The Bird King is a historical magical realism fantasy set during the last days of the Reconquista. In the beginning of the book, there is an element of despair and melancholy as the combined forces of Castile and Aragon start to close in on Granada.

The book stars Fatima, a slave in the sultan’s harem and her dearest friend, Hassan, a mapmaker who can create maps of places he’s never seen and open secret passages. Fatima dreams of freedom, having been born and lived her entire life as a slave. She acknowledges that relatively speaking, she’s privileged compared to most freeborn women. She’s given the best food, fine clothing, and even an education. And yet, she is at best a bird trapped in a gilded cage.

In Granada, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela send emissaries to negotiate a surrender treaty with the sultan. This is the last stronghold of Al-Andalus, Muslim Spain, now on its last legs. An air of melancholy permeates the atmosphere in these chapters. There is the sense of waiting for the city to fall and the upheaval sure to come after. The Inquisition is talked about in hushed, fearful whispers, seemingly far away but close by.

The arrival of the emissaries throws everything into chaos. Suddenly, Hassan is a wanted man, branded by the Inquisition as a sorcerer, even as she befriends Luz, a former baronesa turned lay-sister.

The Bird King contains fantastical elements although it mostly stays grounded in reality for the first two-thirds of the novel. It is in the last third that it really becomes solidly fantastical. I really enjoyed it this way as the author had a way of vividly painting a picture of what Granada may have looked like just as it was about to fall. I have enjoyed reading historical accounts about the Reconquista so this part, the historical fiction part intrigued me a lot and I personally enjoyed it more than the fantasy parts. However, I will stress that the fantastical parts are still enjoyable.

The characters were also wonderfully characterized. They each have their own quirks and personalities. Fatima is more than a bit stubborn and hard-headed – a fact which can tend to get her in trouble. Still, she is loyal and steadfast in her friendship with Hassan. Honestly, it’s such a wonderful friendship, founded on platonic, friendly love as Hassan is homosexual, and according to Fatima, the only one who doesn’t look at her lustfully. So their friendship was truly a partnership founded on the respect two people have for each other, their love and willingness to save each other.

The plot does move quickly although the lush, gorgeous prose can trick you into reading slower. This is truly a beautifully written book with a distinct literary feel. Combined with the themes of sacrifice, freedom, and love, it makes for a truly spellbinding read.

Overall, I highly recommend The Bird King for fans of historical fiction, magical realism, and literary fiction with fantasy elements. It’s a lovely book about a slave’s flight to freedom and a friendship she would give everything up for.

This book was enchanting. Well written, magical, historical, and great character development. I look forward to reading more by Wilson!

A Circassian concubine in Alhambra, at the time of the last sultan, learnes of a threat to her gay friend and decides that they must run away in order to save him.
The writing is beautiful and lyrical, and the story is a mix between historical fiction, fantasy and magical realism. The first part, taking place in Alhambra and the desert, I found very good and greatly enjoyed it, but the second part I didn’t like that much, maybe because it felt rushed and possibly also because of too much magical realism.

The Bird King is absolutely magical, stunning, and thrilling. For me, it was the kind of book that I really wasn't sure about at first. It's slow to start and build, and then when I was through the setup and into the actual plot, I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. It tackles tough issues while also being an elegantly written adventure with characters you aren't likely to forget.

What Wilson does is make this a book about everything; while it hits on issues that are important to me (feminism, for one), the story isn't quite *about* those issues. Rather, the story is an adventurous, magical realism, fantasy type of story, but there are beautiful lines in here that made my heart sing when I read them. These are very small moments within the story itself, but they are what really made me fall in love with the characters and the world that Wilson creates within these pages, because it is a world that is fully realized and wholly complex.

Fatima is the main character and is the very embodiment of what I think of when I think of strong, female characters. She's naive in some ways, delicate in others, but so very strong and determined to succeed in her mission to save her friend and get him away from the people who want to harm him. I love how it's her determination and love for her friend that helps her change and grow into the person she was always capable of being.

Mostly, I love how myth and history weave together to bring this story into play. It made me want to learn so much more about the time period in which it's set and the culture of the main characters' worlds. I was thinking about the story for a long time after I finished and still can't quite get it out of my mind. It's easily one my favorite reads of 2018 and I would not be surprised if it's a favorite release for this year. It's just so smartly done, I can't say enough good things about it.

The book began with such a beautiful promising story which unfortunately deteriorated through the wild journey. I wish I could say I liked the wild journey and the interesting concept of djinns more than concubine's narration of palace lives and her escape through magic doorways but I didn't. The chase felt pointless and exhausting. There were some really great moments and some that confused me to no ends.

Things I liked -

The atmospheric setting of palace life, Fatima's rebellious character, Hassan unexplained talent, their love of another. The musing and questions, the characters ask about beliefs and how humans get to set the fate of another life through their own beliefs & the raging war that never seem to end.

"They were probably women," muttered Fatima, fanning her face with the sleeve of her robe. "If they were men, we would remember their names.”

Things that bothered me -

I couldn't grasp what the author meant by Fatima being the Bird King, then saying that everybody was one. Hassan seems to be attracted to every male present, he acted horny in the presence of all males even the half dog-human Vikram. He seemed to have no standards for himself.
The magic system was confusing and convenient and then confusing again. The time was never explained, and the ending was rushed unfairly.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the fourth non-Western speculative fiction novel I read in a row - The Bird King, though, is somewhat set apart from the others, as it weaves just a pinch of magic into the historical events leading to the fall of Muslim Iberia. It's a highly unusual story for sure! And I started reading it without the faintest idea where it would lead me.

Strongwilled protagonist Fatima is absolutely captivating to read about, as she does everything to save her best friend Hassan from the Spanish Inquisition, their pursuers hunting him down because of his talent of "creating" places - paths, corridors, tunnels, shortcuts - by drawing them on maps. But Fatima also fights for herself and her own rights. The besieged Alhambra constitutes the starting point for this adventure, and that's... an amazing idea. As was the jinn lore. In fact, The Bird King brims over with beautiful ideas and concepts, enriched by Wilson's lovely writing.

But (and this is actually a big "but" for me) I was thrown out of the story by the many climaxes it reached. And... it's hard to explain why, but that just wasn't satisfying. There is conflict - emotional, religious, political, ethical, every conflict imaginable - but in the end it adds up to a philosophical dispute of sorts, and I just wasn't into it. Perhaps it just isn't fantasy enough for me? Perhaps it's too surreal? Because in any case, I can't argue that it's not a good book. I would in fact recommend it without reservation. But the last third of it simply wasn't my kind of novel.

I adored this book. The setting was exceptional, the characters were beautiful, the writing style was atmospheric.

Fatima and Hassan's friendship/relationship is probably one of the best m/f friendships I've ever read. I loved it so much.

I also loved the villains. It's so relevant for this day and age and political setting in the U.S. It was heartbreaking the struggle that they're going through with the Inquisition. What I didn't like about Luz was her "reason" for being so evil. There ARE evil people who feel as she does and it's not due to anything supernatural.

Otherwise, it's a fabulous book, highly recommend.

First of all, the cover is lovely. It's an eye catcher for certain. The story is also lovely. Granted, it's slow at times, but the words within themselves are simply beautiful written. The premise, Muslim during the Spanish Inquisition, is one that is unique. The setting lends itself to a magical feel. Fatima was engaging and kind of different, which I liked. The story is very good, but don't try to rush through this one.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic for the advanced copy.

I really enjoyed slipping into this little fantasy world.

I was drawn to this one because I have enjoyed some of Wilson's previous books. This one sounded intriguing, both for the historical aspect and the fantastical element. It took me a little while, but it wasn't long before I was truly hooked.  I feel like I learned so much from this book. I don't know much about medieval Spain. This has got the beginning of the Inquisition, and the threat to both our main characters is truly terrifying.

