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Secrets of the Desert #2
Slave of the Desert
A mysterious Voice whispered to her for years, becoming her sole companion and friend…
Aisha is a former slave. Making a life for herself with the Hawks, she dedicates her days to infiltrating parties and freeing slaves, but a yearning for family lingers inside her. When she’s attacked because of her long-lost sister, Aisha determines to uncover the truth.
Omar is a decorated soldier. As the leader of the treasonous Hawks, Omar is endlessly consumed with the next mission. He chases after each rescue in hopes of clearing his conscience of the past. But the weight of people’s lives threatens to crush Omar, even with Aisha’s friendship to soothe his guilt.
A quest to find Aisha's sister thrusts the two friends into a world they didn't know existed—one of magical sand-masters and their return to the kingdom. As they travel across the Great Desert and unravel the secrets of sand-mastery, Aisha’s secret pining for Omar amidst their fake marriage only grows stronger, and Omar wrestles with his true feelings for his best friend.
Can they succeed in ending slavery and aiding the sand-masters, or will the wiles of the world tear them apart? Find out in this dual POV, no-spice romance fantasy! Slave of the Desert is book two in Secrets of the Desert, an interconnected standalone series.
Aisha is a former slave. Making a life for herself with the Hawks, she dedicates her days to infiltrating parties and freeing slaves, but a yearning for family lingers inside her. When she’s attacked because of her long-lost sister, Aisha determines to uncover the truth.
Omar is a decorated soldier. As the leader of the treasonous Hawks, Omar is endlessly consumed with the next mission. He chases after each rescue in hopes of clearing his conscience of the past. But the weight of people’s lives threatens to crush Omar, even with Aisha’s friendship to soothe his guilt.
A quest to find Aisha's sister thrusts the two friends into a world they didn't know existed—one of magical sand-masters and their return to the kingdom. As they travel across the Great Desert and unravel the secrets of sand-mastery, Aisha’s secret pining for Omar amidst their fake marriage only grows stronger, and Omar wrestles with his true feelings for his best friend.
Can they succeed in ending slavery and aiding the sand-masters, or will the wiles of the world tear them apart? Find out in this dual POV, no-spice romance fantasy! Slave of the Desert is book two in Secrets of the Desert, an interconnected standalone series.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
3 people are currently reading
6 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 22, 2025
Slave of the Desert is the second book in the Secrets of the Desert series by Katie Marie. The books have a definite "Dune" flavor but are much lighter in subject matter. I really enjoyed both books in this series as they follow two sisters through their coming of age and reckoning with the past events that ended with them both being sold into slavery (by their parents) as young children.
Slave of the Desert follows the younger sister Aisha as she teams up with the ex-soldier Omar, leader of the Hawks underground railway organization freeing slaves in the temperate regions of the kingdom of Denmaanca. Deserted by her sister Kaadira and left in slavery after her escape as a young teen, Aisha struggles with feelings of anger and betrayal as much as Kaadira struggles with guilt. They both seek answers for their parents' actions and abandonment.
Aisha has survived the slavery and kept her sunny disposition by the presence of a voice in her head that has been a companion since childhood. Could this voice be related to the mysterious sand masters that disappeared centuries ago? I really loved this aspect of the story and adored Aisha as the FMC. Omar is sweet and a hottie but is relatively obtuse as the MMC. Luckily he pulls his head out of his nether regions and gets with the program as the story progresses LOL. The cast of secondary characters is amazing, and I wept as some inevitably succumbed to the big baddies in the story.
There is so much action and political maneuvering that this story kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance is slow burn and sweet, with no spice. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, and I was so sorry to see this duology come to a close. I would love to see more stories in this world, especially the sand masters as they come to terms with modern society.
I heartily recommend this to all lovers of middle eastern culture, fantasy, and especially ladies that loved the Dune saga but want a sweeter romance in a sandy world. This series is a great one for young adult readers!!
I read an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Slave of the Desert follows the younger sister Aisha as she teams up with the ex-soldier Omar, leader of the Hawks underground railway organization freeing slaves in the temperate regions of the kingdom of Denmaanca. Deserted by her sister Kaadira and left in slavery after her escape as a young teen, Aisha struggles with feelings of anger and betrayal as much as Kaadira struggles with guilt. They both seek answers for their parents' actions and abandonment.
Aisha has survived the slavery and kept her sunny disposition by the presence of a voice in her head that has been a companion since childhood. Could this voice be related to the mysterious sand masters that disappeared centuries ago? I really loved this aspect of the story and adored Aisha as the FMC. Omar is sweet and a hottie but is relatively obtuse as the MMC. Luckily he pulls his head out of his nether regions and gets with the program as the story progresses LOL. The cast of secondary characters is amazing, and I wept as some inevitably succumbed to the big baddies in the story.
There is so much action and political maneuvering that this story kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance is slow burn and sweet, with no spice. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, and I was so sorry to see this duology come to a close. I would love to see more stories in this world, especially the sand masters as they come to terms with modern society.
I heartily recommend this to all lovers of middle eastern culture, fantasy, and especially ladies that loved the Dune saga but want a sweeter romance in a sandy world. This series is a great one for young adult readers!!
I read an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2025
Such a fun read. Omar and Aisha’s cluelessness could be frustrating sometimes. But otherwise I loved the storyline and the sand mastery was really cool! In all a really wholesome story.
The world building was very well done and I felt as if I was there in the scene as I read.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world building was very well done and I felt as if I was there in the scene as I read.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 18, 2025
Slave of the Desert by Katie Marie 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“You are perfect how you are, Aisha, and no amount of mistakes or doubts will make you less so.” 😭💖
I just finished this ARC of Slave of the Desert and wow—my heart is bursting! From the first page, I was transported to the vibrant and perilous world of Denmaanca. Aisha is an unforgettable heroine—resilient, fierce, and endlessly inspiring. Watching her confront her past, lead the Hawks, and fight for freedom is both heartbreaking and uplifting.
The magic system is unique and captivating. Aisha’s bond with the Sand—her sarcastic, supportive inner voice—adds humor, depth, and charm, making her journey even more engaging.
And the romance… oh my heart 🥹 Omar! Their partnership in the Hawks, the tension-filled “fake marriage” missions, and the tender moments between them are everything. The banter, the protection, and the slow evolution of their love had me rooting for them nonstop. Omar seeing Aisha’s true worth and fighting fiercely by her side made their relationship so heartwarming.
This story also explores heavy themes like slavery, injustice, and prejudice, but it balances them with hope, perseverance, and the fight for a better future. The political intrigue, the Sand-masters, and the battles for freedom kept the stakes high and the plot thrilling.
Katie Marie has woven together a richly imagined world, compelling characters, emotional depth, and a slow-burn romance that will stay with you long after the last page. By the end, I was cheering, crying, and completely satisfied, while already longing for more adventures with Aisha and Omar.
If you love strong heroines, heartfelt romance, and fantasy with magic, politics, and hope, Slave of the Desert deserves a spot on your TBR. 🏜️✨
October 21, 2025
This clean, young adult fantasy ticks all the right boxes with adventure, action, deep emotion and romance!
Slavery, family bonds (or lack thereof!) and unrequited love keeps the reader enthralled and horrified by turns. Add in unconventional pasts, desert monsters and unusual companions along with magical powers to keep the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next!
Really enjoyed this new to me author’s work and it is highly recommended that you read book 1 first but even though this is book 2 in the series, the story of Omar and Aisha can still be thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended - please read!
Received this as an advanced reader copy and this is my own opinion given voluntarily.
Slavery, family bonds (or lack thereof!) and unrequited love keeps the reader enthralled and horrified by turns. Add in unconventional pasts, desert monsters and unusual companions along with magical powers to keep the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next!
Really enjoyed this new to me author’s work and it is highly recommended that you read book 1 first but even though this is book 2 in the series, the story of Omar and Aisha can still be thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended - please read!
Received this as an advanced reader copy and this is my own opinion given voluntarily.
September 23, 2025
Favorite Quotes -
"Just you' is all you need to be. You are perfect how you are, Aisha, and no amount of mistakes or doubts will make you less so."
"And really, that's what Aisha was to him sunshine, She never failed to brighten his day with a smile or jest and always seemed to know just how to make him feel better, even when he thought he'd done a good job at hiding his poor mood."
I really enjoyed this book! I love seeing the connection bloom between Aisha and Omar!! He treats her with such affection, and the way he calls her sunshine just melts my heart. Aisha herself is so kind to everyone, even when they're nasty to her, which made me love her even more.
