Serpent Sea

By: Maiya Ibrahim

Narrated by: Krupa Pattani

Get swept away by the sequel to the instant Sunday Times bestseller Spice Road! In this romantic, action-packed fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired land, Imani and Taha must save their home from an invasion after the magical enchantment that hid them from the world is defeated.

Imani is a magic-wielding warrior sworn to protect her land from the monsters that roam the desert. But an even worse enemy now threatens the Sahir. As the powerful Harrowlanders march south with their greatest weapon—spice magic—Imani knows it’s only a matter of time before their invasion of her land begins . . . and it will be a losing battle for her people.

But Imani also knows that one way to fight magic is with monsters. If she can restore Qayn’s stolen powers, together they can summon a supernatural army to defend the Sahir from the Harrowlanders. Forming an alliance with a djinni king is risky, but Imani will do anything to save her people, even embarking on a dangerous quest beyond the sands to find the magical jewels of Qayn’s lost crown.

As Imani journeys far from home, she will discover monsters that warriors have only heard about in myths . . . monsters that can strike at any moment. Meanwhile, her rival, Taha, has been captured and is on a dangerous mission of his own.

One wrong move could cost them their lives—and everyone they love. But they may find that there is more than meets the eye crossing the Serpent Sea . . . and betrayal cuts deeper than any dagger.
In this richly imagined Arabian-inspired fantasy told from a riveting dual perspective, critically acclaimed author Maiya Ibrahim dives into the complexities of love and war.

Critic reviews

Praise for the Spice road series:

★ "A captivating and emotionally resonant adventure." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review on Serpent Sea

★ “A beautifully written, surprise-filled page-turner.” ―Kirkus Review, Starred Review on Spice Road

★ "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 on Spice Road

★ “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 on Spice Road

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

"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 Roadis a fantasy you don’t want to miss.” – Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame like Night, on Spice Road

YA book once again teaches us about Rebellion

The books I frequently fall in love with are those that teach us that we have power and how to resist the power of those who seek to wield it over us as a weapon of suppression. As a descendant of the British Isles having the story told that this civilization we were being told we were saving was actually cleaner and more civilized than our own was hard to hear but it was necessary to view my ancestors as sometimes villans in the stories where we claimed to be heroes and ultimately how the multiple perspectives on a single event can unravel the truth far better than a single perspective no matter how well researched.

Surprise Find

Stumbled upon the book and it turned out to be a really good read. I will look for more from this writer.

Love it

Refreshing and creative story. Great narration and well matched for the story. Can’t wait for book 3 to be released.

Absolutely loved this sequel!!

I will say that Spice Road was a really strong debut. This book is equally strong, though I will say that I do wish there was a different narrator for Taha. Not that Imani's narrator was bad (she was not. I love her as Imani's voice). I just like the distinction between characters that new narrators provide.

I liked how much everything expanded in this book, and the secrets that were finally revealed. Very excited for book 3.