This book is a historical fantasy, set in 1491 in Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain.

This book was a wild ride, in mostly good ways. Warning: this book is a SLOW read, but worth it. The character development for Fatima, the main character, was carefully crafted with love. Fatima, a royal concubine, and her friend Hassan, a mapmaker, have such a loving friendship that is tested at points, the flaws revealed-- and they grow after learning these flaws! There are different types of magic and magical beings, some interesting and others mystifying. When the plot fell a bit flat, the writing kept me going, as well as the need to find out what happens to these interesting, complex characters.

This unassuming gem has one of the most interesting settings and worlds I've seen in a while - Spanish Inquisition, Sultans, djinns, magical powers and a fairy tale that might just be true of a magical land where one can be free? This was wonderful. I wished there had been more world building, but that would probably have made the story a lot slower, and I truly appreciated how quickly this read. It's full of adventure, fun, it's a bit dark but not too dark, and generally a really good time.

I loved that the villain was a woman working with the Spanish Inquisition, a lovely and sweet, righteous woman who believes she's working with the guidance of God, but the reality of who's whispering in her ear is quite something else. She was so great and ruthless, I adored the scenes where she appeared.

This book loves getting trope-ish things and turning them around, like the concubine who falls in love with the Sultan, or the friends who run from their oppressive homes and fall in love... don't expect that. It's a really good book with a great story that feels both original and comfortable in the way it's told.

I loved the djinns as well! They brought such vibrancy to the story.

I highly recommend this book! In the end I do wish there had been more world building and a little more character development, both things which are my personal preference when it comes to fantasy. But if you love fast-paced stories, adventure and a bit of darkness to your fantasy books, you'll love this! I can't believe this book isn't more hyped!

Great adventure fantasy! Really fun story and excellent characters. The ending was a bit odd - there were a couple of spots that felt like a natural ending, and then the actual ending was somewhat abrupt - but that doesn't take away from the rest of the book.

In 1491 Grenada during the rein of the last sultanate in the Iberian peninsula, a concubine named Fatima and a mapmaker named Hassan embark on adventure to escape persecution from the Spanish Inquisition.

Unique is probably the most overused word I’m going to use to describe this novel. I’ve been a fan of G. Willow Wilson’s work (Ms Marvel graphic novels) but considering historical fiction/ fantasy isn’t a genre I gravitate toward, i went in with expectations that were relatively low (only because again, not my “preferred” genre)

UM..... I don’t know why I thought she would let me down.

This novel was BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. Do you hear me? BEAUTIFULLY! The way she put on paper, the intricate world she built, was MAGICAL. The characters were flawed but you couldn’t help but admire their strength and the true love they had for each other. The message of tolerance and acceptance and forgiveness among all of their companions in the novel, was just lovely.

The only critique I had was that the plot is a little slow paced, well constructed, very detailed, but slow paced at times.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for my complimentary copy of this BEAUTIFULLY written story

I didn't really get on with the pacing and the plot of the book. I had some issues with the totally serious storytelling in a YA book . I haven't posted my review anywhere else because the problem wasn't the book. It wasn't for me.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read and review the ARC

Disclaimer: I will not be providing a link for the review since I didn't really like the book. i don't want to publish a negative review (I never do) in my blog or Amazon because I don't want to generate bad attention to the book. I found the pacing to slow and the plot a little bit boring. So much that It was really hard to finish the rest of the book.

At once magically ethereal and brutally real, this book defies classification. Wilson ties together folklore and mysticism with historical events in this dreamlike story that reveals itself in layers, never revealing too many steps ahead. Both dreamlike and nightmarish by turns, you will be mesmerized by Wilson's intricate storytelling.

The Bird King is a long chase between Fatima, concubine of the last sultan of Grenada, Hassan, the magical mapmaker; and the Spanish Inquisition. While beautifully written with distinctive characters, the story itself drags on too long and ends in an unpleasant manner.

There is a sense of magic and attempting to change one’s own fate—an endeavor which no one seems quite capable of achieving by the lackluster conclusion.

Wilson’s writing and the complexity of the characters and their relationships elevates the story above its plot. The backdrop of Grenada during the Spanish Inquisition was unique and interesting, but ultimately the story itself could not live up to its setting.

I have a rule for myself when I read electronic ARCs (as was the case with The Bird King): if I absolutely love the title, I buy a copy in hardback, even though I've already read it. Partly, that's because I'm a re-reader of books. But it's also just part of my sense of fairness. If a book is good, I figure I've paid my debt for the review copy by writing a review. When I *love* a book, I want to give more than just a positive review.

The Bird King is one of those titles I'll be buying in hardback. It's a wonderful blend of so many different things—historical novel, magical realism, exploration of Christian/Muslim conflict, an exploration of many kinds of love—and does all of these well. Do yourself the favor of spending time with this novel. You'll have several kinds of experiences at once—all of them pleasurable.

G. Willow Wilson once again displays her wonderful ability to tell a story. The magical realism, the complexity of characters, and the epic style journey those characters complete makes this a definite must read for anyone that enjoys the art of story telling! I have recommended this book to numerous friends already!

DNF at 46%

I did not enjoy this book. I first read 35% of it in May but then I put it back down because I wasn't feeling it. So today I wanted to try again and finish it. However, I just don't like it. This (slow) book isn't for me and I don't want to spend another few hours reading it because I'm just not going to have a good time. I hate DNFing ARCs I get from Netgalley, but I just don't care enough about this one to continue. Sorry.

I honestly did not think I would enjoy this as much as I did. The historical elements were intriguing. And with a mix of magic and mythical creatures, I was just blown away.

This story is set in Alhambra in the era when the Spanish were conquering kingdoms. Fatima (sultan’s concubine) and Hassan (mapmaker) were forced to flee the country when the Spanish wanted to kill Hassan in exchange for a peace treaty because they believed that Hassan was a sorcerer.

Their journey of escape was an adventure which I enjoyed. Though there was violence and some sexual elements, it was not repulsive. There were also some tiny parts that represented the LGBTQ+ that were pretty interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed this book for its uniqueness. The whole story strike me as a little odd and dark but in a good way. It was also a pretty heavy read but that was kind of expected from an adult genre.

I would recommend this book to adults who enjoy historical fiction + fantasy + adventure.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grove Atlantic through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bird King is a stunning new novel that tells the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker. Hassan has a secret—he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat toChristian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety,The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate.

The book was very enjoyable hut i couldn't really connect with the main character.

I was given a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Some reviewers have complained about the lack of plot, and I think that's a fair criticism, although in this case I didn't mind it too much. It bothered me more that at times the descriptive writing was vague and careless enough that it was a little hard to follow when each scene and setting transitioned into the next (which is a not insignificant problem when one of the central plot drivers of the novel is a person's ability to draw maps that creates new spaces). But the characters of Fatima and Hassan are nicely drawn (although Wilson relies a bit too heavily on their relationship at times; yes they're charming together, and fascinating, and unusual as a pairing, but we also need more than this central relationship for the novel to fly. Wilson has clearly set out to revise some of our expectations of not only sexuality and friendship in two characters of 15th century Muslim Spain, but also the possibility of religious belief to contain metaphysical multitudes. To an atheist reader this aspect of the novel isn't perhaps as fascinating as the author thinks, but at the same time it felt like an appropriate element of a novel that is so clearly interested in medieval mysticism of all kinds. All in all, this book was promising enough that I will definitely look out for whatever Wilson produces next.

A man who can draw maps that bend the shape of reality is an intriguing premise. Now station that man in the year 1491 during the Granada War in the palace of the last Sultan, the Alhambra, which is under siege from the Spanish forces, and you have got a story with tremendous potential. Regrettably, Wilson falls short of delivering a mind-blowing novel.

Let me first highlight the things I enjoyed. Wilson’s luminous prose stands out in The Bird King. After a long time, I have come across a book where I highlighted several paragraphs of sheer beauty. If only I could print every one of those paragraphs and frame it on my bedroom wall.

Further, Wilson has etched out relatable characters. Fatima, the royal concubine, who has never set foot out of the palace, risks the safety and comfort of its walls to save her only friend, Hassan. Forced to reconsider her decision at every step, she remains loyal to her friend and emerges as a natural-born leader. Hassan, too, transforms into a brave young man from a diffident fellow. The book delivers a profound message – almost all religions have the same belief but all of us are squabbling over petty things.

However, elegant prose and believable characters don’t maketh a good story. Wilson has congruently mixed fantasy elements such as jinns and Hassan’s reality-altering powers to historical facts. But the pace is slow. It’s only during the chase sequences the pace quickens which is followed by long periods of slumps. Every time I put down the book; I didn’t feel any urge to pick it up quickly. Moreover, I am ambivalent about the ending. Lastly, you need to have a pretty good knowledge of European history (I didn’t!) to understand the conflicts in this story.

The Bird King is recommended for literary historical fantasy fans. There are graphic descriptions of gutting a rabbit and an almost rape scene as well, so tread with caution.

I was a huge fan of Wilson’s 2012 debut novel “[book:Alif the Unseen|13239822].” I loved her heady concoction of Middle Eastern fantasy and modern hacker culture woven into a truly unique and spell-binding tale. I have been waiting for seven years for her second novel, and here it is at last!

It started out in a promising fashion. Set in Granada in 1491, Fatima is a concubine in the court of the sultan. She is a “possession,” and has little freedom, but manages to befriend the royal mapmaker. Hassan has an unusual gift - he is able to alter reality with the detailed maps he draws. Hassan and Fatima become good friends and find comfort in each other’s company but word of Hassan’s gift travels to the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. The emissaries of the Spanish Inquisition are sent to Granada to learn more about this Muslim sorcerer who could be a threat to Christian rule. Fearing for Hassan’s life, Fatima urges him to flee with her - and flee they do, along with a few unusual characters to guide their way. One of the characters is a recycled protagonist from “Alif.”