The magic system was so cool and creative-especially the connection with sand. (I kind of wish I had sand powers!)
The story does start off slow, but it gradually picks up as the plot unfolds.
I just wish there had been a little more action overall. Still, this was such a unique and heartfelt read!
"Just you' is all you need to be. You are perfect how you are, Aisha, and no amount of mistakes or doubts will make you less so."
"And really, that's what Aisha was to him sunshine, She never failed to brighten his day with a smile or jest and always seemed to know just how to make him feel better, even when he thought he'd done a good job at hiding his poor mood."
I really enjoyed this book! I love seeing the connection bloom between Aisha and Omar!! He treats her with such affection, and the way he calls her sunshine just melts my heart. Aisha herself is so kind to everyone, even when they're nasty to her, which made me love her even more.
The magic system was so cool and creative-especially the connection with sand. (I kind of wish I had sand powers!)
The story does start off slow, but it gradually picks up as the plot unfolds.
I just wish there had been a little more action overall. Still, this was such a unique and heartfelt read!
July 28, 2025
This was such an action-packed, fascinating tale full of Sand Masters, slow-burn romance, and the fight for justice and equality.
I truly enjoyed diving into this immersive desert setting and learning all about the Hawks, a covert organization dedicated to freeing all the slaves across Denmaanca! Its leader, Omar, was the perfect MMC: thoughtful, brave, and with a mission to see all humans treated with God-given dignity. Aisha was just as lovely: bubbly, compassionate and equally dedicated to their cause, after living much of her life as a slave herself.
For the sake of their missions, Aisha and Omar pretend to be married, which creates the most delightful, slow burn, adorable romance, as both try to untangle their true feelings. Aisha has been estranged from her family, after being sold into slavery, and watching her reunite with her sister Kaadira and new brother-in-law Jakeem, was so heartwarming. I loved the bond created between all four of them; especially the bro-ship between Omar and Jakeem.
The concept of sandmasters was also so cool and created a very effective parallel with the prejudice and injustices faced by slaves. I also loved learning about the various sayiids and the sultan and getting to experience the royal life! This is by no means a quick read, but it kept my attention from start to finish, and I was so pleased with the ending. Slaves of the Desert is Book II in the series, but each instalment can be read as a standalone.
I truly enjoyed diving into this immersive desert setting and learning all about the Hawks, a covert organization dedicated to freeing all the slaves across Denmaanca! Its leader, Omar, was the perfect MMC: thoughtful, brave, and with a mission to see all humans treated with God-given dignity. Aisha was just as lovely: bubbly, compassionate and equally dedicated to their cause, after living much of her life as a slave herself.
For the sake of their missions, Aisha and Omar pretend to be married, which creates the most delightful, slow burn, adorable romance, as both try to untangle their true feelings. Aisha has been estranged from her family, after being sold into slavery, and watching her reunite with her sister Kaadira and new brother-in-law Jakeem, was so heartwarming. I loved the bond created between all four of them; especially the bro-ship between Omar and Jakeem.
The concept of sandmasters was also so cool and created a very effective parallel with the prejudice and injustices faced by slaves. I also loved learning about the various sayiids and the sultan and getting to experience the royal life! This is by no means a quick read, but it kept my attention from start to finish, and I was so pleased with the ending. Slaves of the Desert is Book II in the series, but each instalment can be read as a standalone.
August 5, 2025
A totally satisfied book-venture~
I’m usually picky about what books I start, especially the beginnings, but after getting through the first few pages, my attention was caught. The hooks are also very well implemented at the ends of each chapter, to keep one going. It’s different from my usual reads, but worth it to try ☺️
If you love middle-eastern desert magic themes and/or Aladdin, you will love Katie Marie’s SOTD~<3
I’m usually picky about what books I start, especially the beginnings, but after getting through the first few pages, my attention was caught. The hooks are also very well implemented at the ends of each chapter, to keep one going. It’s different from my usual reads, but worth it to try ☺️
If you love middle-eastern desert magic themes and/or Aladdin, you will love Katie Marie’s SOTD~<3
July 15, 2025
Very well written, great continuing of the first book with the focus on the younger sister. Loved it and enjoyed it immensely.
Awesome storytelling and believeable characters!!!
I got a ARC copy to review and I am very thankful for it!!
Awesome storytelling and believeable characters!!!
I got a ARC copy to review and I am very thankful for it!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews