After reading the blurb, I really wanted to like this, but this one was rough for me to read. The book itself contained elements of a great fantasy story. I enjoyed the dual timeline, learning about the prophecy, and seeing how the intriguing dynamics were set up between Lamia, Larko, Aphra, and Jasper. However, the way it was written made it extremely difficult to connect with the characters. This story was told and not shown. It felt like I was reading an outline. Unfortunately, it fell flat on the execution for me. Thank you to NetGalley, as well as Köehler Books, for an advance copy of this book!

Fantasy
Betrayal
Tragic


Unfortunately this book was not for me.
The story has a little potential but the writing was a let-down.
There was not enough magic and I think I was expecting too much from the book by its title alone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc.

I was so drawn in by the premise of this story a desert kingdom, a haunting dream, a journey into the heart of ancient magic. But the execution didn’t work for me. The writing felt choppy and made it hard to connect with the characters. I found myself re-reading passages, trying to get into the flow, but it never quite clicked. It felt like I was watching the story happen from a distance rather than getting to live in it. It’s clear the author has a big vision for this world, and I’d love to see it refined with tighter editing in the future. I think this could still be a story many fantasy readers would enjoy, but for me, it wasn’t the right fit right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Imagine being promised a trip to Paris, only to end up in Paris, Texas—that’s how I felt reading The Queen of Sands. I was instantly pulled in by the stunning cover and the promise of a rich desert fantasy. A cursed kingdom, a girl haunted by the same dream her entire life... this story had all the makings of something epic.

While the concept and world-building were creative and full of potential, the execution fell short for me. The writing felt rushed, like the story didn’t have enough space to fully breathe. The dialogue was often stiff, and the emotional depth was lacking, which made it hard to connect with the characters.

I’m rating this a 2.5. The writing style didn’t quite hit the mark, but I did enjoy how the author kept me guessing until the very end. The way the past and present were intertwined was cleverly done and kept me turning the pages.

I was interested in the description of The Queen of Sands, it sounded imaginative and creative. Unfortunately the writing style was disappointing. The ideas were there but the ability to craft them, to have a style that flowed, to world build, to draw the reader in were not. It read like a list: this happens, that happens, without any context. It came across as innocent rather than inept. An author at the very start of their writing career and in need of guidance. The author needs to find a way to develop their writing in a host of ways so would benefit from taking a creative writing course.

This got a bit muddled with the dual times and multi pov. Lots of flashbacks. The magic system was lackluster. For someone who is deep into this genre they are going to nit pick this book. For a newer person it might be confusing but the characters are engaging enough to keep you interested.

The Queen of Sands has a really interesting set up, a cursed kingdom in the desert with one young woman who always had the same dream all her life deciding to leave her home and go on a journey mixing past and present while trying to discover the meaning of her dreams.

The story is interesting and original, the set up not seen often and there are some very good ideas in it. I particularly liked how past and present are mixed together without the reader really knowing what exactly is the link between the two until the end.

Unfortunately, the writing was not on par with the ideas. The descriptions were very "matter of fact", at times it felt like reading a list of actions done by the characters, None of the description went deep into the characters emotions, or if they did, it was done pretty fast, making it hard to get attached to the different characters or to really understand why one character would feel that way towards another.

The dialogues were not very natural, each character exposing plainly all of their emotions and each sentences finishing by "he said", "she said", etc.

Another thing was that there was a lot of thing happening for a book that is less than 300 pages. I feel like because of how many things were happening, the pace of the book had to be fast which made it even harder to truly get attached to the characters. I feel like with everything happening, a longer book or maybe a duology would be more fitted for this story.

All in all, I think this book has some very good idea, the story is interesting and we can feel the author passion behind it but I feel like this book could maybe use a bit more work before being published. It has a good potential and could truly be a really good book!

This book had all the right ingredients for me: a cursed desert kingdom, family secrets, lost love, and dual timelines. But reading it felt like trying to walk through a sandstorm blindfolded.

The writing was clunky, with dialogue that didn’t sound natural and heavy-handed exposition that made it hard to care about what was happening. I kept getting pulled out of the story, stumbling over awkward phrasing and abrupt POV shifts that left me confused about who was speaking or what was going on.

I can see the author’s passion for this story, and I wanted to love it. But it needed a lot more editing and tightening to match the promise of its premise.

I’d be open to trying this author again if the prose gets a sharper polish, but this one didn’t work for me.

This was a solid read where the world building and characters had some really promising traits. However the pace really dragged at points and this is why my rating is higher.

The Queen of Sands has a rich setting and an intriguing premise rooted in desert lore and forgotten prophecy. The dual timelines and myth-inspired worldbuilding were compelling, and Esther’s journey had strong emotional stakes.
However, the pacing dragged at times, and I struggled to connect deeply with the characters. While the themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption were clear, the story didn’t fully grip me. A solid debut with potential, especially for readers who enjoy atmospheric, mythology-inspired fantasy.

I had high hopes for this book but I’m so sorry I could not get into the writing. The writing felt strung together and felt disconnected. Because of this I did DNF the book on chapter 2. The way things were being described and jumped around didn’t flow very well. I also noticed that when there is dialogue spoken between characters, there is a “said” after every line. It would go from “Esther said,” then to “Illashka said,” then over and over all in the span of one page. I don’t know if that’s just a me thing but it felt like it ruined the flow of the conversations.

I liked the premise and the vibe of the story.
The characters were really interesting and was very refreshing as a plot. Highly recommend.

I found the way the main character Esther was written enjoyable. I don’t want to spoil but I enjoyed Esther more then Aphra. The sad story about the prince that defied his kingdom for love was bland and I felt no emotional connection with him or his lover especially when they were warn about what might happen. If you don’t like insta love then you might think the same. I felt bad for the best friend. The pov change from the present to past was nice. Overall most parts of the book were rather predictable.

i started this book and immediately felt like I was reading someones submission for a creative writing 101 class. It was very disjointed and an immediate DNF for me.

The premise is interesting, but the quality of the writing is not where it needs to be for a book that will be published.

3.5✨ It was a ok read 🥰 thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book

Three centuries ago, a prince defied his kingdom to pursue a forbidden romance, igniting a chain of events that shattered alliances and left a legacy of sorrow. Now, Esther, a spirited young woman from a remote village, is haunted by vivid dreams of a desperate woman pleading for forgiveness. When the dreams lead her to uncover an ancient curse, Esther embarks on a perilous journey into the heart of the desert, determined to uncover the truth and confront her destiny.

As Esther navigates treacherous landscapes, unravels forgotten prophecies, and faces the pain of long-buried sins, she must find the strength to forgive and the courage to reshape a fractured kingdom. Rich with world-building, unforgettable characters, and themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience, The Queen of Sands offers a gripping dual-timeline adventure that will captivate the imagination.

Step into the sands, where every secret has its price-and every choice shapes the future.

I could not finish this book. I loved the idea of the world building and the premise of the story, but the SHOW not Tell was not working in this case. It was painful to get through the first few pages. I wanted to get further, but it just wasn't working for me in this moment of time.

I believe that this story has potential, but honestly I did love the writing style. I found it a little repetitive and hard to follow, with a good editing I am convinced that this book can be good.

A fractured kingdom, a forbidden love, an ancient curse, a strong female lead, dual timelines, and a whole desert dripping with secrets? Yes, please. The vibes were immaculate going in. Unfortunately, what should’ve been a sweeping tale of fate and redemption ended up feeling like a first draft with a Pinterest board problem.

The worldbuilding really tries to be lush and cinematic, but it keeps tripping over clunky exposition and dialogue that feels like everyone’s reading their emotions off cue cards (think: “I am sad and therefore I must cry”). And don’t get me started on the POV gymnastics: we go from third to first person mid-paragraph like it’s a trust fall we never agreed to.

Esther’s journey wants to feel epic and emotional, but I just couldn't buy into the stakes. The pacing lurches, the prose lacks polish, and by the halfway point, I felt more told-at than immersed. Characters proclaim eternal love after, like, one and a half conversations, and there’s a lot of weeping, fate-whispering, and standing dramatically in sandstorms.

I wanted to love this. Truly. I respect the ambition and emotional depth this was aiming for: love, grief, forgiveness, generational healing, legacy. But it needed sharper editing to land any of it.

DNF’d emotionally around 30%, finished physically out of curiosity. Would check out the author's future book only if it’s been through the editorial trenches.

Review: This narrative or rather dialogue is very strange. It is stilted to the point where every character explains their reasoning and emotions out loud in heated interchanges. Even repeating the obvious. Kind of like listening to six year olds argue. It does work in an odd way, as it enables the reader to skim the bs and focus on the grande story line. Even though you know what is happening at the get go, there are instances where the story line drifts enough to become interesting in a truncated way (abruptly ends).

Although I liked some of the characters, Aphra and Prince Boner were just too much to take. The crwying, twembling, fwaiting and proclaimed love for eternity wore really thin. I do not think I will be following this author unless there is a profound shift in fundamental characterization and the delivery therein.

I received this ARC for an honest review

ARC Review: The Queen of Sands by Mona Tebyanian
⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5 rounded to 3 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Mona Tebyanian, and Koehler Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

The Queen of Sands is a debut fantasy romance with a rich, dual timeline concept and a world steeped in desert lore, forgotten curses, and buried secrets. On paper, it had all the ingredients for a sweeping tale of destiny, betrayal, and redemption. The premise? Golden. The heart behind it? Undeniable.

Unfortunately, I struggled to fully connect with the execution. While the story itself holds potential and the themes are genuinely compelling, the writing style often felt underdeveloped and occasionally distracted from the emotional weight of the plot. I wanted to be immersed, to feel the sand in my boots and the tension in my chest... but instead, I found myself pulled out of the story by awkward phrasing and structural hiccups.

That said, it’s clear the author poured her imagination and passion into the bones of this book. Esther’s journey, the ancient curse, and the emotional undercurrents all show promise. With further polishing, especially in pacing and prose, this could evolve into a captivating read for fans of romantic fantasy set in lush, mythic worlds.

It may not have worked for me personally, but I’m hopeful that others, (especially those who enjoy stories of fate and resilience set against vibrant desert landscapes), might find something magical within its pages.