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Moon & Sands #1
The Moon's Daughter
She was destined to rule. He was destined to ruin her plans.
In a world where kingdoms rise and fall like shifting sands, Princess Layna stands on the edge of ruin—caught between her kingdom’s survival and the pull of her heart.
The desert kingdom of Alzahra is on the brink of war. As crown princess, Layna’s future has been shaped by duty, especially her responsibility to forge a strong alliance through political marriage. But everything changes when the handsome Prince Zarian arrives at court—dark, dangerous, and impossibly infuriating. A warrior shrouded in mystery, Zarian’s arrival shatters her orderly life and forces her to question her destined path.
As Layna’s fate intertwines with Zarian’s, a mysterious prophecy looms ever closer, threatening to unravel the entire Continent. The lines between lover and enemy blur, and one wrong move could cost her everything—her crown, her kingdom, and her forbidden love
Will Layna surrender to her duty—or to desire?
In a world where kingdoms rise and fall like shifting sands, Princess Layna stands on the edge of ruin—caught between her kingdom’s survival and the pull of her heart.
The desert kingdom of Alzahra is on the brink of war. As crown princess, Layna’s future has been shaped by duty, especially her responsibility to forge a strong alliance through political marriage. But everything changes when the handsome Prince Zarian arrives at court—dark, dangerous, and impossibly infuriating. A warrior shrouded in mystery, Zarian’s arrival shatters her orderly life and forces her to question her destined path.
As Layna’s fate intertwines with Zarian’s, a mysterious prophecy looms ever closer, threatening to unravel the entire Continent. The lines between lover and enemy blur, and one wrong move could cost her everything—her crown, her kingdom, and her forbidden love
Will Layna surrender to her duty—or to desire?
409 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2024
162 people are currently reading
1754 people want to read
About the author
Leena Kazak
4 books214 followersLeena Kazak has been spinning stories since she was ten years old, when she wrote her first short story and never looked back. A lifelong reader, she’s devoured everything from fantasy and thrillers to historical fiction and contemporary romance—but these days, she’s happily tumbled down the romantasy staircase and shows no sign of climbing out. (Send help).
She writes fantasy romance with fierce heroines, impossible choices, and immersive worldbuilding. When she’s in the thick of drafting, Leena wakes up between 4:30 and 5 a.m. to chase that magical, half-asleep window when words flow freely and the world is still quiet.
Leena lives in the frigid Northeast with her brooding, handsome husband and their two adorable, half-feral sidekicks. (Leena and her husband are actually the sidekicks, but don’t tell her kids that.)
She writes fantasy romance with fierce heroines, impossible choices, and immersive worldbuilding. When she’s in the thick of drafting, Leena wakes up between 4:30 and 5 a.m. to chase that magical, half-asleep window when words flow freely and the world is still quiet.
Leena lives in the frigid Northeast with her brooding, handsome husband and their two adorable, half-feral sidekicks. (Leena and her husband are actually the sidekicks, but don’t tell her kids that.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
January 8, 2025
I could almost see this story being an Aladdin/Jasmine retelling that picks up at the end of the movie we all know and love.
The themes of identity, legacy, family loyalty and unbreakable ties that bind generations honestly flow so well together and will hit home with those that enjoy LitFic. The fantasy aspect adds that little extra umph to make it even more enjoyable!
The world building was decent. It was very flowery and descriptive in some ways that are good and provided texture to the world, but in other areas lacked in actually just explaining stuff. That wasn't too much of a hurdle tho considering the world isn't especially complex.
The FMC was well developed but the emotional aspects of her transformation at times felt predictable and repetitive and I was left just wanting to just get to the action that was built up for so long.
The MMC was perfection. The flashbacks that told his story and tied him into the story was 10/10. I ate that up!
The ending...I wish would have stopped after chapter 29 or MAYBE chapter 30. Even tho it would have left me kicking and screaming...in a good way. Much more of a cliff hanger for the next book. The last couple chapters wrapped things up too much and left us in a predictable spot.
This story is a perfect choice if you enjoy reflective, character-driven stories with a touch of the mystical.
The themes of identity, legacy, family loyalty and unbreakable ties that bind generations honestly flow so well together and will hit home with those that enjoy LitFic. The fantasy aspect adds that little extra umph to make it even more enjoyable!
The world building was decent. It was very flowery and descriptive in some ways that are good and provided texture to the world, but in other areas lacked in actually just explaining stuff. That wasn't too much of a hurdle tho considering the world isn't especially complex.
The FMC was well developed but the emotional aspects of her transformation at times felt predictable and repetitive and I was left just wanting to just get to the action that was built up for so long.
The MMC was perfection. The flashbacks that told his story and tied him into the story was 10/10. I ate that up!
The ending...I wish would have stopped after chapter 29 or MAYBE chapter 30. Even tho it would have left me kicking and screaming...in a good way. Much more of a cliff hanger for the next book. The last couple chapters wrapped things up too much and left us in a predictable spot.
This story is a perfect choice if you enjoy reflective, character-driven stories with a touch of the mystical.
December 16, 2024
The Moon's Daughter (Moon & Sands #1) by Leena Kazak
~She was destined to rule. He was destined to ruin her plans.
Rating: ****
Feels: Wounded, Encouraged, Strengthened, Empowered.
Style: Fantasy, Magic, Fantasy Romance
First published December 16, 2024
The setting in this book is really transporting. Desert Kingdom, our FMC who may need to make a political alliance. It was really easy to fall into the story of reading about how Layna grows both as a person who will one day be Queen and as someone who has strong feelings. Feelings for her family, her country and the MMC. The MMC was definitely swoon worthy and just utterly dedicated to her which she very much deserved. I enjoyed that the story had a rich plot as well as the romance which worked together well and I didn't feel either was under developed. Overall I really enjoyed this read and look forward to the story being continued !
Favorite quote: The Daughter of the Moon had awoken, and with her came the promise of vengeance.
This book has:
Strong FMC
Devoted MMC
Slow Burn
Political Intrigue
Chosen One
Hidden Identify
Multiple POV
~She was destined to rule. He was destined to ruin her plans.
Rating: ****
Feels: Wounded, Encouraged, Strengthened, Empowered.
Style: Fantasy, Magic, Fantasy Romance
First published December 16, 2024
The setting in this book is really transporting. Desert Kingdom, our FMC who may need to make a political alliance. It was really easy to fall into the story of reading about how Layna grows both as a person who will one day be Queen and as someone who has strong feelings. Feelings for her family, her country and the MMC. The MMC was definitely swoon worthy and just utterly dedicated to her which she very much deserved. I enjoyed that the story had a rich plot as well as the romance which worked together well and I didn't feel either was under developed. Overall I really enjoyed this read and look forward to the story being continued !
Favorite quote: The Daughter of the Moon had awoken, and with her came the promise of vengeance.
This book has:
Strong FMC
Devoted MMC
Slow Burn
Political Intrigue
Chosen One
Hidden Identify
Multiple POV
October 23, 2025
➳ 4 ★
Looking for a solid romantasy where you don’t hate the FMC? This is the one for you. Layna has her moments, but out of all the romantasy books I’ve read so far, she’s top 10 least annoying.
Layna is destined to rule her kingdom, Alzahra, but tensions between Alzahra and Zephyria risk the start of a war. The potential ruin of her city and her people brings Zarian, the Prince of The Oasis, to her kingdom as Layna’s new protector. As tensions rise between kingdoms and war erupts, can Layna choose between the love of her kingdom and the love she’s found in a prince? Will the secret of the Moon’s Daughter threaten the love Layna has found, as well as the stability of Alzahra?
ALSO, Zarian is a new book boyfriend 🫶🏼 I liked how their relationship developed realistically and you could really see how they slowly became closer and bonded. Additionally, Layna’s relationship with her younger sister was so heartwarming and I loved reading a story where two sisters truly, deeply care for one another.
