I always feel so incredibly inspired by well-written fairytale retellings and I knew I’d be in for a wonderful, unique ride with Rumaysa. Pitched as a Rapunzel retelling set in a fictional version of South Asia, I was always going to be here for it but it ended up being even better than I could have ever imagined.

As a baby, Rumaysa was stolen from her parents by a witch and imprisoned in a tall tower in an enchanted forest. With nothing but books and a friendly owl called Zabina for company, Rumaysa spends her days weaving straw into gold for the cruel witch. Then one day, she escapes and embarks on a series of adventures, helping out other girls who need her, on the way to find her parents.

There are some truly stunning illustrations in this book by the very talented Rhaida El Touny. They match the whimsical, enchanting nature of the story perfectly and add a beautiful visual dimension to the adventure. I know that young readers will be thoroughly taken in by them and that gorgeous editions of the book will become much-loved additions to so many bookshelves.

I would love an owl friend like Zabina. She is unwaveringly loyal and wise, making her the perfect girlfriend for Rumaysa. The writing was so vivid and absorbing that I could so easily see her fluttering around the tower, telling Rumaysa all of the forest gossip and gushing about the handsome raven. What a crazy but fantastic girls’ night in that would be!

Every so often, the book would give a subtle nod to the fact that it was a fairytale. It was done in such a clever way that it didn’t take me out of the story at all. I had such a great time picking up on all the parallels of the original fairytales and noticing our Hafiza had expertly adapted them.

The second third of the book delivers us Ayla’s story, which is almost an exact reflection of Cinderella’s. The ending is thankfully completely different and I was afraid for a little while that it wouldn’t be because it seemed so out of Ayla’s character to follow the same path as Cinderella.

Despite having different backgrounds and experiences, Rumaysa and Ayla have a lot in common. They both seem to recognise this when they meet and this causes them to forge a wonderful bond. I like to think that all fairytale heroines would react like this on meeting each other and work together to overthrow the forces that bind them to certain ideals and expectations. Thank you, Radiya Hafiza, for making this possible!

Rumaysa also helps rescue Sleeping Sara, who has been kidnapped by an evil dragon master. I cannot tell you how delighted I was to learn that Sara was plus-sized. A larger princess is something that Disney are still to give to the world and I could barely contain my excitement that Radiya Hafiza gave her to me first. Ok, so she is asleep for a lot of her story but when she is awake, Sara is a badass, fearless leader and it was so exciting to see.



There is even some discussion on the different expectations for boys and girls. Suleiman is a young boy who features in all three of Rumaysa’s adventures. He has been encouraged to go and rescue the princess (Sara) by his parents but he actually just wants to stay inside and invent things. This moment of quiet reflection by him exposes the ideals that both genders are held up to. Boys are expected to go out and have daring adventures while girls are expected to stay at home and be happy with the small world that the indoors provides. Almost every character in this book defies these expectations, which makes it a fantastic read for young minds who know that there is more to the world that what they’re perhaps told.

Rumaysa is a compelling, original and empowering fairytale that will give everyone the inspiration to do good in the world. It subverts stories and ideas that have been drummed into us for centuries, challenges gender ideals and champions helping those most in need all while providing laughs and giving voice to those who have previously been unheard.

This was such a sweet, entertaining and original read that was unexpectedly funny too! I loved how the central character Rumaysa connects the Rapunzel tale to the other spins on Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. The inclusion of Muslim protagonists and South Asian culture was seamless and very refreshing. There were some cool plot twists and some actually quite thrilling scenes!. Bonus point if you love reading flying carpet rides. The illustrations were also whimsy and dynamic and one day I’d love to see how it looks in a paper version!

The characters all felt real and distinct from each other, and I liked that side characters (e.g. Ayla’s stepsisters) weren’t written as caricatures but like actual children/teens with realistic reactions. I also enjoyed how feminism threads throughout this story without being heavy-handed. This includes challenges to anti-toxic masculinity and there was a nice little bit of anti-classism too.

Definitely an enjoyable and recommended read from me!

Rumaysa is kidnapped as a baby and forced to live in a tower until one day she escapes and her life takes a new path of helping other girls trapped in their own situations,

This was a cute and unique new twist on the old fairytales, I enjoyed how the tales show the girls not needing a boy to save them and or to be happy. Rumaysa is a brilliant lead, she's confident and strong in her own right. A beautiful retelling. The book also has a few illustrations dotted through it that just add to the story.

Rumaysa - Radiya Hafiza

Beautifully written and cute little illustrations too. I loved this alternative.

I loved this! The strength of the main character and the stories are wonderful. I loved the familiarity of the ‘traditional’ story from my childhood, mixed with the feisty, uncompromising female lead. An absolute barn-stormer that I’ll happily recommend to my children in school. Thanks NetGalley!

This consisted of three interconnecting ownvoices retellings of fairytales and I adored them. They were absolutely beautiful and the representation is something that was wonderful to see and needs to happen more often. I loved Rumaysa as a character and the friends she meets along her journey are so lovely.

This was a wholesome enjoyable read.

A diverse, feminist reimagining of three well loved fairytales.

Rumaysa has been trapped in a tower weaving gold from straw for as long as she can remember. She dreams of escape but she's not waiting for a prince to come and save her. Rumaysa has a cunning plan - she's going to weave a hijab so strong and so long, she'll be able to use it to climb down from her tower. Once she's out, she plans to find her parents, but a magical necklace gifted to her by a boy on a flying carpet has other ideas...

This story offers a refreshing take on Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, where no one conforms to expectations, and the princesses value freedom and independence above romantic love.

The narrative has a classic, fairytale style, which would make it wonderful to read aloud, either in a classroom or at bedtime.

Rumaysa: A Fairytale is such a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It was full of adventure and had great themes of friendship and acceptance. I particularly loved the representation and the #ownvoices nature of this book. I am someone who advocates for representation in children's books, every child should see themselves reflected in books they read and this definitely works in that favour.

Rating - 4 stars

A beautiful reimagining of 3 classic fairy tales where the heroine is Rumaysa, a young Moslem girl, who lets down her hijab to escape a life locked in a tower and must help two other young heroines escape their fate.

I really loved this book. Not only does it reimagine the tales very vividly, we are no longer relying on our old friend "the handsome prince" to swoop in and save the girl. Instead, the girl saves herself and her friend and the whole thing is a sight more satisfactory (and frankly likely, I would say).

A book that girls of any age will enjoy; I loved it.

RUMAYSA is a fun, easy-to-read Middle grade adventure that brings its own spin to the much loved fairytales of Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. It was a little tongue in cheek at times, playing on established tropes and beats of the story, twisting them into a new, feminist retelling that puts a Muslim girl at the front and centre.

As someone of faith myself, I love seeing characters of faith in books where their faith is just part of who they are, not a plot point where there's a big secret about their religion to unlock or divinities interacting and being treated more like people than gods. Rumaysa faith is an intrinsic part of her character and identity.

I loved how Rumaysa ended up wandering through the other girls' stories in this fresh take on well-known stories. Rumaysa, Ayla, and Sara have no need of princes to save them. Sulieman, a boy with a magic carpet, ends up weaving through the stories and helps out, but he's no knight in shining armour - but a boy told to go save a prince who'd much rather be at home.

Instead, Rumaysa rescues herself (with the help of an animal side-kick) then finds herself making new friends who have troubles of their own. The stories don't end where you might expect, from the traditional tales, but instead they're a lot more satisfying than the simple "and they all lived happily ever after" endings.

This is an attempt to put a new spin on old traditional fairy tales, linking them together and updating them for the modern world. So there are non-white characters who are strong and brave and women who do not depend on men to marry them to give them happiness. It is told in very simple language and I am not sure, as an ex-primary school teacher, what age group they might appeal to. I think children older than 7 may need more sophisticated language and depth of plot, but younger children may have fun with it if guided to spot the issues raised. Maybe the author will invent some original fairy tales next time instead of borrowing old ones.

Rumaysa lets down her hijab to escape from the tower and the wicked witch who imprisoned her. Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara change their lives with Rumaysa's help.

This is a delightful retelling of three classic fairy tales held together by the central character, Rumaysa. Told with humour and originality these are also feminist tales. There are no helpless maidens waiting to be rescued by a prince in these pages. Instead we have strong, independent girls whose friendship and strength of character carries them through adversity. Dragons, a wicked stepmother and a flying carpet pepper Rumaysa's adventures as she sets out to find her parents and makes new friends along the way.

With thanks to Netgalley and and Macmillian children's book.

Rumaysa: A fairytale is a lovely collection of three short fairy tales, including Rapunzel but with Muslin protagonist. The book will be perfect for those children who are starting to read on their own. if I had younger children I would be buying copies of this book.

I also enjoyed the artwork

I really enjoyed this fairy tale retelling. The story begins with Rumaysa (Rapunzel), who is locked in a tower by a witch and made to spin straw into gold. She manages to make herself a hijab long enough to help her climb out and escape down the tower. Her story then intertwines with a boy with a magic carpet on a mission to rescue a princess, and then retellings of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, in which Rumaysa helps them solve their problems without the need of a prince!
These retellings are fresh, intriguing and I love the diversity of them. The author's writing is gripping and I love the feminist mindset- not all Princesses need or want to be rescued by a Prince!
I will definitely be recommending this book.

