I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the premise was interesting I didn’t connect with the characters or the story in a meaningful way. Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

The challenge with Spice Road is the following: what's attractive - the author introduces us to a culturally rich world reminding us of a time period many of us don't know about if we haven't studied world history, and incorporates aspects of magic into her story. On this merit alone, Spice Road is enticing. However, the main character and her supports make it difficult to follow through to finish the journey. The powers are interesting enough but there's little exposition on what the "grueling training" was other than mentioning the words training. Our main character is sheltered, privileged and close minded, and part of her journey is getting out of her own head and realizing the world was so much larger than she could believe, but there was little to endear us to her - or her sister for that matter, and our male counterparts are your standard YA scene partners. They're both gorgeous, just of a different ethnic background than your traditional YA male lead. They're both brooding, and execute the traditional "you know nothing about me" line that is a staple for the dark, brooding, handsome male lead.

I think this story had a lot of potential, but it fell victim to the YA trap and got stuck there.

the plot is the strength of this novel. the way the story itself progresses is ideal. its the right amount of adventure, travel, family matters, enemies, magic, and rebellion.

and while i definitely am more of a plot-driven reader, im surprisingly let down by the lack of everything else. i was desperate for more world-building. i was craving more lush middle eastern mythology. i was dying for the characters to have more depth and development. i wish the writing also flowed better. so its unfortunate that the creative plot couldnt make up for these shortcomings.

overall, i think for a debut, this is fine and, as a first book in a series, this sets up for the sequel rather well. so heres me hoping all of the weaknesses of this installment are worked on for the next one.

This book is an extraordinary and magical journey through the vibrant and exotic world of ancient Arabia. The writing is rich and descriptive, with well developed characters. I enjoyed how this story blended history, culture, and storytelling to create a tale of friendship, resilience, resolve, and love.

Sincere thanks to Random House Children's and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Spice Road
Author: Maiya Ibrahim
Pages: 464
Source: NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press
Genre: Fantasy
Intended Audience: Young Adults
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Setting: A fictional setting that has much in common with the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula

Recommended for: Readers of epic fantasy, those who enjoy Middle Eastern-type settings, and who appreciate a complicated family dynamic

Why I picked it up: Obviously, the cover had a role to play, but so did the title. Spice Road reminded me of the Silk Road, which caught my eye. 

What it's all about: There is a small, hidden kingdom that has been tasked by the gods with protecting a certain tree, whose bark can be ground into a spice that awakens magical abilities in people. However, when Imani's older brother disappears after having stolen a large amount of spice, she finds herself on an adventure to locate him, accompanied by three other Shields, a djinn, and unknown to Imani, her little sister. Discovering that there is world outside of their kingdom is mind-blowing for Imani, and learning that the fates of both are intertwined is life-changing. Will Imani bring her brother home, or will she stay and join his fight
tl/dr: Girl sets off with several people and a djinn to save her brother from the outside world. 

My thoughts: I found this book and it's world very easy to slip into and quickly became immersed in the lore and culture that Ibrahim created. Imani is a typical middle child in that she feels inferior to her older brother (and later his memory) and less coddled than her younger sister. She has learned the history of her kingdom as passed down, but soon finds that perhaps there are inaccuracies in that history, if not straight out lies. Her reaction to all of this new information throughout the book is very believable. First, she denies that anything other than what she has been taught is true, but when face-to-face with truths she cannot deny, it doesn't take her long to see the rights and wrongs and choose a side. The halting romance between her and the leader of the Scouts is intriguing, and I am curious to find out how that plays out in later books. Same goes for her friendship/relationship with the djinn. His history is different from other books I have read with djinni, and in fact, he may not even be a djinn. There was plenty of conflict, action, world building and character development. I'm a little mad is ended on such a cliffhanger, but that's only because I can't read the second book immediately. Along with all of this, I found the writing itself to be quite beautiful and assist in letting the reader simply fall into this new world. 

Favorite Character: Easily Qayn, with Tahu as a close second. (I never can resist a djinn or an assassin.)

Favorite Moment: When Imani's sister Amara rescues her from the sands. 

Memorable Quotes:

"The Djinni Slayer binding a djinni to herself is an irony I cannot pass up."

"'Next time you desire a look, ask first.' Taha's breath tickles my ear. 'Spying is unbecoming to someone of your station.'"

"That is the truth, and as difficult as it may be, the truth must always prevail, regardless of the rules it defies and the false history it rewrites."

"Adversity has carved away the pars that would make him waver and left only hard determination."

"What can I tell you, Slayer? Not all who are bad are bad the whole way through."

"I am both the humblest person in the entire Sahir and the best."

This was a really fantastic fantasy! I have a sweet spot for anything Indian-related or Arabian-inspired with touches of fantasy. Imani is one of my favorite characters of the year so far. Her journey to figure out the secrets of her brother kept me on the edge of my seat. This book is a great start to a series, which I'm really excited for!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's!
I was so excited to receive this book and it totally lived up to expectations. The world and the magic system are very creative and well-written. I absolutely loved the idea behind the magic system and the execution of it was fantastic. In the book, they use these teas or spices to better we'll do their magic and form a deeper connection to it.
Not only did I absolutely love the magic system but I really enjoyed the characters and relationships that develop throughout the book. My personal favorite is Qayne the djinn! Overall I really enjoyed the story, I did notice a few of the pacing issues that others mentioned but it was not as i thought going in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!~

Characters - 5/10
Imani is the best of the best when it comes to being a Shield, a band of sorcerers. She has control over Iron magic. I overall enjoyed Imani, but initially I could not stand her or her sister. They're both a bit frustrating to read about as they just do not listen! Especially her sister - so hot-headed and stubborn!!! Teha is a big bully and I really am not a big fan of him, while I had no qualms about Qayn.

Atmosphere/Writing - 8/10
Ibrahim's writing really shone in this book, I think it's what kept me propelling through the quarrels between the two sisters. She very descriptive and really immerses us into the world she was building.

Plot - 8/10
I found myself invested in the plot nearly from chapter one for this one. I really love Djinn as a concept so you will find my diving in head first, without looking back, into any book that includes them. Add in a secret map and a girl's journey out into unknown territories with her sister and a near stranger all to find a family member that's gone missing? Absolutely going to be a win from me. Unfortunately, I do wish we could have seen Imani working her magic a little more and have less bullying and arguments going on..

Intrigue - 7/10
I like the world's Ibrahim creates and definitely have an interest in reading more of her work!

Enjoyment - 7/10
Glad I picked this one up - I may even do a reread of this in the future!

This was a wonderful YA fantasy read filled with Arabian mthyology! The world-building and plot were spectacular. I loved reading Imani's growth as the story progressed. Can't wait to read the sequel!

I very much enjoyed this book! The world build was probably my favorite part and all those lush descriptions! I do think it needed just a little more character development

Oh boy am I a sucker for Arabian-inspired settings! I did not know this was book one of a trilogy, but I am so excited to see more world building and middle eastern-mythology in future books!

While I do not care for the whole, "I'm not like other girls" trope in most YA fantasies, this book covered many important topics. I feel like we don't see domestic abuse and confinement and police brutality nearly enough in YA fantasy given all the things going on in the real world now.

I thought the magic system was very unique, I don't remember ever having a fantasy series where tea gives you your abilities. I appreciated that breath of fresh air in YA Fantasy.

The plot was the best part of the story, I rarely get sucked in so quickly to the plot versus the characters, but I am hoping that there will be more character development in the later books. I cannot wait to learn more about this lush world and characters. Here's to hoping for more news on book two!

I honestly love the influx of YA debuts we’re seeing that center non-Western mythology, and even specifically Middle-Eastern mythology! I love myths and fairytales and these sorts of stories, no matter the origin, and it’s so nice to see our idea of mythology, within these sorts of stories, expanding to include more than just the classic Greek gods. However, as with anything, not every new release will be a runaway hit, and unfortunately, that’s true for Spice Road.

