This is an amazing story of two heirs of two different kingdoms. Except, one is hunted for their legacy, and the other one praised. And that's where the slow burn forbidden romance starts to raise, that shakes the characters to the core.

The writing style of Tahereh Mafi is beautiful and lyrical, the world building is magnificent, and characters are well diverse, everyone one of them with their own struggles and fears.

I truly, truly enjoyed the story. The theme is unique, I don't think I have read anything about Jinns in the past, and even compared with what little I do know about this topic - I still was surprised and mesmerised how they were portrayed.

But what I loved most was Alizeh. She might be working as almost the lowest class servant, in most eyes worth nothing but the worst behaviour towards her, but she's so inspiring. She's strong, creative, determined, and so kind. She's a great queen in the making!

However, I did give "This Woven Kingdom" 4 ⭐️ stars instead of 5
And I have two reasons for that.
First, I wouldn't not read it again. Even though I enjoyed the story, the writing style is a big heavy (possibly just on me, as English is my second language), and the text has this old English type of style.
And second, it's almost 500 pages book, but I can't say that a lot happened at that time. I understand that that time was meant for personal turmoil of characters and their growth, world building. Yet, I just wanted something a little bit more intense.

So far, I do recommend the first book! And I can't wait to read the next one myself 😊

Many thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK Audio and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tahereh Mafi has been on my TBR for like forever. So this was an ideal opportunity for me to pick one of her books up. So this book was marketed as a Cinderella retelling in an Iranian mythology setting.

But unfortunately, this book did not hit any of the marks. This was a very disappointing and frustrating read for me, especially because it was so hyped up on bookstagram!! I know, I know, that should have been my first sign.

So lets get into, we have a "exiled" heir to the long lost Jinn Kingdom, Alizeh our FMC with magical talents of creating beautiful gowns (and much more....ughh implied...she is the strongest of them right?). Anyways she is constantly bullied and has to remain invisible so as to live a life even close to normal. Our MMC Kamran is a tortured young man with a strict sense of justice who also happens to be the prince of the realm who is misunderstood by everyone.

Now here is where it annoyed me, Alizeh is supposed to be the strongest Jinn currently alive, she is well trained in all kinds of fighting skills and also seems to have a grasp on her powers, yet she is so meek and almost a damsel in distress..... like sorry what? And Kamran needs to get married because he needs to have children before his grandfather dies? And he does not like anyone except? obviously, our mysterious Jinn girl, except she is the enemy and cannot be the Kween? you see where we are going with this. Not to mention, a deal with the devil, angered neighboring kingdoms, rebellion groups, poverty and magical problems.

My biggest problem with the pace of the story was that everything was happening at once, yet nothing was happening, there was a good many revelations yet none of them really hit me as a shock and the fact that I guessed the last big reveal correctly, kind of soured it. Even at 75% of the book, I was not hooked or pulled in, even though the narration was very on point.

I know a large group of people absolutely loved this book, but this was definitely not for me.

The main thing I loved about this book was the dialogue. Alizeh and Kamran both speak so formally so their arguments were flourished and highly entertaining to read. The only think pulling the rating down for me is I felt like not much happened over 400+ pages, but I am excited for to read the sequel soon!

Normally if I finished a book I would give it 3 stars at least. 1 and 2 are (generally) reserved for those I can't bring myself to finish. However, I considered DNFing this Soooooo many times whilst reading it. Tbh I kinda wish I had. It was not worth the time I invested in it.

The cover and the blurb led me to believe this would be a lush retelling along the lines of Brass Kingdom and it was laughably not.

The writing was overwrought. I generally enjoy flowery and unexpected writing but this was over the top even for me. The story was SO painfully generic. It was a Cinderella retelling, and stuck pretty closely to that original. The setting was occasionally described but merely as window dressing to a bland, unoriginal story. It felt like something written last decade, before YA fantasy made some of the more recent strides toward diversity and originality.

The characters were bland bland bland nothings. They had no personality. They also both fell into the most painful instalove possible after meeting, what, once? And the weird 'who can I trust' shuffling of characters and histrionics at the end felt really odd. The utter lack of women who weren't awful/abusive toward Alizeh was jarring as well.