I do have to point out that this is written in third person and the POVs aren’t explicitly written, but easy enough to know who it is. POVs can change within a chapter, plus there are random flashbacks from different timelines(?).
Thank you to Leena Kazak for the ARC!
Looking for a solid romantasy where you don’t hate the FMC? This is the one for you. Layna has her moments, but out of all the romantasy books I’ve read so far, she’s top 10 least annoying.
Layna is destined to rule her kingdom, Alzahra, but tensions between Alzahra and Zephyria risk the start of a war. The potential ruin of her city and her people brings Zarian, the Prince of The Oasis, to her kingdom as Layna’s new protector. As tensions rise between kingdoms and war erupts, can Layna choose between the love of her kingdom and the love she’s found in a prince? Will the secret of the Moon’s Daughter threaten the love Layna has found, as well as the stability of Alzahra?
ALSO, Zarian is a new book boyfriend 🫶🏼 I liked how their relationship developed realistically and you could really see how they slowly became closer and bonded. Additionally, Layna’s relationship with her younger sister was so heartwarming and I loved reading a story where two sisters truly, deeply care for one another.
I do have to point out that this is written in third person and the POVs aren’t explicitly written, but easy enough to know who it is. POVs can change within a chapter, plus there are random flashbacks from different timelines(?).
Thank you to Leena Kazak for the ARC!
July 29, 2025
The Moon’s Daughter was a solid and engaging romantasy! I absolutely loved the world, it gave me Aladdin vibes in the best way. The male main character was incredibly appealing; I adored him. And our female lead? Strong, independent, and easy to root for. I loved her.
Some chapters opened with flashbacks focused on the siblings, and those scenes really added depth to the story. It was such a thoughtful element, and I ate them up every time they appeared. This was a well-crafted book, and I can’t wait to dive into the next one!
Some chapters opened with flashbacks focused on the siblings, and those scenes really added depth to the story. It was such a thoughtful element, and I ate them up every time they appeared. This was a well-crafted book, and I can’t wait to dive into the next one!
June 25, 2025
1.5 out of 5 stars. The rating is mostly for the beautiful cover. To be honest, it isn't a bad story in terms of the setting, yet I don't quite like the writing style and approach.
The writing gave me a dreamy and aloof vibe, a bit similar to Once Upon A Broken Heart. I don't know how to explain this, but it created emotional distance for me. It was just, so plain, bland and smooth as if a fairytale/ children's book. As if things were just too easy, that everything was so poised and stiff that I couldn't really form attachment or relate to the characters. I found it emotionally shallow without much substance. The conversations as well, was well-manned, standard exchanges of royal people (like "Thank you for listening." // "It was an excellent idea" something felt like reading exercise in elementary school). The word choice was quite repetitive so it felt like I was reading the same paragraphs over and over again. It doesn't provide any useful information to add up on the plot so it's a bit confusing about how the story would evolve. The story basically mostly focused on the struggles of the two main characters between their duties and love for each other.
On top of that, the characters were so perfect with no human flaws at all. There was no characters' arcs, as everyone just stayed in the character, perfect as always. The characters were without charms, and any distinguishable traits. All of them felt too one-dimensional, that their thoughts were almost always about the same thing.
Problems were solved without much predicament or obstacles. It was mostly about the internal struggles apart from the external pressure or what so. The motives were straightforward and without complexities. It really felt like an elementary read as everything was laid out.
With all Layna's might, grace, and wisdom, it felt strange that she almost fell for every guy at the first sight or after a few brief, polite, on-the-surface-type of encounters. The kingdom Layna destined to rule, was so open about women taking up the crown and power, while it laid so much pressure on her regarding her marriage. Layna was raised to rule, and she got all the potential to perform well in her rule, her parents also had confidence in her capabilities, everyone welcomed her being the Queen, then why would she need to marry a prince/ king from another powerful nations to consolidate her reign? I was quite confused as some notions were novel yet some were not.
The fantasy elements were mostly a backdrop and didn't help much of the plot too. I felt like it could be condensed to 1/4 for the content that actually involved in it. Most parts were trivial, that they did not even contributed to the plot or explain concepts in details or serve any purposes at all. There were too much of telling instead of showing. So everything felt lacking in this case.
Maybe I was the only one who felt this way. To be fair, I didn't hate it, but it just felt like a children story — simple and predictable. I won't continue on this series.
The writing gave me a dreamy and aloof vibe, a bit similar to Once Upon A Broken Heart. I don't know how to explain this, but it created emotional distance for me. It was just, so plain, bland and smooth as if a fairytale/ children's book. As if things were just too easy, that everything was so poised and stiff that I couldn't really form attachment or relate to the characters. I found it emotionally shallow without much substance. The conversations as well, was well-manned, standard exchanges of royal people (like "Thank you for listening." // "It was an excellent idea" something felt like reading exercise in elementary school). The word choice was quite repetitive so it felt like I was reading the same paragraphs over and over again. It doesn't provide any useful information to add up on the plot so it's a bit confusing about how the story would evolve. The story basically mostly focused on the struggles of the two main characters between their duties and love for each other.
On top of that, the characters were so perfect with no human flaws at all. There was no characters' arcs, as everyone just stayed in the character, perfect as always. The characters were without charms, and any distinguishable traits. All of them felt too one-dimensional, that their thoughts were almost always about the same thing.
Problems were solved without much predicament or obstacles. It was mostly about the internal struggles apart from the external pressure or what so. The motives were straightforward and without complexities. It really felt like an elementary read as everything was laid out.
With all Layna's might, grace, and wisdom, it felt strange that she almost fell for every guy at the first sight or after a few brief, polite, on-the-surface-type of encounters. The kingdom Layna destined to rule, was so open about women taking up the crown and power, while it laid so much pressure on her regarding her marriage. Layna was raised to rule, and she got all the potential to perform well in her rule, her parents also had confidence in her capabilities, everyone welcomed her being the Queen, then why would she need to marry a prince/ king from another powerful nations to consolidate her reign? I was quite confused as some notions were novel yet some were not.
The fantasy elements were mostly a backdrop and didn't help much of the plot too. I felt like it could be condensed to 1/4 for the content that actually involved in it. Most parts were trivial, that they did not even contributed to the plot or explain concepts in details or serve any purposes at all. There were too much of telling instead of showing. So everything felt lacking in this case.
Maybe I was the only one who felt this way. To be fair, I didn't hate it, but it just felt like a children story — simple and predictable. I won't continue on this series.
June 24, 2025
0.25/5.00
———————-
God, finishing this book was pure torture 😑. But it’s my fault because I have to finish a book even if it was bad instead of DNFing it.
The idea of the story had so much potential. However, the execution was poorly done 😖. Too many unnecessary description of things that have no sort of relevance to the story! For example, describing what the characters are having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? NO ONE CARES 😭. And when it comes to the actual plot the description is quite vague!! Where is the build up?!!
Lets talk about the characters. The conversation between the characters felt robotic. Some terminology, and the way the sentence has been written felt off which really bothered me because it was the main reason I hated this book.
Don’t get me started on Layna. She was grieving a one week relationship for almost half the story!!! Like girl are you okay?? You barely know him!! It pissed me off that she shut down Zarian in the beginning because of a one week situationship (not even a relationship lol)? GIRL STAND UP. Then, all of a sudden she miraculously started loving him??? WHERE THE FUCK IS THE BUILD UP!!
All in all, I hate all the characters. If they’re not annoying, they’re definitely cringy. 😫
———————-
God, finishing this book was pure torture 😑. But it’s my fault because I have to finish a book even if it was bad instead of DNFing it.
The idea of the story had so much potential. However, the execution was poorly done 😖. Too many unnecessary description of things that have no sort of relevance to the story! For example, describing what the characters are having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? NO ONE CARES 😭. And when it comes to the actual plot the description is quite vague!! Where is the build up?!!
