A diamond in the rough...
...okay, so maybe nothing THAT dramatic, at least, at first.

Yara is a remarkable young girl who is suffering a terrible loss. It's something no one should have to experience, and yet everyone does at some point or another in their lives...loss. The thing is, usually that loss isn't accompanied by a strange letter from the person who passed, instructing you to a place you wouldn't normally go, to say words you wouldn't normally say, and embark on a journey to a place you've never seen, let alone heard of. Yes, things are rather MYSTERIOUS in Yara's life at the moment, and that's only the tip of the gemstone...

Every astounding journey needs a catalyst, so we greet Yara's news with a heavy heart, but are just as quickly turned right-side up when her own story truly begins. She's going on an adventure, no hobbits or evil wizards in sight (well, not WIZARDS at least...*eek*), and where it leads, she has no idea. The instructions her mother provided were vague at best, and the secrets Yara is about to uncover have nothing on the dangers she'll face, the strength she'll need, and the friendships she'll make. I'm telling you, I was turning pages as quickly as my hands would allow because I simply HAD to know what happened! If my reading time allowed, I dove into the print edition (LOVE MY PRINT BOOKS!), and when it didn't, but I managed to scupper a few idle minutes with my phone in hand, the epages flying by equally as fast.

The point is, this story was captivating, for both the emotions explored and the adventures to be had. Yara goes through a lot, yet in spite of that, she's just as bound and determined to see things through, to save the day, and, with any luck, find her place in this new world. All the sad lows, and angry highs, get her through her grief, and help her stay on task when all seems lost. Her newly made friends aid in teaching her that hurts can last long after the physical damage, but a touch of kindness, a loving smile, and an open heart can truly make all the difference. A great read for Middle Grade Fantasy fans, and an author to keep your eye on for wherever her pen leads next!

On her deathbed, Yara’s mother gives her directions to travel to another world. Yara arrives by magic and is surprised to learn that magic and sorcerers are real. She also learns that the sorcerers are in hiding because the alchemists want all sorcerers eradicated. Yara accidentally frees a jinn named Ajal, finds a hidden sorcerer community, and learns she has BIG magic that she can barely control. She also discovers that the alchemists are poisoning the sorcerers, which she and her friends try to stop. They sneak into the alchemist’s stronghold, where she learns the biggest secret of all; one that will change her life and might just save them all. Amazing– I couldn’t put this mesmerizing story down.

Right away, I fell into the magical world of this book. It begins as Yara grieves over her mama’s death and faces a difficult choice. A letter from her mama directs her to go to a strange place and speak a spell. She’s confused because she doesn’t believe magic exists. Why would her mama ask her to do something so bizarre? Ultimately, she figures she believes in the sincerity of her mama’s letter, so she tries it. And is whisked off to a magical world.

Something about the oppressive, dangerous world Yara finds herself in reminded me of THE FIREBIRD SONG. In both books, things have gotten pretty difficult. People tell the main characters they can’t help because they’re too young or don’t have the right skills. But ultimately, of course, the main characters have something no one else has and are positioned to help in ways no one else can.

I liked that the story centers on Yara’s abilities and choices, yet still felt really believable regarding what she does and her age. I loved the relationships between her and the other characters, especially the jinn she rescues her reluctant mentor, and her two new friends.

The pacing was a little different than I expected, and it didn’t feel slow or like it was dragging or anything. It emphasized elements of a quest that other stories might have skipped over. I liked that a lot, actually. It kept the story more centered around the characters. Even though a lot of things were happening to them, it made space for us to understand the impact of the twists and reveals as they emerged. I enjoyed that a lot.

Readers who enjoyed HAMRA AND THE JUNGLE OF MEMORIES by Hanna Alkaf should check this one out.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

4.5 Stars Rounded to 5

The Kingdom Over the Sea is just the sort of adventure young readers will want to join heading into the summer. In it, author Zohra Nabi has created a magical world that’s both exciting and enticing. Her writing is smooth and comfortable, allowing readers to easily settle in while still providing some lovely twists along the way.

Yara is a bold protagonist who’s independent and able to think for herself. But she’s also open to learning and building new friendships along the way.

The Kingdom Over the Sea moves quickly — perhaps a little too quickly at the end — and features a magic system that’s unique but fairly easy for readers to grasp. It’s a strong fantasy that should appeal to a large cross-section of readers. I look forward to reading the next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy where the death of Yara's mother reveals a secret about Yara's former life in the magical city of Zehaira and a letter with instructions for Yara to return to Zehaira and find the individual who will help her. Yara discovers a tumultuous world of sorceresses and alchemists who are at odds with each other and accidentally learns about a nefarious plot that threatens the future of this magical world. The stakes are high as Yara tries to solve the mystery of her past and save the future in this Islamic-inspired story of self-discovery. I found the story engaging and fast-paced and I enjoyed accompanying Yara on her quest for the truth.

Yara's mother is killed in a car accident, and she ends up in foster care. She finds a note telling her to make an improbable journey, and when she does, she ends up in another world. It's the world that she and her mother came from (although her mother always vaguely alluded to Iraq as their country of origin), and the woman she is supposed to contact has left town. Magic has been outlawed, and Yara must figure out the mysteries of her family past. An intersting quest fantasy.

