The Eyes of Tamburah

Archives of the Invisible Sword #1

by Maria V. Snyder

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder begins an action-packed new fantasy series: the Archives of the Invisible Sword.

2020 PRISM Award Winner: Fantasy

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Sun Goddess - she is still renowned for uncovering innumerable archaic facts, lost artefacts, ancient maps, and obscure historical documents.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 bestow great magic on their 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...

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Romance, Fiction, High Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

456 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2019

About the author

When Maria V. Snyder was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn’t in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting...at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over twenty four novels and two short story collections later, Maria’s learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.

Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.

When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.

Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this up hoping to get an action-packed adventure like ‘the mummy,’ but what i actually got was a complex version of ‘the city of ember’ set in the desert.

dont get me wrong, i enjoyed ‘the city of ember,’ but i was a kid when i read it. and thats how this book felt - juvenile. safe. easy. there is a pretty interesting world, with some of its history explained. there are different groups of people, all at odds with each other. and theres magic. pretty typical for a YA fantasy story.

but i was hoping for a high stakes treasure hunt, intricate artefacts and curses, a cruel and unforgiving desert environment, and in-depth characters i could root for. i really think this story could have had more of an impact had it been more mature.

but this a good story for what it is, with all of the necessary basics. i think i just had my expectations set a little too high, which led to some disappointment.

↠ 3.5 stars

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with my fellow Maria V. Snyder-fanatic, Maggie!!!

Unless you missed my binge of Maria V. Snyder books this time, last year – which comprised of 6 novels and 3 novellas, mind you – you’d know that she’s one of my all-time favourite authors and SUPER UNDERRATED (why must you sleep on her and Mary E. Pearson, Goodreads???). So, you can imagine my excitement when she announced a new series that sounded like:

Tomb Raider


meets

The Mummy


Well…this was nothing like either of those. xD BUT, I still loved it a lot!!!

So, what IS it about, if it’s nothing like Tomb Raider OR The Mummy? Well, Goodreads, I’m so very glad you asked! :P



The story takes place in an underground desert city (literally in the shape of a levelled-funnel) called Zirdai. The rich live in the cool, dark levels with clean water and easy access to food, whereas the poorer you are, the closer you are to the scorching-hot surface – way too close to the sun – and the less sanitary your water is.



Also, there are fun, fluffy and flying (hehe alliteration, lol) creatures called velblouds, which reminded me of Falkor, from A Neverending Story!!!



It centres around the stubbornly logical Shyla, who is “sun-kissed” because of her unnaturally light-coloured hair, and an outcast from society, who shun her, thinking her cursed by the Sun Goddess. One of the few people who never judged her for the way she was born was her friend, Banqui, the archaeologist employed by the Water Prince, who controls the city. However, when a certain historical artefact, the Eyes of Tamburah, are stolen, Shyla is blamed for the theft and Banqui is imprisoned as leverage.



Despite not believing the Eyes to have any magical abilities, in order to save her only friend – sadly enough – Shyla agrees to find them for the Water Prince, under the supervision of the gruff guard, Rendor.



While on her journey to recover the Eyes, Shyla’s journey is wrought with danger and betrayal, from Heliacal Priestess to secret organisations to even the Water Prince, himself.



I absolutely loved this book, especially Shyla and Rendor, both as individuals, as well as together, as a couple. Shyla was so smart and logical, which is refreshing to see, since most protagonists that I read about think with their hearts, rather than their heads. I also really enjoyed seeing how loyal she was to the ones she cared about. Rendor was such a great companion, as well. Yes, he was a tad gruff and stoic at first, but then you see the layers of him as a person peel back as the story progresses. I thought that they made a great pair who complimented each other. Their romance was so adorable and sweet!!! <3

I can’t wait for the sequel to release (grrrr I’m bitter that it was pushed back from next MONTH to next YEAR ughhh). I can’t tell you what it was that was missing, which made me rate this four-stars, rather than five, but regardless, this gives you all plenty of time to pick this sand-filled gem up! ;)

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woot! One more month and this will be available worldwide in both eBook and print format. Also in the works is the audio book with Gabra Zackman narrating (ETA mid to late March).

This is the first in my new fantasy series set on a desert world. It was published last year in Australia and won the 2020 PRISM Award for best fantasy!!

Here's a review that's not biased, like I am ('cause I give all my books 5 stars ;)
"The Eyes of Tamburah was a fascinating read! I loved the detail of the world, trying to imagine it expanding under ground. My heart ached for Shyla a number of times, as people judged her because she was that little bit different. She was a determined girl with a big heart and was willing to do anything to save a friend. She sacrificed so much, but also learned a lot about herself. This book was just the beginning of Shyla's journey, and I'm looking forward to coming back!"
Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 / 5 stars

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that must be said is that MVS is a magician with words, and more specifically the YA fantasy genre. She's always a trail-blazer of stories and The Eyes of Tamburah was no exception.

This is an epic tale that follows Shyla, a sun-kissed (or cursed, depends who you ask). A sun-kissed is somebody with yellow pale hair and sun coloured eyes, that according to the religious sect, was marked by the sun goddess and was destined to be sacrificed back to the goddess. Instead of suffering a gruesome death as a child, Lyla was rescued and raised by monks until she turned eighteen, where she chose to venture into the city of Zirdai. Although she had been warned, Lyla faced discrimination at every turn, and despite her oppression, she managed to secure a job helping people find missing artifacts.

