Dancers of the Dawn -- Zulekhá A. Afzal, Hardcover

Dancer. Warrior. Executioner.

An epic story about truth, loyalty and betrayal.

Deep in the desert a storm is brewing. The first in a sweeping YA fantasy duology.

'Enchanting.' Katharine Corr, co-author of Daughter of Darkness

Under the blazing sun, an elite troupe of dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen's most formidable assassins. Aasira has one of the rarest talents - for she is a flame-wielder. Feared by all and envied by some, she uses her power to execute enemies of the crown.

Aasira's greatest wish is to serve her queen. But on the eve of her graduation, with tensions rising among the dancers and secrets stirring in the shifting sand dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill...

Readers are spellbound by Dancers of the Dawn:

'Hands down, one of the best books I'll read this year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'a suspenseful, plot twisty and powerfully emotional read that epic fantasy lovers definitely don't want to miss.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely stellar... I love the sisterhood, the mystery, the characters, the magic.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'an excellent fantasy featuring an original magical system, well developed characters, and a fascinating plot.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'absolutely gorgeous, so evocative that I could practically hear the music and see the dancers, even in their deadliest moments.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This world is rich, vibrant, and colorful, the prose will transport you to a land full of spices and secrets.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'First of all, dance magic? Such a unique magic system and it was done beautifully! The world was perfectly described, with the spices and the flowers and all the colours. I just adored it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A beautifully evoked and action-packed YA adventure, with awe inspiring description of both landscape, magic and dance.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author: Zulekh? A. Afzal
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Published: 06/11/2024
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.29h x 6.14w x 1.34d
ISBN: 9780861545070
Age Range: 14-17

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2024
Booklist 05/15/2024 pg. 44

About the Author
Zulekh? A. Afzal grew up in Cornwall, where the dramatic coastline inspired stories of other worlds and magic. She now lives in Bath where she studied English Literature with Creative Writing and completed the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. When she isn't writing fantasy fiction or working as an assistant editor, you can find Zulekh? in a ballet class. Dancers of the Dawn is her first novel, and she is currently working on the second book in the series.