Nahri is an orphan, living on the streets of Cairo at the turn of the 19th century. She’s managed to make a decent life for herself as a thief – pretending just enough mystic powers to swindle rich people worried about their health out of money. She knows she’s different than her neighbors – she heals instantly, and can sometimes heal others. It’s while she’s trying to help a neighbor that she manages to summon a djinn, and her world changes completely.
The djinn recognizes her power – she must have djinn blood, but not just any djinn blood, but the blood of their ruling family, who are now all dead. He brings her to the djinn’s city of Daeavabad where she’s thrust into the politics of the court. Her family was no longer in power- one of the rival families has taken over, and the king is suspicious of what she represents. He has his younger son befriend her, but Ali has his own agenda – he’s trying to improve the lives of the shafit – the descendants of both djinn and humans.
This book ended up really being a set up – certain things happen in the way you’re expecting, but the aftermath of what happens takes a bit of a left turn, and there’s an epilogue that really makes you wonder exactly what’s going on. I really enjoyed this – having something outside the Western influenced fantasy I usually read was great, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what happens with Nahri, Ali and Dara.
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