Dancers of the Dawn - by Zulekhá A Afzal

About the Book

"Under the blazing sun, an elite troupe of dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen's most formidable assassins. Aasira has one of the rarest talents - for she is a flame-wielder. Feared by all and envied by some, she uses her power to execute enemies of the crown. Aasira's greatest wish is to serve her queen. But on the eve of her graduation, with tensions rising among the dancers and secrets stirring in the shifting sand dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill..."--

Book Synopsis

Dancer. Warrior. Executioner.

An epic story about truth, loyalty and betrayal.

Deep in the desert a storm is brewing. The first in a sweeping YA fantasy duology.

'Enchanting.' Katharine Corr, co-author of Daughter of Darkness

Under the blazing sun, an elite troupe of dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen's most formidable assassins. Aasira has one of the rarest talents - for she is a flame-wielder. Feared by all and envied by some, she uses her power to execute enemies of the crown.

Aasira's greatest wish is to serve her queen. But on the eve of her graduation, with tensions rising among the dancers and secrets stirring in the shifting sand dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill...

Readers are spellbound by Dancers of the Dawn:

'Hands down, one of the best books I'll read this year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'a suspenseful, plot twisty and powerfully emotional read that epic fantasy lovers definitely don't want to miss.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely stellar... I love the sisterhood, the mystery, the characters, the magic.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'an excellent fantasy featuring an original magical system, well developed characters, and a fascinating plot.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'absolutely gorgeous, so evocative that I could practically hear the music and see the dancers, even in their deadliest moments.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This world is rich, vibrant, and colorful, the prose will transport you to a land full of spices and secrets.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'First of all, dance magic? Such a unique magic system and it was done beautifully! The world was perfectly described, with the spices and the flowers and all the colours. I just adored it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A beautifully evoked and action-packed YA adventure, with awe inspiring description of both landscape, magic and dance.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review Quotes

'From its first page, Dancers of the Dawn swept me away. Full of lush worldbuilding, strong sisterhood, and the perfect kiss of magic, Afzal has created a dazzling fantasy that is not to be missed!'

Erin A. Craig, author of The Thirteenth Child

'Completely addictive. An absolute must read.' Rosie Talbot, author of Sixteen Souls

'A sweeping adventure of secrets, betrayals and alternate histories.' Kendare Blake, author of Champion of Fate

'An engaging premise...complex and varied plot twists, and intricate attention to cultural and dance elements... An intriguingly choreographed debut.' Kirkus

'A standout page-turner...new legion of fans will eagerly await the next books to come...' SetTheTape

'With an original magic system, some unique world-building, and a hint of romance, this is a must for fantasy fans.' PaperBound

'An ephemeral and atmospheric tale... Introspective and emotional; an excellent pick for the younger end of the YA spectrum looking for excellent world building.' Booklist

'Never has dance appeared so utterly beguiling - or deadly. A captivating read.' London Shah, award-winning author of the Light the Abyss series

'Spellbinding...introduces readers to an epic high fantasy world of magic, dance, assassins and deadly secrets.' Culturefly Books to Look Forward to Reading in 2024 pick by Natalie Xenos

'An enchanting tale of magic, sisterhood, and finding your place in the world... A truly gripping read from start to finish.' Ann Sei Lin, author of Rebel Skies

'Dance magic? Say no more, I'm sold. The friendship in this story is also so powerful. The ups and down of trust and betrayal...really packed a punch.' S.A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper

About the Author

Zulekhá A. Afzal grew up in Cornwall, where the dramatic coastline inspired stories of other worlds and magic. She now lives in Bath where she studied English Literature with Creative Writing and completed the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. When she isn't writing fantasy fiction or working as an assistant editor, you can find Zulekhá in a ballet class. Dancers of the Dawn is her first novel, and she is currently working on the second book in the series.