Spice Road

1


We will fight, but first we will have tea.

Not quite the motto of the Shields, but just as apt. Ordinarily I would be outside Qalia s walls with my squad, defending our lands from a never-ending onslaught of monsters: djinn, ghouls, sand serpents, and whatever other nightmare one can only conjure in the clutches of a fever dream. But even now, when we are home on mandated rest, we are facing a hard day of training--and I am certain Taha ibn Bayek of the Al-Baz clan can t wait.

Whenever we are in Qalia s barracks together, Taha s squadmates challenge me to spar him. It is a pathetic attempt at settling which of us is the better Shield, but Taha himself has never commented on the ongoing rivalry. In fact, for the two years I ve known him, Taha has acted as if I don t exist, apart from the occasional snide comment. I ve no doubt his squadmates will try again after the tea ceremony, but I have rejected their other challenges as a waste of my time, and I am not about to have a change of heart, even with him coldly staring at me like that from across the tea room. If one knows his reputation, and who in Qalia doesn t--a talented archer and beastseer who can control the minds of falcons--one would be forgiven imagining a young man with a keen gaze. But Taha s eyes are troublingly placid, the washed-out green of grasslands that have seen too much sun and not enough rain.

Tea ceremony etiquette is to watch the person preparing the Spice, but I wish he would deviate from tradition just this once and stop tracking my every move. I untie the drawstring on the silk pouch of misra and remove ribbons of bark. They have been carefully stripped from the ancient misra tree standing in Qalia s Sanctuary a few buildings over, as it has done for a millennium. I have led tea ceremonies enough times that I could do it with my eyes closed, but I still marvel over what is in my hands. Magic.

The light of the overhead lanterns winks in the gold-veined bark as I hold

Maiya Ibrahim

  A beautifully written, surprise-filled page-turner. Kirkus Review, Starred Review

 "Overflowing with culturally specific details and set in a fictional, Arabian-inspired world, this high-octane adventure maintains a steady clip toward a scintillating conclusion." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Spellbinding magic, lush description and whirlwind action define Maiya Ibrahim's YA debut....readers will find much to admire in this powerful young woman who learns that thinking for herself is as vital as the magic she wields." Shelf Awareness, starred review


"An epic, sandswept adventure."  Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey

"With an enchanting world of tea magic and desert monsters and a thrilling quest helmed by a girl whose wit is sharper than her blades, Maiya Ibrahim s Spice Road is a fantasy you don t want to miss. Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame like Night

"Secrets, scorching betrayals, and a spellbinding magic system." Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight

"A rich, fresh-voiced fantasy, Ibrahim weaves a masterful tale of family and adventure. Readers will devour the pages like a perfectly spiced tea and be left burning for more." - Claire M. Andrews, author of the Daughter of Sparta trilogy

With vivid world-building and epic action scenes, SPICE ROAD is a gripping fantasy adventure that YA readers are going to love!  Lynette Noni, author of THE PRISON HEALER series

Come, let the mysterious Spice Road sweep you away. Spirited characters, compelling societies, critical subject matter, and a riveting plot all scheme to ensure a soul-stirring journey.  London Shah, award-winning author of the LIGHT THE ABYSS series


"With luscious imagery, Spice Road easily draws readers into the desert world and doesn t let go until the very last page...undeniably good writing. Booklist