Scan barcode
A review by lurdes_oliveira
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
4.0
This book is beautifully written, filled with magic on each page. As far as retellings this gets the price for more well-balanced. Between creating a fresh new story and also having subtle echoes of something familiar.
This book is a retelling of Aladdin, but the genie is a girl! And the story is told through her perspective.
I really didn't have high expectations about this book and it completely caught me off guard. It has amazing worldbuilding, beautiful and sometimes almost poetic language, wonderful characters that you just can't help but love. This book is funny, but it still keeps you in constant tension.
Although this book explores a variety of themes, the thing that really captured my heart was the female characters. There were women who were strong, women who made mistakes, women who were just women who were trying to do what was right. And the best part these girls are not enemies!
They grow in strength when they come together and support one another. No petty slut-shaming or woman-hating. From the jinni to the mortal women, there is a mutual respect and admiration. So many authors could learn from this book.
The forbidden romance aspect of this story was also really good! I’m a fan of forbidden love trope and this one quickly sucked me in. It was cute and pleasant to read.
Aladdin's and Zahra's stories cross and intertwine so seamlessly. The bond that they share was wonderful and I love how it developed from them being very wary and cautious around each other, to becoming friends and supporting and encouraging each other.
This book is a retelling of Aladdin, but the genie is a girl! And the story is told through her perspective.
I really didn't have high expectations about this book and it completely caught me off guard. It has amazing worldbuilding, beautiful and sometimes almost poetic language, wonderful characters that you just can't help but love. This book is funny, but it still keeps you in constant tension.
Although this book explores a variety of themes, the thing that really captured my heart was the female characters. There were women who were strong, women who made mistakes, women who were just women who were trying to do what was right. And the best part these girls are not enemies!
They grow in strength when they come together and support one another. No petty slut-shaming or woman-hating. From the jinni to the mortal women, there is a mutual respect and admiration. So many authors could learn from this book.
The forbidden romance aspect of this story was also really good! I’m a fan of forbidden love trope and this one quickly sucked me in. It was cute and pleasant to read.
Aladdin's and Zahra's stories cross and intertwine so seamlessly. The bond that they share was wonderful and I love how it developed from them being very wary and cautious around each other, to becoming friends and supporting and encouraging each other.