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norarenate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
littlemsshelby's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lanayagraham's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Fantastic debut! I loved the fast paced fantasy adventure. Spice Road reminded me a little of The Ember In The Ashes with its Arabian mythology and military themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Colonisation
Moderate: Vomit and Medical content
thewrittenadventure's review against another edition
3.0
Dnf at 10%
I was really excited for this book - don't get me wrong. The premise had everything I was looking for in a fantasy: tea magic? check. female protagonist who is also a fighter? check.
But for me, I wasn't enjoying the voice. Imani's voice didn't click with me. We're supposed to believe that she's this fierce Shield, a soldier in their world, one of the best, but the one fight scene we do see was just so-so.
I would have preferred to have seen more of the town that they live in before they go farther to the outskirts of town and begin the adventure.
3 stars, because the voice issue was definitely a me thing and not anything about the author's quality. Thanks to Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for a review.
I was really excited for this book - don't get me wrong. The premise had everything I was looking for in a fantasy: tea magic? check. female protagonist who is also a fighter? check.
But for me, I wasn't enjoying the voice. Imani's voice didn't click with me. We're supposed to believe that she's this fierce Shield, a soldier in their world, one of the best, but the one fight scene we do see was just so-so.
I would have preferred to have seen more of the town that they live in before they go farther to the outskirts of town and begin the adventure.
3 stars, because the voice issue was definitely a me thing and not anything about the author's quality. Thanks to Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for a review.
giunic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leari's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
The book offers an interesting world, a cool magic system with tea-infused abilities matching individual strengths, a beautiful sisterly bond, and an alluring djinn! I loved those parts of the story and can't wait to see how they will be expanded upon in the sequel. I hope it will also have more fantasy aspects than the first book had, since the second half of the book felt a bit lack-lustre in terms of magic and fantastical encounters. I also did not think that searching for Atheer would take up the whole book, but here we are. On the one hand, some parts of the journey were very intriguing, such as the parts in the desert, the market, and the prison, but sometimes, it felt a bit dragging.
Qayn is my favourite character by far! When he was present in the book, I knew that I would enjoy whatever was going to happen. The characters come to some weird decisions sometimes, especially concerning the 'romance' and the mission in general. Speaking of, the romance made absolutely no sense to me. The male love interest is not loveable at all in my opinion. But I might be biased because of Qayn...
Will I unhaul my copy? No.
Will I continue the series? Yes!
Qayn is my favourite character by far! When he was present in the book, I knew that I would enjoy whatever was going to happen. The characters come to some weird decisions sometimes, especially concerning the 'romance' and the mission in general. Speaking of, the romance made absolutely no sense to me. The male love interest is not loveable at all in my opinion. But I might be biased because of Qayn...
Will I unhaul my copy? No.
Will I continue the series? Yes!
melissa300594's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
andji2's review against another edition
3.0
Imani is badass (we support) but also annoying at times. Atheer we love. Taha: I imagine him hot and annoying. Djinni: we love, we Stan, we fully support (ngl secretly hoping she ends up with him). Imani's sister: she's a legend, she's and icon and she is the moment. I am a sucker for world building and this had GREAT potential but it disappointed me. Let's hope for part 2 to be better. It is nevertheless worth a try.
palemon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Great concept, good to show how sheltered you can be in your country and how history/our POV of the world can be manipulated.
But for real I hated the MC!! I understand where she comes from, her state of mind and how she was raised shaped her way of thinking. But in the story you have her surrounded by all these characters her siblings her teammates that are just so much more open minded… it’s a jarring and constant comparison.
Reading this book was fine otherwise, the plot was nice, the plot twists were somewhat expected. And Qayn’s character adds a nice dimension to the story. Bless his patience because I would’ve lost it multiple times.
I believe the second book can add a lot more to this story, politically and for our MC now that she’s « seen the world ». I still don’t know if I’ll read it. The book wasn’t bad but I wish the characters were better written, and the world a bit more defined. I don’t mind a loose setting but this felt in between. Too much to be background info, too little considering the themes of the book.
But for real I hated the MC!! I understand where she comes from, her state of mind and how she was raised shaped her way of thinking. But in the story you have her surrounded by all these characters her siblings her teammates that are just so much more open minded… it’s a jarring and constant comparison.
Reading this book was fine otherwise, the plot was nice, the plot twists were somewhat expected. And Qayn’s character adds a nice dimension to the story. Bless his patience because I would’ve lost it multiple times.
I believe the second book can add a lot more to this story, politically and for our MC now that she’s « seen the world ». I still don’t know if I’ll read it. The book wasn’t bad but I wish the characters were better written, and the world a bit more defined. I don’t mind a loose setting but this felt in between. Too much to be background info, too little considering the themes of the book.