Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim is a must-read for anyone who loves epic fantasy with strong world-building and vividly drawn characters. The writing is beautiful, the world-building is immersive, and the characters are compelling. If you're looking for a captivating adventure full of magic and mystery, this book is for you.

The people of Qalia are the keepers of an ancient magic. Those who drink misra tea are granted preternatural abilities that allow them to protect their city from the magical beings and monsters of the surrounding desert. Imani is a Shield, a warrior with an affinity for iron and renowned for her fighting abilities. But her reputation has been tarnished by her older brother, Atheer, who disappeared after being accused of stealing misra tea, leaving Imani and her family heartbroken at his supposed death. When Imani finds proof that Atheer may not only be alive but that he may be fighting a war in the outside kingdom of Alqibah—a kingdom the Council of Qalia claim doesn’t exist—she finds herself on a mission to bring him back. Accompanied by Taha, a rival Shield who holds a grudge, and Qayn, a magical djinni whose long past holds many secrets, Imani must discover how far she’s willing to go to reunite her family. Maiya Ibrahim’s Spice Road is a magical debut and a thrilling start to the Spice Road trilogy.
One of the most interesting aspects of this novel is the magic system, which is based around drinking a special tea called misra tea or the Spice. Individuals who drink the tea are temporarily granted a supernatural ability to use in defense of Qalia, with abilities ranging from shapeshifting or speaking with animals to elemental control or an affinity for weapons. The Spice is reserved for use by Shields, however, other individuals who drink the Spice also display an ability. This discovery indicates that the tea itself is what provides the power rather than anything inherent in the drinker and reveals not only why the supply of misra tea is so tightly controlled, but why Atheer’s theft of the Spice is such cause for concern. The nature of Ibrahim’s superpowers—granted by an external source and lasting only as long as the tea is in the drinker’s system—sets them apart from other powers and special abilities found in other young adult books.
As is this the first book in trilogy, a lot of time is spent developing the world as well as the conflict that will feature in the next two books. Ibrahim does a wonderful job building her world, using small details to help create a setting that feels entirely real. Readers will feel the heat and emptiness of the Forbidden Wastes, smell the myriad of spices in the bazaar, and shudder at the brokenness and despair of those whose lives have been destroyed by the war in Alqibah. There’s also a noticeable effort to show the similarities between the people of Qalia and those in Alqibah, which serve as justification for Atheer’s actions as well as Imani’s motivations in the latter half of the book. Additionally, the impact that the war in Alqibah will have on Qalia is made clear, providing the groundwork for the major action in the remainder of the trilogy. Thus, while the conflict feels a bit simplistic in this book, it will certainly grow in complexity and scope as the story continues.
That Ibrahim knows how develop her story is proven through her characterization. Imani, who has lived a privileged life, is initially rather naïve and refuses to believe anything but the best about her brother and her family. Her views change, however, as Taha forces her to face not only the prejudices she holds against him and his clan, which is seen as a lesser clan, but the dangers that Qalia has been placed in due to Atheer’s actions. Her rose-colored view of the Council and their long-held laws also fades as she learns more of Qayn’s story and the truth of the magical beings which she as a Shield has been tasked to kill. This shift in character is a bit drawn out as the traveling party is often beset by monsters and dangerous magic, but the Imani at the end of the story is far different from the one in the story’s opening pages. One thing that does not change, however, is her love for her family. The theme of family plays a significant role throughout the novel, initially serving as the motivation for Imani’s mission but later playing an antagonistic role as the relationship between Taha and his father is explored. The differences between Imani and Taha’s families are stark and serve as a realistic and tragic catalyst for the two Shields’ drastically different in the novel. Ibrahim will surely continue to focus on the ways family can influence a person’s choices in the next two novels.
Although Spice Road does have its flaws—the characters read young at times, the world layout is confusing without the map included in the print copy, and some plot lines are left unexplored to accommodate the next two books—Ibrahim has, overall, written a wonderful debut filled with unique magic, vivid imagery, and extensive worldbuilding that will appeal to fans of fantasy, strong female leads, and unbreakable family bonds.

Spice road was also the fairyloot pick last month and so I was excited to get an advanced copy. It’s a solid YA fantasy that I recommend adding to your tbr!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing and an incredible start to a new series. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this amazing series.

