Spice Road

I can't believe this is the first book of this author! The world she created is both magical and exotic, and the story is full of adventures. The writing is so mature and beautiful, and listening to it read by narrator Krupa Pattani is an absolute pleasure. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for an Advance Review Copy.

Firstly thank you to netgalley for providing me both the E-arc and the audiobook for this novel! This was an amazing debut book from Maiya Ibrahim. The story follow Imani who uncovers that her missing brother may still be alive and must travel to bring him back home, she is accompanied by Qayn, a devilishly handsome djinn and Taha, a powerful and rather arrogant beastseer. This book was exceptional and has all the ingredients of an well executed fantasy; the world building is both intriguing and not overwhelming, the characters have a depth that is sustained throughout the story and the plot is incredibly interesting too! Imani was such a brilliant main character, I found myself empathising with her, her beliefs, her thoughts. She really embodied what it means to be a sister, especially bc of how important family is to her clearly. Qayn was also such a brilliant character, and I really grew to love him by the end of the book but the character that really tore at my heart was Taha. He was amazing, the juxtaposition of his personality, his strength, his beliefs. I was blown away honestly because he kept surprising me throughout the book. I’m so excited for book 2 which I most definitely will be buying because this has to be one of my favourite books this year! Furthermore, the audiobook was such a brilliant experience! The narrator was exceptional, using different voices for all the characters. Overall a very enjoyable read!

Thank you so much for letting listen to this audiobook early. I very much enjoyed the story. Even though I struggled a little in the beginning, by the time the protagonists started their journey I was with them for the adventure.

This book is outstandingly beautiful, the building of an Arabian inspired land is breathtaking.

Im a huge fan of a traveling trope and this book does traveling fantasy beautifully, mixed with a politically driven plot and rebel elements. The character arcs are complex, all relationships and friendships go through every emotion possible, they grow, develop and flourish within the story.
The epic journey to find Imani's brother is filled with adventure and excitement and I found it really well balanced.
The emotional turmoil these characters put me through is second to none, Taha is such a complex character to unravel, one who has an internal struggle with a turbulent past, conflicting emotions and loyalties, I enjoyed trying to suss him out the most.

This was a stunning narration, the pacing was perfect, each character voice was distinguishable. The voice acting adds to the suspense and emotion of the story and is well articulated.

If you love a romance that will take you from distain to resistance and beyond, narration that is soothing and easy to follow, adventure and rich world building, political driven plot, glorious characters that will put you through an emotional roller coster, travelling tropes, well thought out magic systems and a satisfying start to a series, you really need to pick up Spice Road.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC 🫡

First of all : I am in love with this book!! Every other book I read this year better be ready to fight for first place on my list of favorite 2023 books ⚔️

Spice Road is a YA Fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired world filled with magic and mayhem✨ it’s unlike anything I’ve read in terms of fantasy inspired by the Arabian culture and I loved every aspect of it. The magic system was a breath of fresh air and tbh I’m just jealous of the worldbuilding 👀

The action filled plot and the lush writing style were what drew me into the story but it was the characters, and their relationships with one another, that ultimately made this book speak to my heart. I love the way the story centers around siblings who’ll do anything for each other. And I also loved how flawed they were but at the same time everyone was just trying to do ✨their best✨

If you like dashing adventures, plot twists that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat and nuanced characters that will make your heart bleed and sing at the same time, this book is for you 😌

Spice Road comes out on January 24th, don’t forget to grab a copy 💜

A magical and exciting read! I have been in the worst reading (and listening) slump for some time now and this enchanting book has fully taken me out of it! Fans of the daevabad trilogy, Ember quartet and We hunt the Flame will fall in love with this world of magical tea, monsters, ghouls and jinn.

"Whoever controls the Spice . . . controls the Kingdom itself.

The first book in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, seventeen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother whose betrayal is now their greatest threat.

