TAHEREH MAFI
(Book 1 in the This Woven Kingdom series)
Synopsis:
Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.
To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.
The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.
My rating: ★★★★
Categories: YA, retelling, fantasy, romance
Content:
Language: Not present
Violence: The are depictions of murder, mentions of being burned alive, descriptions of blood, physical abuse, and resulting injuries. There is also a few instances of magic being used in a fight. A suicide attempt is also described briefly. The brains of children are also mentioned to be used to feed a pair of magical snakes.
Sex: There are some allusions to sex and rape, mentions of illegitimate children and mistresses, romantic pining and thoughts, and a kiss scene.
LGBTQ: Not present
My Review: I really did not like Mafi's Shatter Me, so I was wary going into this book. Thankfully, it's completely different from her other series (or the first one at least, since I didn't read beyond that). I did have an issue with the often pages-long inner monologue and contemplation, and the pacing bothered me a bit. I would like to remind everyone—including Mafi, because there are several instances where it seems she's forgotten—that the book takes place over the course of only three, maybe four, days. That being said, I really enjoyed the writing in this one. I'm also super interested with where the plot is going next, and am hoping for more development in the romance area. It was very insta-lovey in the first book, but I'm curious to see if there's going to be a love triangle.