In this world, people are forced to live in underground cities to escape the deadly sun rays that cause death during certain hours of the day, with the heat even penetrating to the first underground layers. Their city is under the control of two major sects; the religious sect and the Water Prince's army.

Lyla unwittingly gets entangled in the war between the two sects when an artifact she was hired to locate is stolen while being transferred to the Water Prince. Unhappy with the precious, and supposedly magical, Eyes of Tamburah having been stolen, the Water Prince blackmails Lyla into finding them.

Lyla is left with a target on her back and a constant shadow, also known as Captian Rendor, the Water Prince's right-hand man. Unsure of who to trust and who betrayed her trust, she begins her venture to reclaim the Eyes.

I couldn't believe how fast and powerfully I fell into this book. I have a love/hate relationship with fantasy, often struggling to fall into the world and connect to the characters. Within a few chapters, I was fully invested with Lyla, and let me tell you, she's the YA heroine ya'll are looking for.

Logical and determined to succeed, she was intelligent with a mind for research. She was caring in an occasionally bristly way, sassy as all get out and NOT a character who made stupid decisions that endangered her life (hella YA pet-peeve avoided, bless you MVS). I am living for intelligent and level-headed ladies not ruled by their hormones or emotions—Lyla was the perfect balance of brains and emotions, so basically, a typical real-life girl. Can you believe it, a realistic female YA lead?! It took me pleasantly by surprise too.

In the beginning, I had many fears about the possible love interest(s) and was feeling the vibes of a love-square (three flipping love interests), but rest assured, that sorted itself out quickly and an AMAZING slow burn began. And I ship it. I ship it, I believe in it, I am here for it.

There were so many different characters and moving players in this book, and the plot was ever-expanding. I found the pacing perfect, with the beginning of the book allowing you to get to know the characters before the plot became more intricate and involved.

And that plot ...

Holy heck, the ending of this book swerved hard in a direction I was not expecting, getting gritty and showing some darkness, and I loved it. I've tried to be as brief as possible because this book sneakily introduces so many cool things and ideas, and being blindsided (in the best way possible) is always the best. So, just read this book, because it is SO worth it.

[JustJJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review and others @Bookerification

Rating: 3.5 stars

As someone who has read and loved most of Maria V. Synder’s previous books, I could not help the excitement that buzzed through me before I started reading this book. Of course, I was also a little worried that the story might not live up to my high expectations, and unfortunately, this was what actually happened.

‘The eyes of Tamburah' begins much like a typical fantasy book. We are given basic information about the main character (Shyla) and the scene is set for her upcoming adventure. However, rather than fleshing out Shyla’s character, the story dives straight into the fast-paced, action-packed adventure. 

“…pain accompanies knowledge. Lots of it.”

The little information provided about Shyla’s life and personality made it really difficult for me to connect with her. The poor woman is captured, tortured and beaten up many times, yet I could not bring myself to care or root for her. It simply felt like Shyla was a pawn, moving to places required to further the plot, rather than her life driving the events of the book. On top of this, Shyla’s character is far too aware of how hot every guy in the book is. This caused me to expect a love triangle, or even worse, a love square. Thankfully, the story does not go down this overly dramatic route. Despite this, the ‘romance’ that emerges lacked chemistry and substance.

The story's saving grace is the vivid writing that brings to life every aspect of Shyla's adventure and the fascinating world. There are also a few twists that caught me by surprise and made the story more entertaining. These were just enough to keep me absorbed and engaged in the unfolding story.

On the whole, ‘The eyes of Tamburah' did not live up to the hype I had attached to the name Maria V. Synder. It is, however, a decent start to a new, action-packed fantasy series that is only limited by the underdeveloped main character.



____________________________


RTC @ Bookerification

Cover: 🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Plot: 🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s):🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟.5
Romance: 🌟🌟
Final rating: 3.5

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The Eyes of Tamburah is a fast paced fantasy and the first in a new series by Maria V Snyder.

Shyla is a sun-kissed, the name given to babies born with pale-yellow hair. These babies, believed cursed, are left in the desert to die. Shyla is saved and raised by monks until she turns 18 and chooses to reside in the city. She is shunned by the other citizens of Zirdai and spends most of her time in her room. She manages to find work reading maps and transcribing ancient tablets in order to locate lost artefacts.

Snyder starts with explanations of the world the story is set in. Zirdai is an extensive underground city built on many levels which is necessary to escape the searing heat of the desert.

When the eyes of Tamburah, believed to bestow magic and their owner, are uncovered and subsequently stolen Shyla’s only friend Banqui is imprisoned and unless Shyla finds the eyes he will be put to death.

The story includes plenty of action and danger. Shyla is a strong-willed woman who can hold her own in a confrontation. She soon finds that she can trust no one as she is double crossed many times and her eyes are open to many things happening in the city she was unaware of. With this awareness comes an awakening of a new purpose to her life.

