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Secrets of the Desert #1
Master of the Desert
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.
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.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
505 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
6 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Katie Marie
5 books18 followersKatie Marie is a Young Adult Fantasy author who spends her days exploring stories through books she’s reading or writing. You can usually find her cuddling her five cats, even when they’re disrupting her writing, spending time with family and friends, indulging in her love for cookie dough, or reading her latest adventure. Katie has a passion for the fantastical, though she likes to dabble in other genres as well. She published her first book at eighteen and hasn’t stopped pursuing her dream since.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 5, 2023
Master of the Dessert is a wild ride! This story has such an intense beginning and sweet ending. By far one of my favorite YA fantasy that I have ever read. It is expertly written in a way that sucks you into the story and doesn't let you go.
The two MCs become like your family while your adventuring through the story, which makes their story so much more impactful! I can not express how much emotion this book pulled out of me. It is a must read!!!!!
The two MCs become like your family while your adventuring through the story, which makes their story so much more impactful! I can not express how much emotion this book pulled out of me. It is a must read!!!!!
April 30, 2025
Master of the Desert sweeps the reader into a whirl of sand, assassins, and romance as Kaadira faces the worst monsters in the Great Desert...including herself.
This book will be perfect for readers who enjoy romantasy without the explicit scenes. The first half of the book is extremely fast-paced and packed with action, but the latter half shifts to a more introspective pace that may not be for everyone. In true epic fantasy fashion, the world building is incredible, and I loved uncovering the lore of the desert. I'm curious to see how things come together in the next book!
Content disclaimers: Romance: No X-rated scenes, however, there are many fairly-detailed kissing scenes. Cursing: Limited to book-specific words, so the characters do curse, just in a language unique to this story-world. Action/Gore: I wouldn't consider the action scenes to ever go above a PG-13 rating and while the topics can be heavy at times, there's very little gore actually shown on page.
Note: I originally started this book as a beta reader; but once I couldn't make the feedback deadline, I bought the book and re-read the released version :)
This book will be perfect for readers who enjoy romantasy without the explicit scenes. The first half of the book is extremely fast-paced and packed with action, but the latter half shifts to a more introspective pace that may not be for everyone. In true epic fantasy fashion, the world building is incredible, and I loved uncovering the lore of the desert. I'm curious to see how things come together in the next book!
Content disclaimers: Romance: No X-rated scenes, however, there are many fairly-detailed kissing scenes. Cursing: Limited to book-specific words, so the characters do curse, just in a language unique to this story-world. Action/Gore: I wouldn't consider the action scenes to ever go above a PG-13 rating and while the topics can be heavy at times, there's very little gore actually shown on page.
Note: I originally started this book as a beta reader; but once I couldn't make the feedback deadline, I bought the book and re-read the released version :)
June 25, 2024
5⭐️!!!!
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“the master of the desert now the master of his heart” ❤️🫠
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“the master of the desert now the master of his heart” ❤️🫠
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
A swashbuckling romance with spirited protagonists and an honest yet optimistic look at uncomfortable topics.
Note that an ARC was provided by the author, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Master of the Desert is a romantic fantasy by a promising young author. Set in an Arabian-Nights-style desert culture, the story uses a backdrop of magical adventure to explore themes of desperation and redemption with both depth and tact.
Kaadira is a spunky young woman: deadly serious (literally) but with a sense of humor lying just beneath her impassive exterior. She’s very good at what she does—which, unfortunately, is assassinate people for pay. How she managed to become top of her game at weaponry, stealth, and cunning is not really explained, but we do learn what her motivation was; and her choices, while contemptible, are perfectly plausible.
Jakeem at first seems your typical ignorant, spoiled young heir, galloping off on a hare-brained scheme in hopes of proving himself to a wealthy, overbearing father. However, Jakeem shows almost immediately that he has honor and integrity; and while that is accompanied by a rather patronizing sense of justice and morality, he also proves he has an open, intelligent mind.
Though readers probably find themselves inclined to like both characters, our two protagonists do not get along at all, and sparks fly in a fairly entertaining manner as they are forced to work together to achieve a mutually desirable outcome.
It’s clear from the beginning that this will turn out to be a romance, but the story is chock full of adventure as well. Some of the world elements were fascinating: The desert sand is almost a character in itself, and there’s a soft, intuitive feel to the magic in the book. Others fell flat for me: The dangerous desert creatures were intriguing, but encounters with them sometimes felt a little contrived, and the various species did not really feel like a fully integrated part of the story.
