Spice Road is a sweeping, immersive story that drags you in from page one. I cannot get too detailed without spoilers, but just know you're not ready for this vibrant debut. I loved Spice Road. 5-Stars

I had a really great time with this book! Imani was an interesting protagonist, but she wasn't particularly likeable. I was hoping for more character growth, but hopefully that will be expanded upon in the sequel. The worldbuilding was really cool, and I did enjoy the plot! I am looking forward to book 2!!

The Spice Road is a debut fantasy novel set around a special magical tea called misra, a djinn, and the protection of that magic and home. Imani is an excellent swordsman in her home of Quali; she is known as the greatest fighter of monsters and Djinn, dark creatures who surround the sands on the city’s outskirts. Unfortunately, Atheer, her brother, has been accused of stealing the magical misra tea and sharing it with outsiders and is rumored to have perished in the Forbidden wastes. What unfolds in this first book is the attempted rescue of Atheer, the eye-opening truth about the outside world, and the Djinn—deciding what you see, what you believe, and your place in the world—a captivating debut novel to start 2023.

✰ 2 // i was so excited to read Spice Road but, unfortunately, it was not for me. the first person narration felt very flat and the writing had very much of a YA feel to it. though i really wanted to i just couldn't really get into the plot overall and i felt a bit let down by the magic system in Spice Road which i think could've really been developed a bit more.
thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spice Road is the debut of Australian author Maiya Ibrahim, and the first in an young adult epic fantasy trilogy inspired by Arabian Myth (for example, Djinn) and seemingly the history of Arabic states in the Middle East that faced colonization from European/White outsiders. The novel features a City blessed with magic that is hidden from the outside world - and which teaches that the outside world does not exist - all the while facing occasional attacks from djinn and other magical monsters. But when the novel's protagonist Imani discovers that not only does the outside world exist, but that her disappeared brother went to it with the secrets of their magic, she embarks with a group of others on a mission to bring him back...only to discover the world isn't what she thought.

It's a setup that wouldn't really be unique in a Western form, and while the shift to Arabian Myth and themes of the horrors of colonization (inspired by real life) give life to this book, it really still struggles to be much more than the collection of tropes and plot points the book tries to hit. The book struggles to really setup each plot point, such that its lead character Imani seems to do things or believe things just because that's what you'd expect in a book like this, rather than because of earnest character development. And the book's use of these themes and issues is so unsubtle (particularly its literal use of the word "colonizer") so as to strain credibility. The book isn't bad, and its themes are generally fine if a bit muddled, but after a decent early start, it just never really gets to the point where it feels like something interesting on its own, instead of just another of many books using similar themes and plot points (like its incredibly perfunctory romance). As such I'm unlikely to continue this trilogy from here.

More specifics after the jump:

----------------------------------------------Plot Summary----------------------------------------------
16 year old Imani grew up as one of the latest members in one of the powerful families that has helped lead the city of Qalia, a desert city possessing the secrets of magic from the spice of its Misra Tea. Her own magic allows her to control her blade like no other, shifting its form from dagger to sword to spear at her whim, and she has become known as the Djinni Slayer for her skill in using it as part of Qalia's defensive force, the Shields. But Imani is still haunted by the disappearance and presumed death of her beloved older brother Atheer, who seemed to be going spice mad in his last few days and then was discovered to have been stealing Misra from the Qalia counsel.

But when Imani's younger sister Amira leads Imani on a wild goose chase following Atheer's horse, Imani discovers that Atheer might be alive after all...and that he may have taken the magic to help outsiders in the Kingdom of Alqibah, a land Imani never knew actually existed. Imani is desperate to bring him back but to do so requires her to make some dangerous sacrficies...for only a mysterious djinn named Qayn knows the way that Atheer traveled, and the only way to secure his help is to undergo a forbidden ritual to bind Qayn to Imani's beloved blade itself. Even worse, the Counsel only gives her permission to bring Atheer back with the aid of several other shields led by her most irritating rival, Taha, a Beastseer whose father was installed by the people on the Counsel against the Counsel's, and Imani's family's, wishes.

To get to Atheer and the outside world, Imani, Taha and the others will have to brave incredible dangers...but the worst dangers may be in Alqibah itself, where an outside force of Colonizers has invaded and oppressed the native peoples, peoples who looks like Imani and her own people, and demand absolute subservience. Seeing what she sees, Imani may soon discover what it was about these outsiders that drove her brother to his mad quest, and her kind heart may result in her getting them all killed...if Taha and Qayn don't get her killed first.....
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Spice Road follows Imani's first person perspective as the story takes her from a privileged insider in an insular society to someone who has her eyes opened to the injustice in the surrounding world that she finds herself unable to ignore. YA Readers will recognize her type here in this story in that she fits a number of archetypes: she's the member of a noble family who doesn't recognize her privilege and that other people in what she thinks is a perfect city may struggle due to inequity she doesn't even realize exists; she's the part of a special magical city that doesn't realize that outsiders exist or are no different in quality than them (aren't chosen by the "Great Spirit") and thus deserve help; she fails to recognize others who don't have these experiences and the difficult choices they face, etc. At the same time, Spice Road makes Imani so privileged in so many ways that it doesn't have time to interrogate all of these ideas: for example, the conflict between her and Taha over her belonging to a noble family while his awful father having to work his way up from nothing and Taha being shamed for it is brought up and never really explored since so much of the book takes place outside of Qalia. Similarly, the potential struggles others have in Qalia who aren't born to one of the noble families, an idea brought up by Imani's sister Amira who goes out of her way to steal things for the poorer folks she befriends, is never really explored here.

This is a common theme with Spice Road for all aspects of the plot. The plot takes Imani from Qalia to the Arabian/Middle-Eastern esque lands outside of the hidden city, where she discovers all the oppression from the colonizing White invaders (the "Harrowlanders", or who are literally called "Colonizers" in the actual dialogue of this book, which just seems a bizarre word choice that threw me out of the narrative). Her reaction to them and her need to do something are relatable and something we can empathize with, and perhaps the book draws an interesting contrast between her naivete and need to help with her rival Taha's need to stay to the mission and protect the hidden city at all costs...after all he and his family have had to work their way up from nothing just to get status in that city, so for him perhaps such compassion is impossibly dangerous. But this is a contrast that the book never really draws, and in fact the book suggests an alternate pretty weak motive for Taha's actions later. So instead we just get a generic privileged girl realizes that she needs to help outsiders and that burying their hands in the sand is impossible plotline. There's no depth to this, even if the setting being based in the historical colonization of Arabia by White Outsiders does give some originality.

The same comes from the book's attempt at romance, with Imani seeming to fall for Taha just because...well that's what a YA protagonist is supposed to do with their rival, but there's little spark between them despite supposed suppressed attraction...and the book just assumes that the relationship is deeper than it ever shows because it is supposed to be in such a book - for example, at one point Imani expresses outrage at Taha's actions because she thought he felt something for her, and well...the book has done nothing to give her a reason to really feel that betrayed in this manner. It's also true with some of the background and themes - again there's the questions of nobility and democratic rabble rousers and who really is good or bad and whether Imani's biases are deceiving her, but we rarely see any exploration of this. So Taha's father might be justified as a democratic leader or just an evil demagogue taking the place of nobility (turns out its the latter) and the djinn Qayn might not be a monster but might actually be a misunderstood noble of magical power....not that it matters one bit towards the plot. We get Imani's sister tagging along as a surprise that should surprise no other readers because of course she would come along, etc. etc.

There's nothing bad about Spice Road to be clear. The book uses a bunch of YA tropes that are typical because they work, and they form a coherent story in framework. But there's no depth or internal development between them, and too often things happen seemingly because well, that's what is supposed to happen in a YA Fantasy book of this type, rather than due to natural development, and it just made it hard to care about anything. I got through the first half of this book really quickly, but the final third I found a slog due to my lack of caring, and while newer YA readers might not have the same feeling, older ones will find too much of this old hat here. The result is a book I don't care enough to recommend too highly and will not be continuing on in the series.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, and I really tried to push through. I think I've discovered sci-fi/fantasy books just aren't up my alley. However, I think the book will vastly appeal to sci-fi/fantasy lovers and I'll be recommending this through readers advisory.

Rec’d for: ⚔️ Fans of Enemies to Lovers; ✊🏾 Readers of BIPOC fantasy stories; 🪶 People who think world-building makes a fantasy better.

In the city of Qalia, hidden in the magical desert of the Sahir, a secret spice magic shared through drinking “misra” tea awakens a person’s magical affinities. Those particularly adept become the city’s Shields. Their mission is to fight back the magical monsters. Imani, the Djinni Slayer, is a renowned Shield with an affinity for iron. Her success is overshadowed by her older brother Atheer running off and presumed dead. Until one day she and her younger sister stumble on signs of Atheer. He may not be dead, but worse than that he may have shared the secret magic with unknown outsiders. Wanted for questioning, Imani makes a pact to retrieve her brother. She must go with her rival, Taha, his crew, and the mysterious Qayn, the only one who knows where to find Atheer. As the journey unfolds, Imani’s world is upended. She is questioning everything from her country, tradition, family, and herself.

This book was an utter delight. It felt like two hands shot out of the book, and grabbed my head so that I could not stop reading. This book had every element of a fantasy story I look for: an epic sweeping plot, tangled relationships, and mystical creatures. But the two elements that I thought were done expertly well were the detailed fantasy world created and the character growth that happens over the journey. I also appreciated the message surrounding colonialism and on looking beyond your world with empathy towards others.

My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a digital copy for review.

