'Speak your name and tell me, who shall cry over your headless body?' 'You will not last long enough to benefit from knowing my name. But if you must k'Speak your name and tell me, who shall cry over your headless body?' 'You will not last long enough to benefit from knowing my name. But if you must know, my mother named me 'Your Death.' - Abolghasem Ferdowsi, Shahnameh.
This! This is what I have been WAITING for! This is so cleverly crafted. It is layered with exquisite tension and heart-stopping romance explosive and I am here for it! I loved that we got Cyrus's back story perhaps my favourite part of the book, especially his story as a diviner. It adds layers to his character and the developing romance between Alizeh and Cyrus is so intimate and tangible I mean Mafi writes romance like no other. The slow burn and leaving the crumbs for book 4 (I mean who's complaining- although I need them to be RELEASED now). Where is Cyrus's brother, what was his father's real deal? Is his mother going to forgive him and love him again. Will he become a diviner again? SO MANY QUESTIONS. Also Hazan...more to him right? And are Alizeh's parent 'really, really' dead?. I'd rather have these books 800 pages long rather than 300 because I don't think I can wait long enough for book 4 but I can't wait to see Alizeh and Cyrus in their Queen and King era. Mafi strikes again leaving me obsessed with this and now another book hangover. Her writing, the characters, the romance, the angst, the kingdom's Chef's Kiss. 4.5* rounded up!
Quotes/ 'I've been waiting,' said Cyrus, 'for this to be over.' A spark of approval animated Rostam's eyes. 'And where have you waited, little one?' Quietly, he said, 'In the future.' 'Three hours of your life, lost.'
'You must not resist life when it becomes inconvenient to live. You cannot outrun fear. You should not ignore pain. You will not outlive death... But life cannot be experienced one emotion at a time. It is a tapestry of sensation, a braided rope of feeling. We must allow for reflection even when we suffer. We must reach for compassion even when we triump. If we spend your days waiting for your sorrows to end so that you might finally live... you will die an impatient man.'
'Master yourself so that you will never be mastered. Know yourself so that you might live with conviction. Live with conviction so that your steps never falter.' ... The master of self means never fear in the consequences of doing what is right.'.. When you suffer you can choose to endure, or you can choose to overcome.' Here even in the midst of your discomfort, there existed elements of relief, if only you had bothered to search.'
'Let us hope for the day when we might all remove our masks, and live in the light without fear.'
'He wanted to press his face against her neck, wanted to breathe in the fragrance of her skin, the perfume of the flowers he'd grown himself. He wanted to make her laugh. He wanted to hold her hand. He wanted to make her tea and walk with her through the seasons. He wanted to watch her conquer the earth.' ...more
It is very ironic that the Tiger is currently held at the V&A museum (now after reading is definitely on my list to go and see). The author set this dIt is very ironic that the Tiger is currently held at the V&A museum (now after reading is definitely on my list to go and see). The author set this during the eighteenth century when 'Tipu's tiger' was first commissioned by Tipu Sultan himself in the late eighteenth century.
I love historical fiction but especially South Asian historical fiction featuring epic rulers. This book just really grips you because of the storytelling but it felt a bit disjointed as if the author wrote chapters separately and she put them together. I did really enjoy reading this book and how much effort she put into researching real life events and correlating them into her retelling. In the The author's note she writes the book is 'imagining these makers and the journey of the automaton itself.'
And it is interesting reading her take on that. I loved the importance she gave to Abbas and Du Leze, the imagery of their workshop and commitment to it. What it means for both of them and their developing relationship but also highlighting a young man's dream to make his mark on the world. It allows him to follow his dream to Paris and eventually England and through that (and perhaps my favourite thing about the book) it allows the reader to see the legacy of colonialism, classicism and racism across the world. Not to mention Tipu and his legacy and his time ruling.
This book was more than artistry and adventure and I loved the setting's the story telling the imagery and amount of detail that went into this book.
Quotes/
'Were an artist to choose me for his model - How could he draw the form of a sigh?'...more
I LOVED this. When I finished this book the first thing that went through my mind is I wish we had more books like this find more stories like this, mI LOVED this. When I finished this book the first thing that went through my mind is I wish we had more books like this find more stories like this, more writers like Babalola. I say this because it is SOOOO refreshing reading history/myths that are so diverse and so real. Instead of re-telling them with the same whitewashed tropes Babalola tells stories that rages from West Africa to the Middle East. And of course no re-telling is complete without including Greek myths. In terms of the stories I loved the first half more than I did the latter. In particular Osun (description, imagery, one of my faves and would love an actual adaptation to be made from it), Scheherazade (obvs), Psyche, Attem (my heart), and Siya. They were evocative and rich in description and detail. I would have loved to have some of these re-tellings as stand-alones themselves because they were so compelling and some were just not necessary for the whole anthology. Highly recommend and can't wait to read more by her!!
Quotes/ 'Sometimes having everything you desire can make you question your own worthiness.'
