A swoony South Asian romantasy story of warring kingdoms, forbidden love and a long-lost magical saviour, perfect for fans of We Hunt the Flame, Empire of Sand and Divine Rivals. With thanks to Keighley_Reads for the below review!
Described as a “swoon-worthy South Asian Romantasy rich with forbidden love,” this book honestly had my name written all over it.
I was so excited to pick this up after seeing it offered as a review copy through Tea Leaves & Reads – thank you, Katy, for the opportunity to read it!
One of the biggest highlights for me was Layla. She’s such a brilliant FMC: feisty, independent, and completely determined not to accept the life her mother has planned for her. Their relationship could be difficult to read at times, especially with some of the sensitive themes explored throughout the story. There were moments and attitudes that reflect beliefs still deeply rooted within parts of Asian culture today, but I thought they were handled thoughtfully and realistically by the author.
I also really enjoyed the pacing. The world-building never felt overwhelming and, while the story still had plenty of detail, it was delivered in a way that kept me completely invested without ever slowing the plot down.
The friendships were another standout for me -especially Layla and Yunus. Their budding friendship was one of my favourite parts of the book, and I already have a feeling Yunus is going to become one of Layla’s strongest allies in book two.
And that ending?! The epilogue set things up perfectly for the next instalment and left me genuinely excited to see where the story goes next.
A real standout read for me this year – easy to get lost in, emotionally engaging, and full of tension and heart. Also: zero spice, which was a huge plus for me!I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book two and any future work from the author.
About the Book
A swoony South Asian romantasy story of warring kingdoms, forbidden love and a long-lost magical saviour, perfect for fans of We Hunt the Flame, Empire of Sand and Divine Rivals.
Sparks fly when Prince Zayd, fresh from defending the borders of Dakaria meets Princess Layla of Sawan, determined to run away from her cruel, power-hungry mother.
When Layla discovers she has latent powers, ones she doesn’t understand and begins to fear, and Zayd begins to negotiate with the mages, who have been in hiding for a hundred years, the young royals’ paths become intertwined.
But the kingdoms are divided, still suffering from the fallout of colonial rule, and both the prince and the princess must marry to build alliances, not for love. As Layla and Zayd struggle between their hearts and their duties, a centuries-old prophecy is set into motion, calling upon a saviour to restore the mages to their true power.
Could Layla be the key to finally uniting their kingdoms, or will forbidden love plunge the lands into a devasting war?
About The Author
Radiya Hafiza is the acclaimed author of the Rumaysa duology and Aya and the Star Chaser. Her debut, Rumaysa, was the first Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month after lockdown in 2021 and has garnered critical acclaim. Her works focus on putting brown characters at the center of her stories. The Silver Kingdom is her debut young adult fantasy, exploring empires, history, and forbidden love. Radiya lives just outside of London with her family and works in communications.
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