For the most part, the writing flows with colorful descriptions and vivid imagery. The heart-pounding romantic scenes, while perfectly clean, can get those windows quite steamed up! Katie Marie’s villains do have a convenient tendency to prolong the moment of conflict unreasonably, preferring to watch their victims suffer rather than finish them off, but we can hardly argue when this proves their undoing. And as with Katie Marie’s previous book, Saving Zora, what kept me reading was the colorful, varied and multilayered characters.
If you’re looking for an emotional connection with nuanced, believable characters who have to face down hard things in order to change and grow, give this one a read!
Note that an ARC was provided by the author, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Master of the Desert is a romantic fantasy by a promising young author. Set in an Arabian-Nights-style desert culture, the story uses a backdrop of magical adventure to explore themes of desperation and redemption with both depth and tact.
Kaadira is a spunky young woman: deadly serious (literally) but with a sense of humor lying just beneath her impassive exterior. She’s very good at what she does—which, unfortunately, is assassinate people for pay. How she managed to become top of her game at weaponry, stealth, and cunning is not really explained, but we do learn what her motivation was; and her choices, while contemptible, are perfectly plausible.
Jakeem at first seems your typical ignorant, spoiled young heir, galloping off on a hare-brained scheme in hopes of proving himself to a wealthy, overbearing father. However, Jakeem shows almost immediately that he has honor and integrity; and while that is accompanied by a rather patronizing sense of justice and morality, he also proves he has an open, intelligent mind.
Though readers probably find themselves inclined to like both characters, our two protagonists do not get along at all, and sparks fly in a fairly entertaining manner as they are forced to work together to achieve a mutually desirable outcome.
It’s clear from the beginning that this will turn out to be a romance, but the story is chock full of adventure as well. Some of the world elements were fascinating: The desert sand is almost a character in itself, and there’s a soft, intuitive feel to the magic in the book. Others fell flat for me: The dangerous desert creatures were intriguing, but encounters with them sometimes felt a little contrived, and the various species did not really feel like a fully integrated part of the story.
For the most part, the writing flows with colorful descriptions and vivid imagery. The heart-pounding romantic scenes, while perfectly clean, can get those windows quite steamed up! Katie Marie’s villains do have a convenient tendency to prolong the moment of conflict unreasonably, preferring to watch their victims suffer rather than finish them off, but we can hardly argue when this proves their undoing. And as with Katie Marie’s previous book, Saving Zora, what kept me reading was the colorful, varied and multilayered characters.
If you’re looking for an emotional connection with nuanced, believable characters who have to face down hard things in order to change and grow, give this one a read!
October 18, 2023
A fast-paced epic fantasy romance in an exotic setting...
This novel is very well done! Divided into three parts (Jakeem and Kaadira fall in love; Jakeem and Kaadira and the sand masters; Jakeem and Kaadira fight the villain), it almost feels like you're getting three separate books in one longer book. Yet, the plot had great pace, interspersed with fighting unique sand creatures, facing a sandstorm, survival (such as poison, dehydration, and sunburn), and fighting our main villain. I felt the realism of the desert setting, even in the fantasy of magical creatures and powers.
As for the characters, they are well-rounded and believable. I really liked how Katie Marie dealt with the guilt of murder with Kaadira and the feelings of inadequacy with Jakeem. Even though Kaadira was a typical overpowered female protagonist, I didn't feel like her actions were unrealistic or that she was trying to put Jakeem down. Jakeem also had his own role, and there was mutual respect between them.
This brings me to the romance. Even though I typically don't enjoy enemies to lovers as a romantic trope, I felt like Katie Marie did a great job handling it. She showed how their feelings developed gradually, and how they came to understand there was more behind the masks they wore. Their romance was actually one of the few where I understood why Kaadira liked Jakeem and why Jakeem liked Kaadira. It was more than physical-they both understood each other's strengths and weaknesses and complimented each other very well. That being said, there is definite physical descriptions of their kissing/making out what some may find uncomfortable. As for me, it was right on the edge of my comfort level, and I'm glad there was nothing more than that in the story.
Other content warnings may be the violence, as Kaadira dealt with her bloody profession, and suicidal/depressive/dark thoughts as a result of this. For those struggling with such darkness, it may be a tough read. Yet, the author wonderfully brings hope to the hopeless in this story.
The last thing I will mention because I know some people who follow me care to know is that this is NOT a Christian novel. Even though there isn't cussing, excessive gore, or sex, there are no mentions of God, prayer, or reading the Bible. This doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the novel, but I know some of you care about whether or not the book is clean or Christian. I would categorize this one as more clean romantic fantasy.
