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cmdufresne's review against another edition
4.0
Daughter Of The Salt King somehow manages to be lighthearted and sweet, while having characters in dark situations. Emel is one of the MANY daughters of the Salt King who are used as bargaining chips to secure trade and protection deals. Except in this case the daughters are treated basically as the court whores with suitors getting to test drive their potential wives before making their choice on the third night. Obviously this is a pretty miserable life. Emel is an engaging character. Enter the jinni. Of course, wishes are always dangerous and tricky, but in this case, even the jinni doesn't have control over how a wish will be fulfilled. Enjoyable, fast read. The only thing I wish it add was fuller side characters. There are a lot of chracters who fell a little flatter than they had the potenial to be. Set up well for the second book without being TOO much of a cliff hanger.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
I am not a romance reader and I bet my romance reader friends will think that this is a snoozefest in the romance department BUT!! I really loved the romance between Emel and Saalim. Like really loved it. Not so much that I want to spend another 300+ pages on the second book but this is my speed of romance: tons of other stuff happening with a slow burn romance that has zero details and fades to black when the consummation occurs. Yep, that's how I do romance so this book was PERFECT for me! Think Outlander and Arabian Nights had a baby.
That being said, I feel like this book went on a bit too long. I got really confused about the jinni part at the end and then it all felt a little predictable.
I also had a hard time with the ahiran concept but that's just my particular problem. It actually worked really well for this book.
That being said, I feel like this book went on a bit too long. I got really confused about the jinni part at the end and then it all felt a little predictable.
I also had a hard time with the ahiran concept but that's just my particular problem. It actually worked really well for this book.
kirsty_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Net galley for the advanced reader copy ebook of Daughter of the Salt King
Emel is the daughter of the Salt King. A king who gained his power and rule by the hand of a Jinni who grants his wishes. To hold onto his power the Salt King uses Emel and the rest of his daughters to seduce visiting noblemen to gain their hand in marriage and become powerful allies to the Salt King.
Emel learns of Saalim and the magic that binds him to her father. Emel discovers that wishes arent always what the seam and fate has a terrible hand of giving you what you wished for in the most dangerous ways.
When i requested this arc i had only read the first paragraph of the synopsis and i went into reading this ebook almost blind. I wasnt disappointed and i was pleasantly surprised of how quickly i fell under its charm. I loved exploring the desert, i felt anger at the Salt King for his abuse of his daughters, i felt hope for Emel who longed to leave her fathers clutches. And i felt joy at the forbidden love that grew between Saalim and Emel.
What i would say is that i would not class this as a YA for the simple fact that the scenes of sex and seduction are not suitable for younger ya readers. I also think it would be helpful for a glossary of the middle Eastern names to be written with a pronunciation guide at the start. I spent a few chapters stumbling over the names until my mind settled on a name that sounded like it might correct. Other than these two points i found nothing to fault.
4 magical stars
Emel is the daughter of the Salt King. A king who gained his power and rule by the hand of a Jinni who grants his wishes. To hold onto his power the Salt King uses Emel and the rest of his daughters to seduce visiting noblemen to gain their hand in marriage and become powerful allies to the Salt King.
Emel learns of Saalim and the magic that binds him to her father. Emel discovers that wishes arent always what the seam and fate has a terrible hand of giving you what you wished for in the most dangerous ways.
When i requested this arc i had only read the first paragraph of the synopsis and i went into reading this ebook almost blind. I wasnt disappointed and i was pleasantly surprised of how quickly i fell under its charm. I loved exploring the desert, i felt anger at the Salt King for his abuse of his daughters, i felt hope for Emel who longed to leave her fathers clutches. And i felt joy at the forbidden love that grew between Saalim and Emel.
What i would say is that i would not class this as a YA for the simple fact that the scenes of sex and seduction are not suitable for younger ya readers. I also think it would be helpful for a glossary of the middle Eastern names to be written with a pronunciation guide at the start. I spent a few chapters stumbling over the names until my mind settled on a name that sounded like it might correct. Other than these two points i found nothing to fault.
4 magical stars
lilydefender's review
4.0
I forgot to write a review at the time, so the details of this book are a little faded. The biggest reason I'm leaving this review is to give little warnings for some of the content, so others can be more aware of what they'd be getting into. And know that while I may read something that doesn't mean I support it.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Daughter of the Salt King was refreshingly different from the other books I've been reading. The setting was vibrant and full of detail, making me feel every grain of sand and the dry heat of the desert air.
The plot revealed itself nicely, with everything leading to quite the finale. I anticipated some of the twists but was surprised by more. (I was supposed to read this book slowly but I admit I gobbled it right up lol)
I enjoyed the many characters and their complexities. No one was TSTL (too stupid to live) — although the main character did occasionally do things that had me thinking "no, wait a minute, think this through better!"
The plight of the main character (and her sisters) was very moving, but a bit uncomfortable as well.
