Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Mon May 08 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love collide in Mafi's tale inspired by Islamic tradition and the Persian epic poem the Shahnameh.Ever since the fall of Iblees, a Jinn and being of fire who rebelled against God's creation of humans, all Jinn-kind have been forsaken by a universe that bore witness to the fall of their civilization and humanity's inheritance of the world. Though the kingdom of Ardunia's Fire Accords established a tenuous peace between the two races, ingrained hatred for those associated with the devil resulted in the exploitation of Jinn and curtailing of their abilities. Alizeh, a Jinn working as a servant in a noble house, hopes for a reprieve from her state of destitution, grief over her parents' deaths, and flight from constant persecution. Because in addition to being Jinn, ice also runs through Alizeh's blood, marking her as the heir to a lost kingdom whose power will lead to the unification and liberation of her people. When Prince Kamran discovers Alizeh, he cannot deny his attraction to her, even as her very existence threatens his grandfather, the king; the continuity of Ardunia; and perhaps humanity itself. Alizeh agonizes over her own feelings for the prince and the implications of the prophecy while she navigates between those who see her as an enemy and those who wish to use her. Richly textured, descriptive prose coupled with agonizing romance combine in this fantastical epic.Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. (author's note) (Fantasy. 13-18)

ALA Booklist (Mon May 08 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

After a successful foray into contemporary fiction (A Very Large Expanse of Sea, 2018), Mafi returns to fantasy with this illustrious tale of magic, court intrigue, and romance. Alizeh is an orphaned servant who keeps to the shadows and tries to avoid drawing attention to herself. She is a jinn, and even though there is a truce between the jinn and the clay, that doesn't mean that she is safe from violence. In the palace across the city lives Crown Prince Kamran, who spends his time dedicated to the empire and aspiring to be a ruler like his grandfather. When their worlds collide, both Alizeh and Kamran must accept truths that will affect their futures and that put them on opposing sides. Captivating readers from the very first chapter, this story features sympathetic characters who are just trying to meet expectations. Fans of slower-paced fantasies will appreciate Mafi's deliberate unfurling of the world and her characters, all leading to an explosive ending. A magnetic series opener that will delight fans of Mafi's previous series.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love collide in Mafi's tale inspired by Islamic tradition and the Persian epic poem the Shahnameh.Ever since the fall of Iblees, a Jinn and being of fire who rebelled against God's creation of humans, all Jinn-kind have been forsaken by a universe that bore witness to the fall of their civilization and humanity's inheritance of the world. Though the kingdom of Ardunia's Fire Accords established a tenuous peace between the two races, ingrained hatred for those associated with the devil resulted in the exploitation of Jinn and curtailing of their abilities. Alizeh, a Jinn working as a servant in a noble house, hopes for a reprieve from her state of destitution, grief over her parents' deaths, and flight from constant persecution. Because in addition to being Jinn, ice also runs through Alizeh's blood, marking her as the heir to a lost kingdom whose power will lead to the unification and liberation of her people. When Prince Kamran discovers Alizeh, he cannot deny his attraction to her, even as her very existence threatens his grandfather, the king; the continuity of Ardunia; and perhaps humanity itself. Alizeh agonizes over her own feelings for the prince and the implications of the prophecy while she navigates between those who see her as an enemy and those who wish to use her. Richly textured, descriptive prose coupled with agonizing romance combine in this fantastical epic.Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. (author's note) (Fantasy. 13-18)