Spice Road
A Sunday Times bestselling YA fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired land
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Control the spice. Control the kingdom.
'An epic, sand-swept adventure' Ayana Gray
In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. With her affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani can wield a dagger like no other - and for that she has gained a reputation as the next greatest Shield, battling djinn, ghouls, and the other monsters spreading across the sands.
But ever since her brother was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession - and disappeared into the deadly Forbidden Wastes, Imani's reputation has been in tatters. Despite Atheer's betrayal, there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't grieve him.
Then Imani discovers signs her brother may be alive, and spreading their nation's magic to outsiders. Desperate to find him - and to protect him - she joins the mission sent to hunt him down. Accompanied by Taha, a powerful beastseer, who enthrals and enrages her in equal measure, Imani soon discovers that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart.
Caught between her duty to her nation, and her love for her brother, Imani must decide where her loyalties lie . . . before it is too late.
The first in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land.
'An enchanting world of tea magic and desert monsters ' Amélie Wen Zhao
'A gripping fantasy adventure that YA readers are going to love!' Lynette Noni
'Soul-stirring' London Shah
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ibrahim's superbly written fantasy debut, the first in a series, follows 17-year-old Imani on a quest to find her missing, traitorous older brother. Imani is the youngest Shield in history, an individual who wields magic to combat djinn and other mythical beings threatening the safety of the hidden desert city, Qalia. But when her older brother, Atheer, flees with mystical Qalia secrets, labeling him a traitor, Imani's reputation is tarnished. Though he's assumed dead, when Imani discovers evidence that he might be alive, she must journey to the Forbidden Wastes to bring him home and secure Qalia's secrets from the world beyond the city. With the help of a djinn named Qayn, Imani sets off with a group that includes her younger sister, Amira, and her nemesis Taha, 18, who believes Imani may facilitate Atheer's escape. The further the group travels into the Forbidden Wastes, the more they learn about the real state of Qalia, and Atheer's reasoning for running away. Imani's introspective voice, rendered in Ibrahim's lush prose, propels a deliberately plotted adventure populated by magnetic characters. Overflowing with culturally specific details and set in a fictional, Arabian-inspired world, this high-octane adventure maintains a steady clip toward a scintillating conclusion. Ages 14–up.
