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rosatulipan's review
4.0
General Rating: 8/10
Personal Rating: 8/10
This was literally such a cute love story and a fun read!
I love the ending and the fact that this story kind of feels like those really good 2D movies that dream works used to do!
Personal Rating: 8/10
This was literally such a cute love story and a fun read!
I love the ending and the fact that this story kind of feels like those really good 2D movies that dream works used to do!
pineconebiscuit's review
5.0
Amazing retelling of Aladdin, and Khoury really makes it her own. I grew to love the main characters and the history of Jinni and the kingdoms. Not a very long read so definitely recommend
crimsoncor's review
3.0
Start with Disney's Aladdin. Gender-swap Genie. Oh, and Genie fucks. It is a cute premise with decent execution.
Spoiler
The romance didn't really feel earned. Like, why did these two characters actually fall for each other, besides it being the plot? The final battle was pretty meh. And really didn't understand having to completely nuke Zahra's powers at the end. Must remove a powerful woman's power so she can find happiness with a man. ugh.joana_stormblessed's review
3.0
This book is difficult for me to review...
I love Aladdin, which is why I was so excited to read this one. I mean Aladdin and the Jinni is a girl? Yes please!!
And the story was just fine. I liked the characters and the plot, but it wasn't anything special. I knew that in the end all would be okay and that is something I don't necessarily love in a book.
The narrator for the audiobook was ok. I did not like the voice she made for the Jinni and so I found myself often mocking or being a bit annoyed.
Also, the miscommunication in this book is so annoying !!!!!!!!!!! I was soooooo frustrated that I even screamed in my car and said that I would dock one star for it.
All in all I liked the book, but it was nothing special
I love Aladdin, which is why I was so excited to read this one. I mean Aladdin and the Jinni is a girl? Yes please!!
And the story was just fine. I liked the characters and the plot, but it wasn't anything special. I knew that in the end all would be okay and that is something I don't necessarily love in a book.
The narrator for the audiobook was ok. I did not like the voice she made for the Jinni and so I found myself often mocking or being a bit annoyed.
Also, the miscommunication in this book is so annoying !!!!!!!!!!! I was soooooo frustrated that I even screamed in my car and said that I would dock one star for it.
All in all I liked the book, but it was nothing special
renee_c's review
5.0
5/5 more reviews at reinereviews.blogspot.com !
After trying to read a few books that just weren't doing it for me, I found exactly what I was looking for: a fantasy novel with themes of freedom and loyalty, friendship and responsibility, led by an amazing cast of characters.
The Forbidden Wish is sold as an Aladdin retelling, but it is much more than that. Khoury has loaded it with history and intricacies so that the story is completely new. Zahra, our lead jinni, is direct, strong, and vulnerable. I love how Khoury made sure we never forget that Zahra isn't human, but at the same time incited sympathy. The mystery of piecing together the sins of the past and exactly what crimes were committed kept me eagerly reading. Following Zahra's fight for freedom and watching her scheme to achieve her own goals all while staying within the limitations set on her made me a loyal fan of hers.
I also adored Aladdin and Caspida, and I wish they had gotten even more of the spotlight. Our eyes were always focused on Zahra, but in our peripheral vision Khoury allowed us to see how Aladdin and Caspida were each strong and complete characters. We got glimpses of how much was on each of their plates and could decipher the reasoning behind their actions-- a sign of good writing that Khoury was able to show us what Aladdin and Caspida felt and thought, even if Zahra didn't specifically acknowledge it. The Forbidden Wish could definitely be re-written from either Aladdin's or Caspida's point of view, and it would tell a different story that I would 100% want to read.
The ending may be a little bit of a stretch, but is overall a small imperfection. The Forbidden Wish mixes the complicated navigation of courts and lies, duty and freedom, and love and loyalty. I would highly recommend it, particularly to fans of The Winner's Curse and Strange the Dreamer. Plus, who can ever say no more Aladdin?
After trying to read a few books that just weren't doing it for me, I found exactly what I was looking for: a fantasy novel with themes of freedom and loyalty, friendship and responsibility, led by an amazing cast of characters.
The Forbidden Wish is sold as an Aladdin retelling, but it is much more than that. Khoury has loaded it with history and intricacies so that the story is completely new. Zahra, our lead jinni, is direct, strong, and vulnerable. I love how Khoury made sure we never forget that Zahra isn't human, but at the same time incited sympathy. The mystery of piecing together the sins of the past and exactly what crimes were committed kept me eagerly reading. Following Zahra's fight for freedom and watching her scheme to achieve her own goals all while staying within the limitations set on her made me a loyal fan of hers.
I also adored Aladdin and Caspida, and I wish they had gotten even more of the spotlight. Our eyes were always focused on Zahra, but in our peripheral vision Khoury allowed us to see how Aladdin and Caspida were each strong and complete characters. We got glimpses of how much was on each of their plates and could decipher the reasoning behind their actions-- a sign of good writing that Khoury was able to show us what Aladdin and Caspida felt and thought, even if Zahra didn't specifically acknowledge it. The Forbidden Wish could definitely be re-written from either Aladdin's or Caspida's point of view, and it would tell a different story that I would 100% want to read.
The ending may be a little bit of a stretch, but is overall a small imperfection. The Forbidden Wish mixes the complicated navigation of courts and lies, duty and freedom, and love and loyalty. I would highly recommend it, particularly to fans of The Winner's Curse and Strange the Dreamer. Plus, who can ever say no more Aladdin?
mea9an's review
5.0
Oh my goodness, Guys! That was the cutest book ever! Like, I don't even want it to be a sequel. I just want it to stay exactly where it is.
The ending was perfect, okay? It had a beautiful happy ending just like every Disney movie retelling should have. It had bad-ass women who didn't need men in their lives to tell them what to do. It had the right amount of magic and the way the magic sort of disappeared was beautiful.
I've only read a few retellings in my time, but I really enjoyed this one. I don't know why I loved it so much, because it had a strange love triangle, and there were a few mishaps here and there, but altogether it was beautiful.
A perfect book for me! It was fantasy and sort of contemporary! Making it a weird combination, but very interesting.
This review probably isn't going to make anyone want to read the book, unless you really like my opinion, but I say read it. Give it a chance, and if you don't like it, don't finish it.
The ending was perfect, okay? It had a beautiful happy ending just like every Disney movie retelling should have. It had bad-ass women who didn't need men in their lives to tell them what to do. It had the right amount of magic and the way the magic sort of disappeared was beautiful.
I've only read a few retellings in my time, but I really enjoyed this one. I don't know why I loved it so much, because it had a strange love triangle, and there were a few mishaps here and there, but altogether it was beautiful.
A perfect book for me! It was fantasy and sort of contemporary! Making it a weird combination, but very interesting.
This review probably isn't going to make anyone want to read the book, unless you really like my opinion, but I say read it. Give it a chance, and if you don't like it, don't finish it.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
I am sad that the romance in this isn't done better since that was supposed to be the selling point.
silver_anchor4's review
3.0
I started reading this book because I just couldn't seem to get through anything else and the cover looked pretty... I'm so glad I did.
This book was EVERYTHING! It was magical, sexy, action-packed, and really amazing. The story was such a good spin on Aladdin's tale, and the writing was beautiful! The narration was my favorite part of the book because it made it all feel very personal.
And all those powerful female characters!!! I loved them all! I also loved Aladdin, but Caspida and Zahra took the cake.
Anyway, this book was awesome and everyone should read it!
This book was EVERYTHING! It was magical, sexy, action-packed, and really amazing. The story was such a good spin on Aladdin's tale, and the writing was beautiful! The narration was my favorite part of the book because it made it all feel very personal.
And all those powerful female characters!!! I loved them all! I also loved Aladdin, but Caspida and Zahra took the cake.
Anyway, this book was awesome and everyone should read it!
nadine_booklover's review
4.0
One of the most enjoyable retellings with wonderful, rich and lovable characters, I've ever read!
lielos99's review
4.0
Eeeep! I love Middle Eastern tales and this was an epic retelling of Aladdin with a twist.