rushes and disgustingly cute couples, this is for you.
The book starts relatively slow, as we get to know the world and characters. But then about half way it gets very stressful when everything heats up and gets complicated.
It's not as slow as other fantasy books though, which helped me get into the story faster than usual.
This book is the first of... I honestly don't know, maybe a trilogy? And it ends with a serious cliffhanger. But it's so worth it.
The descriptions, language and attention to detail was amazing and I really got into the world and story. I can't wait to know what happens next, this book left my heart pounding.
The characters are very relatable. Ianthe is the kind of tragic hero that's easy to love and care for. Zahra is a ray of sunshine. Massou is adorable and kind. Nyx is the hero every fantasy book needs - brave and hot and smart, never giving up.
I can't recommend this book enough for fantasy lovers.
The book comes out very soon, and if you like epic fantasy, adrenaline rushes and disgustingly cute couples, this is for you.
The book starts relatively slow, as we get to know the world and characters. But then about half way it gets very stressful when everything heats up and gets complicated.
It's not as slow as other fantasy books though, which helped me get into the story faster than usual.
This book is the first of... I honestly don't know, maybe a trilogy? And it ends with a serious cliffhanger. But it's so worth it.
The descriptions, language and attention to detail was amazing and I really got into the world and story. I can't wait to know what happens next, this book left my heart pounding.
The characters are very relatable. Ianthe is the kind of tragic hero that's easy to love and care for. Zahra is a ray of sunshine. Massou is adorable and kind. Nyx is the hero every fantasy book needs - brave and hot and smart, never giving up.
I can't recommend this book enough for fantasy lovers.
June 16, 2026
The Grand Shahala is beautifully crafted in description and world-building, with believable characters living through very relevant experiences that parallel society today. Immersion is easy with the language and customs woven throughout the story, and tension grows as the FMCs find living more and more intolerable under the oppressive laws set by the tyrant king. Survival through masking-- hiding individual truths to be more acceptable—is a strong thread in the story, as is trust; seeking to thrive in a free and authentic life underpins the narrative. The Grand Shahala is the final race after a series of qualifiers, and ambitious Riders hurtle around the track on dangerous monsters of mixed genetics (created for effects and speed), competing for the final glory. Read the story to experience the excitement, suspense, and human connection. Definitely a slow burn romance, and the ending leaves no doubt that the story is not over yet. I received an ARC of this book and am writing a voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Monsters, a series of races with the opportunity to change your path, strong sisterly bonds, forbidden connections, powers, high stakes and brave women fighting the patriarchy - yes please!
This was an amazing read and I was hooked right from the start.
This was beautifully written with a gorgeous, immersive and rich culture woven throughout. I absolutely loved the use of a blended foreign & fantasy language and the way it was adapted seamlessly into the story. I found it very easy to follow the intended meaning of each word and phrasing, although there is a fantastic glossary available if anyone struggles with interpretation.
I fell in love with the characters and their journey throughout the story. Such strong, determined woman fighting against an oppressive system for freedom and autonomy was inspiring!
I spent the last few chapters on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait for the next installment in this beautiful series!
An amazing 5 star story!
This was an amazing read and I was hooked right from the start.
This was beautifully written with a gorgeous, immersive and rich culture woven throughout. I absolutely loved the use of a blended foreign & fantasy language and the way it was adapted seamlessly into the story. I found it very easy to follow the intended meaning of each word and phrasing, although there is a fantastic glossary available if anyone struggles with interpretation.
I fell in love with the characters and their journey throughout the story. Such strong, determined woman fighting against an oppressive system for freedom and autonomy was inspiring!
I spent the last few chapters on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait for the next installment in this beautiful series!
An amazing 5 star story!
June 19, 2026
The Grand Shahala by Hypatia Rae is a promising romantic fantasy with a strong concept and a compelling setup. Sabine and Ianthe both feel trapped by their circumstances, and I liked the idea of two women forcing their way toward freedom in a world built to control them.
The monster-racing premise is one of the most interesting parts of the book, and the stakes are easy to understand from the start. Sabine’s disguise and her growing connection with Ianthe add an engaging layer to the story, especially as their alliance becomes harder to keep simple.
That said, the book didn’t fully grip me the way I wanted it to. Some parts felt a little uneven in pacing, and while the world has clear potential, I wanted more depth and momentum in places. The romance and fantasy elements are both there, but neither quite reached the level that would have made this a standout read for me.
The monster-racing premise is one of the most interesting parts of the book, and the stakes are easy to understand from the start. Sabine’s disguise and her growing connection with Ianthe add an engaging layer to the story, especially as their alliance becomes harder to keep simple.
That said, the book didn’t fully grip me the way I wanted it to. Some parts felt a little uneven in pacing, and while the world has clear potential, I wanted more depth and momentum in places. The romance and fantasy elements are both there, but neither quite reached the level that would have made this a standout read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
To begin, thank you to the author for an ARC, it's always a privilege to be able to read a book before it's out to the public.
To me, this was fine. I think that the overall story itself was decent, the main characters were pretty well fleshed out and the romances were good but there were several things that unfortunately took away from my reading enjoyment. Some perhaps may be nitpicks, but they go as follows:
- If there wasn't a glossary, there would be several words/phrases that just wouldn't make sense because the context clues aren't there
- The world building is lack luster. No explanation for magic, who has it, how it works, nothing is mentioned. What happens to these monsters after they aren't wanted anymore, are they just left to roam in the wild? What about the rest of the world in any way, especially considering a man from elsewhere appears, would love to know. And what exactly is a hanjas orb?
