Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim seemed like my kind of read but overall, I struggled to keep reading it and found the characters uninteresting to me.

A good story but missing detail. There is adventure, magic, enemies, family issues, rebellion, creativity, and more. I just would like a little more detail on the whole mythology aspect and the world itself.

This was a solid 3.5/4 out of 5 stars for me.
It was a slow and steady fantasy book. I loved the idea of harnessing magic through tea. So it wasn’t necessarily a permanent thing- it was temporary which provided challenges for the characters.
There is a strong devotion of family and values and I appreciated that! There is a hint of a potential enemies to lovers romance in here and I am excited to see how that unfolds.
Yes I definitely bought the second installment from fairyloot because I enjoyed it that much!

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim offers a rich fantasy world inspired by Middle Eastern culture, full of magic (tea magic), adventure & intrigue. The story follows Imani, a fierce warrior who embarks on a journey to find her brother.
While I typically tend to read more romance heavy books, I did enjoy this book even though romance was not a main focus. Would I read it again? Probably not but I don’t regret it. The world-building is impressive and has such a unique magic system. I liked that there’s also lots of personal growth and action. While I found there are some pacing issues in the middle, I feel the strong character development and the themes of family and loyalty make it a good YA fantasy read. I’d be interested to see what happens in the next book in the trilogy, Serpent Sea.

A rich, middle-eastern inspired fantasy with an intriguing mystery and a narrative that addressed important issues like prejudice and colonialism. For some reason, despite this objectively being well written, I had trouble some trouble truly connecting with the characters and story. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be continuing the series, but I can definitely see how this book will be appeal to a lot of readers.

DNF (for now). Will hopefully come back and try again at another time. I really wanted to enjoy this but I struggled to get into it.

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.

"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."

Imani's a Shield of Qalia. In this magical desert city, sorcerers like her rely on the magic of misra, which they brew and drink as tea. For Imani, this means she can manipulate the iron in her dagger, changing its form at will in battle. Her mastery, employed in protecting Qalia from the ever-encroaching monsters in the surrounding desert, has earned her the moniker "Djinni Slayer." Imani followed in her brother's footsteps to become a Shield, but a year ago, Atheer disappeared. He'd been talking about the importance of truth before duty leading up to his vanishing, and officials allege he stole misra, a sign of magical addiction. Imani's aunt on the ruling Council hushed up these unflattering stories, but Imani carries the weight of the shame. Her little sister, however, believes Atheer is still alive, working on something secret and important. Amari's been acting out at school, feeling alone in her grief, perceiving her older sister going about her normal life as if nothing happened. When Amari's friend comes tattling that she's off chasing their brother's horse in the desert, Imani sets off to retrieve her. But Atheer's horse leads the two sisters to unexpected clues about his secretive last days. It turns out Atheer was the Council's Scout, tasked with venturing beyond the sands to the world they pretend to the populace doesn't exist. And the surrounding nation of Alqibah is being overtaken by colonizers. Atheer couldn't stand by knowing Sahiran magic could save them from their fate.

This kicks off Imani's quest to return her brother home, restore her family, and close off Qalia from the outside world to ensure its safety. To that end, she makes a desperate and illegal binding to the djinni Qayn, a self-proclaimed friend of Atheer and the only one who can lead Imani to him across the desert. She'll also be forced to follow the lead of the Scout who took Atheer's place. Taha is not only Imani's rival Shield but also the son of the Council's leader, an upstart soldier lacking the same lineage bona fides as the other Council clans like Imani's family.

Imani has some work to do (on herself). She's a young woman of great fortitude, as brave as she is inflexible. She cannot let go of a happier past, even to find a potentially better future. All the upheaval of having her worldview challenged barely makes a chink in her armor at first. Stubborn and determined, Imani molds new information to suit her best, ignoring what doesn't fit and pushing down her fears and uncertainty about being so challenged. She's called out by all kinds of people for her narrow, privileged worldview-- even by her little sister. It's almost impressive how easily she lets such criticisms roll off her without hitting the mark. Surely there is no truth in them that would require any self-reflection. In other words, it sets up the character arc beautifully. This is a story about class privilege-- who answers to it and who's served by it, unwittingly and untroubled.

One of the book's standout accomplishments is its descriptive writing. Ibrahim includes a beautiful degree of detail, whether the author's eye is turned toward a setting or a character's backstory. When we enter a scene, Ibrahim paints a picture to include us in what everyone's doing and how they're arrayed before us. No detail of architecture, cuisine, or body language is ignored-- it's a full-body, multisensory experience. The same attention is applied to some epic chase and fight scenes that held my attention the whole way through (a feat), and I was particularly in awe of the Assassins Creed vibes in some scenes. Imani's quest takes her to a swathe of mesmerizing locales-- a city abandoned but for a dream of its former glory, a desert that eats up travelers who lose their way, and a struggling kingdom infected with their colonizers' presence. Ibrahim brings each to life with a dense cast of characters, all while keeping our attention firmly on Imani's personal growth and her relationships.

Because the relationship plots, nearly the most important aspect of any book, do not disappoint. In terms of romance, we're given two potential options-- one started vastly superior in my view, but my opinion shifted throughout. I was impressed with how the author kept her cards close to her chest, making Imani's turmoil more real and less a pit stop on the way to a clear destination. One option features vulnerable moments, including a "nurse back to health" moment and a terrible way to bond-- the loss of a beloved animal (I have an abysmal track record with bookish animal safety at the moment that makes me VERY suspicious of any fictional pets appearing on the page. I may have to go on strike for my poor tear ducts' sake.) I appreciate that neither love interest is perfect throughout their journey, necessitating some give-and-take, some growth and flexibility on everyone's part. And flexibility is not a trait that comes naturally to any of them. And the SISTERLY story-- be still my heart. Imani sets out with an entrenched view of her family that's slowly worn down. It feels devastating in the moment (to her) but leads to stronger relationships and a clearer mind.

I am so curious about where this series will go next. For all Imani's already impressive growth, there's still plenty of work to be done in terms of action and resolution. The threats are mounting, and though her worldview's been shattered, I think she's still deciding what to do with the information, and there's a lot that's out of her hands. This is an exceptional series starter, a magnificent debut. It's stories like these that keep me returning to ya fantasy to see characters rise and make the world a better place. Thanks to Delacorte for my copy to read and review!

This book just couldn’t catch my attention. I tried to read it over a year ago, it didn’t catch me, but I thought I’d try it again later. Well, it’s been over a year and I’ve never been tempted to pick it back up. If I ever do try again, I will come back and update my review!

Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own.

This book was one of my favorites and I loved everything about it. The action,atmosphere and characters were all amazing! Can’t wait to read more.

“Spice Road” by Maiya Ibrahim is a captivating journey through a world rich in magic and mystery. Set in the desert city of Qalia, the story follows 17 year old Imani, a warrior with an affinity for iron, which she channels through her dagger to protect her city from the monsters that lurk in the sands beyond. The novel opens with the city reeling from the betrayal of Imani’s brother, Atheer, who has tarnished their family’s name by stealing the nation’s coveted spice—a substance that awakens magical affinities in those who drink the misra tea made from it.

Imani’s life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers that Atheer may still be alive, spreading their nation’s magic beyond the desert. Determined to find him and bring him back, Imani embarks on a perilous journey across the Forbidden Wastes. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer, she sets out to navigate the treacherous road between protecting her loved ones and staying loyal to her homeland.

The worldbuilding in “Spice Road” is mesmerizing. Ibrahim has crafted a universe that feels both vast and intimate, drawing heavily on Arabian culture to create a setting that is as enchanting as it is dangerous. The magic system is particularly intriguing, with the consumption of spice-infused tea granting temporary control over elements to those with the right affinity.

The plot is well-paced, with a balance of action, intrigue, and character development that ensures there’s never a dull moment. “Spice Road” is a tale of magic, loyalty, and the lengths we’ll go to protect the ones we love.

I really enjoyed this book...the setting especially. The plot was always moving, so if you like the constant action then you're going to love this book. There was a great enemies to lovers plotline here too but honestly it was the sibling relationship that sucked me in. To be fair though, it always is. Looking forward to book two this fall.

I read this book in one day. A fun YA adventure that is exciting. I like Amira as a main character, her growth from a very privileged and naive person to one that learns her whole way of viewing the world has been so narrow. It takes courage to be able to accept everything you've been taught is screwed.
I loved Qayns character as well. He is funny but also mysterious.
Although this is a YA book, I am left feeling a bit dissatisfied with Taha's story ending. I know in adult fantasies like GOT this would have had a totally different outcome.
If i had one complaint it would be the forced romance. I really wish publishers would stop forcing a romance in each book. I don't see how it made any sense in this book and was so unnecessary.

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim introduces us to a fascinating world with much to enjoy. The world building is excellent, the writing is easy to read, and the plot is intriguing. However, I found myself unable to fully connect with the book due to the narrator. Imani should be everything you'd want in a protagonist. She's strong, fierce, smart, and determined to make her own mark on the world. Unfortunately, all that faded into the background due to her hyper-focus on finding her brother. Her mission to find her brother overwhelmed her own story and made her less interesting as a narrator. I still enjoyed my read, but I wish Imani had been given the chance to shine more.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This sounded amazing! Lush fantasy, a girl out to save her brother, and magic tea? Sign me right up! Sadly, this writing didn't end up working for me and the premise wasn't enough to get me to push through.

Debut author Maiya Ibrahim brings us Spice Road, a YA novel with magic, fantasy, adventure and sibling betrayal! I am usually all for these types of book but I just could not connect with this one. It might've just been the mood I was in at the time as it seems like a lot of other readers enjoyed it for the most part.

The author has a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to transport the reader to exotic locales with vivid descriptions. But with all these details the book's narrative can feel disjointed at times, with topics jumping between regions and time periods, making the writing style feel too dense.

Overall I wanted to really love it but the many many detailed descriptors and world building just made my head hurt. The magic system was unique and I've never read anything like it but it just wasn't enough for me to love this book. Thank you so much to Delacorte Press for gifting me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was a decent story, but the relationships and tropes felt so similar to too many other current stories. It could have potential and I enjoyed the anti-Imperialist stance and threads that have been set up, but I probably won’t be reading any additional entries into the series.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for the eARC.

I’m spending the first months of 2024 catching up on ARCs that should have been finished in 2023. But, seriously, there was a reason several were unfinished for so long. They’re just, meh. And this one wasn’t any different.

We’re told the MC is wonderful, but nothing in the book backs it up. We’re given two love interests, one more horrible than the other, but both uninteresting. The characters are one-dimensional, flat, and often annoying.

The plot was semi-interesting, but as a character-driven reader, it was impossible for me to immerse myself. I’m going to hold out for growth in book two, but I’m not 100% sure that I’ll pick up the sequel.

Imani is a djinn hunter who is on a quest to save her brother. I loved the world-building in this novel. I also love the magic system. Spice Road was very original and creative. The story is very engaging! It intrigued me from the very first page. The novel is also very fast-paced, and I read it in one sitting! I really loved Imani! She was a very compassionate, intelligent, and fierce heroine! I especially loved the touching relationship she had with both of her siblings! The only thing I did not love about this book was the romance. I did not like her love interests. I thought it would have been a five star read if she didn’t have a love interest! The romance distracted me from the plot! Thus, it was very unnecessary! Nevertheless, this novel is full of action, adventure, and magic! I recommend this for fans of The Forbidden Wish, Flame in the Midst, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess!