*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: This Woven Kingdom
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
ISBN: 9780062972446
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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.
———-
I love finding a new series that I can get hooked on! Mafi’s The Woven Kingdom is a thrilling first book in the authors new series and it’s beautifully composed, perfectly paced, and just all around enjoyable. I sped through this book in just 3 days, which is a feat for me nowadays. Mafi is a masterful world builder which strong characters and fast-paced plots. You’ll be absolutely hooked with this one!
Bringing together history, fantasy, romance, magic, and an adaptation of Persian mythology, this gorgeously crafted book is everything I needed to kick off my 2022 reading. A lost queen seeks only refuge in the Ardunian kingdom. An orphan with no allies, she can rely only on herself and she is determined to not let life get the best of her. Though she lives as a lowly servant, a snoda, the lowliest of all citizens, she has made a life for herself that she can rely on. Sbe can maintain anonymity and protection in caring for the estates of the wealthy. She is so lowly to even be looked upon and that offers her safety. Money is in short supply, but she dreams of becoming a seamstress and one day affording a place of her own.
The Ardunian prince has been shaped and moulded to take his rightful place as king. Every step in his life has brought him closer to the thrown and to the infinite responsibility that accompanies it. When he meets the mysterious servant girl, his whole world is turned on his head. She is a riddle that he cannot quite figure out. There is danger afoot and his world is nothing like what he thought. There are many truths to expose and if he is not careful, he risks his entire kingdom.
This book brings to mind the tales Cinderella and Aladdin, set in a fantastical Persian empire. It’s got everything you could every want and it’s beautiful to read. It’s rich in culture and tradition, which makes for a vibrant and breathtaking read. Told in two perspectives, is got incredibly complex and robust characters who are full of intrigue and who unfold on the pages. There is still so much to uncover in the books to come. I can’t wait!
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 