My thoughts






Narrative and Plot









Djinn's Apple is a tale of mystery and intrigue that shines light on the rich culture of Baghdad. Historically, Baghdad had been a cultural capital and growing up reading stories about the Arabian nights and the caliphs,  I have a cursory understanding of the folklore.











The story immediately took me back to those memories when I used to read the story of the caliph's escapades among the common public and the moral lessons they taught us. The Djinn's Apple, however, is the story of a simple girl named Nadeera who is caught up in the politics of the royal family.











































Characters and Conflicts


















Even though the story is shorter in length, it packs a punch right from the beginning. You are immediately rooting for Nadeera after all that she goes through and want her to succeed.


The moral dilemma that Nadeera hoes through was predictable, and maybe that was intentional all along. However, in the short span of time, the story established its pivotal characters and their motivations so that you end up curious as to how it would all come to fruition.



The romance was a bit hastily done. Simply because Suhaib came across more like a plot device rather than a love interest and the ending pretty much wasn't where I thought it was going. Even so, this is a book worth reading for all that beautiful world-building.







































Conclusion



































More than the plot , I enjoyed the overall theme and the world where this story was set. It is reminiscent of a glorious past and a yearning for all that was lost. It was a quick one time read for me.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE DJINN'S APPLE ABOUT?
Nardeen is a remarkable twelve-year-old. Her father is a physician known for translating medical texts from a variety of languages into Arabic, and Nardeen soaks up his work. She has an astounding memory and ability to understand what she memorizes.

But due to some political intrigue that she doesn't wholly understand, Nardeen and her family have to flee their home one night. Sadly, she's the only one who survives.

Nardeen vows revenge on those responsible for her family's murder—certain that a friend of her father's is ultimately to blame.

But before then, she finds herself being taken under the wing of a legendary physician and teacher, Muallim Ishaq. He recognizes her gifts and her heritage from her father—he arranges (mostly by the force of his will) to have her learn at The Bimaristan, a hospital of great renown. There, she's able to hone her skills and knowledge—and sharpen her tools, resolve, and ability to mete out that vengeance.

FATHER VS. FATHER
There are a handful of various conflicts in this book (like with any good book), but at the core, this book seems to be a conflict within Nardeen herself. On the one hand, she has her memories of her father and what he taught her—what he showed her by example—about the way to live. She also has to wrestle with what she's told about her father—by those who profess to have admired him and those who worked against him.

On the other hand, she has her (for all intents and purposes) adoptive father, what he's trying to teach her—what he shows her by example—about the way to live. She also has to wrestle with what she's told about him—by those who profess to admire him and those who work against him.

In many ways, these two fathers line up—but in significant ways, they follow and lead her down divergent paths. So much of how the plotlines of this book resolve depends on Nardeen's acceptance/rejection of what these men stand for.

THE SETTING
So, this takes place during the "golden age of Baghdad"—Harun al-Rashid's rule of the Abbasid Caliphate from 786 to 809. Now, everything that I know about this period of time comes from the appendices to this novel "Harun Al-Rashid: The Golden Age of Baghdad" and "The Bimaristan." As they are appendices, I read them afterward. So I came into this not knowing anything—which is a bit intimidating. And I figure I'm not alone in this (particularly for the intended YA audience, who probably haven't had much opportunity to study Eigth-Century history).

But honestly? Anyone who reads Fantasy/SFF knows how to approach something like this—sure, this is a representation of actual history, but the same tools and imagination you need to understand Westeros, Panem, or the world of the Shadowhunters equip you to get into this world.

And, like with those worlds, after getting this taste, you'll likely want to read more about it.

While reading, and since then, I do have to wonder a little bit about how much Morani was stretching things about the opportunities presented to women in this time and place. Not just for Nardeen, either—but all the women she encounters at the Bimaristan (and I'd be saying this if the city was Paris or Rome, not just because it's Baghdad). But I'm willing to both suspend disbelief for the sake of a good story and to trust that someone who's as familiar with Arabic literature as Morani is more than my hunches.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE DJINN'S APPLE?
This book hits the ground running—Morani doesn't give you the opportunity to settle in and get comfortable in this world or anything like that. She thrusts the reader—and poor Nardeen—straight into life-or-death action. Nardeen has a slightly better understanding of what's going on than the reader does—but not much. This was a great way to start this read—you don't get the chance to indulge curiosity or get lulled into thinking it's a different kind of book than it is—you have to rush to catch up and then keep up with Nardeen and only get the luxury of starting to understand the world until she's (relatively) safe.

There were a couple of times that I wondered about the timelines and how well they worked. I assume I just missed something (and didn't want to take the time to go back and check). It wasn't anything that bugged me enough to look into it, but I would've appreciated things being a bit clearer.

