A review by laurolly
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

3.0

3.5 Stars. The plot of this book was stellar, we had adventure, family bonds, magic, and a healthy dose of rebellion. I particularly enjoyed the Arabic inspired world, and the middle eastern mythology which was drawn on for inspiration of the monsters and folklore in the book. This has certainly set up for an epic trilogy which I would be interested in seeing through. However, it felt like something was missing. The characters were one dimensional and fit too neatly into prescribed categories such as the unwilling villain, the rebellious younger sibling, and the goody-two-shoes whose worldview is challenged. It was all very predictable in that regard. Imani, our main character, was incredibly obtuse throughout the book which was annoying and made me want to hit her over the head. I think the relationships could have been better portrayed and the characters given more substance so that we could connect more with them. The magic system was fully realised and so easy to understand, Ibrahim really knew the ins and outs of what they had designed and it translated well onto the page. I also liked the slight hint at romance throughout the book as I thought it was very artfully done. I certainly have developed strong opinions on who Imani should pursue in future books! Looking forward to reading the second book when it releases.