The story dragged on and on and oooooooon. Probably a page worth of actual plot happened each chapter and was just stretched out with extraneous words that added nothing.

The audiobook narrator did a good job with the material and made the writing style less jarring, and she is probably the reason I kept reading each time I considered quitting. Needless to say I will not be continuing the series.

*Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, and Electric Monkey for providing an early copy of the audiobook

“*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.*”

Pair this description with the writing style and ideas of Leigh Bardugo / JL Armentrout / Victoria Aveyard and you get “The Woven Kingdom”! I stayed away from this author for quite a while because of my not-so-lovable-experience with the “Shatter Me” series, but this is completely different. You can tell that Tahereh Mafi’s writing style has adapted to a more new adult version, which is reflected really good in “The Woven Kingdom” series. Kate Reading also did a great work by narrating the book from a dual-point of view. I liked hearing the different tones which Kate gave to Alizeh, Kamran, and all the supporting characters. I really hope she will continue narrating the next books in this series!

Special thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, Electric Monkey, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #ThisWovenKingdom #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

Taking inspiration from Iranian mythology, This Woven Kingdom was an exquisite start to the series. I became quickly tangled up in the lore and the character’s stories, spinning through the narrative as fast as I could. The romance and relationships had me hooked. Beautifully narrated, I was swept up in the yarn and absolutely had to know what happened after the cliffhanger ending!

This was a rather interesting Cinderella retelling. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the narrator's deep and hoarse voice but having finished the book I must admit that Kate Reading was a great choice. I really enjoyed her performance.

The story started slowly and it took me a while to put bits and pieces together to learn what was going on, but then I couldn't stop, and finished the 13-hour-long audiobook actually in two "sittings". And now to the sequel!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for an ARC.

This is the first Taherah Mafi book I’ve read and I can honestly say I am a fan of her writing style. This is a fantasy romance steeped in Persian mythology and I absolutely enjoyed it. This is full of tropes I like such as; enemies to lovers, forbidden love, knife to the throat so it's no surprise that I breezed through this. I love how detailed the world building in this was.

I enjoyed learning about Alizeh, she has such an interesting backstory. I look forward to finding out more about her. I also enjoyed Kamrans character. As far as princes go, he’s actually nice. He tries to do what’s right and he fights for what he believes in. I also liked that he fell first and hard. I enjoyed listening to his point of view, it gave an interesting perspective of his role throughout the book.

Whilst the plot twist was brilliant and the introduction to the enemy was very detailed, I was still left with questions that I’m hoping to get answers to in book two.

To say I am obsessed with this book would be an understatement. The plot twist was also great and the introduction of the enemy was very detailed and still I have questions.

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read and review, unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. This is no reflection on the author at all and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

I am disappointed in myself for not picking this book up sooner and I am looking forward to getting hold of the second. The audiobook was so wonderfully read it was a real pleasure to listen to and I felt relaxed and utterly submerged into this story.
I will say though it is a lot of nothing, not much happens and it is a lot of words for not much action. The story gives the history and backstory of Jinn and the royals in play. The instant love at first sight, albeit not actually sight I guess (Alizeh our main female lead covers her eyes to remain unrecognisable), is certainly far fetched and I couldn’t wholly get on board with it, but I loved the ending and certainly leads me to believe book 2 is going to provide all the action….. I hope!


I have received this book for free as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a very interesting book that I quite enjoyed. It was set in a different world that ours, but it wasn't hard to understand or imagine. There are humans and Jinns. They have come to an agreement where Jinns are not allowed to use their powers because humans do not have any.
We get 2 POVs in this book, Alizeh who is a Jinn working as a servant trying to keep her head down and move through life without being noticed, but in reality she is a lost heir to the Jinn kingdom. She is trying to keep this fact a secret. Our other POV is Kamran, the crown prince. He is loyal to his grandfather, the king until he meets Alizeh and everything changes.
I liked both Alizeh and Kamran and really enjoyed getting the story from both of their perspectives. We would sometimes even get the same scene from both perspectives. It's always so interesting to see the flip side and how sometimes even though it doesn't seem like it, you can see how both sides might be right.
I was very intrigued throughout most of this book, but it seemed to go down towards the end for some reason. Maybe it was just a little long for what it was.
I'm really hoping to see more of Alizeh's powers in the next book since there was a lot she didn't know in this one.