I loved this!! It was a lot shorter (I read it in an hour!) and more simplistic than I was expecting - I would categorise it as a borderline chapter book, so there isn't masses of character development or introspection, but it's just so much fun!

I loved the way Hafiza reimagined the three fairytales, and the way the girls really save themselves and each other. I love that Rumaysa's hijab provides a key part of her escape, and the mention of how her daily prayers calm her and give her structure in her days! Rumaysa herself was so determined and kind, and I loved her (and I also loved that the witch mispronouncing her name one too many times is the thing that finally unlocks her anger and her magic - because I relate! And a lot of children reading this sadly will too.)

Definitely a book I plan to get for my 7yo sisters!

Rumaysa: A Fairytale is a middle-grade retelling of Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty set in a South Asia inspired fantasy world. Our heroines, Rumaysa, Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara, are (I believe) Muslim and none of them are white. This book, while a retelling of all three fairytales, mainly follows Rumaysa as she escapes her tower and is looking for her parents. She encounters and helps out the other girls on this journey.
This book reads just like a fairytale, and I wrote in my notes after reading the first page that I could tell I was going to love this book. Rapunzel is my favourite fairytale, so any book involving it is already piquing my interest, but this book was so magical and immersive that I flew through it in one day. One of my favourite aspects of this novel was how empowering it was, as none of our heroines required a boy to save them (although Suleiman, bless him, tried his best), and the harmful stereotype of pitting girls against each other is done away with. We also see Suleiman fight against the expectations placed on him to be a 'real man' and how ridiculous the idea of one type of man being the 'real' one.
I can't speak on the representation in this book, but it's own voices so that should say enough about the accuracy of it, but I think it's really important to see retellings like this, especially ones targeted at a younger audience, as it's so rare in the original, most popular, fairytales to have any people of colour, and all children should be able to see themselves represented.
Within this book, you can also find an animal companion, elements of Rumpelstiltskin and Aladdin, and a plus-sized princess.
This book is aimed at the younger side of middle-grade, but can be enjoyed by anyone, and I would definitely recommend it, especially to young girls. I'm really hoping that there will be a sequel as I'd love to read more in this world.

A wonderful retelling of some traditional fairytales.
I love how each story is interwoven and the slight changes that make it a new story.
Every change gives more depth to each story and I wonder what will happen next?

Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty all beautifully retold.

A massive thank you to Net Galley and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read a proof of this beautiful debut children’s’ book. Radiya has spun a re-telling of three classic fairytales: Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, transforming them into: Rumaysa, Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara.

Radiya’s re-telling is woven with humour, culture and feminism. Her heroines don’t need a knight in shining white armour to save them; they are more than capable of saving themselves, flipping the damsel in distress into the damsel in determination. In ‘Rumaysa’ the heroine speaks of her love of books and how they have bought her knowledge and comfort. I love that this intelligent book-worm is a role-model for future generations of children to look up to and understand that reading is the gateway to their futures. Rumaysa also talks about how reading ‘A Thousand and One Nights’ has bought her comfort becuse it contains people of her colour and culture. This echoes the importance of a diverse re-telling of classic tales so that every child no matter their colour or culture can feel valued by their heritage and reassured by heroes and heroines like them.

One of the best attributes of the book is the humour. For example, when someone arrives at Rumaysa’s tower looking to save a damsel, she is already in the midst of escaping! This edgy humour that scrutinises the tropes of fairy tales and makes us view them under the microscope of modern culture, allows us to laugh at the old, patriarchal tropes we have come to know and love.

As a little girl I think I found it hard growing up and fixating on the idea that there would one day be a prince to sweep me off of my feet. I think this ideal is damaging for young girls who are taught to believe that they cannot be complete without a counterpart. I love how this re-telling tackles this by banishing the idea of the saviour and building up strong female protagonists who are complete, strong and happy all by themselves or when comforted and helped by their female friends. Now, little girls will hopefully grow up wanting to lift each other up and be content in the knowledge that they are enough.

You can pre-order a copy here – released on Thursday 1st April – Rumaysa

Despite being obviously written for a younger audience, this is a beautiful collection of 3 classic stories, retold with Muslim protagonists. A wonderful collection, perfect for all ages.

This is a collection of three interconnected stories, titled Rumaysa, Cinderayla, and Sleeping Sara. Each reworked a renowned fairytale with a Muslim protagonist, a feminist angle, and a unique dash of magic. Despite aimed at a far younger target audience, I admired and adored the contents. I also appreciated the representation provided. A quote from this anthology accurately describes just why books like this are so important:

"It was the only book Rumaysa owned where the characters had similar names to her and shared her skin colour."

More little readers deserve to find themselves within more books like this one.