** One of the main plotlines was that the sisters are basically in harem, waiting for wealthy men to ask their unkind father for their hands in marriage. They can be chosen by a prospective husband and he may sleep with any of them for up to three nights. The men are sometimes old, and sometimes cruel. You hear of and see afterwards what some of the girls go through. And with the main character the reader is there during those intimate scenes, which were sometimes very rough.
I considered leaving the book when this became a focal point of the plot, but despite how uncomfortable it felt it was also respectfully and well written, so it felt like I was reading about historical events that actually befell women instead of a story trying to be dramatic. And the nasty parts were early skipped. I'm a big supporter off skipping scenes and reading a more pleasant, if self-abridged, version of the book.**
The main romance was sweet, which was a welcome change for the reader as well as the main characters. There was a kind of enemies --> friends --> lovers progression that made me really root for the couple.
** They had intimate scenes as well, which I didn't need to see, but I was glad they were happy and that the MC was being treated with love, kindness, and respect for once. **
** Some of the side characters had romance scenes that felt unnecessary and rather TMI. I want reading their story, I don't know why I had to be shown that detail. **
Something I didn't like that was more related to style than content was the occasional modern viewpoint or mindset toward issues. Some of those elements felt shoehorned in.
The ending was very cinematic, and I went straight and bought the sequel :) so for me, its downsides didn't detract overly much from its story appeal.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Daughter of the Salt King was refreshingly different from the other books I've been reading. The setting was vibrant and full of detail, making me feel every grain of sand and the dry heat of the desert air.
The plot revealed itself nicely, with everything leading to quite the finale. I anticipated some of the twists but was surprised by more. (I was supposed to read this book slowly but I admit I gobbled it right up lol)
I enjoyed the many characters and their complexities. No one was TSTL (too stupid to live) — although the main character did occasionally do things that had me thinking "no, wait a minute, think this through better!"
The plight of the main character (and her sisters) was very moving, but a bit uncomfortable as well.
** One of the main plotlines was that the sisters are basically in harem, waiting for wealthy men to ask their unkind father for their hands in marriage. They can be chosen by a prospective husband and he may sleep with any of them for up to three nights. The men are sometimes old, and sometimes cruel. You hear of and see afterwards what some of the girls go through. And with the main character the reader is there during those intimate scenes, which were sometimes very rough.
I considered leaving the book when this became a focal point of the plot, but despite how uncomfortable it felt it was also respectfully and well written, so it felt like I was reading about historical events that actually befell women instead of a story trying to be dramatic. And the nasty parts were early skipped. I'm a big supporter off skipping scenes and reading a more pleasant, if self-abridged, version of the book.**
The main romance was sweet, which was a welcome change for the reader as well as the main characters. There was a kind of enemies --> friends --> lovers progression that made me really root for the couple.
** They had intimate scenes as well, which I didn't need to see, but I was glad they were happy and that the MC was being treated with love, kindness, and respect for once. **
** Some of the side characters had romance scenes that felt unnecessary and rather TMI. I want reading their story, I don't know why I had to be shown that detail. **
Something I didn't like that was more related to style than content was the occasional modern viewpoint or mindset toward issues. Some of those elements felt shoehorned in.
The ending was very cinematic, and I went straight and bought the sequel :) so for me, its downsides didn't detract overly much from its story appeal.
jlynnreadsandwrites's review against another edition
4.0
This is an engaging and exciting story that combines romance with action and journey of the self. I was given a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Emel, daughter of the Salt King, lives with all of her numerous sisters in a large tent in her father's palace. The daughters' only purpose is to seduce men who come to create alliances with the Salt King (the only source of salt among the seemingly never-ending desert) through marriage. The daughters lay with the men with the desire of being chosen for a wife. At the age of 23, if still unmarried, the king tosses his daughter out into the street. Emel has a year or so before she will be 23 and still unchosen, despite the beauty that was supposed to make her a highly valued commodity and easily marriageable.
When Emel is finally chosen, she is relieved at the prospect of leaving her father's palace. All she wants is to see more of the world, to have freedom enough to venture outside the walls in which she lives. Her father's palace is her prison. She is not allowed to leave and see the village or the desert on which they all live. The nearby oasis is protected under all costs. To have her freedom and To have a kind husband would be a dream. But an attack on the king and palace occurs after she is chosen causing a change encounter with her father's jinni. Afraid and unaware that her father has used a jinni to gain his power, Emel tried to forget the lure of granted wishes.
Yet, it is hard to keep her distance. Emel and Saalim are connected since she released him from his home. He can sense her desires and does what he can to help her even as her father remains his master. Quickly, Emel finds herself fascinated by the jinni who has unlocked feelings inside her that she has never felt for any of the men she was forced to parade herself in front of. But love between an enslaved daughter and a jinni (enslaved in another way) seems impossible. Emel will have to make a choice, one that may cost her the only man she has ever loved or her freedom.
This book has such an interesting premise. The world felt original to me and is something I have never encountered before. Emel is bold and finds ways to capture little moments of freedom from her father's rule. She is strong and so much bigger than the world she has been confined to. I'm not sure I felt there was a lot of character development outside of her falling in love (an entirely new experience to her) but her journey was compelling enough and she interesting enough that this did not bother me.
Saalim was fascinating. I liked learning the intricacies of the magical rules he lives under. From the moment he appears in the book it is clear he and Emel are somehow connected. They both struggle to be in love and devoted to each other while both serving the Salt King who is ruthless and uncaring. Various challenges come up against them until Emel has to make a final choice that could irrevocably change both of their lives no matter what she chooses.
I'm still not entirely sure how satisfied I am with the ending, mostly because I just wanted there to be more book! I do like the results of Emel's final wish and it's pretty much what I figured would happen. However, I wasn't entirely sure what to make of Saalim's final chapter. I'm a romantic and really wanted that plotline to be tied up tightly. However, I didn't leave feeling unsatisfied and since this is the first of a series, I'm hoping the next book will give me all the things I'm hoping for!
Emel, daughter of the Salt King, lives with all of her numerous sisters in a large tent in her father's palace. The daughters' only purpose is to seduce men who come to create alliances with the Salt King (the only source of salt among the seemingly never-ending desert) through marriage. The daughters lay with the men with the desire of being chosen for a wife. At the age of 23, if still unmarried, the king tosses his daughter out into the street. Emel has a year or so before she will be 23 and still unchosen, despite the beauty that was supposed to make her a highly valued commodity and easily marriageable.
When Emel is finally chosen, she is relieved at the prospect of leaving her father's palace. All she wants is to see more of the world, to have freedom enough to venture outside the walls in which she lives. Her father's palace is her prison. She is not allowed to leave and see the village or the desert on which they all live. The nearby oasis is protected under all costs. To have her freedom and To have a kind husband would be a dream. But an attack on the king and palace occurs after she is chosen causing a change encounter with her father's jinni. Afraid and unaware that her father has used a jinni to gain his power, Emel tried to forget the lure of granted wishes.
Yet, it is hard to keep her distance. Emel and Saalim are connected since she released him from his home. He can sense her desires and does what he can to help her even as her father remains his master. Quickly, Emel finds herself fascinated by the jinni who has unlocked feelings inside her that she has never felt for any of the men she was forced to parade herself in front of. But love between an enslaved daughter and a jinni (enslaved in another way) seems impossible. Emel will have to make a choice, one that may cost her the only man she has ever loved or her freedom.
This book has such an interesting premise. The world felt original to me and is something I have never encountered before. Emel is bold and finds ways to capture little moments of freedom from her father's rule. She is strong and so much bigger than the world she has been confined to. I'm not sure I felt there was a lot of character development outside of her falling in love (an entirely new experience to her) but her journey was compelling enough and she interesting enough that this did not bother me.
Saalim was fascinating. I liked learning the intricacies of the magical rules he lives under. From the moment he appears in the book it is clear he and Emel are somehow connected. They both struggle to be in love and devoted to each other while both serving the Salt King who is ruthless and uncaring. Various challenges come up against them until Emel has to make a final choice that could irrevocably change both of their lives no matter what she chooses.
I'm still not entirely sure how satisfied I am with the ending, mostly because I just wanted there to be more book! I do like the results of Emel's final wish and it's pretty much what I figured would happen. However, I wasn't entirely sure what to make of Saalim's final chapter. I'm a romantic and really wanted that plotline to be tied up tightly. However, I didn't leave feeling unsatisfied and since this is the first of a series, I'm hoping the next book will give me all the things I'm hoping for!
thestaceyflowers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
emiann2023's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly did not have high expectations for this book. But oh boy was this a delightful read. And now my heart is torn because I have to wait for book 2.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing tale of a King, a djinn, and the daughter of the salt king named Emel. I love a good book that will just grab you and sweep you away.
What did I like? The book has an amazingly sordid tale that sucked me in from the first chapter. The Salt King sits on his throne of salt and pawns his daughters off on arranged marriages. Emel is his most prized daughter but she has a different air about herself than the rest. The King keeps his throne through magic and it’s a clever tale.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes, to both. I feel like there should be more... like a second part but I’m not sure if that’s in the cards. I’d definitely read it if there was. My first by this author and I loved it! Five stars!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review.
What did I like? The book has an amazingly sordid tale that sucked me in from the first chapter. The Salt King sits on his throne of salt and pawns his daughters off on arranged marriages. Emel is his most prized daughter but she has a different air about herself than the rest. The King keeps his throne through magic and it’s a clever tale.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes, to both. I feel like there should be more... like a second part but I’m not sure if that’s in the cards. I’d definitely read it if there was. My first by this author and I loved it! Five stars!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review.