I was offered a free copy by the publisher and accepted, simply because I love all Jane Johnson's novels. Only after the fact did I realise this is a new publication of the book I'd already read in 2013 before my trip to Morocco.
Nevertheless still stunning historical fiction!

The one million white Europeans enslaved and shipped out to Morocco under Islam to build palaces, serve in harems and brothels or (if you were an unfortunate male) be castrated and made in a eunach, tends to get skipped over when someone mentions slavery. It was really refreshing to have an author tackle this head on and not in such a way that it was really a romance masquerading as hard hitting historical fiction. This is about politics and survival. The main characters Nu-nu and Alys are brilliantly well drawn and engaging. The research is phenomenal. Do not be deceived by covers which suggest this is commercial women’s fiction – this is a historical tour-de-force.

Wasn't sure about this book to start with as it was rather slow going at first, however persevered and found I couldn't put it down, the duel storyline of Nus-Nus who works for the sultan as a scribe and the englishwoman Alys captured and taken for a wife of the sultan, how their stories combine and how they become friends, wonderfully written but I must admit I preferred the London section to the Moroccan

The Sultan's Wife by Jane Johnson takes a while to get into but once you understand that it is told from two characters' perspectives (Alys Swann and Nus-Nus) then it is fairly plain sailing. I had to look up a lot of the terminology but if I was reading a book copy then it would be easier to refer to the glossary at the back. Based on historical fact, this story educates me in what was going on in Morocco in the late 1600s, and it is fascinating, if not a bit gory. I did prefer the parts in London as some of the historical characters were more familiar. An enlightening read.

I am always keen to read historical novels set in times/settings I know very little of, so I was extremely excited to come across The Sultan's Wife. Jane Johnson spins an epic tale of intrigue, bravery and emotion set in the imperial court of Sultan Moulay Ismail.

Starting the book, we are immediately in all the action and I couldn't wait to find out what this was all about. We get to know Nus-Nus, eunuch and scribe to the Sultan, but also soon learn about his complicated allegiances (forced or voluntary) within the court. Throughout the book, I could not help but root for Nus-Nus. No matter what is thrown his way (sneaky blackmail from the empress Zidana to an anger induced violent spell from the Sultan to unknown feelings to the Englishwoman/White Swan/Alys), he holds his head high and always acts according to his arrow-straight moral compass.

This is not a simple tale. Nor is it short. It is a long epic of a story, that takes us from the courts in Meknes, through Tangier to London and back. For those historical fiction lovers among us, this is a pleasure to read. The scenes are vivid (also the less pleasant ones that are bound to occur in a setting such as this) and the characters life-like. I would have preferred had we been able to glean a bit more from Alys' perspective, but aside from that, this was an enjoyable read.

Morocco, 1677
The tyrannical King Ismail resides over the palace of Meknes. Through the sweltering heat of the palace streets, Nus Nus, slave to the king, is sent to the apothecary. There he discovers the bloody corpse of the herb man, and becomes entangled in a plot to frame him for the murder.

Meanwhile, young, fair Alys Swann is captured during her crossing to England, where she is due to be wed. Sold into Ismail's harem, she is forced to choose: renounce her faith or die.

An unlikely alliance develops between Alys and Nus Nus, one that will help them to survive the horrifying ordeals of King Ismail's court.

This book sweeps you into Morocco 🇲🇦 the descriptive writing has you hooked. Aside from all the atrocities, slavery and killings to name two this book was a wonderful read. I did not like Nus Nus at the beginning but by the end I had warmed to him and hope to read his journey further ?!

I am far more knowledgeable about the royal court of Morocco in the 1600's now,than I was at the start of this book.
As with most stories set in Royal courts,they are back stabbing and brutal.
Though the sultan in question here,seems particularly brutal... leaving a trail of dead bodies and stolen women behind him.

Our main character Nus-Nus is someone you cheer from the start,and his decency never wavers,no matter how he's treated.
An epic story,that for me,lost a tiny bit of its charm when we hit London.
At that point I felt too many famous names were thrown in,that didn't really need to be there.
Or maybe I just missed the exotic location.

I flew through the book, fully invested in everyone's story.
Very enjoyable.

A lovely and interesting novel, I read every novel by Jane Johnson, she is a favourite of mine. This book did not dissapoint, in fact I consider it the best one yet. Highly recommended.