Maiya Ibrahim’s debut Spice Road is a beguiling Arabian-inspired fantasy, brimming with rich worldbuilding, deadly monsters, courtly intrigue, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. This book was an oasis in the desert, a diamond in the rough; I devoured it in two days and cannot wait for the sequel!

Imani lives in Qalia, a prosperous and vibrant kingdom that thrives on the magic spice called misra. Misra grants anyone who consumes it a magical power – whether it be shapeshifting, manipulating the elements, speaking to animals or more; misra is not just magic but the building blocks of life itself. Whoever has misra has power. Qalia is the only city with access to this spice. So, when Imani’s brother is discovered stealing misra and runs away to the Forbidden Wastes, Imani is determined to learn the truth.

As she and a team journey to bring him home, she comes across hidden kingdoms where her history teachers and maps said there were only barbaric wastelands.

‘Truth is the thorn, not the rose,’ as Imani learns when her duty to her nation, her loyalty to her brother, and the strength of her heart are put to the test. Secrets and political schemes are unveiled, and a greater evil threatens to destroy everything she’s ever known.

Perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Frank Herbert, Spice Road will entrance, putting you under its spell and sinking you into its lyrical prose until your heart is stuck, yearning for more, long after you’ve finished. For ages 13+.