A Thousand Nights

From School Library Journal --------------------------- Gr 9 Up—This work explores the setting and central characters from the classic Arabian Nights: Tales from One Thousand and One Nights, adding a mystical backstory for why the Prince kills his 300 wives but spares the Storyteller. In this retelling, the unnamed heroine sacrifices herself for her sister, the most beautiful girl in her village, when the Prince comes to cl a new bride. When her sister builds a shrine to make her a small god, the protagonist finds that she can weave more than just stories, and as her time in the Prince's court grows longer, she finds her powers growing unexpectedly strong. The protagonist continues to survive thanks to the tales she spins every night and begins to discover the true nature of her husband's "possession." She uses this knowledge and her burgeoning abilities to overthrow the demon and his kin when they converge on her village to stop the growing rebellion led by her family. The author creates a mystical fantasy world set under a hot desert sun using an elegant, traditional storytelling style. However, the characters are not as well drawn as the landscape, and readers may not find themselves invested in their individual story lines. The plot draws to a very abrupt, predictable end. Teens who love the fantasy genre will be drawn into the world created here but may be disappointed by the story that takes place in it. VERDICT Not as strong an offering as Renée Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn (Putnam, 2015).—Sunnie pa, Wallingford Public Library, CT Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ "A story threaded with shimmering vibrance and beauty, A Thousand Nights will weave its spell over readers' hearts and leave them captivated long after the final tale has been told."―Alexandra Bracken, New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds series "This is an unexpected gem of a book about storytelling, magic, and relationships, and romance buffs in particular will find the conclusion immensely satisfying, as hard-won, gradual love has a chance to flourish once the wicked force has been defeated."―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A powerful read."―Publishers Weekly * "Detailed and quiet, beautifully written with a literary rhythm that evokes a sense of oral tale-telling, this unexpected fantasy should not be missed."―Kirkus Reviews, starred review "This fantasy, rich with layers of legend and meaning, will captivate readers ready for an adventure. . . Johnston's writing is densely lyrical, evoking the legendary tales of One Thousand and One Nights, from which this story derives."―Booklist Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/1484722272/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )

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