Race the Sands

In a desert realm where reincarnation determines social status, dangerous monsters born from corrupted souls roam the sands. Tamra Verlas, a former elite warrior turned monster trainer, stakes her future on transforming a rookie rider and an untested beast into champions. The path to victory in the monster-racing circuit requires both technical skill and a deep understanding of kehok psychology. Tamra must navigate political intrigue and social hierarchies while preparing her team for the ultimate racing season, knowing that failure could doom them all to poverty. The novel explores themes of redemption, ambition, and the bonds formed between humans and creatures. Through its fantasy world's unique reincarnation system, the story raises questions about fate versus free will and the true nature of monsters - both human and beast.

Readers call this a fast-paced standalone fantasy with strong female characters and unique worldbuilding centered around monster racing. Many reviews highlight the bond between characters and their kehoks (chimeric beasts), comparing it to The Last Unicorn or The Scorpio Races. Readers appreciated: - Complex mother-daughter relationships - Political intrigue without overwhelming the story - Clear resolution without sequel hooks - Distinct magic system Common criticisms: - Predictable plot turns - Romance feels rushed - Some found the ending too neat - Wanted more kehok racing scenes Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (450+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (40+ ratings) Several reviewers noted it works well as both YA and adult fantasy. One frequent comment was "I couldn't put it down," while others mentioned wanting more depth to the world-building. Multiple readers praised the book's pacing and called it a good "palate cleanser" between heavier fantasy series.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin. A woman navigates deadly political intrigue while forming a connection with enslaved gods in a competition for power and survival.

Joust by Mercedes Lackey. A serf rises through the ranks to become a dragon rider in a complex society built around dangerous dragon-riding competitions.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Warriors train with magical armor and weapons in a harsh world where competition for shards of power determines the fate of nations.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Two magicians pit their apprentices against each other in a competition using a mysterious traveling circus as their battlefield.

The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards. The heir of a fallen house competes in deadly trials and political games while protecting his found family in a modern fantasy world.

🌟 Sarah Beth Durst wrote Race the Sands after being inspired by both monster movies and competitive sports - specifically the intensity and drama of Olympic events. 🏜️ The deadly monsters in the book called kehoks are based on the concept of reincarnated souls that have committed such evil acts that they can no longer take human form. 🎯 The author created a complete sport around monster racing, including specific rules, techniques, and training methods that would be required to control and race these dangerous creatures. 👑 The novel's political intrigue was partially influenced by the author's fascination with ancient Egyptian succession disputes and power struggles. 🏆 Race the Sands was named one of Amazon's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2020 and received a starred review from Library Journal.