I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

I have to admit that the start of this book was rough going for me and I was even a little worried that it'd be my first low-rated read of 2023. But I'm glad that my persistence paid off because I ended up loving how this went and that ending has me so eager for the next book already. I'm invested and I can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment to see what happens next! 😍

I enjoyed the world-building in this book. It wasn't perfect and there were elements that I wish had been better expanded upon—for example, the magical history of the Great Spirit, the clan tensions and family history, but it didn't bother me overly much while I was reading. We do learn a little bit about how this magical society functions and we do get glimpses of the political tensions between clans, but it's not very in-depth and a bit more tell than show. I would've liked to see more of the differences in treatment between the more affluent clans rather than just being told about it. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the setting and atmosphere. From Qalia's desert oasis town vibes to the unknown sands and the magical city held within to the chaos of a colonized city teeming with fear and brutality across the desert border—every location was so vividly depicted and easy to picture. I think my favourite was the magical desert city but it was also, by far, the creepiest location as well!

The plot itself was pretty straightforward and simple as we follow this group of Shields from Qalia as they cross the desert to retrieve Atheer and bring him back home so he can answer for his treasonous actions. The story is told from Imani's point of view and although I tend to prefer multiple POVs, especially when the story involves a 'crew' such as it does here, I appreciated how getting only her pov allowed her character to grow as much as she did. Getting only one pov also increased the tensions between characters and I had a lot of fun trying to understand their motives and whether they were genuine and trustworthy or not. I will say there were some great character and plot twists that I didn't particularly see coming and it shocked me and made me furious too, but there's no doubt it also has upped the tension so much and I can't wait to see how these relationships play out in the next book!

As much as I was invested in their journey, it was really the characters, specifically Imani, that made reading this book such a roller coaster ride for me. I admittedly couldn't stand her at first and there were multiple times I wanted to put this down and stop reading because it was so unpleasant being in her head! She's sheltered, naive, spoiled and entitled, and honestly believed she knew everything right and good and true. In reality, she was willfully ignorant about many things from her privilege to her brother's disappearance and her sister's changing behaviour. She was really something else at the beginning but I told myself to have patience and I'm so glad that I stuck with this story because Imani's growth throughout the journey was so well done! The changes don't happen quickly and although part of me wished that she "opened her eyes" sooner, it felt more organic and believable how it unfolded. As she found herself making decisions and encountering situations she never thought she would, she was forced to acknowledge her privilege and confront her worldviews and harsh judgement of others when their actions deviated from what she considered to be right. She doesn't immediately accept her views might be flawed nor does her character do a complete 180 once she does accept it—she still makes mistakes and stupid decisions, but she makes a concerted effort to be more open-minded. I really appreciated that about her character and it made me enjoy the latter half of the story so much more.

Aside from Imani, there were quite a few side characters but most of them were pretty flat in comparison and existed mainly to push the story along. I was really curious about Taha and until now, I still haven't figured out what's up with him. There's no doubt he's been through a lot, especially knowing what his father is like, but the minute I think he's one type of way, he does something to prove that completely wrong. It makes me wonder what's really going on with him and I hope that we find out in the next book! I also wanted to learn more about Qayn and I'm slightly disappointed that he didn't have a bigger role in this first book. There's no doubt that we're going to get a lot more of him in the coming book but he really felt like a prop in this. Another character that I really liked and who piqued my curiosity was Amari, Imani and Atheer's younger sister. She's feisty and stubborn as hell and there were times when she acted pretty immature but then I remembered she's actually pretty young and she acted like it. But there also seems to be more backstory to what's been going on with her and I'm hoping that once the crew returns to Qalia, we'll get to learn more about her character. There's a big focus on family and the complicated relationship between siblings. I admired Imani's dedication to rescuing her brother and I also liked how strong the sibling bond was between the three of them.

Overall, despite a rough start and a slightly rocky road along the way, I thought this was a great debut YA fantasy novel. I was definitely invested in these characters and their journey by the end and I can't wait to see what happens next; all I know is that it's only going to get more intense from here.