The characters of Nardeen and Muallim were so well drawn, so vivid, and so compelling that I really wish we had more time with them. Particularly Muallim—this cantankerous genius is the kind of character I really respond to. Now, given the pacing of this book, that's impossible. And Morani picked the better option for her story. But the eccentric teacher and the stubborn and gifted student is a combination that could've made for a lot of fun.

Somehow in the midst of this propulsive pacing, Morani is able to litter the book with some great observations, some drops of wisdom (primarily from the teacher and student), and memorable prose (some of that credit has to be given to Hussain as well).

This is a fast, immersive read that'll leave you guessing from the beginning right up to the end. You'd be doing yourself a favor if you pick it up.

Set in 9th century Baghdad, the story follows Nardeen, first as she escapes the political, violent murder of her family and then as a teenager mentored by an eminent doctor. Both her father and her mentor see her potential in what is culturally a male dominated field, which grates with most others.

The story is a well told, and superbly translated, blend of politics, medicine and magic, with Nardeen trying to find answers to her why her family were massacred and look forward to growing into adulthood. She is taken in by her mentor and only after a message from someone else does she question his motives. It is difficult for her to view him as anything other than a trusted mentor until she uncovers more about the politics and reasons behind her family’s murder and his duplicitous behaviour.

I have not read anything set in this time period before and enjoyed finding out more.

The themes of political turmoil, trust, feminism, grief and family secrets are well handled and will promote a lot of discussion and debate.

I received a copy of this for free, to review as part of a book tour with The Write Reads.

This young adult book was quite a short read, but in some ways, it was a lot more intense than I had first anticipated. Reading just the first few pages, I felt connected to the protagonist, Nardeen, and deeply sorry for what she was going through. I think that as a reader, I somehow felt the need to stay with her, to see her through a difficult journey.

As I read on, I felt more and more connected to Nardeen. There was something about her narrative that I found thought-provoking. I also thought the general design of the book was beautiful, and despite the hardships faced by Nardeen, I found the story uplifting to read.

Thank you to Neem Tree Press, NetGalley, The Write Reads, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

4.5 stars

Set in the ‘Golden Age’ of Baghdad in the Abassid Period, this short novel from Djamila Morani is both a wonderful history lesson about the court of one of the most famous rulers in Islamic history; as well as an engrossing tale of grief, revenge and power politics, with an ending that I had no idea was coming until the final few pages!
The main character, Nardeen, is a perfect mix of intelligent yet vulnerable and you I couldn’t help but root for her, even if some of her decisions seemed questionable. All of the side characters were well thought out and added depth to the overall plot. The setting was also wonderfully evoked and I can still see now in my mind the vast Bimaristan with its beautiful gardens and wards full of sick patients.
If there’s one thing I would critique, though, it’s that the first few chapters felt like they were a ‘means to an end’ in terms of telling us the backstory of Nardeen. It felt quite rushed and chaotic and I felt like I didn’t know what was going on until I put the pieces together when thinking backwards once I had gotten most of the way through the book. I’m sure this was intentional, but for me at least, it was a bit too confusing and I could see it preventing some people from purchasing.
Overall, a fantastic depiction of an important moment in history, with a main character to root for and fantastic images of a world I never really knew before I started.

Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for my DRC :)

As a teenager, the books that I read – and the stories that I enjoyed on film or the TV screen – were almost exclusively filled with characters who were white British, sometimes American or European, and written by authors who fell very firmly into the same category. In anything that was set outside of these areas that did feature non-white players, they were almost certainly cast in the role of the bad guy or a servant – something that I didn’t really notice at the time but that older, wiser, me is now greatly saddened by.

In this beautiful new title from Algerian novelist and Arabic language professor Djamila Morani, we are transported over a millennium back in time to a Baghdad ruled by caliph Harun Al-Rasid, with whom you may be familiar due to his association with the stories of the 1,001 Nights. A read that is part historical fiction, part romance and part murder mystery, younger me would’ve been spellbound by the richness of its storyline and how different it was from my then typical fare and, although they may not realise it, its intended audience are very fortunate to take reads like this for granted.

For 12-year-old Nardeen, life is good in the home she shares with her parents and siblings as she spends her days reading her doctor father’s medical books until the night that a ruthless gang bursts in and leaves her orphaned and alone. Not understanding why her family has been targeted, two days later Nardeen wakes up sick in the Bimaristan (hospital), where she is adopted by Muallim Ishaq, a professor and respected scholar, who brings her up as his student and continues her medical eduction.

As she grows older, in a society where doctors are exclusively men and nurses are always women, can Nardeen find her place and continue her father’s work as he would’ve wished or is she destined not to live out her dream to join the profession he was proud to belong to. And with the men who slaughtered her family yet to face justice, can she bypass her passion for healing and the preservation of human life to track down her father’s murderer and carry out the revenge that her heart demands?

