Root of All Evil by Ayura Ayira

A powerful political thriller, Root of All Evil by Aura Ayira is a searing portrait of subjugation, violence, and the limits some people must go to find peace. Zayani seems to have it all from a distance – wealth, power, and beauty. However, forced to marry a ruthless dictator, she’s also a prisoner, and every opportunity to escape comes with a moral quandary and a violent cost. Written with vivid prose that is at once beautifully expressed and terrifying, the novel is no doubt unsettling, but it also tells a viscerally gripping story about the importance of freedom and personal autonomy, resulting in a harrowing novel that also demands attention.