BLOOD PASSAGE

Named a Best Teen Book of 2014 by Kirkus, EXQUISITE CAPTIVE launched this modern fantasy-adventure trilogy last year, and introduced us to Nalia, a gorgeous, fierce empress-jinni who is pitted against two magnetic adversaries—Malek, to whom she is enslaved and obliged to grant three wishes, and Raif, a revolutionary in Nalia’s kingdom of Arjinna—both of whom want her and need her to make their wishes come true.

BLOOD PASSAGE takes us to exotic, alluring Marrakesh, Morocco, the site of the portal that will lead to the kingdom of Arjinna. Nalia has fallen in love with Raif and has freed herself from Malek, but she is still bound to fulfill his third wish. Still desiring Nalia, Malek is determined to keep her and Raif with every trick he knows. These unlikely partners try to keep a low profile among the labyrinthine souks and stay hidden from the dangerous Ifrit who are hunting them until they can enter the portal to Arjinna. But Calar, the evil Ifrit empress, is onto them and seeks to destroy Nalia, for she threatens Calar’s hold on the throne of Arjinna. Despite being the true heir to the Arjinna throne, Nalia is not hungry for power. She wants only to find her brother and to free the slaves that the Ifrit have captured and sold on the dark caravan. As their quest takes them into life-threatening challenges and battles against natural and supernatural forces, it becomes clear that Nalia has received special powers and the gift to lead.