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have heard so many amazing things about this book on tiktok and Instagram and I was not disappointed!

This definitely felt like the start of a series as we meet and see the characters develop as they realise what is unfolding around them and I feel like this is something all good book series need as a foundation for future books.

I thought the narrator did an excellent job and I will be purchasing the second book These Infinite Threads as soon as possible to see how Alizeh's story continues!

This was very original for a Cinderella retelling -I absolutely loved the idea behind it- but the pacing was way off.

The first half of the book feels like one big introduction to our two main characters (it's told in dual pov) and absolutely nothing of interest happens. Had I been reading the book instead of listening to the audiobook, I would not have made it to the end. This is my first Tahereh Mafi book and I was extremely disappointed at this point.

By the 75% mark I was still hoping the devil would show up and bibbidi-bobbidi-boo our MC or do something to shake things up. But then somewhere around the 80-90% mark things picked up and I really did like the ending, to the point where I'm now thinking I might actually want to read the sequel. I'm adding an extra star just because of the last 10%.

That being said, it was classic YA, pretty predictable and the instalove between the Prince and the servant girl who is actually a long lost Queen was absolutely ridiculous (but so was Prince Charming going around with a glass slipper in the original Cinderella, so that's a fair retelling).

I did like Alizeh as a character, I like that she is witty and all she really wants is to be a seamstress and live in peace despite her actually having a claim as a Queen. Loved the whole jinn history too. Kamran, however, I cannot get behind. He is portrayed as this cold, brooding and angry at life kind of guy but he then falls head over heels in love with someone he exchanges all of 2 words with and turns into a love struck fool.

I hope this was just one big introduction and that These Infinite Threads will actually be engaging from the beginning.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi tells the story of Alizeh, a kind and compassionate Jinn and secret heir to a forgotten kingdom, and her attraction with Prince Kamran. The chemistry between the two characters is palpable and enjoyable, adding a strong romantic element to the story.

However, the book's narrative is somewhat disjointed. While the story is accessible, the dialogue feels convoluted and old-fashioned, better suited to a Jane Austen novel rather than a fantasy book. This writing style can be distracting and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Additionally, the world-building can be confusing. While inspired by Persian mythology, the book also incorporates many Western historical influences, creating a somewhat jumbled and inconsistent setting.

Despite these shortcomings, the romance between Alizeh and Kamran is undoubtedly the highlight of the book. Alizeh's character is a refreshing change from the typically strong and stoic female protagonists found in many fantasy novels, and her kindness and compassion are traits that we need more of in the genre.

Overall, This Woven Kingdom is a book with its ups and downs. While the romance is enjoyable, the writing style and world-building may confuse and disjoint readers.

I have been meaning to pick up a Tahereh Mafi book for so long and This woven kingdom did not disappoint!

From the moment we met Alizeh i could tell from her subdued outward appearance that there was a badass hiding within, you cant help but get behind her and really feel all her emotions with her. You really route for her, especially after the backstory and champion her gaining back that she has lost and really coming into herself.
I love the world that was built in this book, the descriptions painted a really colourful picture of each environment and helped me become immersed and see it clearly in my mind.
The story itself was perfect, it was really well paced with such good flow especially as an audiobook, it was easy to convince yourself that you needed to hear just 1 more chapter. I haven't listened to a book that i struggled to turn off like this one in ages, and i almost convinced myself i needed to listen to it all in 1 go. I cant wait to start the next one.
The narrator was a great fit for the story, her voice help the flow and really added to the enjoy-ability of the whole package.
Huge thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the copy of this book.

Lyrical, magical and enchanting - yet set in a harsh world of discrimination and fueled by hatred.

Alizeh, the heir to a forgotten Jinn kingdom, is forced to hide from the world and so gains employment as a servant - face hidden, her abilities forbidden by law, quietly working to survive. Kamran is a prince of a kingdom and his grandfather, the King, has a prophecy about the end of his life. Kamran would do anything to defend his father against anyone who would threaten to take him down.

