A wonderfully written and important story of war, social classes, and a reflection of the real world. I loved the tea magic and world-building, as well as the very important story the author conveyed. I can't wait for book 2!

4.5
Thanks for netgalley and the publisher for giving me an E-arc of this book and here's my honest review.
This book crept up to my top list in no time. I admit that I had high expectations getting into this and thankfully it didn't disappoint at all. The world is so mesmerising and very well-written. Also loved how the author captured the Arabic names, food and some little traditions. The characters had amazing depth and storylines it made me go crazy, also their development was so great I got attached to them so much. Lastly, the plot and the twists, when I tell you the last 20% literally altered my whole experience with the book I mean it. Definitely recommend this to fantasy lovers like myself this is one of the best books out there can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy. Also patiently waiting for more books with these characters can't wait to see what the author will do.

I had high hopes for this read. I overall enjoyed it. I just felt like this book was a bit on the long side and the plot was not as strong as it could have been. I really loved the focused on both the family dynamics and siblings elements. I also really enjoyed the magic system. I just felt like the end middle of the book had some pacing issues. But i loved the character and really thought the magic system was cool!! I will def check out book 2 in the future. It gave me ivory key vibes and also ember in the ashes vibes!!

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good! I really enjoyed the world and the culture. The characters were wonderful as well and Imani is such a strong willed character! The journey was so much fun and learning about the magic of this world was wonderful. I can’t wait to read the next one when it comes out!!!

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This was such a wonderful and captivating read and I've been telling everyone about it. I hope that many others go out and buy it or check it out from their libraries as I feel that it is a 2023 must-read! The story is plot driven and I felt as though the author did a great job with pacing. Letting us feel all the soft and emotional moments, while speeding up the action scenes that made the reader excited about unfolding events. While reading, I felt totally immersed in this world because of the descriptive settings that were written so eloquently. I loved going on this adventure and being able to picture this world and the characters motivations and central conflicts.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy and more from Ibrahim!

This series opener definitely leaves me wanting more. Although the immediate problem—find Imani’s brother—is resolved, the door is left wide open for further problems. The enemy he left to fight still exists, and the threat to their magically-protected homeland is real.

Imani has been in a dark place ever since her brother disappeared, and her spunky younger sister, Amira, has been getting into trouble. When they discover a djinn who promises that he can help them find Atheer, Imani does the unthinkable, binding him to her sword, and tells the council. They send her on a mission with an elite group of scouts to bring him back, at all costs.

Naturally, things don’t go smoothly. There is conflict between Imani, born to privilege, and Taha, whose father came from humbler roots and somehow secured a position as leader of the council. There are many hints about Taha’s past, though little is stated explicitly, as he and Imani become closer—but only when no one else is watching. Naturally, the point comes when Taha must choose between the task his father set him and his burgeoning friendship with Imani—who had caught definite feelings for him.

Of course, little sister has made herself an unwanted part of the mission. And the djinn, Qayn, also manages to stir the pot—and help immensely. His past is painful and complex, and he, too, has some hidden motivation.
Imani begins the book ignorant of her privilege, and ignorant of many of the struggles that others experience. She has blindly believed what she has been told about the world outside Qalia, and struggles to accept the revelations that face her in her travels.

I love the variety of magical affinities, and I love that Imani’s is for metal, changing the form of her sword at will to what will be most useful at the time. She is a fierce and capable warrior. It is her blind spots that hold her back, and we see her constantly shifting her schema as new information is added.

The conflicts here ring true, and seem to follow all the classic ones that English teachers like me teach: conflict with self, conflict with nature, conflict with the supernatural, conflict with other people.

Even Taha’s sidekicks, though the flattest of the characters, have some personality quirks.

I look forward to the next installment!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic, multiple gods, non-human creatures. There is definitely some violence, fighting, and bloodshed. People get drunk. People lie and mislead others. There is a slight romantic element, but it doesn’t go past a kiss. Description of a young man’s body—non-sexual.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like quest fantasy, magic, Middle Eastern culture.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/01/two-new-young-adult-releases.html

I really enjoyed this book, though Imani was kind of insufferable. As someone trained to be a bad ass shield she isn’t very smart or tough. There were several occasions where she just gives up instead of fighting lol. I enjoyed when Qayn was in the scene and I’m excited to see more of him in the next book (also hope something develops between him and Imani, though I highly doubt it). I really didn’t like Taha, but hopefully he gets a solid arc that makes me dislike him less.

I’m excited to see where the story goes. The magic system is unique and I hope we get to dive deeper into how it works in the next book.

Qalia is a hidden desert city, where the bark of a magical tree--spice--brews a tea that allows drinkers to use magic. Imani, a Shield with an affinity for iron, has sworn to protect Qalia and uphold the secrecy that keeps it hidden from outsiders. Then she discovers that her brother, whom she thought was dead, is likely alive and has made his way to outer cities, where magic is unknown. Imani joins a mission to bring back her brother, toting a mischievous djinni and accompanied by her rival, where she soon discovers that there are truths that will change her entire world view.

SPICE ROAD is the first book in a series that is heavily influenced by Arabian history and culture. I loved the atmosphere of the novel, which the author took full advantage of, but can't deny that this book has several pitfalls that make it less than stellar. 3 stars, because I liked it well enough.

My favorite thing in this book was the atmosphere of it; the Arabian feeling emanates through the pages. Imani hails from a city hidden beyond "the Forbidden Wastes," in a land her people call the Sands, where magic has been given to them by a Great Spirit in exchange for protecting the Sands from the outside world. Any threats to this agreement should be swiftly dealt with--which includes Imani's brother, Atheer, who has stolen their magic spice and shared his knowledge with outsiders.

My least favorite thing about the book is that the writing is a little on the flowery side for my tastes. It's very grand and sometimes awkward, and there are some metaphors that were a little funky. Of course, this is a personal preference, and others may really enjoy this type of writing style.

This brings me to the rest of the book. Imani is the sole narrator of the novel, and therefore is the most well-rounded character, but I often found her a little on the annoying side, especially when she's in the same space as her rival/love interest, Taha. Alone, Imani is haughty and self-important, and while her character does change over the course of the novel, it was a little hard to like her in the beginning.

But when she's in the presence of Taha, they're either fighting about the same thing over and over, or Taha is being a little bit sweet and Imani's heart is swooning. I strongly felt that the middle of the book dragged, as this was primarily the time period in which Imani and the others are traveling across the Sands/Forbidden Wastes/outside world. And during this time, it is a constant hot and cold argument between characters, which I thought was tiring.

I found the second half of the book immensely better, as Imani begins her character arc. She learns about her people and the outsiders, about herself and her magic, and her place in society. Ibrahim drew some interesting parallels to the history of colonization, as well, since the outside kingdom is currently inhabited by "paler skinned" warriors who are taking the lands and money of the natives.

The end of the novel was very action packed, where everything comes together and comes apart again. It solidly lays out the set for the next book, which is still unnamed as the time of this review. There were some major hits and misses in this book, which is likely due to its status as a debut novel. I can only hope that Ibrahim will continue to expand in her craft.

Posted to Goodreads on January 12, 2023.

As a huge fan of middle-eastern fantasy, Spice Road did not disappoint. The author took her time with world building and used such vivid language. Imagining the setting and immersing yourself in the story is easy with Ibrahim's writing style. This is definitely a plot driven story and I am here for it. The magic system, plot, world building and complex characters make this book a must read!

This is such a good read for those who are fans of Hafsah Faizal and Shannon Chakraborty. It was a fun read with strong characters and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

⭐⭐⭐

Imani is following the path expected by her clan: joining the ranks of the magical Shields at an unheard of age, mastering her unique affinity for iron faster than expected, and making a name for herself as the Djinn Slayer thanks to all the monsters killed by her hand. But it's not enough to make her forget her grief about her brother's betrayal and subsequent death. When rumors that he may actually be alive reach her, they are tainted by the possibility that he revealed her people's greatest secret: their magic. Joined by a djinn who loves irony and one of Imani's most stoney rivals, Imani will set out to see if her brother is beyond redemption.

This book took some turns that I didn't expect, and I really enjoyed each of them! Imani is a well-rounded character, complete with really strong character development that felt well-paced. I'm looking forward to a little more world development relating to the magic...the premise is so cool, with tea being the source of their ability to channel magic, and it tasting different for everyone. But we honestly didn't see anyone use magic very often. I'm hoping there's more of that in the next book.

