In the hidden desert city of Qalia, misra tea awakens magical affinities—powers meant to protect the realm. Sixteen-year-old Imani drinks, and iron answers her call. With her unmatched skill, she’s destined to become one of Qalia’s Shields, the next great warrior against djinn, ghouls, and monsters prowling the sands.
But honor can’t silence grief. Her brother vanished beyond the Forbidden Wastes after betraying their people, stealing spice, and staining the family name. When whispers suggest he’s alive—and dealing their nation’s magic to outsiders—Imani vows to bring him back, even if it means hunting him down herself.
Alongside fellow Shields, including the infuriatingly skilled beastseer Taha, Imani journeys into a world of secrets, peril, and temptation. What she finds may shatter everything she’s sworn to protect.
