DANCERS OF THE DAWN

In a magical world of dunes and sea, Aasira is determined to prove her loyalty to queen and country.

Once united as the country of Larijaah, Amaar and Mezeer are now two kingdoms in conflict. The dancers of the dawn, girl assassins with rare magical abilities, combat Mezeeri operatives who are spreading lies about Amaar’s queen’s misuse of water magic at the expense of Mezeer’s drought- and famine-stricken commonfolk. Aasira, recognized for her potent fire magic, serves as the executioner among the dancers-in-training, but she’s despised and under constant suspicion—her mother was a turncoat general who’s now mistrusted by Queen Sana. But when a surprising incident leads to Aasira’s competing for a coveted position in the Queen’s Guard, these shifting dynamics reveal long-held secrets and schemes that jeopardize the kingdom’s stability and lead Aasira to question everything she’s ever believed. This duology opener blending magical dance and warfare is set in a South Asian–inspired world that contains Islamic elements and naming conventions. The story’s strengths include an engaging premise, complex and varied plot twists, and intricate attention to cultural and dance elements, but the uneven narrative pacing, occasional repetition, and ever-increasing array of characters (who can be difficult to track) result in a climax that lacks some cohesion and emotional buy-in. Nevertheless, readers will look forward to more developments in the follow-up.

An intriguingly choreographed debut.