Content Warnings: references to suicide, violence, mild language, domestic abuse

Imani lives in a secret land, one that she and others are sworn to guard in exchange for the magic they are granted. And while Imani is loyal to her people, and wants nothing more than to guard them, her heart is broken after the disappearance of her older brother. Rumors are that he took too much of the misra tea that grants them their abilities and became magically obsessed, but Imani doesn’t want to believe that. And when she runs into a djinn in the desert who tells her that her brother is still very much alive and in a world beyond the secret sands, Imani is shocked. She was always told that there was nothing outside of their little world, and knowing that her brother has betrayed their magic is a lot. But now, her goal has become to bring her brother back home and prove all the rumors wrong. To put the world back as it was, and pretend nothing ever happened.

I received an advanced reading copy of Spice Road in exchange for an honest review.

Spice Road is a young adult novel by Maiya Ibrahim. It’s also the beginning of a new Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, and as soon as I opened this book I was swept away by the story of tea magic and a hidden city. And the Shields who guard them.

Speaking of Shields, let’s talk about Imani! Imani is our main character here, and I thought she was so fascinating. So often in novels of this type, we have a main character who’s dubious about her world and the system from the very beginning, but Imani is a character who so firmly believes in what she’s been told, and it’s so interesting to see her react when she finds out it’s a lie. For example (and this isn’t really a spoiler since it’s in the summary and happens way early on), she’s been told all her life that there’s nothing outside of Qalia, the magic city she lives in, but then she finds out that there’s a whole other world outside, with other people. And that’s not the only shock she gets. She starts out so stubborn and inflexible, which made her believable, but also I loved seeing how everything she learned affected her world view. I won’t tell you what it was by the end of the book, but I had a great time watching her evolution.

The other characters in this book were fun and complex too, with special shoutouts to Taha and Amira. Amira is Imani’s headstrong little sister, and Taha is the fellow Shield that the council sends with Imani to track down her brother. Taha especially was complex, and he and Imani had a fascinating push-pull relationship going on, where, even if there seemed to be true hatred between them, there was also a bit of a spark.

The plot was exciting, the world expansive, and while the story in Spice Road was self-contained, there was so much setting up of future books in the trilogy, and I can tell that the world is only going to get bigger. I’m excited to pick up the following books, and to spend more time in this world. I would recommend this to any fantasy fans, people who like stories about characters who would do anything for their families, or Arabian-inspired fantasy.

Spice Road will be released on January 24. You can preorder your copy from Delacorte Press here.

The beginning was a bit disorienting because you’re thrown right in and there’s a ton of information about the magic, the council, the legends and ghouls, it feels overwhelming. But that does settle down a bit as we follow Imani along on her quest to find her brother.

Imani herself is an interesting character that I haven’t quite decided on. She’s incredibly talented physically — she’s absolutely lethal and she knows it, but her social skills are seriously lacking. She doesn’t really understand how to read a room and that disconnect was hard to get through at times. I understand she’s meant to have a growth arc from her spoiled and sheltered upper class upbringing, but I just find it hard to believe she’s THAT ignorant of the social and economic issues affecting other classes below herself. Ultimately she does come around (though not a total 180 which I think is believable) and that went a long way for me, but the beginning half with her and her viewpoints was tough.

Another tough aspect for me was her little sister, Amira. Amira in the beginning and a bit throughout is quite annoying and repeatedly puts everyone in danger, I know she’s meant to be some counterbalance to Imani, to help nudge her away from her naïveté about her brother and the Council, but there are plenty of other and more effective ways to do that through the remaining characters involved in the quest. Amira talks incessantly about free will and respecting choices yet she neglects the consequences of her choices at every turn, often putting her own sister at risk without any shred of remorse of care, it feels so needlessly flippant and a bit lazy to just use her as some device to prod Imani along.

Despite these issues, I liked the complex romance set up, they really do feel like enemies based on philosophy and values, and I can absolutely see each viewpoint. I like the added mystery element of our broody emo Djinn companion who I am honestly rooting for in the romance department. The second half was much really strong and hade racing to finish. I liked that the ending didn’t end in a cliffhanger so to speak, but with a clear direction of what’s next.

