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A review by alyson7
The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of the Arabian Nights by Cameron Dokey
3.0
The Storyteller's Daughter is a young adult retelling of the Arabian Nights. I vaguely know the story of Shahrazad and her 1001 tales that she told her husband, the king, in order to stay alive. In most versions, the king takes a new wife every night and then kills them in the morning. Shahrazad volunteers to become the king's new wife. At night, she tells the king a long tale that lasts until morning. When morning comes, the king is so hooked on finding out the rest of the story that he allows Shahrazad to live another night. Well, another night becomes another night and so on.
In this version, the king is a bit more redeemable. This is a young adult novel, after all. The king isn't beheading all of his wives. But, he is bitter after being betrayed by his previous wife. Enter Shahrazad who believes that it is her destiny to change the king's heart and to save her own heart in the process. She uses her gift of storytelling inherited from her mother to warm the king's heart. Meanwhile, there is a plot to overthrow the king.
This is the second novel by Cameron Dokey that I read. The first one was Winter's Child, a retelling of The Snow Queen. Both retellings are well written and have that fairy tale quality to them that is both comforting and exciting. Like Winter's Child, there is very little character development. The story is very much plot-centred (which is common for the fairy tale genre).
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time, and I am glad that I finally found a copy to read and review. It was certainly worth the wait.
I would recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and folklore retellings suited for a young adult audience. Also, if you're expecting a lot of romance, this probably isn't the book for you.
In this version, the king is a bit more redeemable. This is a young adult novel, after all. The king isn't beheading all of his wives. But, he is bitter after being betrayed by his previous wife. Enter Shahrazad who believes that it is her destiny to change the king's heart and to save her own heart in the process. She uses her gift of storytelling inherited from her mother to warm the king's heart. Meanwhile, there is a plot to overthrow the king.
This is the second novel by Cameron Dokey that I read. The first one was Winter's Child, a retelling of The Snow Queen. Both retellings are well written and have that fairy tale quality to them that is both comforting and exciting. Like Winter's Child, there is very little character development. The story is very much plot-centred (which is common for the fairy tale genre).
I have been meaning to read this book for a long time, and I am glad that I finally found a copy to read and review. It was certainly worth the wait.
I would recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and folklore retellings suited for a young adult audience. Also, if you're expecting a lot of romance, this probably isn't the book for you.