The majority of the story is high on action and very low on fantasy elements which may not appeal to hard core fantasy readers. The story gets a little dark towards the end with talk of torture and sacrifice although there is a small romance introduced and the occasional light-hearted banter keeps the story from becoming too intense. We get a few glimpses of the magic I’m hoping to see more of in the next book.

The Eyes of Tamburah was an easy read and I was totally caught up in the whole world of Zirdai. There are plenty of evil people to despise and Shyla’s character development was well executed.

Recommended for ages 12+
*I received an uncorrected review copy from the publisher

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5/5 stars*

Shyla, a Sun Kissed (or Sun Cursed as most might call her) lives in a world which is endangered by the sun. The surface is only desert and ruins of the old hidden in the sands. When the sun gets too close to the surface, people in the underground cities travel deeper to stay safe from the killing rays of the sun.

Shyla lives in one such city. As a Sun Kissed (the sign of a sun kissed is yellow hair), she is alienated from the rest. She likes to keep to herself and works as a historian and archologist, finding long hidden treasures and ruins in historic documents for her customers (be it other historians working for the rich and powerful, treasure hunters or even the black market).

On one such occasion, she helps her only friend, Banqui - a fellow historian - by finding him the location of the mythical Eyes of Tamburah. The old ruins of the Temple of Tamburah are dug out and the Eyes found. But when the Eyes disappear as suddenly as they were discovered, Banqui ends up in a lot of trouble, captured by the Water Prince - all powerful man in control of the city.

The Water Prince possesses all the water sources - in a world dried up by the sun, being in possession of a water source is the ultimate power. It doesn't help that Shyla herself, who helped Banqui find the Eyes, is now a suspect.

Shyla decides to make a deal with the Water Prince: find the Eyes of Tamburah, bring them back to the Prince and Banqui will be released. This agreement might just take her on a wild goose chase across the sprawling underground city of Koraha, through ruins and sands and new discoveries. Full of danger, secrets, betrayal and adventure.


I really enjoyed reading this book and it ended up being my second favourite by the author (after the Study universe). The plot was very capturing to me. Some parts were nonstop adventure with something always happening, others were more detailed and calm and I felt like there was a good balance of both. Snyder's storytelling overall pulled me into the world.

The world building was very interesting. There are these large undergound cities and sociteties. Most people don't live on the surface (or close to it) because of the sun. There are parts of the day where the sun is so low that it would kill any human on the surface, and only very few animals still exist and survive in this world. People who aren't rich live with limited resources and everyone is adjusted to the conditions after generations and generations underground.

The book also has some social commentary on wealth and on privilege, poverty, social classes in general and prejudice based on superstition (The Sun Cursed).

The rich basically live in the deepest parts of the city (closest to the bottom) - as water is of course on the deepest level and water means the one important source of power. It's a privilege to have clean water that is not muddied and have enough of it - as it is now too. Shyla doesn't know what shower is (a lot of people clean with some kind of dry clensers that don't need water), neither has she ever encountered a fountain or clear water to drink - those are the signs of privilege. All of these the Water Prince has in abundance. The farther down you are, you are also the most protected from the dangers of the sun rays and the stifling heat. Shyla lives close to the surface.
I thought it was a great parallel and contrast to the real world. There are other intersting commentaries, but I don't want to actually spoil any important plot points so I will stop now.

I also found it interesting how there was this premise of ruins hidden in the sands - from the previous society before people had to leave to the underground. Which made the promise of Shyla's job - an archeologist - even better. I think Snyder built the world with care and made it stick out.


The characters:

The main heroine Shyla was intelligent, resourceful and the kind of person who doesn't believe in a thing until they have a tangible proof of it. Which may have made some situations more difficult for her than needed to be, but it also made her an intriguing and admirable heroine to follow. She also may have some trust issues which are pretty much warranted. Shyla was born with the mark of the Sun Goddess. Basically, a person who is born with hair marked by the Godess of Sun needs to be returned to the goddess at the beginning of their life - left in the sands for the killing heat. But Shyla was saved by the monks and lived in the monastery for eighteen years of her life before leaving it to live on her own in the underground city nearby, which she has done for two years now. She was definitely my favourie character in this book and so far, actually, (after Yelena from Poison Study) one of my very favourite heroines from the author yet.

Pretty much most of the cast is POC. Both the main heroine and the love interest have black toned skin, with the heroine having yellow hair as the mark of the Sun Goddess.

There's many other characters to be intrigued about - Rendor, The Water Prince, The Heliacal Priestess, Hanif, Orla, Gurice, Mojag, Jayden... Some of them we meet briefly and they may or may not reappear again. The plot can move quite fast and sometimes the first thing Shyla needs to think about is her goal or simple survival. My favourite character was definitely Shyla, but Rendor was one of the most standout characters as well. He was such a big tough guy - a guard of the Water Prince - so protective.

All in all, another amazing read by Maria V. Snyder! After Poison Study series (Both Study and Soulfinders trilogy), this one is my second favourite by the author for sure and I'd definitely recommend for you to give it a go!


This was a BR with the amazing Helena. ☘❤︎

[ℓуηη_σƒ_νєℓαяιѕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desertathon 🐪🌵 Prompt: A desert vibe book
Medievalathon 💠 A pristine book 📙

Okay I think I’ve figured out what to rate this, so onward with the review!

While I adored Snyder’s Study series, this one missed the mark a bit. I seriously loved the first half of this book. I was hooked. It had everything I loved: desert fantasy, stolen magical artifacts, secret societies, bounties on the MC’s life, etc. And it’s so fast paced! The action starts right at the beginning and never, ever lets up. Like hardly at all. It’s insane how much happens in this one book.

And therein lies the one of the two problems for me. It’s beyond believability that the MC can have this much bad luck. I mean even Harry Potter only had attempts on his life by Voldie once a year⚡️Shyla goes 25 days with numerous attempts on her life in just ONE day, and beyond count in those 25 days total this book spans. I just...started rolling my eyes at some points, ya know?🙄I loved this book, but it also was just a bit too over the top for me in some areas🙈

My second issue: the romance Like...umm...it just wasn’t... 🙉 I was not at all wooed by it😐

Firstly, Shyla was just a little too aware of everyone’s hotness level from the beginning. The prince wants her dead. Oh he’s hot🔥This burly intimidating guard who’s all threatening to her: he’s hot🔥Oh that vagrant is hot once he cleans up🔥Just REALLY?!🤦🏻‍♀️This is where her head’s at while her life is in jeopardy?!

But really, the “romance.” It wasn’t there 🙉 First half of the book Shyla is (relatively) focused on the mission (minus the hotty level distractions from all directions🥵). And then out of nowhere she’s suddenly feeling things for this fella💘Don’t get me wrong, I like both characters, but this just felt sooo unnaturally developed and just wedged in without any groundwork 🚧

I was incredibly frustrated at the lack of skill weaving it in believably. The Study series did the romance perfectly! So I don’t understand why it was so clunky and haphazard in this much later work of Snyder’s 🤷🏻‍♀️ And the romantic “tension” moments honestly just had me cringing 😬 I dunno. Hopefully it’s more finessed in the sequel, but in this one just nope 👎🏻

Those two issues aside though, I did really love this book. It had an excellent plot, tons of action, villains everywhere: like damn you can’t trust ANYONE in here! I got sooo frustrated on Shyla’s behalf cause of all the things going wrong and all the hateful people after her 😤 I didn’t like how everyone was coercing her into stuff and leaving her in the dark🔦By the end she grows more confident in herself and starts forcing others into giving her answers and meeting her demands.

I definitely prefer Snyder’s Study series to this, but I AM excited to continue with the next book that comes out later this summer!☀️🏜

[Sarah]

A new series from Maria V Snyder?? HELL YES I WANTS IT 😍

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V Synder is the first book by this author that I have read. One of my reading goals for 2019 is to read more than just thrillers and serial killer stories. So this book was way out of my comfort zone and I have to admit that in the beginning I did struggle with the story. As I got going though I really enjoyed it.

It is a fast adventure story with a very strong, loyal and smart main female character in Shyla. When she is accused of stealing the 'Eyes' she knows she needs to clear her name. Already an outcast due to being 'sunkissed' she is determined to put things right.

The writing in this book is stunning, so descriptive that you feel that you could be there. Maria makes the desert city of Zirdai a beautiful place. I would love to see this book made into a TV show or movie. It is not short of action and adventure, making it a very exciting story. The gorgeous cover of the book also gives you visions of an Aladdin type setting, just underground!!

Thanks to HQ Book Club, Harelequin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor, poor Shyla!!! Nothing goes how she plans!

She just wanted to be accepted and have a quiet life finding treasures, but all the contrary happens!

And every time I thought "now she's have a respite" everything would go wrong! She chased by everybody: the Water Prince (who acts good, but tortures people); the Heliacal Priestess (I kept thinking "Heliacal=Maniacal" - who's Torquemada's twin soul); the secret organization called Silent Sword who wants to overthrow bot the Prince and the Priestess and free the people of Zirdai (but who continuosly lie to Shyla!)...

Shyla is an exceedingly good person. She cares deeply for everyone who shows her goodness and freindship.

It all starts with her friend and mentor Banqui who is suspected by the Prince of being the thief of the (un)famous Eyes of Tamburah and Shyla, working for him, is suspect too. So the Prince tells her that he will free Banqui if Shyla brings him the eyes.

But the Prince is not the only one who wants them.... And Shyla must run for her life - literally!

In this book there's betrayal, fights, torture, sacrifice and Shyla risks her life every few pages until even she doesn't know who to trust anymore!

Rendor is the Prince's captain of guard while Jayden is one of the leaders of the Silent Sword. Rendor is attrcated to Shyla and she to him, whie Jayden have some designs for her, but we don't see what they are almost until the end.

The story is long-ish, but the pace is so quick that you don't notice it. I loved the world building, even if the way time is calculated is rather confusing - at least for me!

I'm looking forward to the next one. I'm curious to find out what will happen to her, how the relationship with Rendor will procede, what is waiting for them all in the new headquarters, how she'll fight the Prince and Priestess (because I'm sure they'll retaliate!)... There're many, many things I hope MS will reveal in the next book! :)

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review 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.

[Denisa Lesniaková · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the actual fuck???

Ževraj Múmia x Tomb Raider x Indiana Jones. More like wattpad x pekná obálka x klamlivá anotácia.

Toto čo bolo prosím pekne? Bolo to že "tu sú všetky skvelé nápady, ktoré by z toho mohli urobiť originálnu a skvelú knihu" a autorka si povedala že "ale ja chcem, aby to bola totálna pi*ovina".

Dobre, nebola to totálna pip, ale som takáaaaa sklamaná! Začalo to skvelo - hlavná postava je nejaká "archeologička", ktorá vraj už našla kopu artefaktov. Svet je celý pohltený púšťou a preto sa žije pod zemou. A takto púšťou sú pohltené aj tie artefakty v rôznych chrámoch. A podľa anotácie malo ísť o to, že ona nájde nejaký artefakt, ktorý ukradnú a musí ho nájsť, lebo ju obvinili.

Prosímvás pekne, celá anotácia sa stala v prvej kapitole. Reálne začnete s tým, že už je artefakt zmiznutý a ona uteká. Som úplne nahnevaná a sklamaná, že namiesto toho, aby sme ho najprv hľadali a potom sa stala celá zápletka, sme TO ANI NEVIDELI...

A namiesto toho, aby sme zvyšok knihy čítali o tom, ako táto známa "archeologička" hľadá ten artefakt, tak čítame o tom, ako ju každý naháňa, každých 5 strán ju niekto unesie, otrávi, prebodne, zapichne, zbije, prizabije, takže každých 5 strán čítate, ako sa lieči a potom sa zase vyberie von z izby a DOOKOLA TO ISTÉ.

V polke už som bola úplne stratená, že kto každý ju to vlastne hľadá a nenávidí, kto každý ju tu už zradil a uniesol a už mi bolo proste všetko jedno.

Niekde v 75% príde nejaký úplny zvrat a všetko, ktorý vám už ani nepríde šokujúci, lebo autorka to TAK ZLE NAPÍSALA, že vám je jedno čo za zvrat to je a nič vám nepríde šokujúce, lebo k tomu neviedlo absolútne nič, čo by to aspoň naznačilo. Stane sa najväčšie vyvrcholenie a vy si myslíte, že už ste na konci, ale nie, potom vás čakajú ešte ďalšie štyri vyvrcholenia s tým, že hrdinka, samozrejme, bude pri každom prizabitá a bude sa liečiť, a keď KONEČNE nadíde ten vysnený koniec, tak je to najviac nudný koniec EVER EVER EVER EVER.

Akože hálo? Posledná kapitola je len že sa rozprávajú a úplne cringe konverzácia a bozk a neviem čo?????? Po tom celom čo sa stalo a navyše sa NIČ nevyriešilo, tak mám čítať poslednú kapitolu o tom, ako sa len rozprávajú a ona číta knihy a on jej dookola rozpráva "najedz sa", "si v pohode?", "vyzeráš bledo", "si zranená", "najedz sa".... a zrazu koniec. Normálne som si otvorila ešte knihu (počúvam audioknihu) či mi niečo neušlo, ale nie.

A romantika? Čistá komédia. Tak ako autorka celú knihu nič nenaznačovala, tak to bolo aj medzi postavami. Ani štipka chémie, nič. Len si zrazu ona hovorila že "hm i like him" a zrazu sa pobozkali po najhoršej pick-up line ever (- "Nevieš, aké je to byť sun-kissed", - "chceš vedieť, aké je to byť kissed?").

Ale viete čo, ja ani vlastne nie som nahnevaná, najhoršie proste je, že táto kniha vo mne nevyvolala absolútne nič len sklamanie. Úplne všetko mi bolo jedno. Každú druhú kapitolu sa tam diala nejaká akcia, až už som prestala vnímať kto a čo, hrdinke stále niečo bolo, proste čistý wattpad, písanie celé zle - moderné slová a skratky do toho fakt že nepasovali, romantika neexistujúca a postavy úplne nezaujímavé.

Krásna obálka, skvelé nápady, otrasné spracovanie.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[Nkisu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, what a fun read! The Eyes of Tamburah gave me all the adventure, sprinkled with magic and I DEVOURED it! I totally freaked out when I found out that Shyla, our main protagonist, was black! As someone who is so used to seeing "white" as the default in fantasy books, it still shocks me when the main characters are NOT! I loved Shyla's character! She was intelligent, loyal, strong AND with just the perfect amount of SASS 🙆🏾‍♀️ And SHE WASN'T ANNOYING LMAO 😭
This book was fast-paced and I appreciated how it dove straight into the plot 👌🏾 I found myself furiously flipping through the pages to see what happened next! I loved the setting and the world-building of the story 🙌🏾 And unlike many fantasy novels which can have very convoluted and complicated world-building, I didn't find that that was the case with this book. The new information about the world and cultures, were well placed throughout the book, so it was easy to digest and absorb 💁🏾‍♀️Also, SLOW BURN romance is literally the way to my heart and although I thought we might have a bit of a love triangle situation on our hands, that was not the case 😝 Definitely if you're in the mood for a fun read that combines all your favourite elements of Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones and YA fantasy, give this one a shot! I know I can't wait for the sequel! 🙌🏾

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

This author has very specific and definite strengths and weaknesses of which this book is a perfect example. She is extremely gifted at world building - creating the most unique and interesting worlds, situations and storylines, then beautifully building upon them and exploring their depths. The action aspects of each story are also deftly done, in a way that keeps the reader riveted to the page and believing every word - no matter how fantastical.

It’s in the relationships that she stumbles. There just isn’t any depth allowed between characters whatsoever. Whether between friends, associates, parents and children or in any romantic thread. It is either overlooked completely, barely touched upon or stated but never explored enough to actually understand. That is SUPER frustrating and is the only thing that stops this book from rating a rousing 5 stars.

[Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maria V. Snyder must be on a real 'writing about young females working in archaeology on other worlds' kick these days, but I'm 100% here for it.

Eyes of Tamburah follows Shyla, an outcast archaeology researcher trying to get by in world where her kind are normally abandoned at birth. She's particularly good at her job, thanks in part to her knowledge/training by the monks who raised her after she was abandoned for being sun-kissed (a person who is especially dark-skinned and blonde haired). This skill has led one of her patrons to the discovery of a lifetime; it's when that discovery goes missing and the blame is pinned on Shyla that things really start to go awry.

This book has several fantasy elements that help set it apart in a world of generic YA releases these days. A black woman main character in a fantasy world that's not classically African-inspired (while it could be Africa, it's more Maghreb or Middle-Eastern in my mind) is already a win in my book. In fact, everyone in this book is described as being tawny, mahogany, or similar, except for the 'ghosts' that live deep underground and never see the sunlight. The setting is something fairly new, too: Zirdai, a city build deep underground in a brutal desert world, where sunlight is accessible only near the surface, and water near the depths. There are some scenes that take place elsewhere, but the majority of the book takes place in this city without it feeling claustrophobic. It reminded me of another YA fave -City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - which you may enjoy if you liked this book.

While the setting is fantastic, the plot was a little uneven for me at times. The first 20% of the book was excruciatingly slow and I almost DNF'd. Thankfully it really picked up in the middle as we explore the underground city and learn more about the characters inhabitating it, and as Shyla's journey to locate the Eyes unfolds. The last 30% was the opposite of the intro: rushed actions, several decisions I thought seemed out-of-character, and rapid storylines that didn't match the pacing I had come to expect.

Of the recent MVS kickass-female fantasy archaeology releases, Navigating the Stars has a much tighter plot and cleaner editing. There were several moments in EoT I thought would have benefitted from an editor for grammar or a 'would this character have really done that' check. It's still a fantastic fantasy book and I look forward to continuing the journey with book two next summer.

3.5/5 Overall; 4/5 World-Building and Characters (especially Rendor!)

Read for Summer 2019 Pirate Challenge for a prompt.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: Torture, Death, Injuries
Bechdel Test: Passes

The Eyes of Tamburah is Maria V. Snyder's first book in her new series, Archives of the Invisible Sword. As a long standing fan of Maria's, I was over the moon when I got the notification that I was approved to review the eARC of this book. The chance to join Maria in a new world, was something that I just couldn't pass up.

We are introduced to Shyla, our protagonist, who is 'sun-kissed'/'sun-cursed' (depending on who you ask). She has been raised by the monks who have given her the tools for survival in a world where she will always be judged for what she looks like. Her tenacity and observational skills serves her well in her day-to-day life of researching and uncovering lost artifacts, treasures and maps - until the day she is blamed for the theft of a legendary, magical item and in order for her (and her friend/employer Banqui) to escape this alive, she is charged with the task to uncover who has actually taken them and recover them for the Water Prince.

Along the way, Shyla is introduced to many characters who will either assist or hinder her along this quest and as a reader it is a joy to discover alongside Shyla who is actually who. I have some theories about where we might be headed in book two and I can't wait to find out if my thoughts are in the correct direction, or if I will be blindsided - either way, I am signing up wholeheartedly to this ride.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I loved this whole series. I'm very, very happy that Snyder didn't take no for an answer and self-published it, and hope she will continue to do so in the future. I don't think I've read anything by her that I didn't get completely absorbed in. I have to save up her series until they're finished because I know I'll want to binge read them. This series was no exception. Loved it.

[Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was traumatising. And low key disappointing.

Here I thought this would be an Indiana-Jones-esque adventure story with a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider vibe. What I got instead was the stereotypical "Chosen One" trope and a storyline that was so fast paced I couldn't even keep up.

I'm not kidding. Especially when I say that literally everything written in the first part of the blurb occurred within 4 pages of the book actually beginning. It took me forever to piece together what on Earth was going on since it felt like things went from one thing to another. I was just lost and confused while reading this book which is never a good thing for a reader to feel.

The book follows Shyla, a researcher who discovered the location of the Eyes of Tamburah with her assistant Banqui. One day, Banqui arrives telling Shyla that the Eyes of Tamburah have been stolen from the Water Prince and he thinks Shyla stole them! On a quest to recover the Eyes, Shyla discovers more about herself and secrets about the very city she lives in.

Where do I even begin here. In all honesty there was barely a thin line between Shyla, The Water Prince and the Helical Priestess. Why? Because they were all power-hungry at the end. Of course, it's been referenced that the Helical Priestess and the Water Prince are corrupt entities in government however, the same can be said for Shyla who literally stabs herself in both eyes (on purpose) for power because she wants to "save the people of Zirdai." Because she's the chosen one! She's sun-kissed by the Sun Goddess, she has magical powers and she can awaken the power of the Eyes!

How many times have I heard that storyline over and over and over. And how many times is that character so wrong and egotistical?

I swear the second she stabbed her eyes and was so sure she was the chosen one she immediately sought after leadership. Yeah yeah you're the chosen one who cares? Also did you really need to (grotesquely) stab your eyeballs out just to gain power? Why can't a rebel (without powers) overthrow the government? That'll be a cool edge (and less creepy and gross) than what actually happened.

Another thing I disliked, the romance. Like in any fantasy/adventure etc. It was unnecessary and pointless and I disliked it a lot. I felt like there was more of a connection between her and Banqui rather than the person she ends up with at the end. It would explain her motive more and it would make her wanting to save Banqui's life more believable.

All those points coupled with an extremely fast storyline and you got The Eyes of Tamburah. I got the ARC for the sequel so I better get onto that soon. Nevertheless I felt extremely underwhelmed especially since this book got a heap of positive reviews.

ACTUAL RATING: 2.4 STARS

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I was thuper duper excited when I found out that we would be getting a new Maria V. Snyder series; and even more excited when it was described as “Poison Study meets Tomb Raider.” AND THEN I got a proof of the book through work from HarperCollins (a HUGE shout-out to Brigita for sending it to me!) and I felt all the happy feels. So, naturally, I had to read the book before its official release date.

The book follows our main character, Shyla, who lives in an underground city called Zirdai. The surface of the earth is all desert, and every day the sun becomes so hot it's deadly. Shyla helps academics, treasure hunters, and archaeologists in her city discover hidden and precious artefacts. But when one of Zirdai’s rulers, the Water Prince, accuses her of stealing an artefact known as the Eyes of Tamburah, she finds herself thrust into a secret, underground network of Zirdai where nothing is as it seems.

+ I don’t think this book started off very strongly.
I was bored and it was a bit of an effort to get through the first 100 pages or so. Shyla just does a whole lot of walking around, engaging in pretty dull conversations, and getting into fights which she ultimately loses. This book could have done with some more ruthless editing.

+ BUT, once you get past the first quarter of the book, it really picks up.
The pacing quickens and we start to really get into the thick of the plot. There were a few twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. I was whizzing through pages to find out what happens next. The last 150 or so pages are the best of the book.

+ Shyla is pure sass and snark and I loved her for it.
Her comments and snide remarks made this book really fun and, considering there are some pretty dark topics and scenes, really help to lighten the overall mood.

+ The rest of the characters are all fairly morally grey.
We get the whole “can they or can’t they be trusted” vibe throughout the book. It really made the story come alive and left me feeling just as confused and/or betrayed as Shyla.

+ Snyder does a fantastic job of describing this fantasy world.
We get the perfect amount of detail about it. And Snyder gives us information in manageable little chunks throughout the book, rather than just one, big, confusing info-dump right at the start.

ALL IN ALL: This was such a great start to Snyder’s new series! It was fun and action-packed. I think the start of the book let it down just a little and, if not for that, I would have given this book 5 stars.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Well I guess expecting a YA novel to be different from the mold was pretty stupid. In my defence I didn’t realise it was YA (yea, my bad it’s a Snider book…) while reading the sample. But the heroine is an archeological scholar, do you expect it to be a teen or a 20 something?

So you have the usual cliche, the ugly duckling that’s really a swan etc etc. In all its fantasy YA glory.

Unfortunately the book was overly long, overly complicated and with a main FC that was dumber than acceptable. Literally everyone in the book lies and betrayed her and I can swear on it. And … nothing. It was unbelievable, unacceptable and unreadable.
It seemed to me that Ms Snider was so enamoured with a twist in her plot that forgot than a story needs some lines too. Here there were twists only.

Pity as the idea had some merit.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing read! It kept me engaged the whole time. I felt like I was Shyla and the detail Maria went in for this story is amazing

[Cindee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it has been the best book by this author I have ever read looking forward to reading more. I loved all of the characters so very much especially Shyla and Rendor I loved the slow build of their romance I loved how it was not rushed and fit well into the story as well as together. I loved Shyla for how much she cares about people and her determination to do what is right I also loved the other people around her like Shek the healer and Hanif both these characters are great for her and others. I loved the story it started with Shyla being accused of something she did not do she then goes on a quest to find that item other things happen she falls in love gets a great power really looking forward to more.

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't too keen on this book.
Interesting setting but honestly it felt like she was constantly climbing flights of stairs, getting injured, which a character even jokes about.
I wasn't invested enough to read the rest of the series.
Book ends with HFN but bigger problems to resolve.
There is a a hint of romance, a kiss. The whole book, you aren't sure who to trust or who is telling the truth.

[Lulai · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun in this book. I am late to the Maria V. Snyder trend but I really like her last 2 books

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc from NetGalley - Review is entirely my own opinion.

Holy-moly!! (✿◠‿◠)
＼(^o^)／
Well, I must say that I was expecting very little from this book. I was expecting like a 3 star read. A bit boring, a bit immature, a bit mehh……

Well, I must say that my expectations got caught on a gust of wind and went flying, out of reach in the first 10 pages. °O° °O°

Never to be seen or thought of again. (*°∀°)=3

Because this book was an epic adventure! (It makes me excited about the next book just thinking about it.)

