In The Empire Burns at Dawn, two sisters are sent on separate missions to help their father seize power, but dark magic is brewing across the land, and they might be pawns in a much larger game.
As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Malaprop’s, Books-A-Million, Audiobooks.com, Chirp, 2nd & Charles, Amazon, NameHero, Envato, and Place-It, LitStack may earn a commission—at no cost to you—when you purchase through our affiliate links. We appreciate the brands we work with, and also appreciate that using our affiliate links may help you find your next great read, a book or two or more, in whatever form, while simultaneously supporting LitStack. When you use our affiliate links, you help keep LitStack running—and for that, we thank you.
In This Spotlight On The Empire Burns at Dawn
Support Independent Bookstores.
You can find Spotlights at LitStack on bookshop.org
About The Empire Burns at Dawn
The Adani sisters have never been free. Their father has been scheming for years to seize the corrupt shah’s throne, and he’ll use his daughters to do it.
Dunya has carved her path as a warrior. On her father’s orders, she travels to a distant desert kingdom to secure an alliance. When she learns she was sent not as a diplomat but as a bride for the formidable Bezouin king, she refuses to submit to the arrangement, even if it means she might never return home. The strangely gentle ruler offers her a place in his court, but their friendship quickly turns into an intense connection that Dunya isn’t prepared for.
Shayda is sent straight into the viper’s pit. Married off to the ailing shah himself, her mission is to uncover the court’s secrets and then get rid of him. But as her father and his supporters conspire against the shah, a violent uprising looms, and Shayda must find a way to ensure her own survival. In secret, she seeks the help of the Daggers—a rebel group at war with the ruling class—and their ruthless leader. Danger lurks around every corner, but Shayda is willing to risk everything for a chance at freedom.
As Dunya and Shayda battle their enemies, their circumstances, and their own hearts, they discover a resurgence of dark magic spreading throughout the land. A pantheon of ancient gods awakens once again, and the sisters must stop them, or see their worlds plunged into darkness.
Praise for The Empire Burns at Dawn
The Empire Burns at Dawn is Arabian Nights meets fantasy romance: A stunning debut, The Empire Burns at Dawn is a feminist reimagining of the tale of One Thousand and One Nights, steeped in a story about resilience, magic, and love, following two sisters who will do anything for their freedom, and anything for each other.
Fatima draws on the cultural myths and legends she grew up hearing from her Iraqi-American family, and expertly weaves the Middle Eastern folklore of her people into this lush fantasy world. The Empire Burns at Dawn reflects the author’s own cultural identity, which speaks to the call for greater diversity and representation in fantasy, following in the footsteps of powerhouses like Sabaa Tahir, S. A. Chakraborty, N. K. Jemisin, and R. F. Kuang.
The dual point of view explores both a barren desert kingdom and a lush, tropical palace to create an immersive yet accessible world that has political intrigue and complex family relationships at its core, culminating in a truly irresistible read.
The Empire Burns at Dawn is the first installment in a planned trilogy—there will be two more books that follow the journey of the Adani sisters.
“Fatima Al-Shemary weaves a breathtaking tale of family loyalty, ancient lore, and the lengths we’ll go to be free. The Empire Burns at Dawn is fantasy at its finest, offering up epic worlds, two strong heroines you’ll want to root for, and plenty of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down.”—Nisha J. Tuli, New York Times bestselling author of Storm Breaker
About Fatima Al-Shemary, Author of The Empire Burns at Dawn
Fatima Al-Shemary is an Iraqi-American writer based in Washington state. The Empire Burns at Dawn is her debut novel, inspired by her cultural background, language, and stories she grew up with. It is the first book in a planned trilogy.
You can connect with Fatima Al-Shermary on her website, Instagram, and Reddit.
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Ace | Penguin Random House
ISBN Hardcover 9798217187690
Pub Date Dec 1, 2026
LitStack Spots
Here are a few more LitStack Spot to buy for your TBR stack, including The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song, The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley, and A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen.
Other LitStack Resources
LitStack Spotlights
Be sure and check out LitStack Spotlights that shine a light on books we think you should read. We feature two books each week in our LitStack Spotlight, and offer suggestions for similar titles in our LitStack Spots.
LitStack Reviews
Also look at our LitStack Reviews, including reviews by Lewis Buzbee, Lauren Alwan, Allie Coker, Rylie Fong, and Sharon Browning.
LitStack Recs
Each week we offer a LitStack Rec, sometimes two books at once, sometimes more. Be sure and look at our LitStack Recs where you’ll find what you should read next.
You can find and buy the books we recommend at the LitStack Bookshop on our list of LitStack Recs.
As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, Malaprop’s, Books-A-Million, Audiobooks.com, Chirp, 2nd & Charles, Amazon, NameHero, Envato, and Place-It, LitStack may earn a commission—at no cost to you—when you purchase through our affiliate links. We appreciate the brands we work with, and also appreciate that using our affiliate links may help you find your next great read, a book or two or more, in whatever form, while simultaneously supporting LitStack. When you use our affiliate links, you help keep LitStack running—and for that, we thank you.