3.5 stars

This was a slog for me at first, but I persisted, and I'm glad I did. The strongest part of this story was the world-building and the plot--I loved watching it unravel; the details that the author included really drew me into their culture, both in Sahir and Alquibah, and I look forward to learning more in future books. The weakness in all of this is that I didn't like many of the main characters including Imani, the narrator, as well as Amira, her spoiled brat of a sister, and Taha, her "sworn enemy". Even in the latter half of the story, Imani acted in a way that was so arrogant it had me yelling at her. That said, I'm glad I stuck with it, and I learned that Imani could admit she didn't know everything, that she might make stupid choices that she should own up to and that Amira might be wiser than her. Also, as much as I wanted Taha to break from his chosen role, it makes sense to me that it might take longer than one book for that to happen. The book does a great job highlighting the damage of colonialism as well as the idea that the "chosen ones" have a responsibility not just to themselves but to all of humanity.

Overall, I think this is a very solid start to what should be a great series as well as a debut novel the author can be proud of. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spice Road is an absolute stunner of a debut. Ibrahim takes staples of the YA fantasy genre (a fierce heroine, a love triangle, and an epic quest) and makes them into something entirely new. Imani's world is painted so vividly that I could feel the desert sun as I read. As for Imani herself, she is the rare YA protagonist who stands as a compelling protagonist while still being a believable teenager. Unlike the misra tea she drinks, Imani's grappling with understanding the truth of history and where she stands in it is universal.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press/Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I really loved the concept behind this book, with the set-up of the magic system, and the overall plotline. It had some stuff going for it, but the execution fell short. I was partially motivated to finish this book for the review - the first third of the book didn't hook me and could have been more interesting (it felt like a lot of set-up and not a lot happening).

The worldbuilding fell flat too. I feel like there wasn't enough explanation for a lot of the magic other than "this is how it is" and given the bare bones - like how many different types of powers are there? I don't even know. We also were just thrown into it and have no idea what the categories looked like.

While I appreciate that the MC is someone who has faults and actually ends up realizing that she has held some biases and wrong viewpoints/treated others poorly in the past, she was...kind of rash and impulsive for someone who is suppose to be the upcoming best Shield member and the youngest one. I feel as though if she was given that honor, she would have a lot more discipline and restraint and control over her emotions than she showed in her actions/dialogue. I appreciated that the characters felt like real people and actually had to make hard choices at times and that there is not a "perfect magical solution'. However, the writing was just okay. It was overly flowery at times (and to be honest, started boring me), and while there were some lines/prose where I was like wow! it felt like the author was trying to accomplish this with every single scenic description and...sometimes a rock is just a rock. Also the weirdly set up love triangle going on...it was weird and I could have done without it.
It is a good debut and allows for the set-up of the sequel really well, but I think there are areas that need to be strengthen.

"We were forgotten, considered the stuff of myths, alongside djinn and ghouls."

As one of my highly anticipated reads for 2023, I was excited to delve into this one. Unfortunately, I found myself somewhat disappointed, and I want to preface this review by saying that it may due to my preconceived notions of what it would be. I think part of the problem is that I was expecting more magic and monsters. The first third of the book contained some of the Middle Eastern lore I was looking forward to, but after that, SPICE ROAD quickly shifted to themes of imperialism and its impacts on the people falling under colonial rule. While an incredibly important topic, I was expecting something different.

Also, I had a lot of issues with the romance. It came across as an "I hate you and then I love you, but then I hate you again" relationship, and it didn't always seem healthy. I personally feel that this novel could have been beautiful by solely focusing on the familial relationships, which were definitely conveyed as incredibly important throughout the novel. I would love to learn more about the Beya clan in the next book, as there are allusions to them having a stronger "drive to master" their magical affinities, but we never learn why.

All that said, I felt that the pivotal action scenes were captivating and done well. After acclimating to the shift in plot, I found Ibrahim's debut to be enticing and a unique way to tackle the YA fantasy genre. I'm looking forward to the second installment (and hopefully, more magic and monsters). This is the February pick for the #fantasyfrenemies, and I can't wait for our discussion! Many thanks to Delacorte Press and Maiya Ibrahim for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC. I enjoyed the overall premise of Spice Road but did have some issues with the female main character. Imani seemed very immature throughout the story - I felt her character could have had more growth. I most enjoyed reading the parts of the story with Qayn and am curious to learn more about his backstory. Overall, I am interested is seeing what happens in the next book.