First of all, I’m angry that I need to wait at least a year for the next book in this series! This book took a bit to get into, but once the action started, I was absolutely in love. Imani’s interactions with all of the characters, Taha and Qayn in particular, were incredible. And I swear, Tahas betrayal hurt so much. I knew it was coming, but I am hoping he comes around! Otherwise I guess I’m rooting for Imani and Qayn haha. Either way, I am PRAYING the next book comes out sooner rather than later. I need it

it was an alright book. . If I wasn't strongly suggested to finish, I would've dnf'ed around the 50% mark. This had potential, but it wasted too much of it in wandering plots and bland characters. Thanks to Turn the Page Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Debut YA fantasy from author Maiya Ibrahim, Spice Road is an Arabian-inspired fantasy where tea and spice magic spark magical affinities in the drinker.

Our main character, Imani is on a quest to prove her brother’s innocence after him being outed as a traitor to their nation. For Imani herself, her obstacle throughout is whether she’ll follow her duty or stay loyal to her family. Accompanying her on this journey is Qayn, a djinni whose secrets of the past come to light and Taha, Imani’s sworn enemy, struggling under the weight of living up to his father’s expectations.

As for the storyline and cast of characters itself, you have a typical love triangle blooming. The letdown for me is the worldbuilding, depth to the characters and general flow of the story. It felt painstakingly slow with not much going on majority of the book. The stakes were high but it didn’t give me that heart pounding, edge of my seat type of energy that I enjoy from a fantasy. Although the tea magic was prevalent, I assumed there to just be m o r e of it. There wasn’t as much backstory to our characters as I wanted. For example, Imani is dubbed as the Djinni Slayer like she’s the most powerful there is but the buildup to her skills were nonexistent. It was just a matter of she is that good and we were just supposed to take that as fact. I would’ve loved to see the training aspect of her becoming a Shield.

Idk if it’s just me growing out of my YA fantasy phase but this was just decent. Depending on the premise of the sequel, that’ll determine whether I’ll continue on with the series. I just hope everything gets fleshed out and expanded on more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a case of Spice Road just not being the book for me. I’m not sure why I requested this YA book because I rarely enjoy YA these days. I DNF’d this book after one chapter because it was extremely info dumpy, and the main character was already ‘Not like other girls’. No thanks.

I loved the worldbuilding and magic system in this book. I liked the way it looked at isolationism and colonialism. However, I found the main character extremely annoying. She becomes less annoying by the end but was still bothering me a bit.

Great start to a fantasy series! There wasn't too much action, but I'm hopeful that there will be more in the sequel. I also wish there was more world building. Overall, it was a solid read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun fantasy novel. Very fast paced and infused with cultural world building. I liked the world building and the main character was well developed but I wanted a little more feeling behind the developed relationships. By the end when twists are revealed I did not feel as invested as I wanted. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Huge thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly there was a lot about this book i really enjoy including the characters as well as the overall setting. With that being said I could not for the life of me get into the book as much as i want hoping too. I like it but for some reason it was missing that extra edge to make me fall in love with the story, this could 100% just be me and based on my mood reading as well.

overall this is a great book with a story with location and characters rarely seen in literature!

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

Spice Road is a YA fantasy with alternative history sprinkled throughout. It started off quite strong, with Ibrahim’s writing being easy to fall into and Imani being a rather intriguing protagonist. I wish it had carried that momentum into the end. I loved the concept, of this magical connection to the Spice Road and the history of colonialism in the East. I am hoping the story will take us into that more in the future. It was missing a piece to take the story from good to great, and for myself, that distinction lies in the world building or lack thereof.

This is not to say I didn’t enjoy this book, because for the most part I did. Imani was a very interesting protagonist, with mixed motives and enough naïveté to propel the story forward. I loved her relationship with Amira, especially as it progressed toward the end of the book. The sisters seemed to be on the same page as one another, or at least, on their way there.

At its heart, this is a book about family and the lengths one would go to see them once again. I love fantasy books with this element, and Imani’s family is certainly a very unique one. I want to know more about their lore, especially about the Council and Qalia/Sahir’s history. I would love to see that discussed in the next book.

Another thing I adored about this book was its magic. Tea magic is always such a cool concept to me and the misra in this novel was interesting to read about, especially how it awakens the affinities within a person. Again, I would have loved to learn more about it in this book, but as is my experience with most trilogies, the second book will be where the majority of the world building and info dump takes place – so I look forward to that!

Spice Road is an ambitious debut novel, one that I am certain will be a favourite for many readers. It does have a romance, or at least the making of one in its blueprints, that I imagine will be enjoyed by many.

Spice Road releases January 24th, 2023

The world building and character arcs in this book blew me away. I loved following their stories and seeing them grow. I will definitely be reading the rest of this trilogy. 4 stars!

A phenomenal first book in a new fantasy series. I LOVED this world and the characters in it. The characters learned about themselves, each other, the world they grew up in, and the world at large. A phenomenal read.

DNF @ 25%. I think this is just a case of right book, wrong reader. My expectations were completely different to what is being offered here, but I think fans of being dropped in the middle of a plot while being filled in with world building and explanations later on will be a big fan of this book. The spice magic definitely reminds me of Dune, and I can tell the author has included nods to many of their favorite SFF works of past. Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy with a gorgeous, gorgeous cover.

"Spice Road" is the first book in the trilogy of the same name by author Maiya Ibrahim, and it is a stellar beginning. I was captivated by the author’s world-building, fascinated by the mythology and the slowly unfolding history of the land of Sahir and the Kingdom of Aqibah. The main characters are worthy fighters and magic users but also have hidden sides. I rooted for the small group of rescuers and scouts even when their loyalties conflicted. Throw in a compelling storyline, and you have an absorbing and entertaining reading experience.

From the city of Qalia in the Sahir to the nightmarish ruins and desert of the Forbidden Wastes, the First City, and the Kingdom of Aqibah, I was impressed by the descriptions of the locations. I felt like they put me right in the story and the action. Along the way, descriptions of panoramic vistas reminded me of scenes from a historical Kdrama.

There was some phenomenal world-building which included the characters drinking tea made from the bark of a Misra tree, at times in a formal tea ceremony, to draw out the strength of their magic or affinity. A person’s affinity was individual to them and varied from person to person, such as being able to manipulate the earth or fire or, in the case of Taha, exert control over animals.

The land of Sahir is unknown and unseen by the rest of the world, and the people in Sahir have been led to believe everything outside their borders is dangerous wastelands. It was interesting to watch Imani learn of the discrepancies in what she’d been taught about the world outside.

The main characters start out enemies, but as they travel together, they slowly change their attitudes toward one another. I was drawn to Imani from the start, and she matures quite a bit over the course of the story as she sees things outside her usual routine. Things were easier and beautiful in her world, but not for everyone else. I liked that she had discovered her calling to be a Shield at an early age and had trained hard with her older brother to excel at this when the time came. The fight and sparring scenes were well-drawn and easy to follow. Her relationship with Taha is a real rollercoaster, and Qayn offers an enjoyable third party.

The high fantasy plot includes a quest to save Imani’s brother, Atheer, who has gotten involved in a rebellion in the Kingdom of Aqibah. Tension mounts as it is revealed that the members of the travel party have conflicting orders or goals related to Atheer’s “rescue.” Secrets and betrayals are lurking along the way, along with an enemies-to-lovers subplot, and some terrifying monsters to escape. I am already looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

I recommend SPICE ROAD to readers who enjoy young adult fantasy or quest stories.

Thank you NetGalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Spice Road was a slow start, but once Imani ventured into prisons and the unknown to save her brother I was hooked. This novel gave me vibes of Foundryside, but with slightly less world building. The connection between Qayn and Imani reminds me of Sancia and Clef. I can't wait to dive deeper into the world in books two and three!

I love a good fantasy set in a middle-eastern-inspired desert, and this was no exception. It was exciting, and I kept rooting for Imani to find her brother. I'll absolutely be recommending this to my fantasy-loving readers at my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for the chance to read and review Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

What do you do when your rose tinted glasses are pulled away?

Imani believes in the council and her brothers death. She believes in keeping Qalia a secret and her family’s honour and place in the clan. When all that is threatened by her brothers disappearance, she throws herself into her duties as a shield until her brothers horse leads her and her sister to his secret letters; starting a journey across the desert.

There are many things to like about Spice Road! Imani is a character that shows tremendous growth throughout the book. She doesn’t question the history she’s been taught; she’s secure in her position as an old clan member and expects members of new rising ones to seek her out; she believes her brother is dead; and that no one goes to sleep hungry at night in Qalia.

For Imani the entire journey is a rude awakening to her own privilege (her sister confesses to stealing for her friends because she knows she won’t be punished) and also the idea that isolation is perhaps not a good thing. This happens partially because of Taha who resents her privilege who has had to fight for what he had, as opposed to Imani who expected it. And yet, even as we understand Taha, we continue to resent him because the book is told from Imani’s perspective and he’s still the bad guy. Taha has to kill the boy who mentored him and anyone who learns about magic because he knows that if he messes up there are consequences because of his father. In turn, his father may not be able to hold onto his position because of Taha if the latter shows weakness. Honestly, a take from his perspective would be really interesting!

I loved the whole dynamic with Qayn and how that also pushes Imani into being better! Not just in terms of her skills but also her learning to respect other people. There’s one scene which really stands out in this regard, but I’ll let you read the book to find out!