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The Silver Kingdom
Not yet published
Expected 4 Jun 26A swoony South Asian romantasy story of warring kingdoms, forbidden love and a long-lost magical saviour, perfect for fans of
We Hunt the Flame
,
Empire of Sand
and
Divine Rivals
.
Sparks fly when Prince Zayd, fresh from defending the borders of Dakaria meets Princess Layla of Sawan, determined to run away from her cruel, power-hungry mother.
When Layla discovers she has latent powers, ones she doesn't understand and begins to fear, and Zayd begins to negotiate with the mages, who have been in hiding for a hundred years, the young royals' paths become intertwined.
But the kingdoms are divided, still suffering from the fallout of colonial rule, and both the prince and the princess must marry to build alliances, not for love. As Layla and Zayd struggle between their hearts and their duties, a centuries-old prophecy is set into motion, calling upon a saviour to restore the mages to their true power.
Could Layla be the key to finally uniting their kingdoms, or will forbidden love plunge the lands into a devasting war?
From Radiya Hafiza, a sparkling new voice in YA, comes a story featuring
Slow burn forbidden romance First-person dual POVThe chosen one
Sparks fly when Prince Zayd, fresh from defending the borders of Dakaria meets Princess Layla of Sawan, determined to run away from her cruel, power-hungry mother.
When Layla discovers she has latent powers, ones she doesn't understand and begins to fear, and Zayd begins to negotiate with the mages, who have been in hiding for a hundred years, the young royals' paths become intertwined.
But the kingdoms are divided, still suffering from the fallout of colonial rule, and both the prince and the princess must marry to build alliances, not for love. As Layla and Zayd struggle between their hearts and their duties, a centuries-old prophecy is set into motion, calling upon a saviour to restore the mages to their true power.
Could Layla be the key to finally uniting their kingdoms, or will forbidden love plunge the lands into a devasting war?
From Radiya Hafiza, a sparkling new voice in YA, comes a story featuring
Slow burn forbidden romance First-person dual POVThe chosen one
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 4, 2026
About the author
Radiya Hafiza
6 books50 followersRadiya Hafiza is the acclaimed author of the Rumaysa duology and Aya and the Star Chaser. Her debut, Rumaysa, was the Waterstones Children's Book of the Month in April 2021 and has won critical acclaim across the UK and US. The Silver Kingdom is her debut YA fantasy, exploring empires, history and forbidden love.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 1, 2026
Thank you Simon and Schuster UK Children's and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
The description of this book sounds really good and I was happy to have the opportunity to read this book.
In this book we follow Prince Zayd who meets Princess Layla, who is determined to run away from her toxic mother. Layka and Zayd must make alliances to keep their kingdoms save, instead of following their hearts towards eachother.
I wanted to like this story but the writing style really icked me and I couldn’t get passed it. In this case, I think it is a ‘it’s me, not you’ kind of issue and I think there are many readers who will like this book, I’m just not one of them unfortunately.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
I was a bit conflicted with this one. While there were things I liked in the Silver Kingdom, I feel like I had as many issues with this one, and I’m not entirely sure if I will be continuing with the series.
When I heard that this book was going to feature mages, elemental magic and a forbidden romance, I had high hopes! It sounded so good on paper, but unfortunately I think the actual execution didn’t quite deliver. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed though and I think there is potential for a better sequel.
My favorite character easily was Yunus, Zayd’s brother. Yunus really carried this one for me!! He’s so sassy, flirty, funny and a bit of a shithead, but I absolutely LOVED him. What I love as well is that there was actually depth to Yunus besides being a comedic relief and I think he has so much potential. He’s given a surprising amount of depth and I liked how the book delves into birth order and how it shapes Yunus as a character. Yunus is second-born after Zayd, and I like how he doesn’t lean into that spoiled, entitled younger brother stereotype and subverts expectations. Yunus is genuinely frustrated since he wants to contribute and make a difference as Sultan and I love how he genuinely tries to help his brother in any way that he can. Best boy.
I also liked Zayd from the get go and the heavy responsibilities he has to bear as the next Sultan. I found him to be a really likable character and the brotherhood he has with Yunus was absolutely my favorite thing in the novel. The sharp banter between them was so hilarious. They both get on each other’s nerves, but deep down it’s clear they both care deeply for each other. Their brotherhood felt really organic and I bought into their relationship.
Unfortunately, what I didn’t love so much was the romance between Layla and Zayd. I thought the novel started strong, but when Layla and Zayd interacted for the first time, it felt like the tone shifted drastically into something more YA and juvenile — one that I probably would have found more entertaining if I was ten years younger. It’s a reverse grumpy sunshine trope, but the way Layla was infuriated with him most of the time just didn’t feel justified to me. It was really heavy on the insta love and lust trope as well and moved too fast for me personally. Usually I absolutely cannot stand insta lust, but I do like Layla and Zayd individually, so this one didn’t bother me as much as it could have fortunately. Their relationship did have a few cute moments though. Zayd is such a menace and the way he teases and gets on Layla’s nerves was endearing. I also loved the little letters between them.
Still, every time they interacted I just wanted to go back to the main political intrigue and conflict, which had a more serious tone. The way it explores death, grief and fatherhood did make me feel sad for Layla and Zayd, especially Layla’s deceased father who still carries such a strong presence throughout the novel. Even the racism in the book made me feel sorry for Layla. Both of them deserve so much better — I just wish their relationship showed them bonding over these issues more.
I always love books that explore elemental magic as well, though I wish it was shown more since I wasn’t fully enticed. Same with the political intrigue, which could have been stronger since I felt like I needed a stronger explanation for why the kingdoms were divided. I found Layla’s mom to be very despicable but in a generic sort of way. I wasn’t provoked enough to feel super angry, but she was terrible for sure, even if her motives felt quite predictable. This all still feels like a set up for something bigger, but I’m not sure if I am intrigued enough to continue.
Thank you as always to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was a bit conflicted with this one. While there were things I liked in the Silver Kingdom, I feel like I had as many issues with this one, and I’m not entirely sure if I will be continuing with the series.
When I heard that this book was going to feature mages, elemental magic and a forbidden romance, I had high hopes! It sounded so good on paper, but unfortunately I think the actual execution didn’t quite deliver. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed though and I think there is potential for a better sequel.
My favorite character easily was Yunus, Zayd’s brother. Yunus really carried this one for me!! He’s so sassy, flirty, funny and a bit of a shithead, but I absolutely LOVED him. What I love as well is that there was actually depth to Yunus besides being a comedic relief and I think he has so much potential. He’s given a surprising amount of depth and I liked how the book delves into birth order and how it shapes Yunus as a character. Yunus is second-born after Zayd, and I like how he doesn’t lean into that spoiled, entitled younger brother stereotype and subverts expectations. Yunus is genuinely frustrated since he wants to contribute and make a difference as Sultan and I love how he genuinely tries to help his brother in any way that he can. Best boy.
I also liked Zayd from the get go and the heavy responsibilities he has to bear as the next Sultan. I found him to be a really likable character and the brotherhood he has with Yunus was absolutely my favorite thing in the novel. The sharp banter between them was so hilarious. They both get on each other’s nerves, but deep down it’s clear they both care deeply for each other. Their brotherhood felt really organic and I bought into their relationship.
Unfortunately, what I didn’t love so much was the romance between Layla and Zayd. I thought the novel started strong, but when Layla and Zayd interacted for the first time, it felt like the tone shifted drastically into something more YA and juvenile — one that I probably would have found more entertaining if I was ten years younger. It’s a reverse grumpy sunshine trope, but the way Layla was infuriated with him most of the time just didn’t feel justified to me. It was really heavy on the insta love and lust trope as well and moved too fast for me personally. Usually I absolutely cannot stand insta lust, but I do like Layla and Zayd individually, so this one didn’t bother me as much as it could have fortunately. Their relationship did have a few cute moments though. Zayd is such a menace and the way he teases and gets on Layla’s nerves was endearing. I also loved the little letters between them.
Still, every time they interacted I just wanted to go back to the main political intrigue and conflict, which had a more serious tone. The way it explores death, grief and fatherhood did make me feel sad for Layla and Zayd, especially Layla’s deceased father who still carries such a strong presence throughout the novel. Even the racism in the book made me feel sorry for Layla. Both of them deserve so much better — I just wish their relationship showed them bonding over these issues more.
I always love books that explore elemental magic as well, though I wish it was shown more since I wasn’t fully enticed. Same with the political intrigue, which could have been stronger since I felt like I needed a stronger explanation for why the kingdoms were divided. I found Layla’s mom to be very despicable but in a generic sort of way. I wasn’t provoked enough to feel super angry, but she was terrible for sure, even if her motives felt quite predictable. This all still feels like a set up for something bigger, but I’m not sure if I am intrigued enough to continue.
Thank you as always to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3⭐
I have mixed feelings about this book. It follows Layla and Zayd, both heirs to rival kingdoms. Zayd has just returned after defending the borders of Dakaria, while Layla, princess of Suwen, is trying to escape her cruel and power-hungry mother. When Layla discovers she has latent powers she doesn’t understand and begins to fear, and Zayd starts negotiating with mages who have been in hiding for a hundred years, their paths become intertwined. With political tensions between the kingdoms and marriages expected to secure alliances rather than love, a centuries-old prophecy begins to unfold.
Zayd, the crown prince of Dakaria, was written really well. I liked how he balanced his royal responsibilities while also giving us a glimpse of the boy behind the crown. He was thoughtful, pragmatic, caring, and his chapters were some of the most interesting in the book.
My favorite character in this whole book was easily Zayd’s younger brother, Yunus. Being the second born, he’s often seen as a shadow under his older brother. But instead of acting like a typical spoiled young prince, he genuinely wants to help Zayd with his royal duties. He’s chivalrous, kind, funny and just an awesome side character.
Layla, the princess of Suwen, on the other hand… erm not so much, especially in the first half of the book. I found her quite insufferable at times, especially with how hostile she was toward Zayd. While some of it makes sense considering her situation, it still made parts of her storyline frustrating to read.
And I absolutely hated Layla’s dreadful mother. Argh that power-hungry leech. Every scene with her just made me dislike her even more.
The political intrigue and the setting were actually really well done, but there were some inconsistencies in the timeline. For example, it was three in the morning and Zayd was eating, and suddenly it’s randomly eight and he's just done eating. Like… hey, did you eat for five hours straight?? Moments like that were a bit confusing. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the insta-love, although I did find it quite bearable.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. It definitely has a few flaws, but I see a lot of potential for the sequel.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and the author for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It follows Layla and Zayd, both heirs to rival kingdoms. Zayd has just returned after defending the borders of Dakaria, while Layla, princess of Suwen, is trying to escape her cruel and power-hungry mother. When Layla discovers she has latent powers she doesn’t understand and begins to fear, and Zayd starts negotiating with mages who have been in hiding for a hundred years, their paths become intertwined. With political tensions between the kingdoms and marriages expected to secure alliances rather than love, a centuries-old prophecy begins to unfold.
Zayd, the crown prince of Dakaria, was written really well. I liked how he balanced his royal responsibilities while also giving us a glimpse of the boy behind the crown. He was thoughtful, pragmatic, caring, and his chapters were some of the most interesting in the book.
My favorite character in this whole book was easily Zayd’s younger brother, Yunus. Being the second born, he’s often seen as a shadow under his older brother. But instead of acting like a typical spoiled young prince, he genuinely wants to help Zayd with his royal duties. He’s chivalrous, kind, funny and just an awesome side character.
Layla, the princess of Suwen, on the other hand… erm not so much, especially in the first half of the book. I found her quite insufferable at times, especially with how hostile she was toward Zayd. While some of it makes sense considering her situation, it still made parts of her storyline frustrating to read.
And I absolutely hated Layla’s dreadful mother. Argh that power-hungry leech. Every scene with her just made me dislike her even more.
The political intrigue and the setting were actually really well done, but there were some inconsistencies in the timeline. For example, it was three in the morning and Zayd was eating, and suddenly it’s randomly eight and he's just done eating. Like… hey, did you eat for five hours straight?? Moments like that were a bit confusing. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the insta-love, although I did find it quite bearable.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. It definitely has a few flaws, but I see a lot of potential for the sequel.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and the author for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Radiya Hafiza, Simon & Schuster Children's UK, and NetGalley, for this e-arc
The Silver Kingdom is a swoonworthy Asian romantasy with anticipated political intrigue. Filled with Eastern culture and elemental magic, this story immerses the reader in a mesmerizing world.
As heirs from different Kingdoms, Princess Layla from Sawan meets Prince Zayd while on a visit to Dakaria. She has always succumbed to her cruel, power-hungry mother, but she has a strong personality and cares a lot for her people, making her a respecting future-Sultana. Her sharp wit and dry sense of humour make her immediately lovable, noticed particularly by Prince Zayd. Throughout the story, she's on a journey discovering her past since some secrets unravelled.
Prince Zayd is a charmer and has the brains for politics. His heart lies with his family, his Kingdom, and later with Layla (while he's engaged to another for the sake of Dakaria). He shows both his Sultan-side and boyish side of playfulness. I love the moments when he interacts with his family, giving you a sense of affinity.
The side characters were diverse and unique. They supported the main characters and consequently the plot. I felt like their interactions with the main characters could've been more (detailed), but you still feel a human connection to them.
The most compelling parts of the book were the chemistry, the politics, and the cultures. Mixed together with elemental magic and an intriguing secret history, the book creates this magical story that keeps you reading.
The Silver Kingdom is a swoonworthy Asian romantasy with anticipated political intrigue. Filled with Eastern culture and elemental magic, this story immerses the reader in a mesmerizing world.
As heirs from different Kingdoms, Princess Layla from Sawan meets Prince Zayd while on a visit to Dakaria. She has always succumbed to her cruel, power-hungry mother, but she has a strong personality and cares a lot for her people, making her a respecting future-Sultana. Her sharp wit and dry sense of humour make her immediately lovable, noticed particularly by Prince Zayd. Throughout the story, she's on a journey discovering her past since some secrets unravelled.
Prince Zayd is a charmer and has the brains for politics. His heart lies with his family, his Kingdom, and later with Layla (while he's engaged to another for the sake of Dakaria). He shows both his Sultan-side and boyish side of playfulness. I love the moments when he interacts with his family, giving you a sense of affinity.
The side characters were diverse and unique. They supported the main characters and consequently the plot. I felt like their interactions with the main characters could've been more (detailed), but you still feel a human connection to them.
The most compelling parts of the book were the chemistry, the politics, and the cultures. Mixed together with elemental magic and an intriguing secret history, the book creates this magical story that keeps you reading.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Simon & Schuster for sending me an early poof copy!
Where do I even begin with this one?! I adored every second of this absolute gem and I am utterly obsessed with it. It’s been a while since I read a South Asian romantasy and it honestly felt like home. I loved every aspect from the relationships, the angsty romance, the drama, and the frustrating plot lines. Everything was absolute perfection.
Zayd and Layla’s relationship from the start had me hooked. It was chaotic, cute, and frustratingly one hell of a slow burn but I was here for it. The ticking time bomb throughout the book had me at the edge. I honestly was feeling the anxiety go through me and it was so incredibly done. I sympathised so much with Layla and was ready to burn the world for her because she deserves everything and more. Zayd’s family is just the chef kiss of a family and if I was Layla I would have found a way to stay in that house as long as possible. The sibling banter between Zayd and Yunus had me cackling. The way everything was unfolding gave me whiplash, especially those last 20 pages, I had to walk around and take a breather. My train home was pretty much staring out the train because I just had read one of my favourite reads of this year that is tender, spellbinding, and leaving you yearning for more.
Overall this book left me with my jaw dropped and empty inside and screaming at the walls that I need book 2 like air and it is absolutely no joke.
Where do I even begin with this one?! I adored every second of this absolute gem and I am utterly obsessed with it. It’s been a while since I read a South Asian romantasy and it honestly felt like home. I loved every aspect from the relationships, the angsty romance, the drama, and the frustrating plot lines. Everything was absolute perfection.
Zayd and Layla’s relationship from the start had me hooked. It was chaotic, cute, and frustratingly one hell of a slow burn but I was here for it. The ticking time bomb throughout the book had me at the edge. I honestly was feeling the anxiety go through me and it was so incredibly done. I sympathised so much with Layla and was ready to burn the world for her because she deserves everything and more. Zayd’s family is just the chef kiss of a family and if I was Layla I would have found a way to stay in that house as long as possible. The sibling banter between Zayd and Yunus had me cackling. The way everything was unfolding gave me whiplash, especially those last 20 pages, I had to walk around and take a breather. My train home was pretty much staring out the train because I just had read one of my favourite reads of this year that is tender, spellbinding, and leaving you yearning for more.
Overall this book left me with my jaw dropped and empty inside and screaming at the walls that I need book 2 like air and it is absolutely no joke.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am incredibly grateful to Simon and Schuster UK Children's for the opportunity to read and review The Silver Kingdom. Being selected to explore this captivating story before its official release has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to the team at Simon and Schuster UK Children's for their generosity and for making this advanced reading experience possible.
Woah, woah, woah! I need more immediately!
This was a great book. So atmospheric and taking aspects from different South Asian cultures. Simply beautiful.
I got through this really quickly because it was so unputdownable. It was borderline entrancing to the point where I could not stop consuming Radiya Hafiza's words on each and every page.
So much romance, betrayal with a sprinkle of twists throughout. There simply must be a sequel and I will be reading it as soon as it's available.
Huge shoutout to Zayd's mother, the Sultana. What a magnificent and graceful woman. She may not be one of the main characters but she will stay with me for a long time to come. It's impossible to not love and respect her.
I loved this book so much!
Woah, woah, woah! I need more immediately!
This was a great book. So atmospheric and taking aspects from different South Asian cultures. Simply beautiful.
I got through this really quickly because it was so unputdownable. It was borderline entrancing to the point where I could not stop consuming Radiya Hafiza's words on each and every page.
So much romance, betrayal with a sprinkle of twists throughout. There simply must be a sequel and I will be reading it as soon as it's available.
Huge shoutout to Zayd's mother, the Sultana. What a magnificent and graceful woman. She may not be one of the main characters but she will stay with me for a long time to come. It's impossible to not love and respect her.
I loved this book so much!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Silver Kingdom was such a sweeping romantic read full of political intrigue and forbidden romance. I adored both Layla and Zayd, Layla had such a strong "don't mess with me" type of personality and a sarcastic sense of humour, and Zayd on the other hand was devastatingly handsome yet such a character. I honestly loved how they were constantly teasing and abusing each other when they were clearly head over heels for one another.
The story was fast paced and I loved the South Asian Fantasy setting as well as the magic system and the mages. Absolutely hated Layla's mother and how evil she was. But I felt like the book ended so abruptly, it wasn't what I expected at all. I was confused if this was a standalone or the first in a series as when the story finished I was left feeling like, surely it can't have just ended? I was left wanting more!!
A stunning read though, I really enjoyed it!
The story was fast paced and I loved the South Asian Fantasy setting as well as the magic system and the mages. Absolutely hated Layla's mother and how evil she was. But I felt like the book ended so abruptly, it wasn't what I expected at all. I was confused if this was a standalone or the first in a series as when the story finished I was left feeling like, surely it can't have just ended? I was left wanting more!!
A stunning read though, I really enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I struggled to read it but parts of the story were good I liked one of the characters he kept me reading it I will read the next one to find out what's happened
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This rlly was almost five stars but the last 5% pissed me off bad girl get your ass back here
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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