Book Review :: The Eyes of Tamburah, by Maria V. Snyder

The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V. Snyder
ISBN: 1489252800
Series: Archives of the Invisible Sword #1
Published by HarperCollins
on 2019-07-17
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 480
Source: HarperCollins NZ
Find at Harper Collins NZ
Goodreads

'He thinks you are the thief...'

Shyla is a researcher who resides in the underground desert city of Zirdai, which is ruled by the wealthy Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess. Even though Shyla is sun-kissed - an outcast, considered cursed by the Sun Goddess - she is still renowned for uncovering innumerable archaic facts, lost artefacts, ancient maps, and obscure historical documents. Her quiet life is about to change when Banqui, an archaeologist, enlists her services to find The Eyes of Tamburah: legendary gemstones that bestows great magic to its wielder. These ancient objects can tip the balance of power and give whoever possesses them complete control of the city.

But chaos erupts when The Eyes are stolen soon after they're found - and Shyla is blamed for the theft. Forced to flee, with the Prince's soldiers and the Priestess' deacons on her trail, Shyla must recover the jewels and clear her name. A quest that will unearth secrets even more valuable than The Eyes of Tamburah themselves...

Last updated on 27 October 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase with one of these links, I recieve a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full Affiliate Policy.

My thoughts on The Eyes of Tamburah

Unsure what to expect from this book, and not having actually read anything by Maria V. Snyder before (although not for lack of her books on my shelves), I was wonderfully surprised to find that by about chapter two I was hooked.

Snyder has created this insane underground city of Zirdai, and the whole concept of the sun being lethal, forcing the population to live underground, was such a terrifying amazing concept, and reminded me of City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau. The different levels of the city and the way the population survives was very well thought out and I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of the city. The world above ground has its own deserty wonder, too, with interesting creatures, and fighting monks.

The characters in The Eyes of Tamburah were enjoyable, although I definitely think some could have been fleshed out a little more. Shyla, the sun-kissed, was a particularly interesting one though, and her character development over the course of the story was very evident. She was head-strong, loyal, smart and willing to do whatever it takes for the sake of her friends. I really enjoyed her voice (the story is told in first person from Shyla’s perspective) and seeing the world through her eyes.

Speaking of eyes, the mystery and magic-myths around the Eyes of Tamburah was a really fun plotline, and it definitely gave off Indiana Jones sort of vibes. The story was fast-paced (once it got going), was action-packed and even a little unpredictable at points. Like most stories, there are things you can ‘call’ while you’re reading, but that never took away from the experience of the story for me.

If you’re looking for an action-pack, other-worldly Young Adult Fantasy novel with a hint of romance, solid friendships, and double doses of baddies, then you should pick up this book. The Eyes of Tamburah is the first in a new series by Maria V. Snyder, but there’s no word on Goodreads as to when the next one is coming out yet.

Have you already ready it? What did you think? 

I received a free copy of this book from HarperCollins NZ in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion, and all thoughts are my own.