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adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Once a Royal member of a Northern nation called the Jinn from the area of Tulan, Alizeh was just 13 when she had to flee her homeland after her family home was set ablaze killing her mother. Now 18, she finds herself hiding her identity as a servant, treated with distain and told to forget her knowledge and be subservient to the upper classes.
Alizeh uses her lowly position this to cover strength and wisdom, obscuring her face with a local face scarf called a snoodah, worn by the eponymous servants of the region.When A local beggar child tries to mug her she protects herself, but is seen by Kamran the Crown Prince of Ardunia, where she now resides. He immediately believes she is not all she seems to be and makes it his mission to find her. Initially he thinks she is a spy from a rival nation as she has such self defence skills, however when he locates her, he discovers something very different.
This is a captivating YA fantasy book by Tahereh Mafi with exceptional world building. Based on Persian Mythology it has a sense of magical realism about it, which keeps it grounded in our world making it all the more believable. I can’t wait for the follow up!
Kate Reading is an excellent narrator, clear enunciation and reads with emotion and great characterisation.
Alizeh uses her lowly position this to cover strength and wisdom, obscuring her face with a local face scarf called a snoodah, worn by the eponymous servants of the region.When A local beggar child tries to mug her she protects herself, but is seen by Kamran the Crown Prince of Ardunia, where she now resides. He immediately believes she is not all she seems to be and makes it his mission to find her. Initially he thinks she is a spy from a rival nation as she has such self defence skills, however when he locates her, he discovers something very different.
This is a captivating YA fantasy book by Tahereh Mafi with exceptional world building. Based on Persian Mythology it has a sense of magical realism about it, which keeps it grounded in our world making it all the more believable. I can’t wait for the follow up!
Kate Reading is an excellent narrator, clear enunciation and reads with emotion and great characterisation.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Torture
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