Review: Until the Sand Claims Us by Israh Azizi

September 9, 2026

Synopsis:

Two terrifying truths await her:
She must marry the Prince of Death.
And she’s been ordered to kill him.

Yildiz serves as the Southern princess’s bodyguard, but when the princess vanishes, she’s forced to take her place. Disguised as the royal bride, Yildiz enters the enemy palace, betrothed to the Northern prince.
Dayyan is known by all as the ruthless Northern executioner. He’s compelled to serve the shah or else risk harm befalling his family. When he takes the Southern princess as his bride, her fierce spirit and unwavering resilience begin to chip away at the solid walls he’s built around himself.
If Yildiz’s identity is exposed or she fails to eliminate the Northern heirs as instructed by her sultan, it means certain death. If Dayyan succumbs to his growing feelings for his new wife, it will be another weakness that can be wielded against him.
In a land ravaged by war, Yildiz and Dayyan are bound in a union that will forever change the destiny of the Khatatian Desert. A marriage meant to secure peace becomes something more than a mere obligation, and they have the impossible task of choosing between their duty and their hearts.

Review:

Wow, there are fast-paced and intense books, and then there is this one.

What an opening. Everything happened at once, and there was barely a moment to catch your breath. It perfectly set the stage for what was to come, making it clear from the start that this world is complex, brutal, and filled with oversized egos and political scheming. It’s a pressure cooker just waiting to explode.

Yildiz didn’t have much say in the situation she was thrust into, yet she never backed down. She was my favourite character, and she truly had to suffer throughout the story. I have nothing but admiration for her determination and for staying true to herself the entire time.
Then there’s Dayyan, a character I instantly disliked and couldn’t imagine ever rooting for. By the end, however, I had completely changed my mind. His character growth was some of the best I’ve seen, and the relationship between him and Yildiz was something special.

This is a book that feels genuinely grown-up. It doesn’t shy away from portraying the brutality of war and the suffering endured by people who become victims of circumstances beyond their control.
The ending felt slightly rushed, and it didn’t fully deliver what I was hoping for. Even so, it was very entertaining read overall.

🌙 Recension: Until the Sand Claims Us by Israh Azizi
📚 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy
📅 Release Date: September 9, 2026
📖 Publisher: PageTurnerPress LLC
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 417
⭐️ 4/5