Race the Sands

A Novel

By: Sarah Beth Durst

Narrated by: Emily Ellet

“National Velvet with monsters and a big helping of palace intrigue, Race the Sands is monstrous (literally), heartwarming, and empowering in equal measure. An incredibly fun and inspiring read.” – Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

In this epic standalone fantasy, the acclaimed author of the Queens of Renthia series introduces an imaginative new world in which a pair of strong and determined women risk their lives battling injustice, corruption, and deadly enemies in their quest to become monster racing champions.

Life, death, and rebirth—in Becar, who you are in this life will determine your next life. Yet there is hope—you can change your destiny with the choices you make. But for the darkest individuals, there is no redemption: you come back as a kehok, a monster, and are doomed to be a kehok for the rest of time.

Unless you can win the Races.

After a celebrated career as an elite kehok rider, Tamra became a professional trainer. Then a tragic accident shattered her confidence, damaged her reputation, and left her nearly broke. Now, she needs the prize money to prevent the local temple from taking her daughter away from her, and that means she must once again find a winning kehok . . . and a rider willing to trust her.

Raia is desperate to get away from her domineering family and cruel fiancé. As a kehok rider, she could earn enough to buy her freedom. But she needs a first-rate trainer.

Impressed by the inexperienced young woman’s determination, Tamra hires Raia and pairs her with a strange new kehok with the potential to win—if he can be tamed.

But in this sport, if you forget you’re riding on the back of a monster, you die. Tamra and Raia will work harder than they ever thought possible to win the deadly Becaran Races—and in the process, discover what makes this particular kehok so special.

Fantastic Fiction

I loved the way this was written. You were gripped and drawn into this story from the minute it began all the way to the end. All the while hoping it would never end.

great stong female leads maybe more YA

the narrator was great by being able to do multiple characters with distinctly different voices.
the story kept my interest and was easy to listen to.
loved the super strong female characters.

Worth a Read!

Interesting book! Well done premise with only small inconsistencies. Narrator did well in voicing characters!

I LOVE THIS BOOK

I absolutely ador this book and everything in it! I halv nothing bad to say about it and halv relitsend to it a lot! I get a little spark of pure happiness and nastolga when I think about it and am caught between desperately wanting a secuile so I can halve mor of this worled and not wanting to tant it by drawing out and amazing and satisfying end I love this book and everything about is especially the kyhoks wich honestly I think are very much not a successful punishment given I wold most definitely KILL to be one and you don’t want people to be wanting the punishment ha THIS IS AN AMAZING STORY THAT I LOVE and I think deserves all they awards and praise posible

Compelling story

What an intriguing concept. Sarah Beth Durst comes through yet again with an unusual tale and engaging characters. I didn’t want it to end.