New favorite book alert!!! Wow! To say I was impressed with Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim would be a major understatement! If you are a fan of the Daevabad trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty, then you will love this debut book!

The novel follows Imani as she embarks on a journey with her nemesis to find her brother, who she thought was dead. She faces a series of adversities that challenge her view of life and discovers that her brother’s reasons for leaving the Sahir were not so simple. Along the way she must conceal the fact that she illegally bound a djinn to her dagger because he was the only one who knew where her brother went.

The best feature of this novel is that it was completely immersive. I truly felt like I was experiencing everything with Imani. The descriptions were so vivid, and the actions scenes so intense. Ibrahim did a phenomenal job of creating such a realistic and magical world. I was surprised that this is her debut book because she writes like a well-seasoned author.

Furthermore, the characters in the book made the story come to life even more. Imani is such a compelling main character. She is so humanly flawed, yet also lovable. As a reader, I felt my emotions changing with hers, which is a very powerful feeling. Likewise, the supporting characters were three-dimensional and robust. Each one was necessary to the story and helped move it along in a unique way.

Finally, there was the perfect amount of romance in the book. I am typically not a fan of books where the main character has more than one potential love interest, but that is hinted at in Spice Road, and I ended up loving it. Either way, it seems like Imani’s love story will play into the enemies-to-lovers trope, and I think Ibrahim is setting it up flawlessly. Personally, I am team Qaymani (Imani and Qayn) all the way!

Overall, I literally can’t wait for the next book in this series! Spice Road is going to have a special place on my bookshelf for sure!

An amazing Arab story full of wondrous magic, breathtaking verbiage, and gorgeous world building. I felt like I was somehow in Kuwait (where part of my family is from), in ancient Arabia, as well as another world all at the same time. Maiya Ibrahim is an author to be on the lookout for, with her wonderful storytelling. I ate this up! So grateful for my ARC.

Book Summary:

Imani is seventeen and one of the best fighters, destined to be perhaps the best Shield in generations. As such, she is sworn to kill every djinn and monster that crosses her path – no matter what.

Yet Imani can't run from her past. She can't pretend that her brother didn't disappear. Worse, he left in a situation that left his reputation in disgrace, leaving a stain on her family. When presented with the chance to bring her brother home and set things right, Imani doesn't hesitate, even if that means allowing a djinn to live.

My Review:

It's safe to say that I've been looking forward to reading Spice Road. It promised to be an Arabian-inspired fantasy with lots of great tropes (enemies to lovers, potential love triangles, etc.). Overall, I would say that it is a solid read – absolutely worth checking out.

Though it didn't quite live up to my expectations, I will blame Imani for that. For a gifted fighter, she sure doesn't act like it. Her decisions made me want to scream, which unfortunately did affect the relaxing nature of this read.

Still, I did enjoy the magical worlds, the djinni, and the exploration that came from a quest to find family. Likewise, the undertones in Spice Road make it even more compelling, so I appreciated all of that.

Highlights:
Mythology
Young Adult Fantasy
Arabian-inspired Fantasy
Djinni
Enemies to Loves Trope

Trigger Warnings:
Missing family
Prejudice

This was very meh. If it had been shorter, I might've been a bit fonder of it, but as it was, it was almost unbearable to read. There'd be a scene I was interested in, and then like 50 pages of nothingness. So little happened, and yet so many pages were filled.

I will admit that I liked the world and magic system. We didn't get too much of it, but considering this is a trilogy, I expect both of these elements to be developed in later books. As they were, they were intriguing and lush. Both took commonly used elements from other books and combined them in new ways, which I always like to see.

I also appreciate this one for keeping a love triangle(?) without making a victor clear. Because honestly, I have no idea what's going on with the romances in this book. If I had to choose, I'd go with Taha purely because he got more page time. But I can't even tell if the other guy is a love interest or not... Really, I have no idea. I prefer that to blatant favoritism though!

I got this one for a tour, so I was kinda stuck reading it. 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

Spice Road is a debut young adult fantasy novel following Imani, a young woman who has garnered quite the reputation as a djinni slayer. She lives a comfortable life in the hidden desert city of Qalia and as a Shield, she is charged with protecting her city and the secrets it holds, particularly that of the magical misra. Though she is from an old and wealthy family, her brother’s death and her younger sister’s actions have somewhat tarnished the Beya family name. When Imani discovers that her brother may be alive and helping rebels in the outside world, she and a group of Shields set out to bring him home so that they may keep their secrets safe.
I was drawn to this book by its promise of spice magic and hidden desert cities and I generally enjoy Arabian-inspired fantasy books filled with djinn, endless dunes, and lush magic. Spice Road has all of these things and more and it was an entertaining, though somewhat frustrating read. Frustrating because Imani was the stereotypical uber talented main character who we are told is the next great Shield and totally brilliant all the while disproving this at every turn. Imani makes foolish decisions and acts rashly and, while she may be talented with the blade and her iron affinity, she’s lackluster in all other areas.
Half the book (or more) was spent leaving Qalia and traveling through the magical desert to Alqibah. There were a few moments during the journey that were thrilling and served to deepen the lore, but largely it was Imani trying to look cool and unconcerned by her traveling companions. Because of course, she’s with other Shields that look up to Taha, a talented beastseer, instead of her and she secretly harbors a grudging crush on Taha. Upon arrival in Alqibah, the characters make a series of foolish mistakes that could have easily been avoided and are quite clumsy and then they go on a daring and equally harebrained rescue mission to save Imani’s brother.
I think this could have been a great book with some additional polishing, but as it stands it’s just good. I also recognize that I’m not the target audience for a young adult novel and I do think this book handles topics like colonialism in an approachable manner. I would have loved some more lore from Qalia and Alqibah and proper development behind the Harrowland empire so they weren’t just a paper cut-out of a villain. This is a planned trilogy, however I probably won’t continue on with the series unless I see some seriously rave reviews.

I enjoyed this story, filled with magic and family and adventure. I thought it was well paced and the various obstacles Imani and the others faced kept the plot interesting.

What I didn't love were the characters themselves. Imani is self-righteous, thinking she's the best fighter and everything she believes must be true. She also gave up several times when faced with difficult circumstances and others had to prod her to keep going. She did change somewhat over the course of the journey and I'm hoping is more likeable in the sequel.

Taha was kind of bland and needed more depth to him than his abrupt personality shifts. Qayn is still mostly a mystery and Amira is mostly irritating. I hope these characters get fleshed out more instead of being so one dimensional.

Overall a decent read and I do think I'll check out the sequel when it comes. I'd like to learn more about magic and the world itself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A fast paced YA fantasy that I enjoyed despite leaning more toward adult more content. This book was emotional a bit twisty and kept me turning pages. Would recommend for fans of The stardust thief.

Imani is a Shield. A warrior of a secret city deep in the Saharan desert, who uses magic to protect her city from djinn and other monsters that threaten their existence. When she finds that her dead brother may still be alive outside the desert, she sets off to find him. But the journey is complicated by a mysterious djinn who can lead her to her brother, a wayward sister, and some fellow Shields forced by their council to help retrieve her brother, but who have their own agenda. Imani's biggest concern though, is the question of why her brother left his family behind to fight for barbarian rebels. 

This book had a great combination of magic, mid-Eastern like setting and culture, and complex characters. The general plot was a quest to bring Imani's brother home, but more than that, it was a journey for Imani herself, to open her eyes beyond her privileged upbringing, and to learn to think about others. But the plot was great too, and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.

Coming from a magical city that thought itself the center of the world, Imani finds there's a lot more to the world than she was taught. There are dark sides of her own city she'd never been aware of. Her wayward sister refuses to follow rules, an idea the law abiding Imani can't relate to. And her brother may have had good reasons for choosing to help the strangers outside the desert.

With the help of a djinni and some others, Imani sets out on a journey that will uncover some uncomfortable truths about herself, her people's history, her brother, and about her companions. Finding her brother may not be the hardest part of her mission. Can she trust her fellow scouts to bring her brother back home, or do they have secret agendas of their own?

I was hooked by the first sentence.It’s intriguing. Stirring. Magical. Happily, it involves tea, swords, falcones, djinnis, and it’s kind of basda$$ too. I love how this introduces the characters and immediately sets the scene. You get the flavor of the book within the first page and the aroma! I’m all smiles. And the little sister? Can’t help but root for her spunky personality — at times she’s much savvier than her older sister. 😉

At random, Maiya’s choice of words had me laughing out loud; it had me chuckling at the visuals. “My fingers are like lettuce…” “Short buildings sit beside tall buildings which sit beside long buildings, like uneven rows of green-stained teeth.” Somehow, through the magic of writing, this quirky prose adds to the story and it works to make this story unique!

