The Balloon Thief by Aneesa Marufu (author)

‘Highly relevant yet utterly original, I was utterly entranced
by this world of jinn, peris and hot air balloons that ache
for the skies.’ LAUREN JAMES, author of THE QUIET
AT THE END OF THE WORLD

For Khadija, the only escape from her father’s arranged
betrothal is the sky.

When she spots a rogue hot air balloon fighting against its ropes,
she leaps at the chance for adventure. Khadija soon finds an
unlikely ally in a poor glassmaker’s apprentice, Jacob.

But Jacob is a hari, and Khadija a Ghadaean. The hari
are oppressed and restless – their infamous terrorist group,
the Hareef, have a new fearsome leader. And the ruling Ghadaeans
are brutal in their repression.

Soon, a deadly revolution threatens their friendship and their
world. The Hareef use forbidden magic, summoning jinn -
wicked spirits made of fire – to enact their revenge, forcing
Jacob and Khadija to choose what kind of a world they want
to save …

A commercial, thrilling and uplifting fantasy adventure
following sixteen-year-old Khadija, who flees her home in a stolen
hot air balloon to escape an arranged marriage

The debut novel from enthralling new talent, twenty-four-year-old
Aneesa Marufu, which draws on the author’s South
Asian heritage

Explores racism, misogyny and discrimination in a highly
original fantasy universe

Perfect for fans of Noughts + Crosses, We
Hunt the Flame and Rebel of the Sands