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kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Grief
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What can I say about this amazing book? I love reading so much and here we go!
First, this is my first time reading M.T. Khan's book and yeah... it's been so long since I've read middle grade. I love that the language is really suitable for beginner in learning English (even though I'm not a beginner~)
But, when I saw the pretty cover for Nura and the Immortal Palace, I already have a feeling that this book will gonna be a masterpiece of middle grade book. The worldbuilding is kinda new for me, but it was interesting to make me also join the adventure with Nura and her friends!
And oh! I also love The Demiurge or The Craftsman. He has a golden heart! Thank you for a beautiful, heartwarming and lovely middle grade story, Maeeda! What a new experience for Young Adult/New Adult enjoyer like me!
First, this is my first time reading M.T. Khan's book and yeah... it's been so long since I've read middle grade. I love that the language is really suitable for beginner in learning English (even though I'm not a beginner~)
But, when I saw the pretty cover for Nura and the Immortal Palace, I already have a feeling that this book will gonna be a masterpiece of middle grade book. The worldbuilding is kinda new for me, but it was interesting to make me also join the adventure with Nura and her friends!
And oh! I also love The Demiurge or The Craftsman. He has a golden heart! Thank you for a beautiful, heartwarming and lovely middle grade story, Maeeda! What a new experience for Young Adult/New Adult enjoyer like me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
vaniavela's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Twelve-year-old Nura works long hours in a mica mine. Determined to find a legendary treasure known as "The Demon's Tongue" to help her family out of poverty, she causes a cave-in, resulting in several deaths. Nura, determined to save her friend, lands through a portal in the world of the jinn. Will Nura be able to save herself and her friend?
The writing in Nura and the Immortal Palace is magical. The author describes the setting so vividly, we can imagine ourselves there. The world is glamorous and captivating.
I love the way this book addresses child labor and the importance of education. The author combines these important issues in a middle grade fantasy book with engaging characters.
The world building is simply magical and easily transports the reader into the book. The atmosphere is colorful yet dark and feels like a story I would have loved to read as a child.
Overall, Nura and the Immortal Palace is an impressive middle grade fantasy that takes you on a dark adventure, reflecting of important real world issues.
If you like Ghibli vibes, a dark and twisted portal world, and a fierce protagonist, you need to read it!
CW: child labor, grief, parental death (off the page), fire.
The writing in Nura and the Immortal Palace is magical. The author describes the setting so vividly, we can imagine ourselves there. The world is glamorous and captivating.
I love the way this book addresses child labor and the importance of education. The author combines these important issues in a middle grade fantasy book with engaging characters.
The world building is simply magical and easily transports the reader into the book. The atmosphere is colorful yet dark and feels like a story I would have loved to read as a child.
Overall, Nura and the Immortal Palace is an impressive middle grade fantasy that takes you on a dark adventure, reflecting of important real world issues.
If you like Ghibli vibes, a dark and twisted portal world, and a fierce protagonist, you need to read it!
CW: child labor, grief, parental death (off the page), fire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
tahsintries's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Child abuse
cozybones's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
azrah786's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
4.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley for a blog tour with Lonely Pages Book Tours in exchange for an honest review**
CW: child labour, grief, death of parent (off page), fire
--
An enchanting portal fantasy full of hope but one that also brings to light the harsh realities of poverty that are present around the world.
Nura and the Immortal Palace follows Nura, a 12 year old girl who is one of countless children working in the mica mines of Meera Bagh to help her single mother support their family. Whispers of the Demon’s Tongue, a priceless treasure that would solve anyone’s money problems have been circulating for some time and when Nura’s mother tells her to stop working, it only heightens her ambitions to find it.
However, a mining accident that buries some of the children including Nura’s best friend Faisal shifts her desperation into finding him. What she finds as she digs deep into the mines though, are a pink sea, a purple sky and the realm of the jinn. In awe of all the desires and luxuries this magical world has to offer she goes in search of Faisal however, she must remember to heed the warnings from her mother stories of the jinn and their trickery.
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley for a blog tour with Lonely Pages Book Tours in exchange for an honest review**
CW: child labour, grief, death of parent (off page), fire
--
An enchanting portal fantasy full of hope but one that also brings to light the harsh realities of poverty that are present around the world.
Nura and the Immortal Palace follows Nura, a 12 year old girl who is one of countless children working in the mica mines of Meera Bagh to help her single mother support their family. Whispers of the Demon’s Tongue, a priceless treasure that would solve anyone’s money problems have been circulating for some time and when Nura’s mother tells her to stop working, it only heightens her ambitions to find it.
However, a mining accident that buries some of the children including Nura’s best friend Faisal shifts her desperation into finding him. What she finds as she digs deep into the mines though, are a pink sea, a purple sky and the realm of the jinn. In awe of all the desires and luxuries this magical world has to offer she goes in search of Faisal however, she must remember to heed the warnings from her mother stories of the jinn and their trickery.
“History repeats itself. Once again, we fall to chaos… but we’ll rise again. And again. An once more.”
Pairing Islamic mythology with endearing characters and beautifully vivid settings, M. T. Khan’s middle grade debut is equally delightful and enlightening. Despite being for a younger audience I found myself absolutely captivated by this adventure that not only transports you to a world rich in South Asian culture but also imparts significant commentary on child labour and the cycle of exploitation that many families face in the real world.
Nura is fiercely protective of her loved ones and would do anything to get her hands on some gulab jamun and I absolutely loved her. Khan has done a brilliant job in capturing both her boldness and the naivety she has about the world and I really valued the subtler message on the importance of education that is brought into the narrative as we follow her on her journey in this story too.
“There is the wealth of money, but even greater is the wealth of mind. People will descend back into disorder if they don’t hone their wits.”
The two things that I appreciated on a more personal level with this book though were the big sister figure that Nura embodied because as an eldest child myself I saw my younger self in her, and also the depiction of day to day life in a Muslim community. From the prep and excitement for Eid, to the jinn stories told by families and the mention of stories from the Quran and praying Ayat al-Kursi for protection, it just warmed my heart seeing such wholesome representation.
If I could travel back in time right now this is the book that I would immediately hand to younger me. However, this is a book that I believe will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
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