Nardeen is a great heroine – one who is sharply intelligent, full of curiosity and one whose powers of observation and deduction are vastly superior to her male peers. Initially dutiful to Ishaq, as she was to her father, as she moves towards womanhood she starts to gain more confidence in her own medical knowledge and skills despite the opposition she faces from some quarters – opposition that, sadly, many young women still come up against – and does not allow the prejudice of those around her to determine her fate. Although her story is one that is set centuries ago, in many ways it is completely modern and today’s readers will not find it difficult to relate to it.

Education has improved in many respects since I was young, so that the contribution to science and knowledge from peoples outside of Europe is gradually becoming increasingly recognised and although this is – obviously – a work of fiction, at the end of the book there are notes about the time within which it is set and the importance of the Bimaristan in treating the sick and injured, which I found really interesting.

At 160 pages, this YA title is shorter than many middle grades and this together with its beautiful cover will ensure that it has enormous shelf appeal. I really enjoyed it and am hugely grateful to both publisher Neem Tree Press and to Net Galley for my virtaul advance copy of the book. The Djinn’s Apple publishes 29th February.

Algerian writer and academic Djamila Morani’s YA novella is set in Baghdad during the reign of the famed Harun Al-Rashid who ruled in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. It centres on a young girl Nardeen whose settled existence is shattered after her father’s falsely accused of a terrible crime. He loses his position as a respected physician and the bloody aftermath leaves Nardeen orphaned. Despite everything that happens, Nardeen somehow finds a way to rebuild her life, so that she can track down the ones responsible for her family’s fate and take revenge. Morani provides fascinating insights into the everyday culture of medieval Baghdad in a turbulent era, taking in developments in areas of medicine and medical treatment. It’s fertile territory and Morani’s plot features some unexpected twists, Nardeen’s also a sympathetic but complex, feisty character. But the length meant the story could feel quite rushed at times, and I sometimes found the prose style a little stilted – I’ll be interested to see how younger readers respond to this one. This edition includes an array of useful background material on the historical context, as well as a glossary and reader’s guide. Translated from Arabic by Sawad Hussein.

"This novel is a short but impactful read that left a lasting impression on me. The story follows Nardeen, the sole survivor of a brutal attack that claimed the lives of her entire family. As we join her on her journey with Muallim Ishaq, we are transported to a society that is rife with political corruption and oppression. The author has done a fantastic job of weaving together elements of crime and historical fiction, which makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

One of the things that I loved about this book was the world-building. The author has crafted a vivid and immersive world that feels like it could be real. From the bustling streets of Abbasid Baghdad to the quiet corners of Nardeen's world, every detail is meticulously crafted and thought out.

Another thing that I appreciated about this book was the way that the author provided definitions for specific terms used in the book. This helped to deepen my understanding of the world that the author had created and made it easier to keep track of the various characters and factions.

Overall, I found this novel to be a fascinating and insightful read. The themes of political corruption, oppression, and power are explored in a nuanced and thought-provoking way that left me thinking about the story long after I had finished reading it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping and immersive read that is sure to leave a lasting impression."

THE DJINN'S APPLE is a historical novella set in late 8th century Baghdad, the city's golden era.

I loved getting a glimpse into the world of Abbasid Baghdad. This is a period of a vast caliphate that in its west is fighting against the Byzantines and expanding in its east deep into Central Asia. My knowledge about it comes from the fighting on the western border (the disadvantages of a Euro-centric education!), so I loved getting to see more of normal life in its heartlands.

The book looks at the consequences of political purges as Nardeen is trying to survive after her family falls afoul of palace politics - and also wanting revenge for their death. It is a tale of learning new skills, finding new family, and searching for the truth no matter how painful it is.

I enjoyed the tensions between Ishaq (her teacher and adoptive father) and the powerful lord who heads up the hospital; where they both work, who is linked to her parents death. It was a dense knit of conflicting motivations and raised the stakes for Nardeen as the lord had multiple reasons to want to kill her if he knew who she was - the last survivor of a massacre and also the student of his greatest rival. To complicate matters, Nardeen starts a relationship with the lord's son, who also has a past with Ishaq.

This is a translated novel, translated from the original Arabic by Sawad Husssain. It's a novel that showcases what a novella can be - a lot of plot, a lot of character development, and a lot of world building in a very short word count. It flows well, taking through the amount of information packed in so that you don't notice how much is coming at you, every word used for maximum effect.

The Djinn's Apple intwines historical fiction with a crime fiction heart. With themes of family, justice and just how far you could go to prove your families innocence and understand the mysteries that may have been the reason for the loss of your family.

"A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript" with rich world building and a main POV you cant help but get behind, The Djinns Apple is well worth a read.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the writing plus the story. I liked it enough to finish but did find it quite forgettable

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc