Is "A Desert of Bleeding Sand" Worth the Read? A Comprehensive Book Review

As this is Ms. Damisa’s debut novel, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect—but the blurb sounded intriguing and right up my alley. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is solid and compelling, and the world-building is second to none.

From the very first page, you're thrown straight into the chaos and action, and it’s hard to put the book down. Zair—a half-azia (half-fae)—is instantly likable, full of grit, character, and relentless determination. Driven by revenge for her sister and all those taken before her, her journey is magnetic. I think I fell for her from almost her first line of inner dialogue. She’s smart, sassy, and fiercely loyal—an easy protagonist to root for.

The complexity of this world is clear, yet the storytelling makes it easy to follow. As a military student, Zair is sent on a mission to uncover the truth behind the brutal attack on her younger sister and the disappearance of other kidnapped students—victims of horrifying raids by mercenaries. Along the way, she encounters Dathan, a rival student from a competing academy.

Now, I love a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and these two delivered everything I want from that trope. The banter, the tension, the slow-burn chemistry—it all unfolds against a backdrop of danger, doubt, and rich political intrigue that only heightens the stakes. Zair and Dathan are both deeply complex, wounded in different ways, and full of mistrust—but together, they form the most perfectly imperfect pairing.

If you’re looking for a book where the writing shines, the characters are as layered as they are lovable, and the themes run deep—loyalty, vengeance, identity, and survival—A Desert of Bleeding Sand is absolutely worth your time. A stunning debut that promises even more greatness to come.

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In a glittering Sahara Desert palace, many have come to die…

I am Zair, reviled, half-blooded, and dangerous. Aziza magic coils in my veins like a curse, and for that, they fear me. But I will not stand by while traitors attack my academy and vanish with its students, especially as my sister is targeted.

They sent me to the palace as a student envoy to the king’s coronation, but I know the truth. I’m a weapon, a spy cloaked in silk and suspicion, sent to unmask those behind the disappearances. The air is thick with secrets, and the palace feels alive, pulsing with night magic and silent menace.

Then I meet him. Dathan. A rival spy from another academy—sharp-eyed, clever, cunning, and deadly. I don’t trust him, and I shouldn’t want him. But the pull between us is maddening, dangerous, a flame I cannot smother.

As more students vanish and shadows stir in every corridor, we have no choice but to join forces. Yet every moment spent together fractures my resolve.

In a palace where ambition poisons the air and betrayal hides behind every smile, I must unravel the truth before time runs out—while guarding my heart against the one man who could ruin more than the mission… he could destroy me.

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