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In the hidden desert city of Qalia, there is secret spice magic that awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. Sixteen-year-old Imani has the affinity for iron and is able to wield a dagger like no other warrior. She has garnered the reputation as being the next great Shield for battling djinn, ghouls, and other monsters spreading across the sands.
Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother, who tarnished the family name after it was revealed that he was stealing his nation's coveted spice—a telltale sign of magical obsession. Soon after that, he disappeared, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes. Despite her brother’s betrayal, there isn’t a day that goes by when Imani doesn’t grieve him.
But when Imani discovers signs that her brother may be alive and spreading the nation's magic to outsiders, she makes a deal with the Council that she will find him and bring him back to Qalia, where he will face punishment. Accompanied by other Shields, including Taha, a powerful beastseer who can control the minds of falcons, she sets out on her mission.
Imani will soon find that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes—and in her own heart—but will she find her brother?
"An epic, sand-swept adventure." ― Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
January 24, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593667859
- File size: 409623 KB
- Duration: 14:13:22
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Starred review from November 28, 2022
Ibrahim’s superbly written fantasy debut, the first in a series, follows 17-year-old Imani on a quest to find her missing, traitorous older brother. Imani is the youngest Shield in history, an individual who wields magic to combat djinn and other mythical beings threatening the safety of the hidden desert city, Qalia. But when her older brother, Atheer, flees with mystical Qalia secrets, labeling him a traitor, Imani’s reputation is tarnished. Though he’s assumed dead, when Imani discovers evidence that he might be alive, she must journey to the Forbidden Wastes to bring him home and secure Qalia’s secrets from the world beyond the city. With the help of a djinn named Qayn, Imani sets off with a group that includes her younger sister, Amira, and her nemesis Taha, 18, who believes Imani may facilitate Atheer’s escape. The further the group travels into the Forbidden Wastes, the more they learn about the real state of Qalia, and Atheer’s reasoning for running away. Imani’s introspective voice, rendered in Ibrahim’s lush prose, propels a deliberately plotted adventure populated by magnetic characters. 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. Ages 14–up. Agent: Pete Knapp, Park & Fine Literary and Media.
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