This book had a lot going for it, especially in the beginning. I loved the world that seemed to be set up, the magic and myth that seemed inherent in every detail, and I couldn’t wait to explore this magical society further. Unfortunately, a large chunk of this book actually takes place away from this magical society, and since magic itself is rationed out through tea, we don’t actually see that much of it either, at least not consistently. It ended up kind of being a let-down, that as the book went on, we seemed to see less and less magic, and focus more and more on the world outside the magical society the main character grew up in. And while this made sense, for the story that was being told, it also meant that the story had to work a bit harder to keep me as invested in later parts of the book, when all I wanted was to go back to where we were at the beginning of the story.

One thing I did like about this book was Imani’s devotion to her city, to a fault. I’ve read a lot of books where the main character is blindly devoted to a cause or government, only for the curtain to suddenly be dropped, and dark secrets revealed, but it’s very rare to see a main character actually struggle through the change of readjusting your beliefs and your perception of the world after this curtain drops. Spice Road did a wonderful job of showing the struggles that come with this change, and how long it actually takes, and how many horrors you have to actually see, before you accept that a lot of what you believed in wasn’t true or that you were manipulated. It was interesting to see her journey, even if this didn’t always endear the reader to her either. I think this is what stood out most in the book for me.

Unfortunately, beyond this, there wasn’t much else I was a big fan of. I felt like the plot generally was a bit bland, just wrapped in magic so that it took a while to notice how bland it was. I find it difficult to find reasons to keep reading this series, though I will at least see if the synopsis of the second book will tempt me! This is also probably due to me just overall disliking the ending and how certain events feel glossed over, by characters that I wouldn’t think would gloss over them. Depending on how this plays out in the second book, maybe my thoughts here will change, though. Overall, it just didn’t entirely work for me, though I can see myself enjoying future works from this author one day!


Review will go live on my blog on April 19th!

I love Middle Eastern fantasy. Also sibling bond??? I can't wait to try all the foods! Thank you to Random House traditions for the ARC.

An incredibly strong debut by Maiya Ibrahim! The cover, the plot, the characters are all stunning. I need the UK edition in my physical book collection as soon as possible.

The main character Imani and her family live in the city of Qalia. Her home is surrounded by a monster filled desert, but Shields, like Imani, use their magic to protect their people. They use misra tea, or spice, to have a stronger connection to their magic through a unique manifestation. If overused, misra can be dangerous and addictive and its existence must remain secret from the outside world. Imani is on a quest to prove her brother’s innocence after he brings dishonor to their family by stealing misra and the vanishing. Imani's biggest challenge is whether she’ll follow her duty or stay loyal to her family. She travels with Qayn, a djinni whose got many secrets, and Taha, her enemy, the son of the council leader who was tasked to lead the mission.

I was hooked on this book as soon as I learned about it's premise. The idea of tea being a source of power for different magic forms that is unique to the user is brilliant.

The relationships and dynamics are the most important part of any book and is also 'The Spice Road''s best feature (apart from the incredible premise).

Taha is definitely on the 'putting you in the time out corner' for the bad behaviour and all the nonsense he was getting up to throughout the story.

The pacing of this book can be an issue for some and it was for me as well, but the lore and "what's going to happen - I must know" feeling often won out.

This story gives you:
- Enemies to lovers
- Middle Eastern/Arab-inspired fantasy
- Djinn
- Tea-based magic
- Strong family bonds
- An interesting magic system
- Love triangle between three badass characters
- Discussions on colonialism

Thank you so much to Maiya Ibrahim and Random House/Delacorte Press for sending me an eARC!

Stunning! I adored this middle eastern inspired fantasy novel. Imani and her family live in the city of Qalia. Her home is surrounded by a monster filled desert, but Shields, like Imani, use their magic to protect their people. Their powers come from a tea made from misra, a spice particular to their people. After meeting a strange djinni named Qayn, and learning that her brother who had been assumed dead may be alive in the world outside the Forbidden Wastes, Imani embarks on a journey to rescue him. She can't make this journey alone, and course her nemesis, Taha, the son of the council leader, is chosen to lead the mission. Will they reach her brother before it's too late? Read Spice Road and find out.

I really enjoyed this world from the get go. I love tea being the power source for a form of magic, and that it takes a different form for each user. The characters' emotions feel real. Gotta love the enemies to lovers trope too. You just get a glimpse into the lore of this world, and I really hope it's expanded upon in future installments.

First, I am enamored of this cover art.

Imani is seventeen and the youngest Shield in history, defending the people of Qalia from monsters beyond the wall. Taha is eighteen, the second-youngest Shield in history, and apparently Imani’s rival/future love interest.

Spice is made into magic tea via a ceremony which then allows the drinker to manipulate one affinity of the land, like sand or wind, or change shape or something.

The inciting incident is the disappearance of Imani’s younger sister, Amira, and her missing older brother’s horse. Beyond the safety of the walls they encounter evidence that their brother, Atheer, might not be dead and he might not have been a Spice addict like everyone believed, but instead a traitor sharing the Spice with outsiders for a mysterious purpose. They also find a djinni boy about Imani’s age who seems to know something about Atheer. His name is Qayn and he manipulates Imani into binding with him (or binding him to her dagger, at any rate).

Imani forces the council to send her after her brother, but they saddle her with Taha and his companions. Her little sister, Amira, also tags along. There are monsters. Qayne is cocky and mysterious and still a more compelling love interest than Taha, who’s hot-and-cold routine is just not cute. Of course, an ancient djinni who was once a bad king isn’t really a great love interest either. Maybe Imani should just focus on getting her siblings home safely.

Things do not turn out as intended for the party, and it’s an interesting read, but not one that really stays with a person.

The cover for the print version is gorgeous.

I really enjoyed the magic system in Spice Road and how for as long as anyone can remember, Qalia has been kept separate from the rest of the world while they have been tasked with fighting and destroying the myriad types of monsters who dwell in the sands of the Forbidden Wastes. I especially liked learning about the magic system and how each person in Qalia finds their magical affinity with the drinking of the misra tea. I found that of the different types of magics that were introduced in the book, I liked the affinity that Taha possessed, for it enabled him to connect his mind with his animal familiar and take over the animal’s body to perform difficult tasks. I think I liked this particular type of magic the best because as a dog owner there have been countless times where I have wondered what my dog is thinking or trying to tell me, and I feel like if this were something that existed it could make the bond one has between owner and pet that much stronger.

As much as I loved the plot of the story and how it kept the story moving forward, I could’ve done without the love triangle between Imani, Taha and the djinni Qayn. I found that the moments in the story where Imani found herself obsessing over how Taha’s treatment towards her differed depending on whether or not they were alone to be annoying and it slowed the story down for me; while Imani’s slow burn feelings towards Qayn made me want to shout at her “He’s a 1000+ year old djinni, it’ll never work out, move on girl!” The love triangle aside, I did enjoy the group dynamic and seeing Imani realize why the other scouts were chosen for this mission and that they are just as good and capable with their affinities as she is with her.

One of the things that I had been looking forward to most about this book was the middle eastern mythology, sadly there wasn’t as much as I had hoped or wanted in a book that has such creatures as djinnis and were-hyenas. It is my hope that in the next book the mythology be weaved into the book more and that we’ll see even more character development with less of the love triangle. Overall, this was a fun debut and I look forward to seeing what the author does with it.

“If the world is dark and you are the only one with a flame, what do you do?”
“Share it, I answered”

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim was a recent @fantasyfrenemies pick that I absolutely loved.

The first book in a new trilogy follows Imani as she sets out in search of her brother who was believed to be dead. However, new evidence leads her to believe he is alive so she sets out with Qayn and Taha in hopes of finding him alive.

I really loved this book! I liked how Imani grew to see outside herself as the book progressed. I was a fan of Taha even though not everyone might agree with me (you have to read to find out why).

I am looking forward to seeing more growth and bad assery (it’s a word 😉) from Imani in book two.

Thank you to @delacortepress and @netgalley for the e-arc.

Unfortunately I couldn't really get into this book... the writing itself was good, but the plot was slow and it felt like nothing was really happening. The magic system is very novel and intriguing but it felt like we didn't learn enough about it. I'm sure this book will be enjoyed by many but it didn't end up being my cup of tea (literally).

I enjoyed readingSpice Road.
I liked the Arabian inspired setting and I found the magic system really unique. This is a debut that was done really well.
The book is very intriguing and has many plot twists that made me more invested in the story.
The characters were realistic and complex (especially Taha) and their family and friendship dynamics were really strong.