Yara Silmayah's mother has just died, leaving her with no family and only a letter from her mum, telling her to return to the city of Zehaira. To get there, she has to take the bus to the harbour, walk to the end and read out the words on the back of the letter in order to gain passage across the sea to find a sorceress called Leyla Khatoun. With nothing to lose and curiosity niggling at her, Yara decides to slip away from the social worker and, armed with only the basics her mum told her to take (food, warm clothes and a waterproof coat), Yara gets the bus and begins an adventure that will change her life forever, for the city of Zehaira doesn't appear on any map Yara has seen and is a world where magic exists. With questions burning inside her, will this new life provide the answers that Yara craves?
The Kingdom Over The Sea begins with a prologue that immediately immerses you in the city of Zahaira; you feel a sense of urgency and danger thrumming through the pages and it drags you in. You are then transported forward twelve years to Poole where you meet Yara, a girl who is naturally grieving and feeling utterly lost following the death of her mum. Standing alone in their flat, with the social worker waiting for her in the other room, I wanted to reach in and hug Yara; however, there is a strength in Yara that is apparent from the first time you meet her: deciding to follow the instructions her mum left her is a bold move and one that takes a great deal of courage. What follows shows a girl who, even when she is scared, is feisty, brave and determined - qualities that will draw readers to her.
Zahaira is a city that seems to be teeming with life from the second Yara arrives, and the heat and the culture give off a warmth that was very welcome as I read on a chilly January day in England. I imaged the colours and the noises of the market and the warmth of the ground under foot as I read, and I could almost smell the bread in Meri's oven wafting along the street. However, there are clearly problems and those with magic seem wary and scared, and many are unwilling to help Yara. There is a darkness lurking there and one that Yara seems to stumble upon quite by accident.
Yara's journey through the book is one of miles and emotions: accompanied by her grief and powered by her desire for answers, you will find yourself willing her on and feeling as though you are journeying beside her. It's an immersive journey for both Yara and the reader, and one I know I won't forget in a hurry.
There is a warmth and richness to the writing in The Kingdom Over The Sea that will enchant you; the book will cast its spell upon you and leave you thinking of Yara and Zahaira even when you are not reading it. It's an astonishing debut novel and I cannot wait to read more from Zohra. Publishing on the 25th May, This is a book that is begging to be pre-ordered and is guaranteed to warm the hearts of all who read it.
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