It’s mysterious, adventurous and full of longing. With an abundance of twists and turns and plot changing surprises. Ultimately it’s a story of discovery, assumed destiny and family and loyalty. A great recipe for a series where the Spice Road is just the beginning.

I buddy-read this with Dini and we had some similar thoughts. I think she had a harder time getting into it than I did though. From the beginning, I was hooked!

My favorite aspect of this book was the enemies-to-lovers trope. It just gets me every time and might be what sucked me in right away. The thing is, I’m a little nervous that a love triangle is going to bloom in subsequent books. I’m hoping not because it’s my least favorite trope. There are some instances though that might lead that way.

From the beginning, I enjoyed Imani and her sister. Their dynamic is definitely not the best but I think there’s going to be a lot of improvement there. Honestly, there are times when Amira outshined Imani. There are some stark differences there and Amira is much more involved with what’s really going on in their home. Imani is just basically a soldier that follows orders and doesn’t question anything. I think, this is where people will struggle to love Imani when they meet her. This gives so much opportunity for Ibrahim to show us a great character arc, which we do get by the end. I can’t wait to see more of Amira though.

Taha is the love interest and he’s something else. I had such a hard time figuring out his character because it changes so much. I think there’s something going on with him that we can’t see/understand. I’m hoping that book two will shine a light on that because it can be confusing. Just think of his character having a lot of whiplash between having many emotions and becoming an emotionless robot. It can be quite frustrating but I’m holding out hope that there’s something to it and not just his struggle. Qayn was also a character that I enjoyed. He brought a lot of humor in some intense moments. He’s supposed to be hunted and killed by the other characters. It was nice seeing that struggle/balance between them. He has much more going on than we know. I cannot wait to learn more about him. The little pieces we do get are not enough!

One of the things I struggled with was the world-building. More importantly, the lack thereof. There are a lot of cool magic and magical creatures in this world. Yet, we do not get to see a lot of that. I need to know more about the magic and how it works. Where are all these creatures and why should they be killed? I do think we get to see another side of the council when a lot of questions come into play. We learn that Imani grows in power but why and how? How does Qayn know more about it than her? I am hoping that book two will clear a lot of things up, which I’m sure it will.

Overall, this was a really quick read for me. I just dived in and had to know what was going to happen next. There are a lot of emotional moments and some shocking ones too! I have no idea how some characters will come back from things and I have no idea who to trust. There’s a great cast of characters and book two sounds like it will be full of action!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you are looking for an epic fantasy to sink your teeth into, look no further. Spice Road by debut author Maiya Ibrahim is an epic fantasy adventure across an Arabian-inspired land full of monsters and djinni where danger lurks behind every face you meet. Following a young Shield searching for her missing brother, Spice Road is a delectable tale of courage in the face of adversity.

Sixteen-year-old Imani is one of the strongest and youngest magic wielders in her time. With an affinity for iron, she can manipulate her dagger in combat, making her a formidable foe and earning her the nickname of Djinni Slayer among her fellow Shields. However, her accomplishments and her family’s reputation is overshadowed by the disappearance of her older brother, Atheer, who went missing a year prior along with a stash of misra (a spice that gives them their magical abilities). Despite her strengths and loyalty, Imani is questioned and doubted by the other Shields, and in her grief, Imani begins questioning and searching for her own answers.

I loved this book from beginning to end. Imani is a fantastic narrator for this story. I loved seeing the world through her eyes. The author does a fabulous job of conveying the danger of the monsters who live in the sands between Imani’s village and the outside world. I got so engrossed in this story that when it endedI was bereft. I wanted to stay there! Imani is lost in her own grief, and we are able to see how that grief colors her perceptions of the world around her. When she discovers her brother may be alive in the kingdom across the sands, we see a shift in her. We see why she is known as the Djinni Slayer and why other Shields may have a hard time trusting her.

There are so many wonderful characters in this book besides Imani. I loved Qayn, the djinni who knows Atheer and convinces Imani to bind him to her dagger and he will show her the way to him. He opens Imani’s mind to the possibility that not all monsters are evil as she has been taught to believe. Qayn is morally grey (which y’all know I love!), and I found myself just as drawn to him as Imani is. Then, there is Taha, another Shield who is the same age as Imani and just as strong in his own affinity. Taha is sent with Imani to recover Atheer by the council. He is an enigma to Imani and the reader. He can be kind and almost shy in his interactions with her, and then just as quickly turn cruel. He has many secrets, and Imani is determined to uncover them.

Overall, I loved Spice Road! I could write another ten posts on the world building, the characters who I didn’t mention here, the potential love interests, AMIRA, and so much more. This easily will find its way onto my top reads of the year for 2023. If you are a fan of epic fantasy, I highly recommend it.

Thanks again to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, the cover art of "Spice Road" is absolutely gorgeous. A total cover buy! It very much matches the mystery and magic vibes of the story within. The map is also a sight to behold.

“We will fight, but first we will have tea.” This fantastic opening line immediately hooked me. The immersive details and description of the world the author has created also drew me in.

The Sahir is a place of tea, spice, and magic. It is a sliver of humanity believed lost long long ago. That is how the people of the Sahir have stringently lived in order to protect themselves and the magic blessed to them by the Great Spirits. The Forbidden Wastes and the monsters and secrets that lurk within its endless sands separates the Sahir from the rest of the world.

The structure of the Sahir is a familiar one. It was easy to discern that the Sahir has more secrets than it dares to admit and that there is more going on at present than what Imani and most everyone else was strongly led to believe, such as issues among family, government, faith, and class. Such stories are always ripped with interesting conflicts that are manifold.

The day her brother, Atheer, was discovered to have been stealing misra and later disappeared was the beginning of Imani’s entire world being torn asunder. The urgent mission to bring her brother home is full of danger, high emotions, and revelations that gradually reveal how dire a situation Atheer’s actions, the actions by members of the group sent to retrieve him, and by those currently in positions of power have caused.

In Imani’s desperation to bring her big brother home and repair her heartbroken family, she struggles to hold on to the very foundation her life and that of the Sahir has been built upon for ages. Thoroughly disoriented, Imani is forced to question all she thought she knew, which causes her to make a series of mistakes that were kind of exasperating at times, but I understood where she was coming from. Her sense of duty, of what’s right and wrong, and her convictions were heavily at war within her. The truth is sometimes a bitter pill to swallow and people are more than how they appear on the surface. I think Imani did fairly well trying to make up for her mistakes past and present. There was a lot she had to take in and come to terms with in just this first of three books, and with much room still to grow further.

As for the romantic aspect, I’m still ambivalent about it because of how it was incorporated within the story and based on the background (as I now know) of the love interest…and perhaps other potential love interest??? Regardless, this particular romance portion is a good sub-conflict that has plenty of avenues it could take as it continues to unfold.

"Spice Road" was an emotional, high-stakes read that I think will be a hit with many readers. The tension and action never lets up, leaving you precariously on the edge of your seat. Imani has so much more to learn and big decisions to make if she is to succeed in the end.

Spice Road was such a fun read and I found all the characters super well-written. I would keep recommending it to people and then have to clarify that the book is technically not out yet, but now that it is I’m super happy to add to the positive reviews for this book and give it the love it deserves.

As far as first books go, it does a good job of establishing the world, our central characters, and their dynamics. I love that the magic system is based on tea and while I do think some more rules and limitations would be interesting to establish I’m very excited to see how the system is developed.

The star of the show would be the characters who start off as your basic YA tropes, but quickly establish themselves as unique and realistically rendered. I loved the conflicting feelings they all dealt with and how each character had a lot more to them than it first seemed. I recall marking so many parts where the characters would foreshadow the way their thoughts would change and I loved how there were consequences to every action committed. The skill with which all the elements of the story and the characters emotions were balanced was fantastic. I love flawed characters and Spice Road wasn't afraid to display and discuss those flaws whilst having its characters grow beyond them.

I tend to always be more lenient for first books, because it's just the beginning and we're unlikely to see the character go through a whole lot of character development, but Ibrahim managed to prevent her characters from falling flat while setting up interesting stakes for the rest of the series.