This story was intricate, the main character was fascinating with so many layers I can't wait to be peeled back in future books also. The chemistry of characters was fantastic, the politics and intrigue mixed in with prophecies which make little sense to start, and I loved how the characters and worldbuilding really felt like I was reading an adult version of a fairytale. Absolutely cannot wait to pick up the second installment, which I also hope to catch in audiobook format as it suited Mafi's writing style so well.

Kate Reading did an absolutely brilliant job of narrating this story and I genuinely have to say it was the best way I think I could have consumed it. The lyrical writing came to life being spoken from the page, and the pacing/tone brought by the narrator really made the story that extra bit impactful.

I listened to this audiobook courtesy of HarperCollins UK Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I leave voluntarily.

Recently I haven’t been gelling with most ya fantasy I read - entirely my own fault for being a grumpy old goblin but these youngin protagonists genuinely have the most going on like geez someone let them have a nap. But I was absolutely hooked by the audiobook from the first word. The narrator does an amazing job giving each character an individual voice whilst making it cohesive. It honestly feels like I am reading the book myself. Alizeh is a down to earth very reluctant hero, who honestly just wants a little dressmakers shop where she can work as a seamstress and be left in peace.

Her world is filled with harshness. Hiding under anonymity. She works as a low servant, scrubbing floors whilst her hands blister, enduring bitter cold, beatings and hunger. Most of all she is bitterly alone.

Kamran is a prince, readying himself for the crown. Driven by duty, relinquished to the expectations of the court and king. Until he’s this hidden girl hand out unthanked mercy. Filled with magic, politics, intrigue and a country on the brink of war. I cant wait to start book 2

I was told once there are no original stories, every aspect from a story being told has an influence from another story. I was tucked in and ready for a “Cinderella story”. The main character is a call scullery maid ✔️, Prince needs to meet a girl at a ball and marry ✔️. But the similarities end there, the twists had me staying up way later and finishing much earlier than I planned.
Audiobooks are becoming one of my favorite way to enjoy books, and narrators like Kate Redding bring these books to life. Pretty such there were a few time I was just staring into space like an idiot.
5 stars, I enjoyed the book, but I REALLY enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Audio and Netgalley for this ARC.

I have actually read this book before but was really excited to listen to the audio. I didn’t, however, expect to DEVOUR it the way I did. Whilst my original review still holds (see below), listening to it made the winding dialogue flow so much better, and I really got swept into the story and the romance. So I’m gonna up the rating to 4⭐️
Having said this, the narrator was sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the different characters, but all in all the story flew by. *****

Original review :
<i> "[...] though if you meant to take me captive, you need only ask. I would come willingly." </i>

I feel in the minority in the fact that I'm not raving about this book. My first and foremost thought is that this book doesn't know what it wants to be.
A beautiful and rich story inspired by Persian mythology?
A forbidden love story?
A British period drama?
A book built around in depth politics and countries and war?
I honestly couldn't tell you.

I was so excited to get it, I love reading stories inspired by different cultures and mythologies!
There were times this book gave me vibes from We Hunt The Flame, The City of Brass and An Ember in the Ashes, times were I could <i>nearly </i> feel the vibrancy of the culture and the strength of the characters....but then other times is just felt like a period drama and thrown up all over it, or all the character had swallowed thesaurus'.
Most the characters spoke and sounded the same and it made it difficult to differentiate the voices or feel emotion from any of the characters.
Reading some or the roundabout dialogue literally gave me a headache. I felt you could impose the dialogue over any British period drama and it wouldn't be out of place. Not at all.

The characters...ahhhh what to say? I can honestly say I adored the secondary characters. Omid, Hazan, Deen, Miss Huda were all interesting characters I would happily spend more time with, find more about. Alizeh and Kamran were also interesting, loyal and conflicted and intelligent....but I felt we spent so much time in their brains rehashing the same thoughts with little to no action or growth that this story only actually needed half (or less) of the pages to get through the small plot that was covered in this book 🙈🙊

I am a sucker for romance, and I did enjoy the sweetness of that, though I expect there to have a love triangle in the next book, which I'm less keen on.

I feel that this book could have explored more into the Iblees, the Jinn and the magic, the vitality of the world. Hopefully that will be expanded on in the next instalment!

Overall, I'm intrigued by the story, but think it could have down with a whole lot less procrastination, and a little more vitality, plot and character growth.
3.5⭐