Lets talk about the characters. The conversation between the characters felt robotic. Some terminology, and the way the sentence has been written felt off which really bothered me because it was the main reason I hated this book.
Don’t get me started on Layna. She was grieving a one week relationship for almost half the story!!! Like girl are you okay?? You barely know him!! It pissed me off that she shut down Zarian in the beginning because of a one week situationship (not even a relationship lol)? GIRL STAND UP. Then, all of a sudden she miraculously started loving him??? WHERE THE FUCK IS THE BUILD UP!!
All in all, I hate all the characters. If they’re not annoying, they’re definitely cringy. 😫
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2025
Thank you to the author for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And man oh man, let me be real honest...I couldn't sleep until I finished it!
Forbidden Love
Fiery FMC
Jealous MMC
Child of prophecy
Political intrigue
I loved this story from start to finish. Intriguing all the way through. I loved the glimpses of the past that start being pieced together to form a masterpiece! The true villain of this story is nuts! (especially his reveal)
I really like Zarian! "The thought of harming her was unbearable. Impossible. Unfathomable. He’d let the world burn first." Love a good MMC who would let the world burn for the woman they love!
Layna was very grounded and very believeable. I never got tired of her. She loves her people and wants what is best. A natural queen, but it made me sad when she thought of putting aside her own happiness to make a political marriage. No Layna! You and Zarian are destined for each other! Especially because Zarian is a Medjai warrior tasked with protecting the prophecied one. (protect her or protect the world from her).
I highly recommend reading this book!
Forbidden Love
Fiery FMC
Jealous MMC
Child of prophecy
Political intrigue
I loved this story from start to finish. Intriguing all the way through. I loved the glimpses of the past that start being pieced together to form a masterpiece! The true villain of this story is nuts! (especially his reveal)
I really like Zarian! "The thought of harming her was unbearable. Impossible. Unfathomable. He’d let the world burn first." Love a good MMC who would let the world burn for the woman they love!
Layna was very grounded and very believeable. I never got tired of her. She loves her people and wants what is best. A natural queen, but it made me sad when she thought of putting aside her own happiness to make a political marriage. No Layna! You and Zarian are destined for each other! Especially because Zarian is a Medjai warrior tasked with protecting the prophecied one. (protect her or protect the world from her).
I highly recommend reading this book!
August 5, 2025
Wow, wow. This book pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go. Everything felt alive, each scene, each emotion, every political move. Layna was such a powerful character, strong, loyal, and so grounded in her role, but you could feel her quiet ache for something more. Watching her balance love and duty made my chest tighten more than once. Zarian was a literal dream. He was protective, intense, but so respectful of Layna’s strength. I loved how he didn't try to overshadow her, just supported her in his quiet, steady way. The tension between them was thick, I felt every longing look and every word unsaid. Their connection was mature and built on trust and shared weight. And the villain. Oh my gosh. I didn’t expect the reveal, and it added a really dark layer I wasn’t ready for. The flashbacks blended beautifully with the present, and I appreciated how the mystery unfolded slowly. The world building was smooth and detailed without being overwhelming. Everything was written with such emotion and care. I’m definitely desperate for book two.
December 17, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I was intrigued from the start. I’ve loved the mystery of the Medjai since the cinematic masterpiece The Mummy haha! Thank you Inkspire and Leena for having me as an ARC reader! This is my honest review:
As an older sister, the dedication pulled at my heartstrings. The relationship between Layna and Soraya reminds me so much of my own relationship with my sister! I liked how the author shows the contrast between their relationship and the brothers.
Zarian is dreamy! Who doesn’t like a warrior with a wicked sense of humor? I loved seeing his perception of Layna evolve as he got to know her and seeing their forbidden romance blossom.
I wasn’t sure about the timeframe of this book. For the most part, it seems set in a time without electricity but then there is mention of submerged lights and showers. Tiny details but I felt like I couldn’t get immersed in the world setting. The third person point of view also threw me for a loop as I don’t often read books written in this POV.
Overall, this fast paced, romantic fantasy is not one you want to miss! I look forward to seeing what happens in book two!!
As an older sister, the dedication pulled at my heartstrings. The relationship between Layna and Soraya reminds me so much of my own relationship with my sister! I liked how the author shows the contrast between their relationship and the brothers.
Zarian is dreamy! Who doesn’t like a warrior with a wicked sense of humor? I loved seeing his perception of Layna evolve as he got to know her and seeing their forbidden romance blossom.
I wasn’t sure about the timeframe of this book. For the most part, it seems set in a time without electricity but then there is mention of submerged lights and showers. Tiny details but I felt like I couldn’t get immersed in the world setting. The third person point of view also threw me for a loop as I don’t often read books written in this POV.
Overall, this fast paced, romantic fantasy is not one you want to miss! I look forward to seeing what happens in book two!!
January 7, 2025
I first want to thank Leena for choosing me to be an ARC reader for this book! 🫶🏼
What an amazing story! I enjoyed every second of it, and the cliffhanger at the end just makes me mad that the second book isn’t here yet!! 😩 The character building was amazing, as well as the world building! The MMC and MFC’s chemistry was 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Amazing job Leena!! I cannot wait for book 2!
What an amazing story! I enjoyed every second of it, and the cliffhanger at the end just makes me mad that the second book isn’t here yet!! 😩 The character building was amazing, as well as the world building! The MMC and MFC’s chemistry was 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Amazing job Leena!! I cannot wait for book 2!
December 15, 2024
Rate : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.83)
Layna, the Princess of Alzahra kingdom, has a future shaped by duty, which is as the future Queen. Whatever her actions, she must put her people in the kingdom first, beside her own needs. She had even fallen in love with Prince Nizam, her potential partner for her political marriage, but he neglected her in the end. But everything changed when Prince Zarian mysteriously came to the kingdom. Everyone seems to be hiding something from her or some…prophecy?
Surprisingly, everything the actions and events in the story happen in a natural way, and somehow I find it relaxing. Layna has a heavy burden as the future Queen. She needs to choose between duty and love. Her sister, Soraya, was very wise and brave to speak out loud, advising Layna and I liked her. I love each character’s representation, the actions, thoughts and every conversation explain the character’s personality very well. The development of the relationship between Zarian and Layna is perfect too.
Each day, they missed each other but thought about the consequences of their choices in the future. The way they have conversations, alongside with affection, they try to solve a problem, asking each other's opinion and trying to tell each other what is burning each other’s heart is very mature, the proper polite adulthood relationship. For me, my favorite character is Soraya. Even though she is not FMC, I am fascinated with her brave, intelligent, spontaneous and wise personality.
The map is really helpful to find the location which happened in each event, especially with a war-zone story like that. Politics is light to medium terms, I think, because there is an arrangement for political marriage as well as a Politics-war strategy. However, I really hope there will be some medium to heavy war strategy in the story. For example, the “Trojan Horse” in the Trojan War. I mean the strategy itself is really shown through being planned meticulously and at that time nobody ever thought of using a big wooden horse to win the war, right? A really blowing-mind war strategy is a perfect addition and makes the story more thrill-tense thrilled exciting, like writing with rich gold ink. Anyway, I am really excited to continue the adventure in the second book.
Layna, the Princess of Alzahra kingdom, has a future shaped by duty, which is as the future Queen. Whatever her actions, she must put her people in the kingdom first, beside her own needs. She had even fallen in love with Prince Nizam, her potential partner for her political marriage, but he neglected her in the end. But everything changed when Prince Zarian mysteriously came to the kingdom. Everyone seems to be hiding something from her or some…prophecy?
Surprisingly, everything the actions and events in the story happen in a natural way, and somehow I find it relaxing. Layna has a heavy burden as the future Queen. She needs to choose between duty and love. Her sister, Soraya, was very wise and brave to speak out loud, advising Layna and I liked her. I love each character’s representation, the actions, thoughts and every conversation explain the character’s personality very well. The development of the relationship between Zarian and Layna is perfect too.