Overall, an enjoyable (albeit long) read about two people who fall in love, fight to survive in the desert, and learn how to forgive along the way. I can't wait for book 2!
This novel is very well done! Divided into three parts (Jakeem and Kaadira fall in love; Jakeem and Kaadira and the sand masters; Jakeem and Kaadira fight the villain), it almost feels like you're getting three separate books in one longer book. Yet, the plot had great pace, interspersed with fighting unique sand creatures, facing a sandstorm, survival (such as poison, dehydration, and sunburn), and fighting our main villain. I felt the realism of the desert setting, even in the fantasy of magical creatures and powers.
As for the characters, they are well-rounded and believable. I really liked how Katie Marie dealt with the guilt of murder with Kaadira and the feelings of inadequacy with Jakeem. Even though Kaadira was a typical overpowered female protagonist, I didn't feel like her actions were unrealistic or that she was trying to put Jakeem down. Jakeem also had his own role, and there was mutual respect between them.
This brings me to the romance. Even though I typically don't enjoy enemies to lovers as a romantic trope, I felt like Katie Marie did a great job handling it. She showed how their feelings developed gradually, and how they came to understand there was more behind the masks they wore. Their romance was actually one of the few where I understood why Kaadira liked Jakeem and why Jakeem liked Kaadira. It was more than physical-they both understood each other's strengths and weaknesses and complimented each other very well. That being said, there is definite physical descriptions of their kissing/making out what some may find uncomfortable. As for me, it was right on the edge of my comfort level, and I'm glad there was nothing more than that in the story.
Other content warnings may be the violence, as Kaadira dealt with her bloody profession, and suicidal/depressive/dark thoughts as a result of this. For those struggling with such darkness, it may be a tough read. Yet, the author wonderfully brings hope to the hopeless in this story.
The last thing I will mention because I know some people who follow me care to know is that this is NOT a Christian novel. Even though there isn't cussing, excessive gore, or sex, there are no mentions of God, prayer, or reading the Bible. This doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the novel, but I know some of you care about whether or not the book is clean or Christian. I would categorize this one as more clean romantic fantasy.
Overall, an enjoyable (albeit long) read about two people who fall in love, fight to survive in the desert, and learn how to forgive along the way. I can't wait for book 2!
December 12, 2024
My summary: Kaadira is an assassin who stays alive in the harsh desert by using her deadly skills. She's determined to keep her identity masked and secrets buried until a sayyid named Jakeem offers a job with a reward Kaadira can't refuse.
Positives
The themes of redemption, freedom, and taking off a hardened, indifferent mask stayed strong throughout the book and wove through the story in a believable, deep, and teaching way.
The action, adventure, and fights were vivid and exciting. I could easily visualize every scene and move. The sand monsters and the villains felt like real threats and created some intense fights.
The desert land felt vast and real. I love when books have details like a special language, food, creatures, places, and systems. This book had all that and more, and it made the world feel like a real world.
The magic was really cool, unique, and thought out.
The romance grew into a major part of the story in parts two and three. It was a steamy romance yet never crossed any lines that would be inappropriate for young adult readers.
Negative: Some parts of the story felt long. The first part went by fast, the second part was paced well, but the third part did drag at the end. After the epic battle that ended the big problem, the book kept going. It was necessary to wrap up the book, but it felt like it was drawn out more than necessary.
Overall: A really great book with elements any reader could enjoy
4 stars
Positives
The themes of redemption, freedom, and taking off a hardened, indifferent mask stayed strong throughout the book and wove through the story in a believable, deep, and teaching way.
The action, adventure, and fights were vivid and exciting. I could easily visualize every scene and move. The sand monsters and the villains felt like real threats and created some intense fights.
The desert land felt vast and real. I love when books have details like a special language, food, creatures, places, and systems. This book had all that and more, and it made the world feel like a real world.
The magic was really cool, unique, and thought out.
The romance grew into a major part of the story in parts two and three. It was a steamy romance yet never crossed any lines that would be inappropriate for young adult readers.
Negative: Some parts of the story felt long. The first part went by fast, the second part was paced well, but the third part did drag at the end. After the epic battle that ended the big problem, the book kept going. It was necessary to wrap up the book, but it felt like it was drawn out more than necessary.
Overall: A really great book with elements any reader could enjoy
4 stars
February 5, 2025
I am sorry but this book just felt like it went on forever! The plot just felt all over the place, for me the characters fell flat. I feel like this idea had so much potential but the length killed it for me.
I normally don’t mind long books but I kept putting it down.
I normally don’t mind long books but I kept putting it down.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews