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tsoutham's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The book flips back and forth between 2002 and 2016, the main character a women from Turkey studying at Oxford and then back in Turkey with a husband and children. In her childhood, as a young woman, and later as a wife and mother she is visited by a jinni. Magic sustains her and is present for her biggest transformations.
She is afraid to share her jinni experiences with either her zealously religious mother or her science-minded father, and finally finds a professor to share them with. However neither he nor later her husband or daughter can help her with navigating a third path until the night of the party.
This is a close as I will get to a thriller because the subject matter is captivating, the character well-explored and authentic and the questions are of our time certainly.
She is afraid to share her jinni experiences with either her zealously religious mother or her science-minded father, and finally finds a professor to share them with. However neither he nor later her husband or daughter can help her with navigating a third path until the night of the party.
This is a close as I will get to a thriller because the subject matter is captivating, the character well-explored and authentic and the questions are of our time certainly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Self harm
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I first read this book last year, having been drawn to the diverse take on dark academia, and the first time round the book had come very close to being a favourite of the year. The good news is, it's just as engaging the second time round!
You have elements of mystery, a pinch of magical realism, nuanced characters, diverse representation, gorgeous prose and thought-provoking conversations.
This book very much feels like basking in the light of a very charismatic and very knowledgeable speaker, you know the kind? These fascinating people you could spend hours listening to. That's close to what I felt reading this book, in a fiction format. I just wish the ending was a little less rushed, but that's probably because I would have happily read a couple more hundred pages like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Self harm
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