Maybe I've gotten used to an edge of humor that usually involves an animal sidekick for middle grade fantasy fiction or maybe I was looking for something with a little more intensity, but this one, while good, didn't sweep me up in the tales of jinn and family that I wanted it to. The lack of true action is the reason I can pinpoint and the slow unfolding of reveals left me impatient.

Farrah as a character was strong but not three dimensional enough especially as the title character. I know it'll be popular so I'm not taking it away from the book and the intrigue, especially as more stories are published featuring folklore, myth, and mythologies from around the globe.

Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate by Deena Zargarpur is about a girl named Farrah who gets mixed up in a fantasy world when she opens a box her father left her.

Fantasy is a hit or miss genre for me. Sometimes I really enjoy and other times not so much. This is a middle grade fantasy, and while I liked parts of it, other parts seemed way too confusing. I think this is a niche book that very few of my students who have the interest or stamina to push through. I think it would be better suited in a middle school rather than my upper elementary.

What a fun middle grade adventure!
Farrah Noorzad was pretty enjoyable; the plot, the characters, the mythology, everything! I know this book isn’t geared towards an adult like me but it would definitely enchant both the targeted audience and adults. This book set up the rest of the books to come and it will be a great journey for Farrah.
I wish we got a lot more of the Jinn world. With the books to follow, I’m sure we’ll get more of it so I’m not too worried. I loved the Muslim and Afghan American representation. We need more of these stories.
My only gripe if I have any is Farrah herself. There were a few moments where I found myself annoyed with her. I know that she’s only 12 so I don’t fault her too much on it.
Overall, a great start to a new series filled with magic and adventure.

This was along the lines of books from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, although this is not part of that line. This is the author's middle school novel debut and incorporates Afghan/Islamic culture and Persian Mythology. While I have read other books that include Afghan/Islamic culture, I haven't read many (any?) about Jinn, so that made this story particularly interesting for me. I also thought Farrah, Idris, Yaseen to be solid characters with each having a personal journey that needed to happen before the group could accomplish the task. While Farrah's best friend Arzu seemed in some ways to be an unnecessary add-on, I was glad to see her part of the journey as she grounded Farrah and reminded her of what she had to fight for.

This is a story of a girl who learns about her true Jinn heritage when she accidentally traps her Jinn father in a ring. It's the story of a girl who has struggled all her life with only seeing her father once a year, and who often feels like someone who doesn't belong, no matter where she is. While she loves her mother and grandparents, because she was born out of wedlock, she feels "forbidden", like she shouldn't exist. This is a story for those who struggle with this feeling, for those of mixed heritage who have trouble belonging in either side of their cultures.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to future books in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve really enjoyed the increasing offerings of novels based in mythologies beyond the Greek and Roman that I studied in high school. This one, based in Persian and Middle Eastern mythology, is no exception.

Farrah is understandably frustrated by the secrecy surrounding her father’s annual visits. She lives with her mother and grandparents, and life is pretty good, but still…she’d like to see more of her dad. He has taught her to be a proficient rock-climber and some self-defense, and encourages her to be strong. When he gives her a mysterious gift, the plot is set in motion.

Suddenly, shadow demons appear at her home, and the mysterious Idris appears to help her. While Farrah is suspicious of his motives, she has not choice but to accept his help. The revelation that her father has a whole separate life in the world of the djinn—and that Farrah has a half-brother—is a tough one for her, adding to her feeling of abandonment and need to prove herself to her father.

But to prove herself to him, she’s going to have to save him.

This is a fun adventure, and the addition of Farrah’s best friend into the mix adds some pizazz. There are lessons here about friendship, family, and parental love.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic and magical creatures. Sneaking around. Kids lie to adults and vice versa. Parental separation. Perilous situations and mild violence.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like stories based in mythologies. Those who like coming of age stories and stories about family.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/lets-start-july-with-bang.html

I didn't get to finish this book in time for it to be published, but what I read had me hooked! I do plan to buy this book for myself and my library. I only learned about Jinn mythology in May, so having a second book talk about Jinn made me excited. I love the Muslim rep and the characters have been amazing to follow. I will update my review as soon as I finish the book

I am entering my middle grade reading era as an adult. It's been such a long time since I've picked one up and I am so glad I did.

"Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate" by Deeba Zargarpur is a delightfully fun middle Grade contemporary fantasy and what I think is an excellent start to a new series ( I hope it's a series at least). Twelve-year-old Farrah, a Pennsylvania native, sees her father only once a year on her birthday. When Farrah wishes on a mysterious ring to break down the barriers keeping them apart, she discovers her father is a jinn king from another world trapped within the ring.

The book was a blast to read. It's filled with magic, adventures, riddles and obstacles to overcome. Apart from a really fun plot the book also explores some complex themes. What primarily stood out to me were the complex sibling dynamics and the exploration of straddling two worlds. Farrah is such a compelling character to follow. She's used to being the best and being indestructible. Throughout the book she realizes its okay to rely on her friends and family for help.

I also quite enjoyed the world building. After reading the Daevabad trilogy I've been looking for books with Djinn magic and muslim representation. Farrah Noorzad definitely scratched that itch.

As an adult, Im obviously not the intended reader for this book, however I found it to be such a fun and quick read. I would recommend it to adult readers who like to delve into middle grade books, and young readers who find themselves dreaming of one day waking up to find out your secretly magic.

It was enlightening going along with Farrah on her adventure as she tries to undo a major mistake she made wishing for more time with her father and instead banishing him into a magic ring. Oops. As mistakes by twelve year olds go, that’s pretty bad, right? Watching Farrah learn more about her father and where he's from than she could have ever imagined as she tries to fix this situation is at times heart-breaking, at others very tense, and, in moments, heart-warming. Determining whether people she meets are new friends or foes, leaning on her long-time friend in a new way, and finding new strengths as she loses others, Farrah helps the reader see that courage comes in all forms. I particularly liked the understated, underlying theme of the role secrets play between adults and children and how that impacts relationships.

The author does an excellent job of naturally weaving Islamic and Persian culture and mythology into the story and dialogue in a way that others can understand without feeling like they are being directly instructed. I was a bit frustrated by the similarity between the names of Farrah’s best friend, Arzu, and the antagonist, Azar; why can’t authors just use distinct names for those of us who read really fast or to help those with dyslexia out? Lastly, I wanted more resolution for some of the family problems, but I foresee sequels coming for that. That said, I can’t wait to read about Farrah’s future feats.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Labyrinth Road, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this fantasy adventure perfect for middle schoolers.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur is a first person-POV Middle Grade SWANA-American contemporary fantasy. Pennsylvania native twelve-year-old Farrah only sees her father once a year on her birthday. After they go climbing, her father gives her a mysterious ring but doesn’t elaborate on what it can do or why he’s giving it to her. When Farrah makes a wish to dissolve the things keeping them apart, her father is revealed to be a jinn king and from a different world before being trapped in the ring.

One of the really cool things that Deeba Zargarpur did was explore the complex relationships of siblings who didn’t know the other existed. Farrah meets her brother, Yaseen, in the jinn world and both are shocked to meet each other. Despite knowing that her father was married to someone else, Farrah hadn’t really contemplated her father having other children or if they might know that she exists as a child born out of wedlock, which Farrah notes is not something good Muslims do. Yaseen isn’t a fan of Farrah originally because she is half-human and he’s hurt that he didn’t know about this other person in his father’s life. I liked seeing how Farrah and Yaseen grow to respect each other after a period of distrust; it felt realistic to their mutual goal of saving their father while still having those strange feelings of suddenly having to share your father’s love with someone else that you didn’t even know was in the picture.

Idris, who was trapped in a ring held by Farrah’s father and released when Farrah’s father disappeared, is a mature straight-man to Farrah and Yaseen’s bickering, but has his own secrets. Idris is the one who directs Farrah around the jinn world at first and we get a lot of the worldbuilding from him, particularly in regards to scent being the main way jinn can tell someone is human or half-human and peeling back layers of the world’s history.

The jinn world and the human world used to be one but because of a prophecy that a mixed jinn-human would destroy their world, the two species were separated with humans forgetting that jinn really did exist. Magic powers the jinn world rather than electricity or coal or trees but they don’t have video games or TV. As Farrah is a gamer, she spends a bit of her time explaining to Idris and Yaseen what video games are. Given how many kids are currently really into video games, I think this detail helps make Farrah relatable without alienating readers who are not gamers themselves.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a SWANA Muslim-led Middle Grade contemporary fantasy, fans of MG books that explore complex family relationships, and those who want more books about jinn.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The mix of mythology with the modern world was great! The characters we fun. The book reminded me a lot of the Percy Jackson series which I love. I hope that this will be a series because I want to return to this world. This is the kind of story I have been searching for awhile now. It has scratched an itch no book has been able to for me since I finished Rick Riordans Chalice of the gods.

More than just another diverse fantasy read, Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate packs a punch. Filled with adventure and heart, this is a page turner right to the end. I recommend this book for fans of Aru Shah, Percy Jackson, and Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

This 323 page middle grade fantasy written by a Muslim author features Muslim characters in a jinn filled adventure, but is not very Islam filled.  Jinn are widely accepted these days in western literature even by non Muslims, so it doesn't hold the Islamic rep weight it perhaps once did, and while the characters mention prayer once or twice, they are never shown to rely on faith, practice it, or have it be a central part of their identity.  None-the-less, at times I truly could not put the book down, the fast paced adventure coupled with the compelling characters really hooked me and pulled me in, until it didn't.  I'm not entirely sure of why the rapid unravel of my connection to the book happened, but I'm guessing it is because of A: I struggle with fantasy. B: the plot was really kind of weak. C: the "Alice in Wonderland" style world building is not a style I enjoy. D: So much of the tension in the book is predicated on conversations not happening because the time is not right, but ultimately I'm pretty sure it is E: A little bit of all of the above.  The book is fun, I think kids will like it even though so much wasn't clarified, resolved, and seemed unnecessary to me, I'm not the target audience, and I recognize that.  It is worth noting that the premise of the book stems quite heavily on the fact that Farrah is a "harami" as it is called, she is a child born out of wedlock. The details of the parents' relationship prior to her birth are glaringly absent, but that stigma affects her relationships and is central to the story.

SYNOPSIS:

Farrah only sees her father one day a year on her birthday, Yalda, the winter solstice.  While hiking and climbing her father presents her with a gift, a ring, and when she hears a voice and makes a wish, her world will never be the same.  Her father, who she thought was a judge in the UAE, is actually a jinn king, who is now trapped in the ring that Farrah wished upon.  When he is imprisoned, a jinn boy named Idris is freed and together the two of them set out to free her father and get some answers.  They journey to the jinn world where they meet the other jinn kings and learn they are next to be imprisoned by the ring. While there they meet Farrah's half brother Yaseen, who joins Farrah and Yaseen before returning to Earth, picking up Farrah's human friend Arzu, and heading to battle Azar in the underworld.  New friends, new worlds, and new perspectives give readers a lot of reasons to cheer for Farrah and her found family as they take on jinns and try to make sense of it all.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I like the main characters: Farrah, Yaseen, Idris and Arzu.  I need more answers and more development of Farrah's mom, dad, their relationship, Yaseen's mom, Idris's parents and situation, though a lot was resolved plot wise in the last 19 pages, the unresolved character arcs nagged at me.  I'm guessing there is going to be a second book, so perhaps some insights will come, but for as enjoyable as the main character's voice is in understanding her own motives, and those of her friends, the lack of development for the remaining characters was quite a contrast.

I felt that the plot was a little weak as well, why did they go to the jinn world, just to return, whey did they seek the protection charms but then abandon them, why was Idris imprisoned in the first place, even if they got the ring back at the mall what were they going to do with it, what was the answer to the first riddle, who was making the rules about the riddles and the trades? I'm not saying some of that wasn't answered and I just didn't get it, but it is a sample albeit a small sample of all the unanswered questions I had about what was going on, at all times.

I'm biased against Alice in Wonderland type stories where the reader is just taken from one climax to the next without any world building showing or hinting at why this is now happening.  Like falling down a rabbit hole, it seemed like each event was building the fantasy world for Farrah and the reader in real time and I would have like a little grounding.  It worked for a large part of the book, but I think not understanding enough about the jinn and jinn world, is what made the climax fall a little short for me unfortunately.

I needed people to have conversations, I know when characters are fighting shadow creatures, they can't explain their family dynamics, but when the same literary device happens again and again, and the characters never have conversations, never get answers, it gets a little frustrating for the adult reader reading a middle grade book, i.e. me.  Maybe kids don't care, but mom and dad and the grandparents all needed to have a conversation, and that sadly never came.

Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate is a delightful new middle grade fantasy-adventure. I love the tribute to Muslim culture and traditions, especially the myths of the jinn. The world is beautifully imagined and adapted in an easily digestible way for young children and those new to the concepts being discussed.
Farrah is a sympathetic heroine, and I appreciated the story highlighting her complex family dynamics, given her parents weren’t married when she was born (which carries a stigma among Muslims), and her father also isn’t a largely absent parent who she only sees once a year on her birthday, when he gives her a gift, which serves as a the inciting incident this time around for this particular story. Her desire to feel seen and appreciated by him is beautifully conveyed, and will make a lot of people in similar situations feel seen, and even if you’ve not experienced this situation, you may know someone who has, and would make similar reckless decisions in an attempt to make this happen. But I also admired how she grew over the course of the book, finding her own strength and coming into her own power.
Over the course of the book, her family situation remains pretty complex, especially as discovering she has a half-brother, Yaseen, she didn’t know about disconcerts her. But she does come to terms with all of this through bonding with him over their collective dysfunction, along with the jinn-boy Idris, who is also traveling with them.
This was a solid first book in what I hope will be a series, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a multicultural Middle Grade fantasy.

Farrah is a new hero! She's not in search of glory, but of the truth of her family. Along the way, she discovers that friendship and family are worth more than her own wishes.
This story is a fantasy adventure. It is a fun and interesting read with excitement and trials and is an exhilarating page turner.

4/5 ⭐️
This was so fun. It is absolutely perfect for fans of Percy Jackson. While there are many similarities between that series and this one (Like half jinn. Dad wasn’t supposed to breed with mortals. Finds out. Rescue mission to save a parent. Quest), I loved seeing the similarities and then how this author made it her own. I loved the jinn and middle eastern element. I especially loved all the Pennsylvania references as a fellow Philly girl. I loved each and every one of the main kids and their relationships. They were so dynamic and felt like real 12 year olds. The only thing I didn’t love was the main villain. He felt kind of flat and a little generic. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loved Percy Jackson and wants more like it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This was a sweet middle grade adventure novel, with lovable characters and a story that excites you for a sequel.

What worked:
The world of jinn isn’t as common as other magical settings so the story feels newish. Jinn in other books grant wishes and seem to have great magical powers but their abilities are limited in this book. There are seven jinn gods this time and Farrah’s father is one of them, along with being the presiding judge in the jinn supreme court. Jinn are not supposed to associate with humans so Farrah’s existence as a half-jinn means she’s going to have a lot of trouble rescuing her father. It will also mean big trouble for her father if the other jinn gods find out. Gods in middle-grade novels are often pompous and self-centered and that tradition continues.
Farrah suffers from feelings of inadequacy when it comes to her father due to his demands for excellence and following rules. She’s supremely confident about hiking and climbing but his comments still cause her to falter. However, she only gets to see him once a year so she misses having a normal relationship with her father. The decision to meet once a year is his choice and her mother and grandparents think that’s one time too many. Farrah wonders if they’re aware her father is a jinn king and she’s surprised and hurt when she begins to unravel the truth. Discovering she has a half-brother confuses matters as he doesn’t hide his disdain and anger toward her. Her family life is complicated but Farrah learns that she’s not the only one with parent issues.
As with most books, the main character is part of a trio trying to fulfill some kind of mission. Farrah is joined by a jinn boy named Idris who she accidentally frees from the magical ring. Then, she discovers her half-brother Yaseen, and her dysfunctional group is complete. Idris helps Farrah out of obligation and Yaseen reluctantly helps because he wants to rescue his father. Yaseen’s been taught that humans are worthless so he aids Farrah because he doesn’t think she is capable of saving their father. Idris and Yaseen don’t like each other either so developing any sense of teamwork seems impossible. Although Farrah is hard on herself, she has faith in others which ultimately helps in the end.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s surprising that Farrah doesn’t confide in her best friend or ask for her help early in the book. Arzu is like a sister to Farrah so why doesn’t Farrah ask for her assistance and advice, especially in matters involving family? Arzu provides valuable contributions later in the story despite being a worthless, full-blooded human.
The final verdict:
The book presents a creative world of jinn featuring a story with adventure, family, and friendship. Including Persian cultural details adds flavoring while Farrah’s confusing emotions will develop empathy in readers. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.

I really enjoyed the easy to read writing writing style and the grand adventure we were taken on.
I enjoyed the character development, mixed with some beautiful myth and culture.
I have a fun time!

Thank you, Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishers through NetGalley.
Farrah has a less than ideal relationship with her father and this leads to challenges with her mother also. She only sees her father once a year and he seems to vanish right away when their time is done. On his last visit, he brought her a gift but told her not to open it. What young teen could resist a gift from an absent father. She discovers a ring and makes a wish and sets off a complete new adventure for herself. Along the way, she finds new friends and has to deal with the jinn world in all its glory and nastiness. By the end, she has come to peace with what she really wants as her deepest wish and has rescued her father and the other jinn kings from their imprisonment. She rescues her long standing friend, a new one and the brother she discovered.
Zargarpur offers a look at this part of mythology and develops the kingdoms and characters so readers feel they are fully immersed in the journey. After the hints to end this one, I'm looking forward to the next book.

12-year-old, Farrah only sees her dad, Padar once a year on her birthday. For the first time ever, he gives her a gift-a ring. She makes a wish during their annual rock-climbing excursion. Her wish backfires and reveals the true nature of her father. This causes her father, one of the seven jinn kings, to switch places with a light-haired boy named Idris, the ring’s prisoner. Her family doesn’t believe her story, but if she doesn’t save her father, the other kings will become imprisoned as well. To save them, she must travel to the world of the jinn and enlist the help of her half-brother, Yaseem. Will they succeed?

The plot is fast paced, engaging, and full of adventure. The introduction of Persian Mythology to readers is well-done and helps draw a well-built world. The characters are likable, lively, and well-developed. Fans of Rick Riordan, Persian mythology, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Gr 2 to 7

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.