"A sweeping, breathless romance" and "deliciously twisty" ~Jennifer deBie of Rosie's Book Review Team General Bakr , a half-human djinn warrior, has always felt like an outsider in the magical land of Qaf. Torn from his first love by war, he yearns to feel her touch—to hear her voice and kiss her lips. But the only reason he survived the searing scar across his torso was because a l ilith demon made him her pet, and she doesn't like to share. Back at home in the magical kingdom of Shihala, Sheikha Sezan, a djinn princess, is just starting her war . Determined to be more than a marriage token in a male-run society, she vies for the role of diplomat. But old love burns deep, and a deal she made with a demon to keep her old flame alive has come due. The price? Staying away from the man who left her dying, who hadn't written for two years, and who smirked every time she talked. It should be easy. And yet... Will their inability to stay away from each other throw a wrench in even the best laid plans? *** If you love A Court of Thorns and Roses , you'll love the Fires of Qaf! *** Reviews "Sezan and Bakr have a tumultuous history all their own, full of betrayals, secrets, skeletons, and demons." "The drama is to die for... a tug of war of emotions... jaw dropping revelations...." "A must-read for enthusiasts of epic fantasy and grand love tales..." *** The Fires of Qaf historical and mythical djinn series consists of standalone epic fantasy romance novels set in the medieval period that all tie together in a larger world of magic and djinn fire. These adaptions of Middle Eastern, African, and European djinn folklore and fantasy can be smoldering but are not explicit. Each follows its own hero and strong heroine couple that embark on a magical, romantic, and sometimes dark fantasy journey. The Fires of Qaf historical and mythical djinn series consists of standalone epic fantasy romance novels that all tie together in a larger world of magic and djinn fire. These adaptions of Middle Eastern, African, and European djinn folklore and fantasy can be smoldering but are not explicit. Each follows its own hero and strong heroine couple that embark on a magical, romantic, and sometimes dark fantasy journey. The Seal of Sulayman by Laya V. Smith & Kyro Dean Reviewed by Jennifer deBie Return to the moon-steeped lands of djinn and magic in Kyro Dean and Laya V. Smith's second entry into The Fires of Qaf series with The Seal of Sulayman. Following the first novel, Prince Jahamil and his human bride, Ayelet have married for love, breaking the societal mores of djinn culture in the process. This may be all very well and good to the heir to Shihala's throne and his one-day queen, but the other courts of Qaf, including the tempestuous Queen Qadira, Jahmil's former fiancée, need to be pacified. Enter Sezan, Jahmil's sister, and Bakr, a half human djinn, and Jahmil's most trusted adviser. As ambassador and her escort respectively, Sezan and Bakr are dispatched to Qadira's court, ostensibly to smooth ruffled feathers and maintain diplomatic ties between two of the most powerful countries in all of Qaf. Appearances are not all they seem though. Sezan and Bakr have a tumultuous history all their own, full of betrayals, secrets, skeletons, and demons - both literal and figurative. Deals have been struck on all sides and nothing can be certain in love and magic as the pair struggle to protect each other, and themselves, when the sum of their myriad mystical debts comes due. Written with the same lush texture as The Covenant of Shihala, but with fresh characters and new corners of Qaf, its histories and mysteries to explore, The Seal of Sulayman feels like Smith and Dean are "growing up" within this world they have created. The sweeping, breathless romance of the first entry to this series was excellent, but now readers are given a glimpse into the consequences of marrying for love in a society ruled by precedent and the stratification of the royal court. Where do a woman who wants to be more than a political pawn in a marriage game, and a half-human half-djinn warrior fit into a society that wasn't built for either of them? How can they contribute to their country and protect their friends? And most importantly, how does their inability to stay away from each other (or in their clothes when they're alone together) throw a wrench into even the best laid plans? Satisfying in ways that I was not expecting, and just as deliciously twisty as the first, the second Fires of Qaf introduces readers to two, fantastic new personalities to follow and fall in love with in The Seal of Sulayman. 5/5 Laya's debut novel "The Lumbermill" won the 2021 Maxy Award for Best Thriller and was a finalist for 2021 IAN Award for Best Debut Novel. She is a member of ITW and AWP and has been featured on national news outlets, including Fox, NBC and The Daily Herald. With a degree in history from the University of Utah, Laya's creative work