Secrets of the Desert series
Master of the Desert, Book 1
She’d always felt connected to the desert, she just didn’t realize what that meant…
Kaadira is a survivor. Forced to don a disguise and become an assassin seven years ago, she makes a sustainable living, but each kill stains her hands and heart until she doesn’t feel there’s hope of ever being whole again.
Jakeem is an heir. He hates being under his father’s controlling thumb and leaves to prove himself worthy by bringing back a sacred book stolen from them years ago. He doesn’t anticipate how difficult it’d be though, and is driven by desperation to do something he normally never would’ve—team up with an assassin.
Despising each other from the start, Kaadira and Jakeem must learn to work together to reclaim the book from an evil, cunning man while surviving the many dangers of the Great Desert. They later overhear a shocking discovery that leaves them reeling—the legendary sand-masters thought to be dead are alive. Chasing the discovery for answers and hope for the lawless kingdom, the unlikely duo must overcome their prejudices and face the truth of their hearts. But when a betrayal separates them, all seems lost. Jakeem wanders the desert aimlessly, and Kaadira is thrust into a new and uncertain world that will either undo or remake her.
Will Jakeem find himself and his strength or succumb to the land? Will Kaadira succeed in mastering the desert and her heart, or will the darkness enshrouding her soul consume her forever?
Master of the Desert, book one in the interconnected standalone series, is a Middle-Eastern inspired YA fantasy with magic, action and adventure, clean yet swoon-worthy romance, secrets and betrayals, and themes of redemption and forgiveness. You can read Secrets of the Desert in whatever order you want, but it’s recommended to read the first two books in order as they’re heavily connected and the second one contains spoilers for the first.