- This is minor, but there are phrases like "rotation" and "sand witch" that are just cringe to read
- Finally, there are many grammar and spelling mistakes, occasionally feeling like it could have used another round of proofreading
Now I did think that there were topics that were brushed upon that had they been fleshed out a bit more could have really enhanced the story! Such as if a chaka is in debt, what's to stop them from having several children to ease their debt? (cruel but certainly not out of the realm of possibility); it's hinted at many times that Nyx has feelings of not being in the right body, alluding to being trans, that could have been an interesting point
These are just my open but honest thoughts. It will be interesting to see where the second book takes the characters, especially considering how they are left at the end of this book.
To me, this was fine. I think that the overall story itself was decent, the main characters were pretty well fleshed out and the romances were good but there were several things that unfortunately took away from my reading enjoyment. Some perhaps may be nitpicks, but they go as follows:
- If there wasn't a glossary, there would be several words/phrases that just wouldn't make sense because the context clues aren't there
- The world building is lack luster. No explanation for magic, who has it, how it works, nothing is mentioned. What happens to these monsters after they aren't wanted anymore, are they just left to roam in the wild? What about the rest of the world in any way, especially considering a man from elsewhere appears, would love to know. And what exactly is a hanjas orb?
- This is minor, but there are phrases like "rotation" and "sand witch" that are just cringe to read
- Finally, there are many grammar and spelling mistakes, occasionally feeling like it could have used another round of proofreading
Now I did think that there were topics that were brushed upon that had they been fleshed out a bit more could have really enhanced the story! Such as if a chaka is in debt, what's to stop them from having several children to ease their debt? (cruel but certainly not out of the realm of possibility); it's hinted at many times that Nyx has feelings of not being in the right body, alluding to being trans, that could have been an interesting point
These are just my open but honest thoughts. It will be interesting to see where the second book takes the characters, especially considering how they are left at the end of this book.
Review of advance copy
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book!!!
Overall, 3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️ for me
It was VERY VERY interesting
Like, I have genuinely never seen a concept like this before done in a book
It was pretty fast paced
I just wished it was more detailed. Like i wish it was a bit more complex and that the got more character info, side character info, but, most importantly, more information about the SETTING!!
It was so so so interesting and i just really wish that we had gotten some more history and more of theit beliefs.
But, overall, if you wanna read about animal races and some badass women, i would recommend this!!!
Overall, 3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️ for me
It was VERY VERY interesting
Like, I have genuinely never seen a concept like this before done in a book
It was pretty fast paced
I just wished it was more detailed. Like i wish it was a bit more complex and that the got more character info, side character info, but, most importantly, more information about the SETTING!!
It was so so so interesting and i just really wish that we had gotten some more history and more of theit beliefs.
But, overall, if you wanna read about animal races and some badass women, i would recommend this!!!
June 14, 2026
⭐️ARC COPY RECIEVED⭐️
first of all thank you so much author for giving me the opportunity to read the book! I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down!
Honestly a very good book, I loved the creatures and the abilities she holds. As someone with unusual gifts myself, it’s nice to see it in books! I loved exploring the world as we go in the book. If the book had all the world building in the first few chapters I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. I like the way you discover the main characters along with them as they try to figure out who they really are.
I can’t wait for the next book!
first of all thank you so much author for giving me the opportunity to read the book! I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down!
Honestly a very good book, I loved the creatures and the abilities she holds. As someone with unusual gifts myself, it’s nice to see it in books! I loved exploring the world as we go in the book. If the book had all the world building in the first few chapters I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. I like the way you discover the main characters along with them as they try to figure out who they really are.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book, even with the mixture of languages I found it flowed well and was easy to follow. I have mixed feelings on the length and depth it went to. The characters were well written but I wanted a little more from them in regards to their budding relationship. However if you take the romance out it was a great fast paced fantasy read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 25, 2026
This was a good fantasy read. I loved the overall concept of this story and the world that the author created. I appreciated how the author immerses the reader into the world and introduces a glossary full of new terms, although it’s quite overwhelming at first. Overall this was a really great, sapphic story.
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy of the book.
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy of the book.
June 17, 2026
This ARC was spectacular and emotional in every way. I love love love these girls so very much. And what an ending! Cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, ugh I bit my lip so hard it almost bled by the end lol
July 4, 2026
Exceptional!! Couldn't put it down. Wanted to read it again as soon as I finished... There is so much adventure in this book! The plot lines up seamlessly with the character/ relationship development for a story that pulls you all the way in. 10/10 would recommend; classic romance with all the depth and adventure of great fantasy.
August 20, 2026
An absolute epic fantasy adventure and one that I have surely missed. The creativity of creating a new world and new creatures was absolutely amazing. The romance is brutally slow... I can't wait to see what happens in the finale!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am still screaming at the cliffhanger this book ended on!
The world-building was amazing, the characters fantastic, and the slow-burn yearning was impeccable. I can’t wait for book two!
The world-building was amazing, the characters fantastic, and the slow-burn yearning was impeccable. I can’t wait for book two!
June 19, 2026
Great story with immersive world building and well done, complex characters who feel real despite the world they live in being full of magic and magical beings.
July 1, 2026
The book was a fast-paced read, with lots of interesting world building! Definitely a slow-burn romance! I'm already excited for the second book, and to see where the story goes!
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