Overall, 4 strong stars as a great series opener full of great world building and interesting characters that are still sorting themselves out. I loved the cultural aspects of this and the strong discussion of imperialism and history (as told by the victors) was quite smart.

Absolutely beautiful book from start to finish. I've never read a fantasy from this part of the world. It was absolutely fantastic with a few twists later on. The story started a bit slow but was also more geared for the young adult genre so perhaps that is why. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the story and the characters. I certainly can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I read Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim last month and I'm still reeling from what happened.

Let's start with the storyline: there's a magical land, where tea gives you the strength to harness your affinity and our main character, Imani, uses her powers to be a soldier of some sort, protecting her land and family with impressive dagger skills. Her brother, Atheer, has been missing and presumed dead after taking hoards of this tea. But Imani finds out he might actually be alive and, so, the journey begins.

While this fantasy novel has similar qualities and traits like others--journeying across treacherous lands, getting with a team of strangers, life-or-death situations--the characters are what got to me. Their dynamics, relationship to one another, and the changes that eventually happen.

The writing is definitely masterful as well. I love the way the words flow and come across on the page. Some parts I read aloud just to hear it aloud, which I have been trying out lately just because some passages feel like they're meant to be spoken. You know?

Oh, and the ending broke my heart. But I survived it bc I know there's going to be more and I'm so excited.

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

EXCERPT: “A fantastical young adult novel rooted in Arabian culture, Spice Road offers a powerful vision of colonization in a fantasy land, filled with tea magic and djinni (spirits). The depth at which author Maiya Ibrahim has constructed this world is breathtaking, and the different settings are reflective of Spice Road’s versatility as an engrossing debut and the first of a trilogy.”

Full review published online at Asia Pacific Arts Magazine.

First, the cover is stunning! Second, I truly enjoyed this Arabian-inspired fantasy! This story started out a bit slow, but once it began to pick up, I was immersed in the story. I loved the magic system. The twists and betrayals had me flying through the chapters to see how it was going to end. I am looking forward to the next book in this trilogy. Thank you for my copy Netgalley!

"The first book in an epic fantasy series set in an Arabian-inspired land with secret spice magic. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, sixteen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother, whose betrayal is now the country's greatest threat.

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, there is secret spice magic that awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. Sixteen-year-old Imani has the affinity for iron and is able to wield a dagger like no other warrior. She has garnered the reputation as being the next great Shield for battling djinn, ghouls, and other monsters spreading across the sands.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother, who tarnished the family name after it was revealed that he was stealing his nation's coveted spice - a telltale sign of magical obsession. Soon after that, he disappeared, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes. Despite her brother’s betrayal, there isn't a day that goes by when Imani doesn't grieve him.

But when Imani discovers signs that her brother may be alive and spreading the nation's magic to outsiders, she makes a deal with the Council that she will find him and bring him back to Qalia, where he will face punishment. Accompanied by other Shields, including Taha, a powerful beastseer who can control the minds of falcons, she sets out on her mission.

Imani will soon find that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother?"

You say djinn I say I'm in!

I hate to be negative like this but I DNFed this at 100 pages. I literally hate the narrator/main character and reading from her perspective is horrible. The world seems so interesting and the magic system is very cool and I’m into the hidden society thing but in the first like, 50 pages, the narrator gets like 15 hints about some bigger conspiracy or some aspect of magic or her world and every single time she’s like “I don’t have time to think about what that means” or like “I avoided trying to figure out what he meant” and it’s like okay if you can’t be bothered to have curiosity about this world, I certainly can’t!!!
Also, the line “She would only give it
to me if she thought I would need it- if she believed I may get lost. Strangely, I think I already am” was so cheesy it fully took me out and was probably the final nail in the coffin.
2/5 because I rly feel like there’s a cool story and world buried in this but I just cannot get past the horrible narration to get there!

This book follows Imani, a Djinni Slayer, who discovers that her presumed dead brother is actually alive and has been stealing magical substances from her community. When a trio of hunters is tasked with finding her brother she tags along to ensure his safety.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. Absolutely none of the characters including Imani, her family and her love interest were likable. None of them seemed capable of making any good decisions at all. Normally I enjoy an epic desert fantasy but the one interesting character, one of the Djinni, was so underused that by the time he was mentioned again at the 50% point I had forgotten he existed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion but this is not a book I would recommend.