Each day, they missed each other but thought about the consequences of their choices in the future. The way they have conversations, alongside with affection, they try to solve a problem, asking each other's opinion and trying to tell each other what is burning each other’s heart is very mature, the proper polite adulthood relationship. For me, my favorite character is Soraya. Even though she is not FMC, I am fascinated with her brave, intelligent, spontaneous and wise personality.
The map is really helpful to find the location which happened in each event, especially with a war-zone story like that. Politics is light to medium terms, I think, because there is an arrangement for political marriage as well as a Politics-war strategy. However, I really hope there will be some medium to heavy war strategy in the story. For example, the “Trojan Horse” in the Trojan War. I mean the strategy itself is really shown through being planned meticulously and at that time nobody ever thought of using a big wooden horse to win the war, right? A really blowing-mind war strategy is a perfect addition and makes the story more thrill-tense thrilled exciting, like writing with rich gold ink. Anyway, I am really excited to continue the adventure in the second book.
December 16, 2024
thank you inkspire for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!
2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3⭐️
okay. this might have been a me thing but i had high expectations for this seeing all the reviews that were like 4.5-5 star ratings and it made me really excited that i got the arc of this. and the beginning held promise, i was obsessed with the aladdin esque vibes this book was giving (as aladdin is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time) and i was so excited when we met the mmc i honestly thought this book was going to be a 5 star read for me. and then i kept reading, at some point I'm not sure when the pacing felt completely off to me, it was really choppy all the sudden. it felt like the author was trying to go in one direction but wanted to also go in a different direction and it just didn't flow very well.
then there was the romance. the romance in this i did not believe. it felt very back and forth of "i want to help my kingdom and i can't fall in love because then everything will fall apart" and very much " i want you so bad but i have a duty to uphold" and that just got on my nerves so so quickly. it made me really sad but i am open to reading other books by this author in the future.
2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3⭐️
okay. this might have been a me thing but i had high expectations for this seeing all the reviews that were like 4.5-5 star ratings and it made me really excited that i got the arc of this. and the beginning held promise, i was obsessed with the aladdin esque vibes this book was giving (as aladdin is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time) and i was so excited when we met the mmc i honestly thought this book was going to be a 5 star read for me. and then i kept reading, at some point I'm not sure when the pacing felt completely off to me, it was really choppy all the sudden. it felt like the author was trying to go in one direction but wanted to also go in a different direction and it just didn't flow very well.
then there was the romance. the romance in this i did not believe. it felt very back and forth of "i want to help my kingdom and i can't fall in love because then everything will fall apart" and very much " i want you so bad but i have a duty to uphold" and that just got on my nerves so so quickly. it made me really sad but i am open to reading other books by this author in the future.
December 15, 2024
3.5 rounded up
The beginning felt kind of slow but starts to pick up around the 40% mark. The dialogue between the main characters fell a little short for me, for example Zarien sneaks into Laynas room where she had food set up and they speak roughly 2 sentences then he leaves. And a lot of their interactions are like that. However this book makes you feel immersed and there’s a ton of questions you want answered, we get multiple POVs as well as flashbacks that add to the story. Overall this is a great fantasy book for people who love low stakes, little to no spice, more focus on the political aspects rather than the war aspects of fantasy, a strong FMC who's willing to give up her happiness for her people, and an MMC who loves her but also respects that she’s strong and independent, and a fun lovable sister.
The beginning felt kind of slow but starts to pick up around the 40% mark. The dialogue between the main characters fell a little short for me, for example Zarien sneaks into Laynas room where she had food set up and they speak roughly 2 sentences then he leaves. And a lot of their interactions are like that. However this book makes you feel immersed and there’s a ton of questions you want answered, we get multiple POVs as well as flashbacks that add to the story. Overall this is a great fantasy book for people who love low stakes, little to no spice, more focus on the political aspects rather than the war aspects of fantasy, a strong FMC who's willing to give up her happiness for her people, and an MMC who loves her but also respects that she’s strong and independent, and a fun lovable sister.
December 30, 2024
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.”
This political romantasy captured me from the beginning! The story begins with a mysterious prologue & keeps you intrigued by gradually revealing secrets & leading you to make connections between characters & events of the past. The world building is descriptive & smooth, & I really enjoyed the use of flashbacks to bring the plot together!!
Our darling Layna 🥹🫶🏼 She is so strong & responds to heartbreak by closing off her heart & feelings. As the heir, she has been primed her entire life to make decisions not based on her own heart, but rather, what would be most beneficial to her kingdom. She battles between letting herself embrace her growing attraction to Zarian & remembering her duties as a princess.
Zarian is our charming warrior who is surrounded by mystery but also cannot fight his draw to Layna. He is so in awe of her, & it still has me swooning 🥹 He also has to come to terms with how his duties as a Medjai warrior intersect with his duties to his own heart. He is protective of Layna but admires her deeply for her own power & strength.
The story’s villain has a very dark & painful background that we get to glimpse through flashbacks. This backstory adds to the political tension & suspense.
Sisters Soraya & Layna have a beautiful, fun relationship, & I’m excited to see how Soraya’s story unfolds as well! She’s a well written side character that is so easy to love.
That ending had me like 😱🫢 Sooo ready for book 2!!!🤪 Thank you, Leena, for the opportunity to ARC read & letting me yap to you about how amazing it is!! 💖
In this book:
🩶 Forbidden romance
🌙 Prophecy
🖤 Hidden identities
💫 Celestial powers
💛 Chosen one
⚔️ Training scenes
✨ Political intrigue
This political romantasy captured me from the beginning! The story begins with a mysterious prologue & keeps you intrigued by gradually revealing secrets & leading you to make connections between characters & events of the past. The world building is descriptive & smooth, & I really enjoyed the use of flashbacks to bring the plot together!!
Our darling Layna 🥹🫶🏼 She is so strong & responds to heartbreak by closing off her heart & feelings. As the heir, she has been primed her entire life to make decisions not based on her own heart, but rather, what would be most beneficial to her kingdom. She battles between letting herself embrace her growing attraction to Zarian & remembering her duties as a princess.
Zarian is our charming warrior who is surrounded by mystery but also cannot fight his draw to Layna. He is so in awe of her, & it still has me swooning 🥹 He also has to come to terms with how his duties as a Medjai warrior intersect with his duties to his own heart. He is protective of Layna but admires her deeply for her own power & strength.
The story’s villain has a very dark & painful background that we get to glimpse through flashbacks. This backstory adds to the political tension & suspense.
Sisters Soraya & Layna have a beautiful, fun relationship, & I’m excited to see how Soraya’s story unfolds as well! She’s a well written side character that is so easy to love.
That ending had me like 😱🫢 Sooo ready for book 2!!!🤪 Thank you, Leena, for the opportunity to ARC read & letting me yap to you about how amazing it is!! 💖
In this book:
🩶 Forbidden romance
🌙 Prophecy
🖤 Hidden identities
💫 Celestial powers
💛 Chosen one
⚔️ Training scenes
✨ Political intrigue
April 5, 2025
The Moon’s Daughter
A lush and wondrous new romantasy that blends Arabian vibes with light fantasy. The story drew me in from the start and I enjoyed the various characters and really getting to know them through flashbacks in the story.
I loved the vibes of the story from the start. It flipped the script early on from what I expected and I loved that. From there it was easy to get sucked in with the forbidden romance, hidden prophecy, duty vs love, political intrigue, looming war, and so much more.
Layna was an independent character who put her duty above all. I enjoyed her journey and her growth. Although, I have to say I loved her sister more. She was so supportive and fun.
Zarian was full of mystery and charm. I enjoyed his character. He was ultra protective and annoyingly charming.
The slow burn between them was fun to read with the banter and tension throughout. I’m eager to see how things play out with the next book.
