Title: Spirit of the Sands
Author: Lori Weigler
Publication date: September 26, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- M/F
- Romantasy
- 1st Person Single POV
- Slow SLOW Burn
- Djinn
- Magic Lamp
- Long Journey
- Forced Proximity
- Banter
- Tension
First Thoughts
Spirit of the Sands is honestly so freaking good. I’m not kidding when I say I read it in one sitting. I had to force myself to get up to take care of my (and my dog’s) basic necessities.
I need more. I need to know what happens next!!
VERY minor annoyance: would you HOLD ON TO THE FREAKING BAG?! Seriously. This is a magical lamp that controls a powerful magic being. Keeping it is literal life and death and you just casually keep it near you??
Don’t expect romance in this book. Expect some tension. Expect the promise of something more LATER. That’s why I need the next book.
Wow. Really really good.
Minor spoilers ahead.
The Story
For most of her life, Layla has done everything she can to protect and care for her little brother. After the death of their mother, they must trust a complete stranger to help keep them alive. Unfortunately her brother, Reyal, has a destiny that may be out of their control. When the King’s men come after them, young Reyal feels he has no other choice but to do the one thing he has been forbidden to do: make a wish. Turns out their guardian wasn’t just guarding them, but also a magical lamp and, trapped inside, a dark and powerful djinn.
With no other choice but to bring the djinn, Anu, along, they embark on a very difficult journey, just hoping to find safety. But what begins as a plan to somehow get rid of the lamp and avoid the King turns into something different altogether when they realize perhaps they can rid Anu of his dark side. The caveat? NO MORE WISHES! The obstacle? Everyone wants the power of the djinn’s wishes, no matter how dangerous. They have to learn the hard way that they can’t trust just anyone…
The Romance
There isn’t much romance at all in Spirit of the Sands. Please don’t go into this thinking it will be a quick romance. This is a TRUE slow burn. I imagine the real romance will take off in book 2. With the tension and banter we get in this book, I absolutely can’t wait!!
The silver glint of his gaze moves slowly over my face, settling on my eyes before dropping to my lips. My breath hitches as Anu swallows, leaning closer.
Final Thoughts
I am so happy I received this ARC because it easily became one of my top reads of the year! I will be very impatiently waiting for book two. Thanks so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read and review this ARC!! HIGHLY recommend!
You can read my Goodreads review here.
Preorder Spirit of the Sands here.
