The fate of a kingdom rests in the hands of a servant with no power but her will.
In a kingdom surrounded by the ever-flowing sands of ancient Persia, servant girl Zahra’s world is upended when she interrupts a plot by the nefarious vizier to control the prince with dark magic. After accidentally causing Prince Amir to fall under a love spell meant for another, Zahra is forced to flee into the perilous desert sands.
With only a mysterious map leading the way, Zahra and love-struck Amir embark on a dangerous quest to find the mythical Golden Scarab and release the wish-granting jinni inside. Battling sandstorms and giant scorpions, they discover the hidden cave of Balihar and meet the cantankerous jinni Nadim. But claiming the relic comes at a cost, and soon betrayal and demons threaten to destroy the kingdom Zahra hoped to save.
With sharply drawn characters, evocative settings, and magical quests, this intricate fantasy conjures an alluring world. Readers will root for the fierce and defiant Zahra as she risks everything to lift an evil spell, fight for justice, and maybe even win the prince’s heart along the way.
This young adult action adventure novel, with plenty of heart and a generous sprinkling of humor, is the first in the Tales of Zahra series, but may be read as a standalone story.