Tropes in here were; forbidden romance, duty vs love theme, slow burn, banter, tension, angst, betrayal, jealousy, secrets, prophecy, warrior prince MMC, independent princess FMC, touch her and xx vibes, forced proximity, ‘I am yours’, and more!
A lush and wondrous new romantasy that blends Arabian vibes with light fantasy. The story drew me in from the start and I enjoyed the various characters and really getting to know them through flashbacks in the story.
I loved the vibes of the story from the start. It flipped the script early on from what I expected and I loved that. From there it was easy to get sucked in with the forbidden romance, hidden prophecy, duty vs love, political intrigue, looming war, and so much more.
Layna was an independent character who put her duty above all. I enjoyed her journey and her growth. Although, I have to say I loved her sister more. She was so supportive and fun.
Zarian was full of mystery and charm. I enjoyed his character. He was ultra protective and annoyingly charming.
The slow burn between them was fun to read with the banter and tension throughout. I’m eager to see how things play out with the next book.
Tropes in here were; forbidden romance, duty vs love theme, slow burn, banter, tension, angst, betrayal, jealousy, secrets, prophecy, warrior prince MMC, independent princess FMC, touch her and xx vibes, forced proximity, ‘I am yours’, and more!
May 12, 2025
Leena Kazak has been at the top of my TBR for months, not least because my Book Bestie group chat won’t stop demanding that I get on board the hype train. I’m strapped in, seated and I won’t be leaving this train - The Moon’s Daughter is such an incredible story, and Layna, Zarian and Soraya are characters that I want to spend my life getting to know. I paired this with The Spare Heir (found in Bewitched Blooms, a charity anthology which you should all also check out) which allows you to come to know each sister intimately; both are so intelligent, caring, dutiful and fierce. Their duties to their kingdom and one each other come first, and yet their wish for something more, something they can choose, permeates their stories and manifests itself in a romanticism which I ate up. This is low/no spice but the tension and the banter CRACKLES and BURNS uncontrollably - the yearning is unmatched and Zarian is a DREAM. Kazak writes these characters and these places evocatively, to the point where even after you out the book down, a part of you will live in the pages of her world.
December 14, 2024
this book gave me a full range of emotions. from giggling and kicking my feet to absolutely shock and heartbreak to anger and frustration (not in that order). the way Leena wrote this story and created this world was nothing short of beautiful. i described her writing to a friend as comfort. i can’t explain it, i just felt comforted by her writing style and constantly looked forward to getting back to the book!
Layna is a perfect representation of what pressures eldest daughters may face. she is a badass with dignity and grace, learning how to balance what she wants and what her kingdom needs. Zarian might be my new fav book boyfriend. his dedication and undying love for Layna is so swoon-worthy, and the way we learn about his backstory is chef’s kiss. and that villain?! the poster child for ruthlessness and savagery. i love me a good villain, and this one was everything.* 😍
i love these characters and this world. i found the plot progression to be more on the slower side, i wish we got some action scenes sooner in the story as at the end of the book, i felt whelmed. however, i think the way this book ends sets up the next book to be action-packed!
thank you so much to the author and Inkspired for an #ARC of this book! i can’t wait to see what happens next! The Moon’s Daughter by Leena Kazak is releasing on December 16, 2024.
*we listen and we don’t judge 😐
Layna is a perfect representation of what pressures eldest daughters may face. she is a badass with dignity and grace, learning how to balance what she wants and what her kingdom needs. Zarian might be my new fav book boyfriend. his dedication and undying love for Layna is so swoon-worthy, and the way we learn about his backstory is chef’s kiss. and that villain?! the poster child for ruthlessness and savagery. i love me a good villain, and this one was everything.* 😍
i love these characters and this world. i found the plot progression to be more on the slower side, i wish we got some action scenes sooner in the story as at the end of the book, i felt whelmed. however, i think the way this book ends sets up the next book to be action-packed!
thank you so much to the author and Inkspired for an #ARC of this book! i can’t wait to see what happens next! The Moon’s Daughter by Leena Kazak is releasing on December 16, 2024.
*we listen and we don’t judge 😐
March 14, 2025
Immediately this grasped my attention and I fell in love with the setting of the book. The descriptions of the kingdom, the desert, and the surroundings were amazing! I also really rooted for Layna and Zarian. They had so many good moments together. 😮💨💖 Overall, I thought the world building was really good and enjoyed how the author portrayed the burden and responsibilities that Layna held on her shoulders.
She was expected to rule her kingdom and uphold an arranged marriage, ignoring her heart. I could feel for her throughout the book as she struggled between her duties as a princess and her desires in her heart. Definitely give this series a read if you are a fan of slow burn romance, political intrigue, a desert kingdom setting, and prophecies! This is the first in a series too!
My rating: 3.5 🌟
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the review copy of this book! 💖
She was expected to rule her kingdom and uphold an arranged marriage, ignoring her heart. I could feel for her throughout the book as she struggled between her duties as a princess and her desires in her heart. Definitely give this series a read if you are a fan of slow burn romance, political intrigue, a desert kingdom setting, and prophecies! This is the first in a series too!
My rating: 3.5 🌟
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the review copy of this book! 💖
July 31, 2025
It took me a while to get through this one because it lagged in some parts. Some of the details felt unnecessary to the plot, kind of dragging it on. I did enjoy the rich world building, the depth of the main characters - Layna, Soraya and Zarian and the slow burn. This story has political intrigue, an FMC I felt connected to, and high emotions. Will I read the next one? Yes, I want to see what happens and I’m hoping the pacing improves.
July 26, 2025
This was such a fun and unique story. i love Layna, Soraya and their parents and of course i adore Zarian. The world is compelling, the setting is fantastic, and the plot is different than anything I’ve read recently which is an accomplishment all on its own honestly. i am super excited for the next book.
May 16, 2025
Absolutely breathtaking.
I was pulled into this story from the very beginning, and never wanted it to be over.
The plot and character development was incredible. Every bit of information and detail was well thought out. The different relationships that developed throughout the story had heat and tension, even with limited spice.
I would absolutely get lost in this world again!! Highly recommend!!
I listened to the ALC while reading on KU and it was an amazing immersive experience.
I was pulled into this story from the very beginning, and never wanted it to be over.
The plot and character development was incredible. Every bit of information and detail was well thought out. The different relationships that developed throughout the story had heat and tension, even with limited spice.
I would absolutely get lost in this world again!! Highly recommend!!
I listened to the ALC while reading on KU and it was an amazing immersive experience.
June 16, 2025
This was a good book! It follows our FMC Layna who is a princess and is slated to be the queen and Zarian, who ends up being assigned as her protector and trainer by her father the king. Little does Layna a know that there is a prophecy going around that might just involve her and little does Zarian know that he will have to question everything about his mission.
This book tics a lot of boxes. Allies to lovers (sorta), betrayal, hidden magic, prophecies, politics, sisterly love, SLOW burn. If you want spice you won’t get much, but you’ll get the longing, the tension, the devotion in this book.
The writing was great- I wish it was a little faster paced at some points, but it had plot twists and important world building taking place. I’m looking forward to book two!
This book tics a lot of boxes. Allies to lovers (sorta), betrayal, hidden magic, prophecies, politics, sisterly love, SLOW burn. If you want spice you won’t get much, but you’ll get the longing, the tension, the devotion in this book.
The writing was great- I wish it was a little faster paced at some points, but it had plot twists and important world building taking place. I’m looking forward to book two!
December 17, 2024
I devoured this book! It was so good. There was intrigue, romance, politics, friendships, and so much more. The chemistry between the main characters was great! The storytelling was good too, I liked the flashbacks. It really helped shape the story.
January 12, 2025
Rating: 4.75 🌟
Spice: Low Spice
Layna and Zarian’s destinies created one powerful fantasy story. Leena Kazak artfully created such an enthralling tale of duty versus love.