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. With her affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani can wield a dagger like no other - and for that she has gained a reputation as the next greatest Shield, battling djinn, ghouls, and the other monsters spreading across the sands.

But ever since her brother was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession - and disappeared into the deadly Forbidden Wastes, Imani's reputation has been in tatters. Despite Atheer's betrayal, there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't grieve him.

Then Imani discovers signs her brother may be alive, and spreading their nation's magic to outsiders. Desperate to find him - and to protect him - she joins the mission sent to hunt him down. Accompanied by Taha, a powerful beastseer, who enthrals and enrages her in equal measure, Imani soon discovers that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart.

Caught between her duty to her nation, and her love for her brother, Imani must decide where her loyalties lie . . . before it is too late."

Imani leaves her hidden city with a small group of magic wielders to find and bring home her brother, Atheer, who has gone awol.

~ Imani, warrior
~ Qayn, a cheeky chappy (actually a djinni)!
~ Taha, a beastseer and his hawk,
~ Amani, sister to Imani and so cute!
(Sorry if some names are spelt wrong, I lostened to the audio!)

The story was so good, I fell in love with the characters and the world building was spot on.

There was adventure, action and of course.. a triangle?! I mean was this a love triangle? I had a clear fave for most of the book and then I switched in the last quarter!

I need to know what happens, I need the next book so I'll be scouring the authors social media for news!

Spice Road is an epic fantasy tale of family, duty, honour, love, politics, and magic. I really enjoyed the Arabian-inspired setting and the world building was easy to follow and picture. The author makes us care about each of the characters, even if they are at times infuriating in their stubbornness. The audiobook narrator has a soothing reading voice and makes it easy to follow the story and dialogue, which is essential for me to enjoy an audiobook. I’m really glad I chose to listen to this story, as I really felt immersed in the world and felt a strong emotional connection to the characters and plot.

Spice Road is a stunning epic young adult fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired land (The Spice Road Trilogy)💛 and I absolutely loved it! The story was refreshingly different and yet gave me the familiarity vibes of the Daevabad Trilogy (one of my favourites).

What I enjoyed:

🧡Epic fantasy
🧡An Arabian inspired world
🧡Magic, monsters, djinn and ghouls
🧡Hidden Cities
🧡Betrayals, battles and action
🧡Love Vs Duty
🧡 Strong female lead
🧡 A story about sibling love

“Whoever controls the Spice . . . controls the Kingdom itself.”


4.7 stars

a captivating story with beautiful writing and a gorgeous world that you can't help but dive into. the audio narrator did an absolutely impeccable job bringing 'spice road' to life! 100% recommend

Spice Road is the first book in the debut series by Maiya Ibrahim, and what an epic debut to the series it is!

We follow Imani, who is part of an elite group, Shields, that protects the people of Qualia, Sahir. She discovers her brother, Atheer, who disappeared a year ago, and everyone thought him dead, might be alive. With this newfound information, she sets on a quest to find him with a group of people she's not exactly fond of, her rival from Shields, Taha and his friends. But what the others in the group don't know is that Imani broke the law and has a help of a djinn, Qayn, who is the only one that knows the way to her brother. They journey far beyond their known world, through places that shouldn't exist anymore. Along the way, she learns that what she learned in their history books is not the whole story.....

I fell in love with the story very quickly. I loved the world-building, the magic system, and the focus on sibling love more than romance. The characters are complex and interesting. I admit, Imani annoyed me at first, but when she realized and saw that what Qayn said about her brother and the kingdom of Alqibah might be true and started to change, I liked her. Without a doubt, my most favourite character is Qayn, the djinn. He's perfect - mysterious, powerful, handsome and complex with a lot to say and learn about him. Hopefully, we'll get even more of him in the next book.

It's definitely the kind of fantasy I enjoy - beautiful world-building, a strong female character, supernatural beings, and action-packed. I recommend this story to everyone who loves to travel to faraway lands!

I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for granting me access to an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.