Blood of the Sands
The Ballan Desert, Book 1
by S.C. Grayson
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Pub Date Sep 17 2024 | Archive Date Aug 09 2025
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Description
An exile yearning for a home. A masked warlord fighting his destiny. A bond that could save the Ballan Desert—or destroy the world as they know it.
Keera is an exile struggling to survive, forced to rob passing travelers or face starvation. When she steals from the wrong man—a vicious masked warrior named the Viper—his hand around her throat awakens an ancient magic within her, and she uses it to escape his clutches. Now, Keera must master her power to protect the city of Kelvadan—the only place an exile like her can find a home—from the Viper and his growing army.
For years, The Viper has fought to control the magic of the desert that boils in his veins, threatening to drive him mad. He will do anything it takes to heal the broken power of the desert that shreds his sanity—even marching on the great city of Kelvadan. However, the moment he touches the exile who tried to rob him in the night, his magic calms for the first time in years. Now, he suspects the real key to healing the desert might lie with the infuriating woman who slipped through his fingers and now fights for his sworn enemies.
Dive into this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, perfect for fans of complicated conflicts, morally gray characters, and sizzling slow burns.
Advance Praise
"A magical slow-burn fantasy romance with a unique magic system that will have you enthralled from the first moment you walk onto the sands of the desert to the last, Blood of the Sands is a captivating enemies-to-lovers read from beginning to end" -Elayna R. Gallea, author of Given
"Blood of the Sands is an enthralling enemies-to-lovers fantasy set in harsh desert landscape filled with fearsome creatures and unbridled magic. S.C. Grayson weaves a rich tale of a deadly competition rife with betrayal and a slow burn healing love that simmers with the perfect amount of spice. An absolutely fantastic start to this series!" Tessonja Odette, author of the Entangled with Fae series
"Blood of the Sands is a Reylo fan's dream romantasy. With interesting and complex characters, high-stakes action, and a unique world, this book was an absolute delight from start to finish. Erix is my new favorite brooding, bad boy book boyfriend and Keera is a fiesty, stabby delight." Megan Van Dyke, author of The Musician and the Monster
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798989282524 |
| PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 415 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 424251
I didn’t expect Blood of the Sands to sink its claws in so quickly, but wow…I was hooked.
If you're into slow-burn, high-stakes fantasy with an enemies-to-lovers thread so taut it could slice you in half, then you need to try this. Keera and the Viper are about to ruin you in the best way.
I love a scrappy, morally grey heroine who doesn’t apologise for surviving and Keera is that girl. She's been exiled, hunted, and hardened by the desert, yet there's still this ember of hope buried under all her grit. When the Viper catches her and something ancient stirs inside her (hello, magical awakening via throat-grabbing 👀), I knew I was in for a ride.
Watching her wrestle with her powers and her past felt raw and real. I rooted for her every step, even when she made messy choices. Especially then.
Listen, I didn't come here to simp for a desert warlord, but here we are. The Viper is a brutal enigma sharp where Keera is fire, quiet where she’s fury. He’s a blade in the sand, terrifying and mesmerising, but he’s not what he seems.
Underneath that mask is a man bound by magic and guilt and duty. And when he starts unraveling because of his unexpected bond with Keera? Yup. I was gone. I love a villain (or antihero?) who starts questioning everything, especially because of one stubborn exile who won’t bow to him.
This is a true slow burn; no insta-love, no cheesy "oops we touched" tropes. Every shift in their relationship felt earned. There’s rage, distrust, sizzling tension... and then these glimmers of something softer. They hate what the other represents but they also understand each other in a way no one else can.
And when they finally let that bond break open? Fire. Sandstorm-level chemistry. I lived for every charged stare, every reluctant truce, every time one of them wanted to kill the other and kissed them instead (okay, that part comes later, but I felt it coming the whole time).
This is the kind of fantasy romance that takes its time with the build-up but rewards your patience with emotional complexity and characters you’ll be thinking about long after.
Keera is fierce and vulnerable in equal measure, and the Viper? The kind of haunted, brutal man you know is dangerous and yet you lean closer anyway.
The writing? Atmospheric and layered. The romance? Simmering. The stakes? High as hell. Highly recommend!
Rubie C, Reviewer
Blood of the Sands is book one in The Ballan Desert by S.C. Grayson.
This fantasy was so enthralling.
The scenery and settings are described in incredible detail; every location was easily visualized and vibrant.
The characters were incredibly well written. I could see them clear as day.
I flew through this, did not want to put it down.
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