Fantastic and visceral read that had me hooked from the very beginning.
I read this book in one fell swoop; it was wholly absorbing and dug its claws into me right from the beginning.
The story is written in the first-person style through the eyes of the female protagonist, Emel. Thanks to the prose, which wonderfully constructed Emel's accounts and emotions, I reacted viscerally to her experiences; there were moments I genuinely felt her rage boil inside me, her claustrophobia choke me, her stolen moments of happiness evoke a sense of ebullience, and when she was disconsolate, I, too, fell into the sadness. Through every beautifully crafted line, I was sutured into the reality and narrative of the story.
" I want to see you more. If that means I must steal time from the gods, then I will. If you’ll allow it, that is."
As a first-person narrative, this was character-centric; it was not bogged down by the inclusion of minutia necessary for larger world-building. Instead, we get a robust account of the characters, their interactions, and their experiences. I can imagine for those driven by narratives, this may be a challenging read, but I think it was a perfect and well-done encapsulation of the human condition. I loved that we followed one person’s experience and as such, learned and felt through them. Are there missing perspectives? Yes. However, this isn’t about that. This story is about one woman’s journey to freedom, and as such, we experience the trials and tribulations through her eyes.
Before I forget - how could I forget, I want to give an honorable mention to Saalim. I absolutely adored him and all his flaws. He was a realistic character who, although powerful, struggled with the consequences of choice. For me, his relationship with Emel was perfect and painful and, in the end, hopeful.
The ending had the conclusions necessary for the characters and enough vague hope for readers to be satisfied. However, I think there is an opening here for another installment, and I would gladly read it in a heartbeat.
If it was unclear before, I loved this book. I recommend this to anyone, anywhere. Do yourself a favor and read this, recommend this, and experience this.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Book summary:
As a daughter of the Salt King, Emel ought to be among the most powerful women in the desert. Instead, she and her sisters have less freedom than even her father's slaves … for the Salt King uses his own daughters to seduce visiting noblemen into becoming powerful allies by marriage.
Escape from her father's court seems impossible, and Emel dreams of a life where she can choose her fate. When members of a secret rebellion attack, Emel stumbles upon an alluring escape route: her father's best-kept secret—a wish-granting jinni, Saalim.
But in the land of the Salt King, wishes are never what they seem. Saalim's magic is volatile. Emel could lose everything with a wish for her freedom as the rebellion intensifies around her. She soon finds herself playing a dangerous game that pits dreams against responsibility and love against the promise of freedom. As she finds herself drawn to the jinni for more than his magic, captivated by both him and the world he shows her outside her desert village, she has to decide if freedom is worth the loss of her family, her home and Saalim, the only man she's ever loved.