This one has been languishing in the depths of my TBR pile for far too long. So when I hit a bit of a reading slump after wading through two annoying books, I selected it hoping that the buzz when it first hit the shelves would fire up my enthusiasm too…
When Aladdin discovers Zahra’s jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn’t seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra’s very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.
That is as much of the rather chatty blurb I’m willing to share. What caught and hooked me with this one was the strong characterisation of Zahra, the jinn trapped in the lamp. Her voice pings off the page right from the opening section when Aladdin blunders into the underground chamber where she has been trapped for hundreds of years. Having this famous story told from the viewpoint of the magical character who is able to transform his life with only three wishes is a really nice touch.
While you won’t be shocked to know that Zahra and Aladdin develop strong feelings for each other, I was pleased to see that the romance aspect of the story didn’t overwhelm the other interesting elements. Zahra is in this mess because of her love for another owner of the lamp, which ended in catastrophe. So she is reluctant to visit a similar fate upon Aladdin and everyone else in the city. Meanwhile, Aladdin is trying to negotiate his way through the brutal rule that saw his parents killed by passing himself off as someone else… The story whisks along at a lively pace, providing plenty of adventure, plot twists – many of which I didn’t see coming – and problems for Zahra and Aladdin. How was this going to be resolved?
There was an enjoyable supporting cast, with my favourite character being the beautiful and resourceful princess, Caspida and her wonderful watchmaidens. Concerned about the daily injustices visited upon the downtrodden populace, she is trying to keep her ailing father from further falling into the clutches of his evil brother. I really liked the fact that Caspida and Zahra are instantly drawn to each other – it is a refreshing change to have a YA book where all the female relationships are largely positive.
The romance was well handled and quite sweet – but for me the standout relationship was Zahra’s desperate yearning for a lost companion she loved years before, to the extent that she still talked to her. And while I was convinced of her growing feelings for Aladdin, I was pleased to see that they didn’t eclipse her sorrow or somehow make the past all okay. In short, Khoury has written a powerful, sensitive characterisation of a being who has lived a very long time and is something both more and less than human – and made me believe it. Highly recommended for fantasy fans who enjoy a well-told retelling.
8/10
I very much enjoyed this one. Glad to hear ye did too!
x The Captain
It is a delight, isn’t it?
Re-tellings of famous fairy tales often prove much more interesting than the original, and this one seems to follow that trend… Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh yes – I completely agree! I absolutely loved the pov of the genie and really believed in her age and otherness:).
This is…hmmm. I think I have the Disney version of the Aladdin story so ingrained in me that I cannot perceive a different relationship with these characters. But I’m glad you enjoyed this one!
It was a fabulous take. I loved the dynamic of the genie being female, because it didn’t stop her loving the princess, either…
True! Maybe it’s just because Robin Williams’ voice will always run through my head for a genie talking, which won’t jive so well for a girl character. 😉
I hear you… (and Robin Williams come to that – this film was my son’s favourite Disney film for quite a long time:))
It certainly is a good one as far as Disney films go. 🙂
What’s your favourite Disney film, Jean? Mine is Brave, closely followed by The Little Mermaid.
Brave’s beautiful! Hmmm. The Great Mouse Detective is a favorite…Robin Hood…let’s see…but as far as which I’ll pull to rewatch, it’s a super close tie between Beauty & the Beast and Treasure Planet. 🙂
Oh yes! Beauty and the Beast is absolutely lovely:). I always get a lump in my throat with the transformation scene. And I don’t know Treasure Planet…
Oh, DO watch Treasure Planet! It’s an impressive adaptation of Treasure Island in a space/steampunk setting. Totally up your alley. 🙂
Another retelling that caught my eye, and I haven’t heard of that book before. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Oh, this is a gem! I really loved this one… I hope you manage to get to it.