Fun take! The author is very prosaic in her writing and I found myself not wanting to put it down! The world building and character development was done very well and as someone who is new to this author, I think I’ll be picking up more based on this book!

Imani is the daughter of an important family, she is a young, but renowned fighter and "shield" in her community and is determined to do her family proud, despite her elder brother's apparent betrayal and disappearance/ death after stealing the all important misra tea that fuels their magic.
When she discovers that her brother is indeed alive she bullies her way into going on the journey to retrieve him (as she is the only one who sort of knows where he is because she has bound a djinni to her dagger) a journey which is led by her ridiculously attractive arch nemesis (though it's not really well explained why. because he doesn't properly respect her? He ignores her? his father is a big jerk?).
So while this was fun in some ways, it relied very heavily on well used tropes. The main characters are very. very special... super good at everything... fighting... magic... attractive... just being better than everyone. They have an undeniable attraction to one another despite being enemies (though I'm still sort of unclear why they are enemies. She didn't acknowledge him not acknowledging her. Her families wealthier and than his. His father convinced the people... a mob.. to support his bid for leadership... it all seemed unworthy of such strong hatred)
I really enjoyed the djinn, he really should have had more "on screen" time, but he seemed relegated to living in her dagger more than I would have liked.
Not terrible, but a pretty typical YA Fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

For a debut, I think this was decent. I needed more depth and a better flow. It started off intriguing, but I admit I struggled to finish.

Spice Road is an action-adventure high fantasy set in Qalia, an Arabian-inspired landscape, complete with its magical creatures like djinn, ghouls, and other sand monsters. As a fan of Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series, I was SO excited to read this book after reading its synopsis and it definitely did not disappoint!

We’re introduced to Imani – a seventeen year-old Shield warrior with an affinity for iron. She has gained the reputation as the “Djinni Slayer” due to her fantastic fighting skills, as a result of being trained by her older warrior brother, Atheer, whom she and the rest of the city believed to have died a year prior.

However, Imani soon gets evidence that her brother may be alive and has been spreading her people’s secret spice magic to outsiders. In order to save her brother and her people, Imani must traverse across the Forbidden Wastes alongside Taha, a fellow Shield and powerful beastseer and Qayn, a roguish djinni, to bring back her brother while also encountering the dangerous creatures ahead.

Since Spice Road is a high fantasy novel, I did expect it to have a high level of worldbuilding, which was definitely the case. As with most books with intense worldbuilding, I did find myself struggling in the beginning to keep up with the geography, names, social systems, etc. I also found it much harder to follow along the first half of the book since the e-ARC copy I received didn’t include a map like what you would normally see in other YA high fantasy books. (Please note that I received an e-ARC for review only. I’m unaware whether the final copies include a map.)

That said, the author has a way with storytelling and I’m definitely a fan of her writing style. I could picture the scenes easily due to the descriptive and vivid imagery used. I also loved how well-written the fight scenes were – each scene was so detailed and precise, I was engaged every time I read them.

Although the book was action-packed from start to finish, the first half went a little slow for me. However, given that it is the first book in a planned trilogy, I understand why this pacing worked: It did a great job introducing me to the characters, their relationship dynamics, and the history of Qalia.

I am a big fan of the main characters: Imani, Qayn, and Taha. They all have unique and distinct personalities and backgrounds. Although I wasn’t a fan of all of them at the beginning, I was able to sympathize with them as the story progressed. I was glad to read about their character development and am excited to see how they continue to grow in the sequels.

A massive congratulations to the author for a fantastic debut novel! I can’t wait until the sequel comes out; I’m excited to read what happens next!

Recommended for fans of:
✅ Action-adventure high fantasy YA with romance
✅ Arabian-inspired lands, myths, and creatures with intense worldbuilding
✅ A strong female character
✅ Magical affinities and political intrigue

"The Spice Road" is an exquisite literary journey that transports readers to distant lands and eras. The author's vivid descriptions and meticulous research bring to life the rich tapestry of cultures and the allure of the spice trade. The characters are complex and engaging, making it impossible to put the book down. With a captivating plot filled with intrigue and adventure, this book is a true masterpiece. "The Spice Road" is a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and enlightening literary experience. It earns a well-deserved five stars for its storytelling prowess and ability to whisk readers away to another time and place.

Simply put - it was an incredible cup of tea.

I don't think YA is for me anymore, so that's my bad. The concept was really interesting, but due to the age range and category it was written in, it just fell flat for me - sadly.

This was an enjoyable book. The plot and storyline are the strong points of this book. It draws you in with magical elements and beautifully devastating scenery. It makes you very hopeful for the sequel.

Hopping for more character development in the next book. I found myself frustrated with Imani and her self righteous, yet flip-flopping behaviors. Makes her hard to like but yet you feel sorry for her as well.

Overall. A solid read and one I would recommend.

I liked this book. It was compared to some of my all time favorites so I had really high hopes going into it. Unfortunately, it did fall a little short in a few places but still a solid read.

I will definitely admit that I’ll need to reread it before I read book 2 because I already forgot everything that happened. However, I have a feeling this is one of those books that gets better each time you read it. There are a lot of details that I think I missed the first time around so I’m excited to connect those dots on a reread.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a pleasant read, but just fell short for me. While I really enjoyed the plot, I found much of the world building and character development lack luster.

The premis of magic tea was promising but I wanted to learn more. instead of being drawn in and not wanting to put the book down I had to force myself to pick up the book to read and finish.

A Middle Eastern inspired ya fantasy novel, that truly can not be put down. In this world of magic through tea, legends, and wonder we follow the main character Imani as she navigates the world. Her life is rough, right off the bat she is dealing with grief, honor, duty, and family issues that lead her down a rabbit hole of unforeseen and somewhat unfathomable truths and lies of everything she knows. Besides that I am a sucker for a family based plot point, Imani's drive to find her brother no matter what it takes is something truly beautiful.

I read this book in a day and still pick it up time to time, it has a very special place in my heart and I love everything about this world. I can not wait for the second book!

I could not put this book down! The worldbuilding and magic system were so well written and I loved the Arabic themes throughout.

The characters were really well written and I loved Imani's development throughout the book. Both the love interests were written well and it never felt like there was a love triangle which I enjoyed. The adventure that the characters go through was action packed and there were so many little reveals throughout that kept you hooked.

The big betrayal in this book was handled really well and it is one that you somewhat see coming but are still surprised by. I am really curious to see how the rest of the series plays out.

Spice Road is a very well written novel of magic filed with adventure hardships and coming of age. I was drawn into the story and captured by the characters and world. The magic system was a fresh twist and I enjoyed reading about it. Great read!

Spice Road had everything I could ask for in a Middle-Eastern-inspired fantasy. I loved the premise, the magic system, and the relationships between the characters. At times, though, I wish those relationships had been fleshed out a bit more.

Our main character, Imani, is as badass as they come, training her whole life as a Shield to protect the hidden desert city of Qalia. The fact that drinking tea awakens her and other warriors' powers is an incredible concept, and it plays a large role in the overall economy and structure of this world. The action scenes were heart-pounding and easy to play out in my head.

When Imani begins her journey beyond the walls of Qalia, she's joined by Qayn, a rogue djinni, and Taha, a fellow magic user. And this is where I wish we had more time to develop the history and relationships between these characters. We learn next to nothing about Qayn, and one of the few things he and Imani have in common is her brother, who they're journeying to find. With Taha, a lot of history is implied, especially about their time together as Shields. But their relationship is almost whiplash-like, turning hot and cold within moments, especially when the other members of their group are around. I just don't trust a guy who treats you differently around his friends, I suppose.

The book did end climatically, with betrayal and heartbreak in spades. While it was slightly predictable, I still enjoyed reading the book and would definitely pick it up again. I'm excited about the sequel, where hopefully we'll see more growth between the characters.

Not a bad start to a trilogy. Love, Magic, family, rebellion it has all the makings to be a great series and the author left room for it to be just that. Not absolutely blown away but interested enough to continue the journey. Looking forward to more extensive world building and adventure to come. I hope this gets as good as it has the potential to be.

This book was absolutely incredible. The journey was heart-wrenching, that ending just BROKE me but in the best way possible. A must-read!!

I've tried three times to get into this book and it just won't stick. I'm not vibing with the writing, which is very formal and rigid feeling. The dialogue also feels unnatural and choppy.

Imani possesses an affinity for iron, making her a deadly protector, one of the Shields, for her home, Qalia. The ingredient that helps them use their magic, called misra, is also what has helped them keep their city safe and hidden from the outside world and the monsters that continually try to attack. After learning that her beloved brother Atheer may not have died, and may be betraying their city, Imani ventures out to retrieve him with the help of a mysterious djinn Qayn who has history with her brother and another Shield called Taha who seems to have a mission at odds with hers.

This novel really reminded me of We Hunt the Flame, one of my favorite novels from @hafsahfaizal. So I was very excited for this ARC. This was a really interesting read. It was slow at first due to the worldbuilding, but after Imani meets Qayn everything begins to pick up. I think the worldbuilding felt too much in your face, like telling instead of describing, and so it didn’t feel natural. However, I enjoyed the different connections that developed over the course of the novel, especially Imani and Qayn’s dynamic. By the end I was really excited to see what would happen next. I am excited to read the next book when it comes out!

First of all thanks to Maiya Ibrahim and Netgalley for the E-Arc.(In fact I posted the review days before release on IG but just remembered to post it here now oops)
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice road is about Imani, a shield from Qalia who strikes a deal with the ruling council to bring her brother back(who was thought dead). During her journey, she was accompanied by Qayn, a djinni, and Taha, a fellow archer and she may have or may have not had developed mixed feelings toward these two. (Swipe for full Synopsis!)

First of all, I really loved everything about the ancient Arabia setting. The names, the places felt familiar. It felt like home. The world-building was amazing.The writing style was captivating. So if you're a fan of Hafsah Faizal and Sabaa Tahir, then this is a must read.
I also LOVED Imani. She felt relatable. As for the love interests, I am team Taha till the end 😤. Man, those moments had me melting for real.
The plot is really good.(It is, I fact, rather a plot driven book.) I failed to guess what happened in the end while I was reading. I'm very curious about what will happen in the next book. Well, we shall wait and see.
P.S: please check the trigger warnings for this book before reading it!(blood, death....)

Spice Road was a fantastic written YA book which I think my students will really enjoy. The story was well written and I think the story was original. I will be purchasing this for my library.