Here’s the thing - I love Wilson’s imagination, but the storyline became increasingly random and unmoored. It felt very much like she was making it all up on the fly, and had no idea herself where she was going with her story. The longer it went on, the muddier and more convoluted the plot became.

A 3 for me - a ton of potential, interesting characters and some good world-building, but an ultimately aimless and strangely un-affecting epic journey. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Here’s hoping her next book is back to “Alif” level storytelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of this novel. My review, however, is based on the hardcover edition.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy,

It was well-written, with a great atmosphere but the pacing dragged.

I did not really know what I was expecting when I asked Netgalley for a ARC and got it, I know of G. Willow Wilson vaguely, I mostly like what she says on Twitter and I was aware of her other book Alif the Unseen and Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal they are things I want to read enough to have purchased them but haven't found the time to enjoy them yet.

I took so long to read this I worried Netgalley would pull the title, but that's not why I bought this. I liked the title, there's stories about bird kings, perhaps there was a phoenix behind this (there's is and yet there is more to the story besides). It's a bit like two friends fleeing the world and hoping to run away to Atlantis.

I do often read books from this time period, but I fell in love with the way this is written, the natures and characters of Fatima and Hassan, who and what and how they loved drives the story as much as running away from a Spanish Inquisition and Luz with a mote in her eye.

Vikram was a delight, this protective jinn who snaps and snarks and growls and yet is as loyal to them as Fatima and Hassan chose to be to each other. I was as surprised by Gwennec was Fatima and Hassan were. Azalel was a joy sneaking in to rescue them and leaving them at the sea just as a cat would.

Hassan and Fatima have played a story game on the basis of a poem about birds going to find their king on the mountain Qaf on a island. Much to their surprise Gwennec knows a similar story of bishops on the island Antillia and it's cities Aira, Antuab, Ansalli, Ansessali, Ansodi, Ansolli, and Con.

I had fun imagining what types of birds Fatima, Hassan, Gwennic might be.

I wish more had been said as on Catalina and Luz's friendship or relationship, she seems to disappear, left behind like the sultan and Fatima's mistress Lady Aisha. I had hoped for some interaction between the sultan's wives Maryam or Hurriya and Fatima but there was not any encounter and the sultans's sister Nessma was hostile.

Hassan's map making getting them into and out of trouble by turns, though I wish we had better gotten to know and care more about the couple of dozen characters that turn up towards the end better before the end comes.

The Bird King is a historical fantasy set during the final days of the Reconquista in Spain. According to outsiders Fatima has had a relatively pampered life in the Alhabra palace, but Fatima has never experienced freedom, serving the sultan of Granada as his favorite concubine in the palace harem and his mother as her close companion. Her "security" is jeopardized as the sultan prepares to surrender his lands to Ferdinand and Isabella, rulers of the recently united Spain and she inadvertently betrays her beloved friend Hassan to the Inquisition, which believes him to be a sorcerer.

Hassan is a gay cartographer who regularly prays and meditates and has a narrow but powerful magic: He can create new shortcuts between places with his maps as well as draw locations he has never seen, including some which don’t become real until he draws them. Fatima and Hassan make a desperate escape, aided by capricious jinn, but the Inquisition seems always to be just behind them. Their only possible refuge might lie in the fragment of an old poem called the Conference of Birds (a real and very popular Sufi poem in Persian) which the two companions have pored over since childhood, about the mysterious island of Qaf, hidden refuge of the king of birds.

The Bird King started a bit slow for me, but once Fatima and Hassan were on the run I was easily pulled into Wilson's story. The world building is well-constructed, but I would have loved to have explored more of the jinns that Wilson created. I found the jinns to be fascinating. The real focus of the story however is the character development, particularly that of Fatima's growing understanding of the nature of freedom and responsibility. Wilson also delicately explores the concept of a love outside the physical through the complex and very genuine relationship shared by Fatima and Hassan. Luz, the Dominican lay sister who serves as an Inquistor for the Holy Office is terrifying and one questions her evil nature. As Fatima and Hassan reach the island of Qaf, the story also becomes an allegory of the contentious debate of immigration and freedom. Bringing all of today's relevant topics makes The Bird King a thoughtful and beautiful historical fantasy.

My opinion:

The lush language and amazing world building made me love this book. The Characters were unique and the idea of love written in this books was so special, that it made me overthink other books.

The idea of love in “the Bird King” is, that you can love someone as a partner so much and be attracted to him/her, even when you are not sexually attracted to them. That was great to read about and should be mentioned more often in books.

The characters were perfect and I loved their relationship, because it was never perfect but always strong and honest. Their friendship felt so real and had no boundaries and no judgement, which I really loved. Also the historical background mixed with some magic was a great idea. But if you ask me: The magic came a bit short and the fairytale about the Bird King was great but a bit unfocused.

But I disliked the story line and idea a bit. It was hard to keep on track in the story AND understand why the story is so long und sometimes a bit confusing. I think the author could have made her message clearer with a less boring story line and more understandable actions. Sometimes there were characters and about ten pages further they weren’t even important any more. I also missed a REAL Lovestory, because that would have made some actions more understandable and give the reader a better happy end.