This was an interesting story set during the Caliph of Harun ar Rashid which is what initially peaked my interest. The first half of the story was quite slow but once we got to halfway it started to come together and I enjoyed the story more. It was a an interesting murder mystery where we slowly learn that not everyone is who they claim to be. Though I do wish there was more character development for the characters. I did like how we see the Abissid caliphate and the way there is advancement in healthcare especially. We also get to see Zubaida, the wife of the Caliph in the story which was a nice addition to the story.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, I loved that we got a murder mystery/vengeance quest that WASN'T in America or Europe. There are lots of quotable prose and it's overall good.

However, my only complaint was that this could've been longer. Some parts of the book felt a bit rushed to me.

This was a well-written book. Very captivating in terms of plot and pacing and the translation was really good. A great read for teens and adults who read teen books. It covered a lot of history without sounding like a dry, boring lecture and a great way to introduce young audiences to history and political intrigues. Djamila Morani is an author I'll be following closely. I will be sending out my review of this book and will update with the link when officially published.

It barely includes magical elements, but is filled with interesting characters that could well belong to an epic fantasy story.

I really enjoyed this one and would’ve loved every element to be more developed in a longer format.

The Djinn's Apple
~by Djamila Morani translated by Sawad Hussain

This young adult book set in the Abbasid period has different genres like historical fiction, crime/mystery, and family drama intertwined to give us a shocking ending.

A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript.

Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men in search of something, she is the only one who manages to escape. And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen being orphaned and her life being shattered, she somehow rises back and rebuilds a life for herself with the goal of taking revenge at any cost.

Nardeen is strongly influenced by loss and grief, which was the basis of how she was molded. She was a character I rooted for. Through her and this book, we get to know so much about the medicinal development in the Baghdad age and also the culture around the era.

The plot was interesting and intriguing, with twists and turns you won't expect and Nardeen's feisty nature hyping the story up. This was a short book, hence a quick read in which the author has to cover all the aspects important to the story. This might seem rushed, but the author has done a good job.

The book was captivating, also moving between past and present in the initial chapters. The opening line gave me goosebumps and had an impact.

Another plus is the author adding a glossary, talking about Bimaristan and the golden age of Baghdad under Harun Al-Rashid. This gives knowledge of historical events.

Some of my favorite quotes are:

"If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else ever will."

"It made me think, do we choose our own path or does the path choose us? Do we walk on it leaving behind fresh footprints or do we follow a trail that’s already laid out for us?"

This was a great book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Djinn’s Apple is a deeply impactful story, filled to the brim with grief and love. I highly recommend checking out this book, but please look at the content warnings first!!

Sawad Hussain has done an excellent job translating this story, and I’ll be definitely checking out other works translated by her!

Loved this short YA book about a girl whose family are killed in Baghdad and who is determined to become a doctor and to get revenge on those who killed her family. Thank you for having me on the tour

A short and engaging read that had me gripped all the way through. The writing is beautiful and I didn't want it to end, I can't wait to read more by the author. I will definitely be recommending this book to all my reader friends

Book source ~ TWR Blog Tour

Nardeen’s family is brutally murdered when she’s 12. Her father helped her to get away before he and the rest are slain. She goes back to the house and only gleans a few hints as to how and why before she’s beaten and sold to a slaver. Her life begins again when she is taken under the wing of a famous doctor. Four years pass as she learns more and more about being medicine and being a doctor under his tutelage. Then things really hit the fan.

This book starts off with a brutal bang and doesn’t let up until the end. Nardeen is a great character and while 1st person isn’t my favorite POV, it works. The pacing is just right and the world building is excellent even if there are a lot of names to remember and how they relate to each other. I know nothing about this region and period of history so it’s all a bit bewildering to me. Fascinating though. I have to say, I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to adding the author to my favorites list.

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. The cover photo and the title is quite interesting and I knew that I had to read this book.

At 12, Nardeen escapes her family's murder with her father's help. Returning home, she uncovers few clues before being captured and sold into slavery. Her fate changes when a renowned doctor mentors her in medicine. After four years of learning, her life takes another dramatic turn.

The writing skills are flawless and I was engaged throughout the book without getting bored. It was a short but quite captivating read. I will highly recommend this book. Grab your copy today and you will definitely enjoy reading it as much as I did.

#TheDjinnsApple #NetGalley

When Nardeen's family are murdered she promises that she will bring the killers to justice, but will Nardeen succeed.
This was a fairly short read coming in at just under 200 pages. I found the story really interesting especially when I learnt that the book fell into the historical fiction genre and was based around real events.
The storyline was very fast-paced for quite a short read and we follow Nardeen’s journey from losing her family to seeking revenge. Although Nardeen escapes and is the only survivor the first obstacle she faces is nearly being sold as a slave. But she is saved by Muallim Ishaq who knew her father. Muallim Ishaq takes Nardeen under his wing teaches her about medicine so she can use this as a way to get justice for her family. Knowledge is power and Nardeen needs as much knowledge as possible so she can use it to her advantage. Muallim Ishaq not only becomes her teacher and mentor but also becomes her surrogate father and someone who looks after her. He sees what Nardeen’s father saw that she has potential and is very bright. However, as Nardeen grows up her thoughts in seeking justice for her family become complicated when she starts to have feelings for someone and then she has to decide whether to seek vengeance or to choose love.

Nardeen was such a strong character. Despite everything she has been through she is resilient and focused.

An interesting read.

The first thing which attracted my intrigue to The Djinn's Apple was that it was a Young Adult Translated Book which I have never heard of before but on the flip side it's Historical and I am supposed to not like that genre.

I found that there are other genres in the mix too but I'm not going to say what they are as it is more fun finding out. In my view having these extra genres really gave this book more oomph especially as it was a short read and a fast read too.

I loved the atmosphere and Nardeen was a good Main Character but for me it was finding out what the title of the book actually was and it blew me away.

For all the above reasons The Djinn's Apple receives 4 stars

When I started reading this book I expected a murder mystery, a historical whodunit in an era I'm completely unfamiliar with. What I didn't expect was to find an uplifting story that can inspire young girls to follow their dreams.

Nardeen has been discouraged from actively studying medicine and following in her father's footsteps but that hasn't stopped her memorising text books and reports. When her family are brutally murdered she finds herself in the care of Muallim Ishaq, a renowned physician who takes her under his wing. Throughout her teenage years, Nardeen continues to learn medicine despite the backlash she faces for being a woman.

I had a bit of trouble following the timelines, I was never truly sure how old Nardeen was at any given moment.

At 160 pages this was more or a novella but the story itself was captivating, I read it in one sitting.

Trigger warnings: Death of a child/children (occurs off-page), death of an animal (mentioned, occur off-page), suicide (occurs on page)

At only twelve years old, young Nardeen’s life is changed in a single night. Her family is killed and only she escapes. When she returns she finds men ransacking her home, it is obvious they are searching for something. Something that they believe Nardeen knows about and where to find it.

Her second escape does not go as well and when she is in the hospital she finds herself under the care of an elderly doctor. With his tutelage, she finds herself in a unique position where she can finally bring to justice her family’s killer. The final cost however may be more than what Nardeen is willing to pay.

The Djinn’s Apple is Djamila Morani’s look at how far some people are willing to go to achieve their goals. Set during the reign of Harun al-Rashid, the story offers a brief yet fascinating glimpse of life at this time. A good deal of the story focuses on medicine and medical treatments of the age. Not surprising as Nardeen is the daughter of a doctor and finds herself under the care of another after her father’s death.

Because of the length of The Djinn’s Apple, the action can feel a little rushed. The same can be said for the dialogue, at times it feels awkward and stilted. This could also be due to the translation as no translation is ever 100% accurate. The characters themselves are interesting, especially Nardeen, and my only wish was for the novel to be longer so we readers might spend more time with them.

In conclusion, I enjoyed reading The Djinn’s Apple. Morani weaves a compelling and entertaining tale with some unexpected twists. While it is aimed at younger readers, I can easily see adult readers enjoying this book as well.

Blog tour review with @thewritereads

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/03/06/blog-tour-the-djinns-apple-djamila-morani-translated-by-sawad-hussain/

This was a very quick read, but swept me up from the first page to the very last!

Nardeen is a very compelling main character. Subjected to unimaginable heartbreak and trauma at a young age, we see her find her own strength as she becomes determined to avenge her family. She’s intelligent and stubborn, but she has her flaws too.

There are lots of different genres at play in this book, and I thought they were woven together really well. It’s a historical fiction, set in Baghdad during the Golden Age, with a strong mystery aspect and a sprinkling of fantasy thrown in there too. I find that sometimes it can be hard to slip a little bit of fantasy into a book, but it was done really well here. The setting and the fantasy aspect blended together seamlessly, and it worked really well.

The writing style also had a fantastical, whimsical quality to it, which really helped the fantasy elements blend in. It’s to the credit of both author and the translator that it worked so well!

This was a really enjoyable read that transported me to another place and time. It’s a great addition to anyone’s collection of translated fiction!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Djamila Morani’s The Djinn’s Apple is a captivating YA historical mystery novella that reminded me of Arabian Nights.

Morani’s fast-paced narration is filled with twists and turns and it held me glued. While the premise is intriguing, the strength of the novel lies in its vivid and evocative writing. The author transported me to an era centuries ago, to a mystical and mysterious city. I could visualise the bustling streets and markets, the people and their attire, the homes, and the hospital. Being a history buff, I enjoyed the timeline in which the story is set.

Nardeen and Muallim Ishaq are the main characters, and both are sketched in-depth. Nardeen’s transformation as the story progresses is quite evident. Readers would connect with her easily and find themselves rooting for her success. Ishaq’s intriguing backstory and crafty demeanor are skillfully portrayed too.

While the epilogue provides a satisfactory resolution, the ending feels a bit rushed and the romance between Nardeen and Suhaib appears superficial. Nevertheless, not just Young Adults; the targeted audience, I feel even middle grader children might appreciate this fantasy read.

The appendix is a valuable resource and sheds light on unfamiliar words, the history of the Golden Age of Baghdad, and The Bimaristan. Readers unfamiliar with the historical context would find this section quite helpful.

The Djinn’s Apple was a surprising book for me - I’m not sure what I expected going into the book and I wondered how it would be as a translated novella; as sometimes I’ve found them to bit hit and miss, especially in the lyricism of the writing and the phrasing of things. The Djinn’s Apple has a kind of magical lyricism and writing to it, and gives a very evocative and almost magical depiction of Baghdad during the Abbasid period and the environs of the hospital. It manages to pack a lot in within its short length, and the book really shines in its depiction of Nardeen. She feels like such a realistic character even in the short details we get of her, and her strength of will and her dedication to both avenge her family as well as live her life is the core of the book. The start of the book was a bit confusing at first, with a lot of time skips and back-and-forth in the narrative as well as setting up the politics and the characters of the book. This isn’t much more than you’d find in a typical SFF book though, so it’s quick to get through. Once you settle in, this becomes a lot clearer and the book really settles into itself once Nardeen begins her medical training and the book sets up the main conflict between her father and her mentor, and whose path she wants to follow. Overall a fast-paced, thought provoking and enjoyable read!
This ARC was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review

A captivating YA murder mystery set in the historical Abaddid period; the golden age of Baghdad. This wonderful story is written by Djamila Morani and expertly and beautifully translated into English by Sawad Hussain. Special mention should go to the beautifully illustrated cover and end pages. I love the inclusion of the drawing of the Djinns Apple at the start, alongside maps of the period, as well as the additional information on the period, the author, and the translator at the end. They add to a much fuller understanding. The opening line is so impactful : "My siblings' screams still pierce my ears no matter how hard I squeeze my head between my hands." The Twelve year old protagonist has just witnessed the brutal and horrific murders of her entire family due to a political fall-out that has less to do with her father and more to do with their family name. Nardeen is alone and confused and extremely vulnerable. Her father was a renowned and respected doctor, but his work translating a mysterious manuscript pertaining to a magical herb has left questions over his actions and cause of murder. Nardeem faces a precarious future, but her sharp wit and knowledge of medicine, gleaned from her father, catch the attention of the most respected Professor Ishaq, and her life takes a completely different course. Still in her teens, she seeks vengeance for the deaths of her family, and her introduction to the demon responsible is nothing like she imagined. An absolutely gripping story told in less than 150 pages. The writing transports us to this wonderful golden age , revealing the limited choices for women and their need for a protector. #thedjinnsapple #djamilamorani #sawadhussain #neemtreepress #thewriterreads #booktour