Layna was the princess created by the love and duty of a kingdom. She was everything her parents wanted her to become. Poised, well trained, and a beautiful beacon for her kingdom. What lied in her future was political marriage to ensure that the Kingdom of Alzahra prosper and be strengthened. Upon meeting Prince Zarian, the ties between both of their destinies are strengthened when threats and war broaches the Kingdom.
Prince Zarian is a man honed by the Kingdom of Nahrysba Oasis. His duty as a Medjai requires complete obedience to the call of obligation. He is sent to Alzahra to ensure that the prophecy of the Moon Daughter is contained. Zarian enters into the kingdom with his duty in place, but never expecting to fall for the future Queen.
The Moon's Daughter is a captivating story of love and duty. The two main characters' lives are bound by a prophetic promise that will forever change the fabric of their world. Duty-centered, both Layna and Zarian are torn between love and the duty that binds them to their respective kingdoms. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being a huge fan of fantasy and the Romantasy genre, I was truly enthralled with the world-building and progression between Layna and Zarian. The political and family turmoil within both families was so intense and I was so invested in the outcome.
Spice: Low Spice
Layna and Zarian’s destinies created one powerful fantasy story. Leena Kazak artfully created such an enthralling tale of duty versus love.
Layna was the princess created by the love and duty of a kingdom. She was everything her parents wanted her to become. Poised, well trained, and a beautiful beacon for her kingdom. What lied in her future was political marriage to ensure that the Kingdom of Alzahra prosper and be strengthened. Upon meeting Prince Zarian, the ties between both of their destinies are strengthened when threats and war broaches the Kingdom.
Prince Zarian is a man honed by the Kingdom of Nahrysba Oasis. His duty as a Medjai requires complete obedience to the call of obligation. He is sent to Alzahra to ensure that the prophecy of the Moon Daughter is contained. Zarian enters into the kingdom with his duty in place, but never expecting to fall for the future Queen.
The Moon's Daughter is a captivating story of love and duty. The two main characters' lives are bound by a prophetic promise that will forever change the fabric of their world. Duty-centered, both Layna and Zarian are torn between love and the duty that binds them to their respective kingdoms. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being a huge fan of fantasy and the Romantasy genre, I was truly enthralled with the world-building and progression between Layna and Zarian. The political and family turmoil within both families was so intense and I was so invested in the outcome.
December 16, 2024
The Moon's Daughter is Leena Kazak's debut Romantasy novel, which I was lucky enough to be granted an advanced copy of by the author. I devoured this book in 3 short sittings and am left wanting more of Layna and Zarian's story in book 2!
The author describes The Moon's Daughter as a love letter to all first-born daughters, and it deliveres on that promise plus much, much more! Moon's Daughter kicks off with crown Princess Layna being wooed by the latest royal suitors from neighboring desert kingdoms (major Princess Jasmine vibes!). In the first few chapters, Layna goes through a romantic ordeal many women can relate to, albiet with extraordinary circumstances, and her disappointment stays with her throughout the book, providing a compelling problem for her to overcome. Right off the bat, Layna's reliability drew me in.
One of the best parts of this book is the extremely unique, vivid, transportative world-building. Kazak has crafted a realm of nuanced desert kingdoms full of intrigue and Arabic influences. The texture and details of these settings jumped off the page and felt so unique compared to other fantasy books.
But at the heart of this book is a love story, and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the relationship between Layna and the MMC bloom! So many romantasy books rely on morally grey/black MMCs and borderline dysfunctional relationships, but this relationship felt healthy, relatable, and full of understandable struggles, which the genre needs more of!
As the story progresses, the world expands to include POVs from several secondary characters that add richness and tension. The author uses flashbacks to add a layer of mystery throughout the story that kept me on the edge of my seat well through Act 2. The ending was jam-packed with excitement and massive upheaval for our main cast, and Kazak leaves us on a major cliffhanger, meaning I can't wait for book 2!
I highly recommend picking up The Moon's Daughter if you like strong FMCs, unique fantasy worlds with exotic details, healthy but still sizzling romance, and MAGIC!
Fave quote: "She was the scorching desert heat, burning through his veins. She was the first sip of cool, clear water after a lifetime of thirst. She was everything. He was lost in her kiss, and he never wanted to be found He wanted to drown in this moment, forever, tasting her, feeling her, only her. Only her."
*****
Here’s my book rating scale:
5 Stars – Perfect. Binge-worthy, kept me up all night. No flaws. (I give very few books 5 stars).
4 Stars – Excellent. Highly recommend, just shy of perfect.
3 Stars – Enjoyable but had some noticeable issues.
2 Stars – Not great, might have DNFed. Few redeeming qualities.
1 Star – Unreadable. Didn’t finish, wouldn’t recommend.
The author describes The Moon's Daughter as a love letter to all first-born daughters, and it deliveres on that promise plus much, much more! Moon's Daughter kicks off with crown Princess Layna being wooed by the latest royal suitors from neighboring desert kingdoms (major Princess Jasmine vibes!). In the first few chapters, Layna goes through a romantic ordeal many women can relate to, albiet with extraordinary circumstances, and her disappointment stays with her throughout the book, providing a compelling problem for her to overcome. Right off the bat, Layna's reliability drew me in.
One of the best parts of this book is the extremely unique, vivid, transportative world-building. Kazak has crafted a realm of nuanced desert kingdoms full of intrigue and Arabic influences. The texture and details of these settings jumped off the page and felt so unique compared to other fantasy books.
But at the heart of this book is a love story, and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the relationship between Layna and the MMC bloom! So many romantasy books rely on morally grey/black MMCs and borderline dysfunctional relationships, but this relationship felt healthy, relatable, and full of understandable struggles, which the genre needs more of!
As the story progresses, the world expands to include POVs from several secondary characters that add richness and tension. The author uses flashbacks to add a layer of mystery throughout the story that kept me on the edge of my seat well through Act 2. The ending was jam-packed with excitement and massive upheaval for our main cast, and Kazak leaves us on a major cliffhanger, meaning I can't wait for book 2!
I highly recommend picking up The Moon's Daughter if you like strong FMCs, unique fantasy worlds with exotic details, healthy but still sizzling romance, and MAGIC!
Fave quote: "She was the scorching desert heat, burning through his veins. She was the first sip of cool, clear water after a lifetime of thirst. She was everything. He was lost in her kiss, and he never wanted to be found He wanted to drown in this moment, forever, tasting her, feeling her, only her. Only her."
*****
Here’s my book rating scale:
5 Stars – Perfect. Binge-worthy, kept me up all night. No flaws. (I give very few books 5 stars).
4 Stars – Excellent. Highly recommend, just shy of perfect.
3 Stars – Enjoyable but had some noticeable issues.
2 Stars – Not great, might have DNFed. Few redeeming qualities.
1 Star – Unreadable. Didn’t finish, wouldn’t recommend.
January 28, 2025
As most of you know I am a horror fan and most of what I consume is horror in books, movies, games, etc.
But I also enjoy fantasy, mainly dark or grimdark but I do read the occasional non dark or lighter fantasy which brings me to "The Moon's Daughter" by the talented Leena Kazak.
I will preface this by saying this is something I would not have normally read but recently I connected with some very talented people so you might see more of this in my posts.
"The Moon's Daughter" by Leena Kazak is a captivating book that intertwines romance, political intrigue, and prophecy within a richly imagined desert kingdom. (I got Aladdin vibes) While the novel leans heavily on character-driven drama and relationships, there are moments of tension and conflict that bring action into the story.
I don’t like giving away story details so for me it was a little bit of a slow burn to get started but that’s because Kazak takes time and care setting up the characters and world and it shows. This is easily a 4 star for me that many others would give 5.
But I also enjoy fantasy, mainly dark or grimdark but I do read the occasional non dark or lighter fantasy which brings me to "The Moon's Daughter" by the talented Leena Kazak.
