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A review by lifeinthebooklane
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
4.0
Despite a shaky start Spice Road turned out to be a captivating opener to a YA fantasy trilogy. I loved the world the author created, the magic system and the web of intrigue that is slowly being revealed.
I really had to push through the first 10% or so, I found the dialogue quite stilted and can't say I warmed to either Imani or Amira. What I, and Imani, discovered as the story unfolded was that she was quite an unreliable narrator due to her narrow and biased view of her world. She goes on two huge journeys in this book, the first is across the Swallowing Sands to the distant lands of Alqibah, whilst the second was a much-needed one of personal growth and development. Imani was prone to rushed choices, reckless decisions and poor choices that all reflected the somewhat sheltered and pampered teenager she was. Those actions could have become irritating has she not also begun to learn from them and try to be a better person.
Whilst the book is written from Imara's perspective (third person) there is a good cast of supporting characters to add depth and interest. Stick with Amira, she becomes less petulant and actually has a better understanding of real life than her older sibling does. Taha and Qayn are well-fleshed-out supporting characters, Reza and Fey not so much, though that didn't impact on my enjoyment of the story. The pace definitely picked up once the group depart on their search for Atheer and this went from a book I nearly DNFd to a book I couldn't put down.
I will be adding book #2 to my TBR list and hope I don't have to wait too long for its release!
Thoughts during reading -
I will keep trying to read this and hope it improves!
Because this is a Netgalley arc I've pushed myself to keep reading, and I'm pleased to say that the story has definitely improved. The pace is good, Imani is finally starting to realise how annoying she is there are other points of view than her own.
I really had to push through the first 10% or so, I found the dialogue quite stilted and can't say I warmed to either Imani or Amira. What I, and Imani, discovered as the story unfolded was that she was quite an unreliable narrator due to her narrow and biased view of her world. She goes on two huge journeys in this book, the first is across the Swallowing Sands to the distant lands of Alqibah, whilst the second was a much-needed one of personal growth and development. Imani was prone to rushed choices, reckless decisions and poor choices that all reflected the somewhat sheltered and pampered teenager she was. Those actions could have become irritating has she not also begun to learn from them and try to be a better person.
Whilst the book is written from Imara's perspective (third person) there is a good cast of supporting characters to add depth and interest. Stick with Amira, she becomes less petulant and actually has a better understanding of real life than her older sibling does. Taha and Qayn are well-fleshed-out supporting characters, Reza and Fey not so much, though that didn't impact on my enjoyment of the story. The pace definitely picked up once the group depart on their search for Atheer and this went from a book I nearly DNFd to a book I couldn't put down.
I will be adding book #2 to my TBR list and hope I don't have to wait too long for its release!
Thoughts during reading -
Spoiler
I'm only at 10% and it already feels as though it's been a battle to get that far. The language is overly flowery, every sentence seeming to contain a simile, metaphor, emotive language or personification. I found myself having to re-read passages to fully comprehend their meaning. Then there is the awful dialogue that feels neither easy nor natural to read.I will keep trying to read this and hope it improves!
Because this is a Netgalley arc I've pushed myself to keep reading, and I'm pleased to say that the story has definitely improved. The pace is good, Imani is finally starting to realise how annoying she is there are other points of view than her own.