This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi is the kind of book that must be read slowly, so that each word can be savoured. Following a long-lost Jinn queen in hiding and the heir to the kingdom she is destined to destroy, this one contains two well-developed main characters and plenty of tension. I especially enjoyed the rich world-building and the Persian mythology at the core of the story. This is the beginning of an exciting new series that will not disappoint fans of Tahereh Mafi’s other books.
Series: This Woven Kingdom #1
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Also by this author: Shatter Me Series
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Rating:
Series Rating:
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.
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.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
The first instalment in a new trilogy, this book is slower paced and focuses on developing the characters and the world before really jumping into the plot. We follow two main characters: Alizeh, a lost Jinn queen who must hide herself as a servant, and Kamran, a prince who is preparing to take the throne. However, as the Jinn pose a threat to the kingdom, Kamran’s grandfather actively tries to eliminate them, including Alizeh. This is a story of political intrigue, dangerous magic, and forbidden romance.
❀ Dynamic Characters
As this is a character driven story, both Alizeh and Kamran are dynamic characters. I especially enjoyed Alizeh’s narration, and I really felt for her, as she is incredibly strong but must hide her strength in order to survive in the harsh environment as a servant. She is such a clever character, and I found that her fight scenes are especially engaging. Kamran also has an interesting voice, and I loved the dynamic between him and Alizeh, as Alizeh is destined to destroy the kingdom that he is preparing to reign. While the romance in this book is light, Mafi begins to build tension that I can’t wait for in book two.
❀ Richly Constructed World
One of my favourite aspects of this book is the richly constructed world. Those who have read Tahereh Mafi’s work before are familiar with her lush prose, and I adored the descriptions of this setting that is inspired by Persian mythology. Since the story’s pacing is slow, details about the world, its politics, and the magic system are revealed gradually, which I appreciated. Fantasy novels often have major info dumps early on, and I enjoyed getting to slowly immerse myself in this setting.
❀ Inspired by Persian Mythology
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi is the first book in an ambitious new fantasy trilogy. With two complex main characters from different backgrounds and an exquisitely developed world inspired by Persian mythology, this one checks many boxes for me. Fans of YA Booktok books like An Ember in the Ashes will not want to miss this YA book series.
About Tahereh Mafi
Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Meseries. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Santa Monica, California with her husband, fellow author Ransom Riggs. She can usually be found over-caffeinated and stuck in a book. Shatter Me is her first series, with television rights optioned by ABC Signature Studios; Furthermore, her first middle grade novel, is on shelves now, and Whichwood, its darker companion, will be on shelves November 14, 2017.
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Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.