Spice Road was a decent addition to young adult fantasy. I liked the story. It focused mainly on a quest with our main character Imani and her companions who travel to a foreign kingdom to find her brother and bring him back home. Of course it is not as simple as that, but it’s the main point. The story was definitely what I enjoyed most with this book. The characters I found to be annoying, predictable, and some just downright obnoxious. The main love interest for Imani, fellow soldier Taha, was at times a bully toward her and treated her badly one instant, but seemed to care for her the next. It gave both me and Imani whiplash. By the end I was not rooting for this couple at all.

I might read the sequel when it comes out. I’d be curious to see what happens next but I’m not dying to find out. Overall this was a good book and it had the potential to be great. In the end this was solidly okay. I would recommend this to fans of young adult, especially younger ones who maybe have not read as much of the genre as I have.

I’m a fan of Arabian-inspired stories (I’m usually drooling over the food descriptions), and the beautiful cover and secret spice magic sealed the deal when requesting this from NetGalley.

Imani’s brother was presumed dead a year ago, and she and her family are still grieving the loss. When she and her sister uncover evidence he may still be alive, she’s sent by the Council to find him and bring him home. Their city’s location and magical spice are meant to be kept secret, and if he’s revealed that information, the consequences could be dire. Assigned to accompany her on this quest is the arrogant Taha and a couple of his friends, all of who really don’t care for Imani. Qayn, a djinni bound to Imani, is also along for the ride.

I wasn’t a fan of Imani. She’s selfish, privileged, and oblivious to things outside her bubble of perfection. During her journey revelations come to light, and she begins to question everything she’s been taught about Qalia, her home. Soon her perfect bubble bursts, and she undergoes some admirable character growth. Shoutout to Imani’s stubborn younger sister Amira. Don’t underestimate her – the girl’s got some tricks up her sleeve. I also snickered several times over Qayn’s humorous comments about Taha.

The world-building grew more interesting for me as the story progressed, and I liked that there are limits on magic and consequences of using too much spice. The presence of a love triangle didn’t surprise me, but it’s definitely not my favorite trope. Action sequences are well-written, exciting, and pretty stressful at times. I was afraid not everyone would survive – but no spoilers here.

If you’re a fan of magic-inspired fantasies, shocking betrayals, occasional snark, and political maneuvering, this novel is for you. With two more books to come, this is a series I’ll continue.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have a lot of feelings about this book. It is getting three stars because of how it ended, but it took a lot of work to get there. It was lower for about the first 60-70%.

Plot wise? I enjoyed it a lot. There was a lot going on and I was invested in what they were doing, where they were going, etc. All of that worked pretty well.

World wise? Very unique and creative, but not explored nearly enough. I wanted more world building, more lore, more information about the magic. There's so much potential here and I think the actual building out of the world could have been much more.

Characters? This is where it lost me. I hated most of them, for most of the book. Imani is a pretty good MC, and I didn't mind her so much, plus Qayn was an absolute delight, but the rest of them I just didn't like at all. They were very one dimensional. Very little growth happened and I ended the book even more frustrated with some of them than I started. Book 2 NEEDS more personal growth from them.

And the romance aspect? Also not for me. I hated the love interest and was actively rooting against him the entire time. I hope he doesn't stick around as the LI because I honestly think that would ruin the series permanently. He is so atrocious. Let's get Imani someone better please.

Overall, a pretty big disappointment. I expected a lot, and got a little. Holding out hope that it could get better in book 2, but some serious improvement would have to be made to a lot of areas to make it a worthwhile read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Lately I've been really into Chinese and Middle Eastern fantasy, so I was super excited to pick this one up. That said, it did NOT disappoint! I am a very that really likes plot driven, fast paced books. I'm a slower reader as it is, so when a book drags it REALLY does.. and happily I didn't experience this at all in this one! The magic tea is so unique to anything I have ever read, and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait for more.

Personally, I expected more from this one but pretty solid debut otherwise. I would've liked more world building and character development (there is some, don't get me wrong) rather than the info dumping and slightly long paragraphs about nothing. I may continue the series but not really sure. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

"We will fight, but first we will have tea."

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation's magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city's location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.

Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?

In this epic and action-packed fantasy, one young heroine navigates the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.

Thank you to #netgalley and #randomhouse for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this story - tea/spice magic, deserts, djinn & monsters, and strong family ties with betrayal and secrets, and an enemies to lovers style romance? Yes please! And boy did this book not disappoint!

I will say I did find it a slower start but I was hooked once Taha's character emerged on the page. Taha was a complex and layered character that I loved unraveling alongside the MC, Imani. This world is lush and fully imagined, Maiya's fresh descriptions will leave you with sweat on your brow and sand grit in your eyesalongside her multidimensional characters. I can't wait to find out where she takes the story ... the next book can't come out soon enough!

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

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.