MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Of Sand and Silk

Of Sand and Silk

by Claire Butler

🌶️🌶️mild·The Divine Tapestry #1
4.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.5 on Goodreads (145)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A bisexual awakening wrapped in desert court intrigue with elemental magic, political scheming, and an MMF romance that builds with agonizing slow burn tension.

Synopsis

A deadly trial to keep his throne. A dangerous game to win his heart. King Heroux was a famed warlord who sought to extend his Merovian lands by invading and conquering foreign kingdoms to create a vast and wealthy empire. Until Henri killed him. Now Henri has claimed his entire empire. The desert land of Merovia is different from anything he has ever known. The heat is punishing and the customs are strange. But more formidable than that are the people who do not want to embrace him as their new king, and the other Merovian kings who are keen to exact revenge on him for slaying one of their own. As former regent and brother to the late King Heroux, Malik understands his people’s hatred toward the foreign king. But with a long-forgotten threat rising in the north, and the pending summit which will pitch all Merovian kings in a fight to the death to retain their kingdoms, Malik has little time to concern himself with Henri. Even if he does find him aggravatingly handsome. When a highly coveted courtesan known as the Silk Rose is gifted to Henri in the hopes of securing an alliance, motives are questioned and loyalties are tested. But the Silk Rose has her own secrets, and she refuses to be sacrificed in this world of gods and kings. Set in a rich Middle Eastern inspired world, Of Sand & Silk is an adult fantasy romance filled with intrigue, elemental magic, deities, plot twists, bisexual awakening, multiple POV, and MMF romance. This is Book 1 in the Divine Tapestry series. It is linked to the Red Wood series. Of Sand & Silk is perfect for fans of Renee Ahdieh, Anastasis Blythe, and Nisha J Tuli.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.45 ★ (145)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

392 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2024

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Fantasy Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

MIXED

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Multi-POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
slow burnenemies to lovershidden identitysecret heir/royaltyfound familyhe falls firstforbidden love
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

atmosphericmysteriousintenseromanticepic

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

immersiveatmosphericlushdramatic

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

political intrigueMediterranean fantasypage turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

morally gray fmcsnarky/sarcastic

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

brooding princesecretly softmorally gray mmc

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

slow burnforbidden lovemutual pininghe falls firstfound familybetrayal to trust

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

slow burn tension with passionate MMF scenes

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionlonging glancesanticipationtouch starvation

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (6)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
child abuse (physical)traumaviolencemental healthpoisoningmature language
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

kingdom / empire

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

Merovia - a Middle Eastern-inspired desert kingdom

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deitieselementals

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

queerlgbtq+ repbisexual mc

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

addictive readtension finally satisfied

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

vacationcozy evening

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.392
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.45 ★ (145)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Divine Tapestry #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Of Sand and Silk

Similar Books

Cover of King of Scars

King of Scars

King of Scars, #1

Leigh Bardugo

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
enemies to loversslow burnhidden identity
Cover of This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, #1)

This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, #1)

This Woven Kingdom, #1

Tahereh Mafi

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forbidden lovehidden identitysecret heir/royalty
Cover of Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1)

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1)

The Last Hours, #1

Cassandra Clare

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·✓
hidden identitysecret relationshipchildhood sweethearts reunited
Cover of Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1)

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1)

The Dark Artifices, #1

Cassandra Clare

🌶️🌶️·third person·✓
forbidden loveslow burnhidden identity
Cover of The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1)

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1)

The Daevabad Trilogy, #1

S.A. Chakraborty

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·✓
forbidden lovehidden identitylove triangle
Cover of Nightshade (Sorrowsong University, #1)

Nightshade (Sorrowsong University, #1)

Sorrowsong University, #1

Autumn Woods

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversdark academia romanceslow burn
Cover of The Book of AzraelKU

The Book of Azrael

Gods & Monsters, #1

Amber V. Nicole

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximityfated mates
Cover of Metal SlingerKU

Metal Slinger

Fire & Metal, #1

Rachel Schneider

🌶️🌶️·first person
enemies to loversslow burnforced proximity