Quick little synopsis –
In a world where people live underground in vast cities. The surface is nothing but sand and the temperature hot enough to kill at certain times of the day.
Shyla is from a monastery of Monks, where they raised and sheltered her until she was old enough to leave or swear allegiance to them. Shyla being a stubborn, independent person decided to put on her big girl boots and leave to see the world.
She settled in Zirdai where she located important artifacts, etc. for people. But, Shyla is also a sun-kissed. Instead of brown hair she has blonde. This is a curse and she should have been killed as a baby, sacrificed to the Sun-Goddess. Therefore, nobody really likes her, expect one of her employees.
Said employee, Banqui is looking for The Eyes of Tamburah. Which are magical eyes that grant the wearer powers, for the Water prince, who rules over Zirdai. Banqui, with the help of Shyla locate the eyes. Yay! But are then stolen, BOO!
Banqui is than arrested by the water prince, because big boy thinks Banqui has stolen them. Shyla must then find the eyes to prove her friend is innocent.
Then the adventure begins. Shyla, slowly unravels the secrets of who has stolen The Eyes and why.

Why I loved this book -
Everything is so original - from the setting, right down to how the hours and days are explained.

Time: Hours, days are described as angles and jumps.

Setting: I have never read a book that has been primarily set in the dessert. Nope! And I guess this one wasn’t either because a lot of the adventure takes place in the underground city. I liked that. I wasn’t bored with the one environment. It meant that the surroundings were always changing. From this place to that place. Which really motivated me to keep reading.

Plot: At the end I was very impressed with how much thought had actually gone into the whole adventure. I was blindsided by the scheming and conspiracy of it all. Maybe because there wasn’t a whole lot of foreshadowing but just a feeling that things were off. And, they weren’t off by a lot. I was just really impressed with little plot-twists, because I loved it when I thought it was a simple, straight forward story. It ended up being a lot more complex. A++ （ ﾟ Дﾟ)
（ ﾟ Дﾟ)

The main character was lovable: It’s not often when I can say that I liked a main character in a YA series. They all just get on my nerves and tend to blend into one another with eye-rolls on my part. I genuinely liked Shyla. She had so much humor and sass. I am a sucker for sarcasm done right! She was strong and resilient. (*^3^)/~☆

“but…the floor invited me.” Ahh, so funny! (≧∇≦)/ (≧∇≦)/ (≧∇≦)/

She wasn’t the chosen one, in the sense that everybody loved her. She was an outcast and had a horribly difficult life. One that many people could possibly relate to. She looked a certain way so people had already made assumptions about her. Throughout the story Shyla stayed determined to prove people wrong. (*^3^)/~☆

All of the other cast of characters were also fun, and I liked them all. They had distinguished personalities.

This book was like a relief for me. To read something so fun and fast paced, with interesting characters (that I actually liked) and a great plot that propelled the story forward. I did not want to put this precious jewel down!!!

[Rebecca]

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book. I went into it hoping for an exciting quest for a missing treasure where the protagonist followed clues and wandered through ancient places to find this treasure. That is not what I got. I got to 43% and just couldn't continue because I was feeling frustrated. The main character was constantly getting captured and having conflicts with people and every time it seemed like she would get out of the situation she would encounter another group of angry people. When I got to the 43% mark I just didn't care whether the character was ever going to find what she was looking for.

[Bec (Aussie Book Dragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review first appeared on my bookstagram, @booktineus

The Good Things
+ This was a reread for me! Maria V Snyder is one of my all time favourite authors.

+ Fast paced New Adult fantasy set in one of the most unique worlds I've ever read.

+ The world building is amazing! It's so seamlessly woven into the narrative and plot.

+ I loved Shyla as a main character! She's so resourceful, logical, and sarcastic.

+ Like I said, this is fast paced. The plot gets moving in the very first chapter and is constantly moving forward. It made it easy to binge in 24 hours.

+ Maria V Snyder always writes some of the most entertaining banter between characters and this book is no exception.

+ Also lots of found family feelings! Another common Snyder theme.

+ Shyla's work as an archaeologist, searching for cursed artifacts and solving puzzles in temples, adds some Indiana Jones/ Uncharted vibes!

+ Super slow burn romance (my favourite kind).

The Not-So-Good Things
- I wanted more Rendor! I liked him but it felt like he barely had any scenes.

- The magic wasn't explored as much as I hoped, though I also wasn't too surprised. I'm expecting more magic exploration and explanation in the sequel.

TLDR;
Maria V Snyder’s new series is exactly what I expected: a wonderful fast paced and fun fantasy read. I really enjoyed it.

[Sarah ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

sighs, maybe it's not you Maria, maybe it's just me.

This is the second book I've read by this author and again, there were parts I adored, like the world building but the characters were so cliche that it hurt my whole soul and the romance was so forced ugh.

I LIKED
-The world building
-The mythology

I DISLIKED
-The 2010 style of story telling
-The cliche characters

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it wasn't Tomb Raider at all but damn, I couldn't put it down!


-----------------------------

Tomb Raider meets Poison Study!

I can't wait!!!