I will preface this by saying this is something I would not have normally read but recently I connected with some very talented people so you might see more of this in my posts.
"The Moon's Daughter" by Leena Kazak is a captivating book that intertwines romance, political intrigue, and prophecy within a richly imagined desert kingdom. (I got Aladdin vibes) While the novel leans heavily on character-driven drama and relationships, there are moments of tension and conflict that bring action into the story.
I don’t like giving away story details so for me it was a little bit of a slow burn to get started but that’s because Kazak takes time and care setting up the characters and world and it shows. This is easily a 4 star for me that many others would give 5.
September 9, 2025
I loved this almost princess-trainer romance with just a touch of magic.
Layna has been trained her whole life to become the future queen. She knows that any marriage she has will have to be a strong one, bringing her kingdom into alliance with another. This means that love doesn’t really have a place in her future. Now if she happens to love her future husband, then that would be the cherry on top, but it is absolutely not necessary. After being seemingly rejected by a prince whom she could see herself falling in love with, she guards her heart. And then Zarian arrives mysteriously. While he is a prince, he’s not there to court Layna, but to provide insight and protection for her kingdom, having been invited there by her father.
While Layna tried to keep herself guarded, Zarian teases his way into her heart. And despite Zarian having a duty (and secret mission), he falls for Layna as well. The thoughts in this man’s head! Absolutely devoted to her! He is willing to forego his birthright, turn away from his Medjai training in order to be with her. Sadly, Layna is hesitant to make the same decision.
And now for the touch of magic, and really Zarian’s secret mission. There is a prophecy surrounding Layna, saying she will come into untold magics, and she will likely be unstoppable. And she truly is. When Zarian is threatened, Layna’s magic awakens under the eclipse moon, and the moon bestows its magic upon its daughter. She does incredible feats with this magic, bringing back Zarian and protecting her kingdom. And then it’s seemingly gone. I’m interested to see if it’s actually gone, or just lying dormant. And will Layna need to use it again?
And our villain... while I feel he was there just to strike a chord with Zarian, he seemed like he didn't really do his research. He was very quick to unalive anyone who he felt stood in his way, when I feel like he should've clarified things a bit more. He acted hastily, and especially when Layna came into her powers, he was very surprised that she was able to stand against him. I feel like he should've at least expected that she would be much more powerful and have more people there as backup.
The cliffhanger we are left with, a figure from Layna’s past playing a significant role in helping her kingdom, leaving Layna with many decisions on her future.
Some favorite quotes:
"... it was my second chance. To finally speak to the fiery girl in green."
"He doesn't define your worth, Layna."
As queen, she would be powerful yet, in many ways, tragically powerless.
Despite her efforts to maintain a distance, he had found his way into her heart. He saw her--not the crown princess, but the woman beneath who longed for freedom.
"Is this hands-on enough for you, Princess?"
"Or perhaps that fire will burn through the ropes that bind you."
The moon kept its watch over Alzahra, over a prince and princess whose destinies were becoming ever more intertwined.
Layna was the woman who owned his soul.
He would stand as the shield against any storm that threatened Layna. For her, he would walk through fire. To hell with the balance.
"I no longer feel conflicted, Layna. I am yours."
Duty called him back, not to the warmth of home, but to the cold embrace of responsibility.
No matter what the future held, he was completely, irrevocably hers. In her, he found his home. He chose her. He could only hope that she, too, would choose him.
Time was running out, and Layna, the heart of his world, was at the center of this nightmare.
He never knew, she thought despairingly. He never knew that, in the end, she had chosen him.
... a power, ancient and untamed, called forth from the ashes of her despair. The Daughter had awakened.
Her rage simmered beneath an illusion of obedience. ...each word stoking the fire of defiance within her.
He resolved to be her anchor, to help rekindle her fire, and to stand by her as she navigated the path back to herself.
Their authority met its match in a man fiercely guarding the woman he loved.
If you love a story in a desert kingdom with forbidden love, slow burn, princess x warrior, Chosen One prophecy, Medieval Arabia inspired worldbuilding, betrayal, and a fiery crown princess FMC and a jealous warrior MMC, then check out The Moon's Daughter!
Layna has been trained her whole life to become the future queen. She knows that any marriage she has will have to be a strong one, bringing her kingdom into alliance with another. This means that love doesn’t really have a place in her future. Now if she happens to love her future husband, then that would be the cherry on top, but it is absolutely not necessary. After being seemingly rejected by a prince whom she could see herself falling in love with, she guards her heart. And then Zarian arrives mysteriously. While he is a prince, he’s not there to court Layna, but to provide insight and protection for her kingdom, having been invited there by her father.
While Layna tried to keep herself guarded, Zarian teases his way into her heart. And despite Zarian having a duty (and secret mission), he falls for Layna as well. The thoughts in this man’s head! Absolutely devoted to her! He is willing to forego his birthright, turn away from his Medjai training in order to be with her. Sadly, Layna is hesitant to make the same decision.
And now for the touch of magic, and really Zarian’s secret mission. There is a prophecy surrounding Layna, saying she will come into untold magics, and she will likely be unstoppable. And she truly is. When Zarian is threatened, Layna’s magic awakens under the eclipse moon, and the moon bestows its magic upon its daughter. She does incredible feats with this magic, bringing back Zarian and protecting her kingdom. And then it’s seemingly gone. I’m interested to see if it’s actually gone, or just lying dormant. And will Layna need to use it again?
And our villain... while I feel he was there just to strike a chord with Zarian, he seemed like he didn't really do his research. He was very quick to unalive anyone who he felt stood in his way, when I feel like he should've clarified things a bit more. He acted hastily, and especially when Layna came into her powers, he was very surprised that she was able to stand against him. I feel like he should've at least expected that she would be much more powerful and have more people there as backup.
The cliffhanger we are left with, a figure from Layna’s past playing a significant role in helping her kingdom, leaving Layna with many decisions on her future.
Some favorite quotes:
"... it was my second chance. To finally speak to the fiery girl in green."
"He doesn't define your worth, Layna."
As queen, she would be powerful yet, in many ways, tragically powerless.
Despite her efforts to maintain a distance, he had found his way into her heart. He saw her--not the crown princess, but the woman beneath who longed for freedom.
"Is this hands-on enough for you, Princess?"
"Or perhaps that fire will burn through the ropes that bind you."
The moon kept its watch over Alzahra, over a prince and princess whose destinies were becoming ever more intertwined.
Layna was the woman who owned his soul.
He would stand as the shield against any storm that threatened Layna. For her, he would walk through fire. To hell with the balance.
"I no longer feel conflicted, Layna. I am yours."
Duty called him back, not to the warmth of home, but to the cold embrace of responsibility.
No matter what the future held, he was completely, irrevocably hers. In her, he found his home. He chose her. He could only hope that she, too, would choose him.
Time was running out, and Layna, the heart of his world, was at the center of this nightmare.
He never knew, she thought despairingly. He never knew that, in the end, she had chosen him.
... a power, ancient and untamed, called forth from the ashes of her despair. The Daughter had awakened.
Her rage simmered beneath an illusion of obedience. ...each word stoking the fire of defiance within her.
He resolved to be her anchor, to help rekindle her fire, and to stand by her as she navigated the path back to herself.
Their authority met its match in a man fiercely guarding the woman he loved.
If you love a story in a desert kingdom with forbidden love, slow burn, princess x warrior, Chosen One prophecy, Medieval Arabia inspired worldbuilding, betrayal, and a fiery crown princess FMC and a jealous warrior MMC, then check out The Moon's Daughter!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2024
In this world of kingdoms and deserts Princess Layna’s future hangs in the balance. ✨Balance✨This book was beautifully written and I appreciate all of the contrasts. I was completely enraptured by Nazim and this young love. I was hoping that his boldness and then his absence would be explained, but I think this was intentional and might be revealed in a second book? I’m hopeful!
From the beginning it was evident that Layna is a strong female character, a fiery girl in green, a Queen trained to rule! 💚👑
The world and character building were perfectly placed with the arrival of the prince -opportunity beautifully achieved!!
Can we talk about the foreshadowing?! The archery scene was dripping in foreshadowing irony, “missing the mark”… with each other. Seamless!
Prince Zarian’s order, the prophecy, Layna’s destiny, Zarian’s mission… I was transported and completely in love! I loved the changes in POV and appreciated the quick transitions with certain POVs that I didn’t particularly care for that were purposeful and thick with plot. I was obsessed with Zarian and Layna, but all other POVs were brief, which I loved!
Back to this theme of ✨balance✨ The short stories between the siblings were profound! It was sad to see how two brothers were raised with one destined to be king, and it was beautiful to see two sisters raised with one destined to be Queen. While one brother was fading in the shadows and darkness, one sister was blooming in light and goodness. I. Loved. The. Contrast.
Also, the way that Leena made me want to see more of Zarian’s relationship with Soraya was pleasantly surprising. I wonder if Zarian thought of his younger brother when he was with Soraya. A brief glimpse into what could have been.
The moon personifications were poetry! I see praise, connection, calmness, protection, power. I see the moon as her guardian watching her, being a part of her. Almost as if the moon was the narrator of her story.
Let me leave you with this poetry:
Their gazes locked, and the desert itself held its breath.
From the beginning it was evident that Layna is a strong female character, a fiery girl in green, a Queen trained to rule! 💚👑
The world and character building were perfectly placed with the arrival of the prince -opportunity beautifully achieved!!
Can we talk about the foreshadowing?! The archery scene was dripping in foreshadowing irony, “missing the mark”… with each other. Seamless!
Prince Zarian’s order, the prophecy, Layna’s destiny, Zarian’s mission… I was transported and completely in love! I loved the changes in POV and appreciated the quick transitions with certain POVs that I didn’t particularly care for that were purposeful and thick with plot. I was obsessed with Zarian and Layna, but all other POVs were brief, which I loved!
Back to this theme of ✨balance✨ The short stories between the siblings were profound! It was sad to see how two brothers were raised with one destined to be king, and it was beautiful to see two sisters raised with one destined to be Queen. While one brother was fading in the shadows and darkness, one sister was blooming in light and goodness. I. Loved. The. Contrast.
Also, the way that Leena made me want to see more of Zarian’s relationship with Soraya was pleasantly surprising. I wonder if Zarian thought of his younger brother when he was with Soraya. A brief glimpse into what could have been.
The moon personifications were poetry! I see praise, connection, calmness, protection, power. I see the moon as her guardian watching her, being a part of her. Almost as if the moon was the narrator of her story.
Let me leave you with this poetry:
Their gazes locked, and the desert itself held its breath.
May 6, 2025
“She was destined to rule. He was destined to ruin her plans.”
From the very first page, this political romantasy swept me away! The story opens with a mysterious prologue that immediately hooks you, and from there, the secrets slowly unravel. Every chapter invites you to piece together the tangled web of the past and present, deepening the intrigue with each revelation. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, and the use of flashbacks to tie the plot threads together is masterfully done.
Princess Layna is a compelling heroine—strong, guarded, and shaped by a lifetime of duty. Raised to place her kingdom before her heart, she grapples with the impossible balance between political obligation and personal desire. And then there’s Zarian: the enigmatic, swoon-worthy Medjai warrior whose arrival turns her carefully ordered life upside down. His connection to Layna is undeniable, and watching the tension grow between them—both emotional and political—had me utterly captivated.
Their chemistry sizzles, but what I loved most was how deeply Zarian respected Layna’s strength. He’s protective, yes, but never overbearing—always in awe of her power, even as he battles his own loyalties and shadows.
The villain’s storyline adds even more depth, with haunting flashbacks that shed light on their motivations and raise the political stakes even higher. And let’s not forget Layna’s sister, Soraya—vibrant, lovable, and full of potential. I can’t wait to see her story unfold in future books!
This debut offers everything I crave in a romantasy: political intrigue, forbidden love, layered characters, and a world teetering on the edge of destiny. I'm already counting down the days until book two.
Huge thanks to Leena for the ARC and for letting me gush endlessly about this absolute gem!
From the very first page, this political romantasy swept me away! The story opens with a mysterious prologue that immediately hooks you, and from there, the secrets slowly unravel. Every chapter invites you to piece together the tangled web of the past and present, deepening the intrigue with each revelation. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, and the use of flashbacks to tie the plot threads together is masterfully done.
Princess Layna is a compelling heroine—strong, guarded, and shaped by a lifetime of duty. Raised to place her kingdom before her heart, she grapples with the impossible balance between political obligation and personal desire. And then there’s Zarian: the enigmatic, swoon-worthy Medjai warrior whose arrival turns her carefully ordered life upside down. His connection to Layna is undeniable, and watching the tension grow between them—both emotional and political—had me utterly captivated.
Their chemistry sizzles, but what I loved most was how deeply Zarian respected Layna’s strength. He’s protective, yes, but never overbearing—always in awe of her power, even as he battles his own loyalties and shadows.
The villain’s storyline adds even more depth, with haunting flashbacks that shed light on their motivations and raise the political stakes even higher. And let’s not forget Layna’s sister, Soraya—vibrant, lovable, and full of potential. I can’t wait to see her story unfold in future books!
This debut offers everything I crave in a romantasy: political intrigue, forbidden love, layered characters, and a world teetering on the edge of destiny. I'm already counting down the days until book two.
Huge thanks to Leena for the ARC and for letting me gush endlessly about this absolute gem!
May 9, 2025
This book was INCREDIBLE. From the beautiful (and relatable) dedication, to the very last word, this book had me completely hooked. The emotional rollercoaster I went on during the last 30% was insane, and I loved every second of it.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, being descriptive enough that I knew where I was and the contexts needed, but not overwhelming me with information. The amount of mystery in this book was by far my favourite part, with the unknown prophecy and the flashbacks sprinkled throughout, I was constantly trying to work out what was coming next. The way the story tied together was genuinely masterful.
I love Layna - she's a really strong FMC who has had the responsibility of a future crown on her shoulders her whole life. Despite the pressure this gives, she is so caring and compassionate, and is willing to do absolutely anything for her people. Watching her try to weigh these responsibilities with what her heart really wants was gut wrenching, and so well written. It makes for a beautifully complex character. I also adored her relationship with her sister and her parents, they have such a great family dynamic and the love for eachother shines.
I may be a little bit in love with our MMC Zarian - when he is first introduced, he's really mysterious and we don't know much about him at all. As the story develops, we learn a lot, and my heart hurts for everything he's been through and how that leads to him needing to protect himself from further hurt. The slow burn between him and Layla was fantastic, and I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in book 2!!
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, being descriptive enough that I knew where I was and the contexts needed, but not overwhelming me with information. The amount of mystery in this book was by far my favourite part, with the unknown prophecy and the flashbacks sprinkled throughout, I was constantly trying to work out what was coming next. The way the story tied together was genuinely masterful.
I love Layna - she's a really strong FMC who has had the responsibility of a future crown on her shoulders her whole life. Despite the pressure this gives, she is so caring and compassionate, and is willing to do absolutely anything for her people. Watching her try to weigh these responsibilities with what her heart really wants was gut wrenching, and so well written. It makes for a beautifully complex character. I also adored her relationship with her sister and her parents, they have such a great family dynamic and the love for eachother shines.
I may be a little bit in love with our MMC Zarian - when he is first introduced, he's really mysterious and we don't know much about him at all. As the story develops, we learn a lot, and my heart hurts for everything he's been through and how that leads to him needing to protect himself from further hurt. The slow burn between him and Layla was fantastic, and I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in book 2!!
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