Member Review
Review by
Victoria H, Educator
This series opener definitely leaves me wanting more. Although the immediate problem—find Imani’s brother—is resolved, the door is left wide open for further problems. The enemy he left to fight still exists, and the threat to their magically-protected homeland is real.
Imani has been in a dark place ever since her brother disappeared, and her spunky younger sister, Amira, has been getting into trouble. When they discover a djinn who promises that he can help them find Atheer, Imani does the unthinkable, binding him to her sword, and tells the council. They send her on a mission with an elite group of scouts to bring him back, at all costs.
Naturally, things don’t go smoothly. There is conflict between Imani, born to privilege, and Taha, whose father came from humbler roots and somehow secured a position as leader of the council. There are many hints about Taha’s past, though little is stated explicitly, as he and Imani become closer—but only when no one else is watching. Naturally, the point comes when Taha must choose between the task his father set him and his burgeoning friendship with Imani—who had caught definite feelings for him.
Of course, little sister has made herself an unwanted part of the mission. And the djinn, Qayn, also manages to stir the pot—and help immensely. His past is painful and complex, and he, too, has some hidden motivation.
Imani begins the book ignorant of her privilege, and ignorant of many of the struggles that others experience. She has blindly believed what she has been told about the world outside Qalia, and struggles to accept the revelations that face her in her travels.
I love the variety of magical affinities, and I love that Imani’s is for metal, changing the form of her sword at will to what will be most useful at the time. She is a fierce and capable warrior. It is her blind spots that hold her back, and we see her constantly shifting her schema as new information is added.
The conflicts here ring true, and seem to follow all the classic ones that English teachers like me teach: conflict with self, conflict with nature, conflict with the supernatural, conflict with other people.
Even Taha’s sidekicks, though the flattest of the characters, have some personality quirks.
I look forward to the next installment!
Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic, multiple gods, non-human creatures. There is definitely some violence, fighting, and bloodshed. People get drunk. People lie and mislead others. There is a slight romantic element, but it doesn’t go past a kiss. Description of a young man’s body—non-sexual.
Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like quest fantasy, magic, Middle Eastern culture.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/01/two-new-young-adult-releases.html
Imani has been in a dark place ever since her brother disappeared, and her spunky younger sister, Amira, has been getting into trouble. When they discover a djinn who promises that he can help them find Atheer, Imani does the unthinkable, binding him to her sword, and tells the council. They send her on a mission with an elite group of scouts to bring him back, at all costs.
Naturally, things don’t go smoothly. There is conflict between Imani, born to privilege, and Taha, whose father came from humbler roots and somehow secured a position as leader of the council. There are many hints about Taha’s past, though little is stated explicitly, as he and Imani become closer—but only when no one else is watching. Naturally, the point comes when Taha must choose between the task his father set him and his burgeoning friendship with Imani—who had caught definite feelings for him.
Of course, little sister has made herself an unwanted part of the mission. And the djinn, Qayn, also manages to stir the pot—and help immensely. His past is painful and complex, and he, too, has some hidden motivation.
Imani begins the book ignorant of her privilege, and ignorant of many of the struggles that others experience. She has blindly believed what she has been told about the world outside Qalia, and struggles to accept the revelations that face her in her travels.
I love the variety of magical affinities, and I love that Imani’s is for metal, changing the form of her sword at will to what will be most useful at the time. She is a fierce and capable warrior. It is her blind spots that hold her back, and we see her constantly shifting her schema as new information is added.
The conflicts here ring true, and seem to follow all the classic ones that English teachers like me teach: conflict with self, conflict with nature, conflict with the supernatural, conflict with other people.
Even Taha’s sidekicks, though the flattest of the characters, have some personality quirks.
I look forward to the next installment!
Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic, multiple gods, non-human creatures. There is definitely some violence, fighting, and bloodshed. People get drunk. People lie and mislead others. There is a slight romantic element, but it doesn’t go past a kiss. Description of a young man’s body—non-sexual.
Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like quest fantasy, magic, Middle Eastern culture.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/01/two-new-young-adult-releases.html
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