The strongest part of the book is definitely the characters. Both Fatima and Hassan were clearly drawn, fully dimensional characters with believable motives and flaws. I loved their relationship. Then there was the jinn. I liked that he was so untrustworthy, and yet so appealing. 

If there was one thing that made this a little bit hard to stick with I think it was the pacing. It seemed a little uneven. But I would recommend it for those who want to try a mix of historical fiction and magical realism.

Let's start out with how beautiful this book cover is. It would definitely catch my eye in a bookstore.

As for the book itself, it's entertaining and well-written. I found the characters to be colorful and charming and I was so excited to take every step of their journey with them. I really loved the pacing of this novel and the overall feel of both the characters and the story and now they weaved together so wonderfully.

It feels so hard to give a proper review for this book without spoilers, but I know I'll definitely be purchasing a copy when it comes out in March.

Thank you to the publishers Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I started reading this I knew I would love it!

This tells the story of the last concubine Fatima and her dear friend Hassan. Although they live in the palace together, they lead very different lives. Hassan has the ability to edit and create maps of lands he has not seen. I was so intrigued by this premise and Wilson's lyrical writing I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I was reading this on the train and I almost missed my stop- THAT'S HOW AMAZING IT WAS.

I loved the plot and don't want to give too much away, but the fantastical elements of this story made me give it a 5 stars!

I was really excited to see that G. Willow Wilson has a new book coming out in 2019. And The Bird King delivered! The story follows the favorite concubine of the last sultan of Granada and her best friend, the royal cartographer with a magical gift with maps. When the Inquisition comes calling, the two run away to find the island of the Bird King.

There is a lot going on in this book, and I read most of it in one giant gulp. The language is gorgeous, and the world building fantastic. Wilson spends a lot of time building the world of the sultan's court, and it's lushness and opulence -- only to rip it away as the two friends go on the run and are forced to contend with hunger and hardship.

This was an incredibly compelling read. Things got a bit weird and rushed towards the end of the book, and I honestly wish that Wilson had slowed the pace down a bit there. But overall, a really good read.

The story was a bit dragged, Otherwise It was an interesting read....Thank you Netgalley for giving this eARC

I can’t describe this book in another word than beautiful. Because it truly is. Beautiful and magical. I loved the mix of history and magic and how slowly the story unfolds. In the beginning it was a bit hard for me to stay focused for that reason though. I wasn’t sure where the book was going and because it was so slow and detailed, it could not keep me for longer than a few pages. But once I decided I really wanted to read this book and explore its characters, I somehow fell in love with it. The slow pace radiates more of a tranquility you can float on, moving you forward through the story, than a boring piece of writing. The heat of southern Spain, the brutality of war, the innocence of the main characters. Everything is wrapped in such beautiful words, woven into this story at exactly the right points. I could imagine everything so well, the places, the characters, the magic. Oh, the magic. It was a thing of beauty, subtle, not visible for everyone. Perfectly integrated with history. It was a big part of the story but it never took away the focus from the characters and their relationships.

The characters were what pushed this story forward, not necessarily the plot around them. The book focused on the people and their development, from innocents fleeing a palace and becoming survivors who find ways to fight for their freedom, their love and the good in the world. All the while staying themselves. I also loved how diverse the book was, with characters of different sexualities, ethnicities and religions, all of them coming together in war and love and companionship. They learn from each other and grow with each other.

I really grew into the story. If you plan to start the book, please don’t let its inital slowness keep you away. It just makes the right feeling for this book. It just fits everything so well and I don’t know what else to say. The Bird King was a fantastic read with history and magic beautifully mixed up with strong, growing characters.

A compelling story from a harem slave’s point of view. This is the historical moment when Isabel and Fredrick unite Spain and finish extraditing both the Moors (Muslims) and Jews. Due to a poor background in history I was unaware that these acts occurred during the same time period, and with the aid of, the Inquisition.

Fatima dreams of freedom despite being the favorite of the sultan’s court. Her friend Hassan, a mapmaker, has the uncanny ability to add to known maps and make new rooms and islands appear. Together they attempt to run from the sultan and the Inquest to a place known only in an old unfinished tale.

3.5 stars rounded up. Actually would easily have been 4.5 stars except that the plot got a bit lost in the middle. But this doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story. It was beautifully written and the main characters were memorable.

To say this was not quite as wonderful as alif the unseen is not an insult, since alif was one of my favrite books of all time. I loved
The background of the Iberian peninsula and Fatima although a character in a fantasy was believable. I also thought that the plot took twists that wereboth surprising and reasonable.
I just hope that the Bird King will receive the attention it deserves. Glad to say that the cover art is first rate.

It's said that history is written by the winners. The Bird King by American Muslim G. Willow Wilson is about those who lost. Before Ferdinand and Isabella became the rulers of Spain, there was a long struggle in Spain between Muslims and Christians. As The Bird King opens Grenada is the only part of Spain that is still Islamic. The protagonist Fatima is a concubine to the Sultan, and her closest friend Hassan is the Sultan's mapmaker who also has an unusual paranormal gift.

The Bird King has been sitting on top of my Net Galley priority list since I received the ARC. Now I finally have the time to read it. I've been a fan of G. Willow Wilson's work with Ms. Marvel, the first Islamic female superhero. I also read her memoir, The Butterfly Mosque with interest. I couldn't wait to spend time in Islamic Spain with an independent minded concubine and a paranormally gifted mapmaker.

To begin with I wasn't too fond of Fatima's immaturity, but I recognized that she was seventeen and made allowances for her age. I liked her better over the course of the narrative because of her loyalty toward Hassan who is truly a remarkable character. His paranormal gift apparently results from a type of neurodivergence. He's also gay. Fatima is determined to rescue Hassan from the Spanish Inquisition when it arrives in Grenada with a Castilian delegation. They escape with the help of a djinn.

Fatima matures as a result of their journey which takes them away from their familiar lives into a mythical realm where I perceive them as eventually becoming lost to history as a result of a difficult decision that Fatima makes. I feel that this decision has highly ambivalent consequences. Many readers probably feel more positive about it than I did. I saw many five star reviews on Goodreads, but I have a more mixed perspective toward the resolution of The Bird King. I just wished that the ending could have been different.

Wilson creates an eerie sensation with her world and the charcters who inhabit them. The magic system in this novel is clear and genuine. The heroine and the villains both of a clear and deep motives. The world the author creates is astounding.

I found this book fascinating. The setting is uncommon. I don’t think I’ve read another recent book that focuses on a Muslim civilization during the Spanish Inquisition. I’m sure there are some but not that I’ve come across in the Fantasy genre. The setting lends itself to a book with rich description and detail.

Fatima is truly the star of this show. She is a concubine to the last Sultan in Granada and has been raised to be a creature of “love”. In reality she is a slave. She has been raised to be used by the Sultan, and while she is somewhat fond of him, in her heart of hearts she recognizes the truth of her situation. She is beleaguered but also a little spoiled. She does not know severe hardship, cold, or want. Now with the rise of the Catholic inquisition she has choices to make. Everything about her life, and that of her dearest friend stands in opposition to the new regime. Her life until now has been one of waste, her talents and abilities misapplied to the petty jealousies of court life. But if she is to escape a cruel fate she must reach out to grasp her full potential.

It’s a beautiful book. I noticed quite a few DNF’s and complaints on Goodreads in particular that the book is slow. I think that maybe this is because the readers were expecting a different type of book. This is not a book to speed through, and Fatima is not the usual “strong girl” that I think some readers are coming to expect from books. She’s not a fighter per se. There are some action scenes, but they are not the focus. The real action is in her personal growth and that of the people around her. I enjoyed the book very much and will be looking forward to reading more from this author.

Song for this book: Marrakesh Night Market – Loreena McKennit