Resilience is often a key part of any story. Bad things in fiction can often be spectacularly bad and so we have to see if our main characters can still win the day. How do you recover; are you still the same person before and where do you go next? It’s a story we all will feel some link to as we’ve all that that feeling we're lost and yet how do we bounce back to get through the next day and weeks to come. In the enthralling YA historical mystery tale The Djinn’s Apple by Djamila Morani we are taken to 9th century Baghdad for a tale of brutal murder, perseverance and revenge.

Nardeen’s family had the misfortune to belong to the Baramikas (a powerful family of Viziers) people who have fallen out of favour with the Caliph and now accused of treachery. Her father Bayan is just a studious doctor who tends rich and poor and Nardeen aims to learn all his knowledge and follow in his footsteps. But court intrigue has now placed the family in great danger and one terrifying night the family home is attacked and Nardeen only just escapes but finds her parents and siblings dead. She is taken to become a slave but just prior to this she manages to fall across the path of the famed physician Muallim Ishaq who knew her family. Muallim manages to help Nardeen become his student and also suggests she may be able to get revenge on the notorious yet powerful Al-Aesfi a former friend of the family and chief suspect in their murder. Nardeem has to overcome societal pressure to get close to her enemy but more danger and surprises are in store.

This is a fast paced yet absorbing tale that from the terrifying murder at the start takes us on to a journey and for me an unknown one to a place and time that I know very little about. We cover intrigue, science, romance and murder and I didn’t find the story that predictable at all. Morani paints a vivid and eloquent view of Baghdad in the period - stylish, educated and yet also dangerous. Upset the wrong person you and your entire family are in danger. The set piece where Nardeen only just about escapes with her life is powerfully written and you feel the sense of horror that builds as Nardeen realises what has happened to her family. The aftermath of the scene too is brutal

We assume we go straight into a revenge tale but then we have an equally interesting diversion into the Nardeen entering medicine and gaining a guardian/mentor in the form of Muallim who is the doctor all other doctors look up to, he’s filled with ancient knowledge and impressed by Nardeen’s excellent memory, eye for detail and knowledge already gained from her father we get a not quite father-daughter team both of whom struggle with their emotions and yet we see Muallim just over a few years train Nardeen and start to help her get her own career in medicine (in a time when this was considered impossible for women) but he also seems to think he can help her get her revenge. He’s a very mercurial yet compelling character who you never know what he will do next and I liked the way that Nardeen and him spar and yet also clearly respect each other. A refreshing dynamic that you don’t see too much of in fiction.

The latter phases of the book bring more intrigue and offer Nardeen hope of revenge which, as by now we care about her we do not want her to get into any trouble. Nardeen is our narrator throughout and the tension as to what the final outcome will be is held right up to the final pages. Lets say it’s satisfyingly not quite what I expected! But throughout Nardeen’s voice comes across really well - there is a lyrical nature to the storytelling helped by Nardeen using little sayings and capturing her emotional pain to make her feel like a person of a different time but yet also someone we recognise as very human, kind and yet finding a need revenge is burning through her. How will she react when she finally gets the evidence she needs?

The Djinn’s Apple is a great story (and deservedly won the English PEN award) that is refereshing doing different things with location, characgter and plotlines. It doesn’t drag its story out for too long and it’s got a character you really root for. Highly recommended and I think lovers of intelligent YA should pick this up!