This 336 page middle grade fantasy book had a lot of promise for me, but ultimately fell a little flat. The protagonist was likeable, there was emotion, the story was compelling, and I know it is widely said that debut novels tend to be a little weak or be underdeveloped or having pacing problems, yet I hesitate these days to use this as an excuse. I've been around the industry a few years and it seems many author's debut novel, is not, in fact, the first book they've written or even the first book they've "sold." Books are written and finalized years before they are released for some genres particularly of late, so I'm trying not to let myself get caught up in the author's writing journey (I'm sure I'm all sorts of wrong about what I think it would be anyway), and just review the book in front of me. This book has no religion, and I don't know if the author identifies as Muslim. There are a hodgepodge of Arab and Desi cultural references in the characters' names, and in the sprinkling in of salwar qamis, abaya, head scarf, sambusak, and there is a ma'a salama at one point along with the presence of jinn (not religiously referenced). There is also mention of medicinal wine, magic, a lady who has a crush on another lady in her youth, music, and dancing. The book held my interest as I wanted to see how it unraveled, and I recognize that there is a book two, so some of my thoughts might be premature, but I struggled with the premise of the protagonist trying to understand the journey her deceased mother has sent her on, and how the person she was supposed to find for the answers simply won't talk, even though the two are living together. It made the story really drag in places and seem underdeveloped. The world building, the backstories, the adventure at hand, really is imaginative, but the development of the relationships in the story are absolutely non existent, and the book overall suffers because of it. Also the ease in which rising action is resolved is often the kids just throwing an idea out and it being right. I read and review through a critical lens and many recent middle grade fantasy books have been absolutely incredible, perhaps it isn't fair to compare, but this book just came up short for me in developing memorable characters and plot, even though all the elements were present, capitalizing on bringing it all together stayed just out of reach unfortunately.

SYNOPSIS:

Yara's mother has died and when she finds a letter with instructions of what to do and where to go should this moment arrive, she decides to dodge her social worker and journey to a world of magic across the sea. Unsure of her own background, she thinks she might be Iraqi, but doesn't speak Arabic, she longs to find a place to belong, and when she arrives in Zehaira and hears the language of her mother, she is hopeful that this Leyla Khatoun, who lives in the third to last house on Istehar Way, will provide her with answers. But alas Leyla is not there, the Sultan's alchemists are, and Yara is now on the run in a foreign land. Help finds her and with a little magic she finds Leyla. Leyla begrudgingly takes her in, but refuses her any insight into her past, her relationship with her mother, or why the letter directed Yara to her. As the alchemists poison the sorcerers, Leyla and some other kids (friends?) have to find a way to save the settlement and magic in the land.

WHY I LIKE IT:

Yara as a character is likeable, she is plucky, resourceful, determined, and despite her circumstance does not want or need pity or handouts. She advocates for animals, the poor, is a grassroots organizer, and unapologetic in how she carries herself. I love that she isn't whiney or helpless, and that she trusts herself to problem solve and isn't afraid to think outside the box, while maintaining her kindness and appreciation for those around her.

As someone who doesn't like Alice in Wonderland type stories, this book grounded the world building in an easily consumable way, so even though it is Yara leaving the UK and stepping into a new world, the functioning of the new world didn't feel random or surprising. While this was beneficial for someone like me, it made the focus of the story more on the characters' relationships in enhancing the plot, and the book wasn't strong in showing those connections. Yara meets a map maker for a moment and a cat, and months later recalls the cat and the map maker by name and face. A boy, Rafi, who is also studying magic and Yara don't get along, yet are friends because it says so, the book doesn't show us their bond. Rafi meets some great uncle and the great uncle is painfully underdeveloped (along with his "friend") and the tangent weak in reinforcing the major climax. The relationship between Yara and Leyla is the center of the story and so glossed over, there is no tangible connection, or cathartic release when details emerge, it was very disappointing to say the least. Yara and Ajal, the jinn, what is that relationship even, she frees him à la Aladdin freeing the Genie, but they are friends, not friends, he looks out for her, but doesn't like her, the telling and the showing don't align. Even Yara's relationship with the settlement and the inhabitants is disconnected from the plot of saving magic. The climax is weak because we, the reader, don't feel any connection to any magical folk. The emotion of the mother dying at the beginning and the slight retrospection (I'm not going to spoil it) of the mother's love at the end, was developed and made me invested in Yara, that same energy did not present itself, sadly, in any other relationships in the book.

FLAGS:

Death, loss, poison, imprisonment, magic, mention of medicinal wine, one line mention of a female character liking another female character as more than a friend, dancing, singing, jinn, torture, male and female friendships, destruction, lying, sneaking.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I wouldn't use this as a book club selection and wouldn't go out of my way to shelve it in the school library or classroom library. I will probably read the second book though and see where the series goes and reevaluate. I will also probably read future works from the author as the sparks of good story telling and writing definitely show promise for the author even though this particularly book wasn't "magical" for me.