'Sometimes when you are hungry enough, you can will the ghost-taste of sweet-bread in your mouth. It will make you hungrier, though and emptier. And sometimes you won't know how truly bereft of food you are until its too late'
'Did you know that thunderstorms don't always produce rain? It's a shame, because the rivers hear the thunder and see the lightening and expect to be filled up only to end up disappointed. Dry thunderstorms are just show offs. Scaring birds and burning trees while the river pants. Forgetting that the river helps feed the clouds that thunderstorms are created from.'...more
'Tell me about my end. When is it written for me to leave this world? Who will inherit my throne?- Abolghasem Ferdowsi, Shahnameh
3.5* The second book'Tell me about my end. When is it written for me to leave this world? Who will inherit my throne?- Abolghasem Ferdowsi, Shahnameh
3.5* The second book in This Woven Kingdom series. I mean second book syndrome *winces*. Just proves Mafi writes good enough that I devoured this book in one-ish sitting. Repetitive at the beginning and I guess this was the bridge for the set up for the third book. I loved Hazan's comeback and the trio that is Deen, Omid and Miss Huda. Kamran's unrequited love (hinting at a enemies to lovers with Huda) and the enemies to lovers between Cyrus and Alizeh all predictable. I loved that we got more of the story of the Jinn/lost queen background and more of Cyrus's story and his deal with the devil was so interesting and well written. Although how he fantasies about Alizeh in his devil is tormenting him stages is a bit weird/disturbing/slightly romantic. The ending did leave me wanting to read the third book straight away because your left with feeling 'THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS'. ...more
I loved this, it is such a good stand alone. The inspiration for this book comes from quite a few myths and fairy-tales such as Rappaccini's Daughter,I loved this, it is such a good stand alone. The inspiration for this book comes from quite a few myths and fairy-tales such as Rappaccini's Daughter, the Persian epic Shahnameh, and a bit of Sleeping Beauty mixed in also a reference to Rapunzel. I love the female empowerment within this book and it's not a cliché feminist fairytale. I love the author's note at the end (with all the links to the background of the book for people who are obsessed with Persian epic's *coughing* ...more
Re-read! Long after I first read it I had a hangover of all things This Woven Kingdom and I think because I remembered all the bestFin- 30th July 2024
Re-read! Long after I first read it I had a hangover of all things This Woven Kingdom and I think because I remembered all the best bits I put it to a high standard. So when I re-read it I was (slightly) disappointed because as much as I loved it and fell in love with it all over again it was just underwhelming. I just didn't like how repetitive it all was and how chapters or scenes went on for longer than necessary. Pacing is an issue but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it I really appreciated the world building the characters and the plot. I love Alizeh's character she is not a damsel in distress instead she is a badass can stand on her own and of course is a Queen! Did I like Kamran's insta love towards Alizeh- this time round I am not too sure. Mafi's writing as usual is impeccable which is why it is so readable and it was a perfect time to re-read it as I had the second and third book to get right into. Still one of my favourites and still highly recommend.
Original review/ I turn to right and left, in all the earth I see no signs of justice, sense or worth: A man does evil deeds, and all his days are filled with luck and universal praise; Another’s good in all he does— He dies a wretched, broken man whom all despise. But all this world is like a tale we hear— Men’s evil, and their glory, disappear. —Abolghasem Ferdowsi, Shahnameh
Obsessed...literally obsessed with this book! I read this a month or so ago and still can't get over it. I am familiar with Mafi's work after reading the Shatter Me series and her YA's and was excited to see this time I will be introduced to Mafi's fantasy world. And let me tell you I was not disappointed. This is inspired and adapted from one of Literatures greatest Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. I will start by saying I am THE biggest fan and lover of anything Persian related, because I find it fascinating and so interesting so was that much more excited when Mafi created this world based around Persian mythology. It had been a while since I picked up a fantasy that I had the tingling feeling that this was going to be deverouable, to be honest the tropes are not original. I mean how many fantasy have you read where the m/c is an orphan and finds herself challenging the status quo and the Prince develops feelings forbidden love etc etc.... so on one hand this wasn't exactly original...on the other hand it is the plot...the characters....the plot twists that allow this to be completely riveting. 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. The plot twists, I watched @fulloflit reaction to this book (YouTube vid is liked below) and our reactions where very similar. My jaw dropped plenty of times during this book and I couldn't get enough of it. Loved the portrayal of Alizeh and her backstory how strong she is... just loved everything about this book! Everyone needs to read this... Also the knife to throat scene I had a flashback to Jude and Carden iykyk. To be honest didn't really like the insta-love when I was promised enemies to lovers but I can overlook that when the plot and writing is this good! The characters amazing. Also the wait for the ball dragged and was kind of disappointed with the execution I wanted more. Also that ending like I desperately need book 2!
Quotes/ 'Alizeh had found the courage to move forward by searching the depths of herself; she’d found hope in the sharpness of her mind, in the capacity of her own capable hands, in the endurance of her unrelenting spirit. She would be broken by nothing. She refused.'
The dedication to Ransom was super cute too!...more
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