"He knew how big my dreams were, and that this world wasn't ready for a girl with dreams like me."

The Djinn's Apple - Djamila Morani
Pub date: May 07, 2024
★★★★★

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The story follows our main character Nardeen who was left live from the massacre of her whole family. She escaped from the house, ran away from the fact that she's now all alone in this world. It somehow brought her to the place she wanted to be all along, Bimaristan—the center of medicinal research and knowledge. Nardeen who was a bright child that hold the same interest as his father and brothers in medicinal field, now was determined to avenge her family's death in her own way, no matter what the cost.

This book is brilliant.
This book is brilliant.
This book is brilliant.
I said it three times that it deserves.

The Djinn's Apple begins with a tragedy that succesfully hooked me and made devour it only in two hours of reading. It brought you so many internal thoughts and emotions of the only survivor of a political based massacre, a child who knows nothing but forced to be orphaned in a single night. You can tell that the mystery was built slowly but sure that you just had to binge read this no matter what. I totally respect the beauty of historical aspect this book has, and as a muslim myself, it's an eye-opening read and a very interesting way to learn islamic history.

In the reader's guide section at the end of the book, they asked how was the addition of romance element int this book? And i screamed my lungs out to say YES. I didn't expect there would be one but it's a perfect amount and level of romance to add. Little interaction got me giggling like crazy and i think it's a good refreshing point to all the tense.

Not to mention that the writing is so enchanting that i loved every words of it. It's a straight forward type of writing and yet still managed to sway the readers in their flowery phrases.

I highly recommend you this book for a one-sit read: a perfect blend of murder mystery, enchanting historical fiction under 200 pages!

This is an enthralling narrative that follows the journey of a 12-year-old girl driven by a desire for revenge against her family. Set against a backdrop of medical and political intrigue, the story intricately weaves themes of love and friendship into its plot, offering a rich tapestry of character development and unexpected twists.

The novel, originally penned in Arabic, is brought to life through a translation that preserves its lyrical and elegant prose. The author’s ability to craft a compelling and multifaceted plot is evident, as the narrative transitions seamlessly between the protagonist’s personal vendetta and her exploration of broader societal issues.

The characters are vividly drawn, each contributing to the story’s depth and complexity. Nardeen, the central figure, emerges as a particularly engaging character with her keen intelligence and nuanced personality, drawing readers into her world with empathy and intrigue.

3.5/5.

This book was amazing. Everything was there to make it a great read: outstanding writing, story, and characters. The only flaw was that it was too short. The story was around 200 pages and looking at how much was in the story, it was very fast paced. The pace I didn't mind, but sometimes it felt like important events were skimmed over and I was left wanting more. Nonetheless, it's a satisfying, quick read with mystery, great character development, and a pinch of romance.

I enjoyed this book I liked how the story started off immediately with Nardeen at the moment that she was about to lose her family and how that played out and ultimately impacted her. I will say I didn't expect the story to end the way that it did. While I did enjoy parts of this book I do believe that it could have developed further had the book been much longer and we gotten to see characters and relationships develop at a slower pace. Given this book was short and quick to pick up, it did do a good job but could have been better. One of the reasons I didn't love this book was because we missed out on a lot of the relationship-building that happens and are essentially thrown into scenes that tell us what is happening more often than showing us how Nardeen’s relationship progresses with other characters in the book. I will say that I enjoyed the storyline and historical aspects and how they were part of the story. Nardeen’s life is filled with tragedy but it was nice to see that she had some peace at the end even if it felt abrupt. Thank you to Neem Tree Press and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for our honest review.

Thank you @The_WriteReads and @WriteReadsTours for letting me be part if this tour and reviewing this book. The Djinn's Apple is a young teenage gener.. The story us well written and took me a chapter to get into it but then I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story set at a good pace, and is a fascinating read. It has a great amount of magic and mysteriou that flows through the book. The story about Nardeen manages to escape but her family get murdered and then wants to found the killer and bring them to justice. I liked the character Nardeen and I enjoyed reading her story . Agreat read that young teenage will enjoy 4 stars

I really enjoyed this! Set in an era that captures the imagination, that of the golden age of the Abbasid caliphate under the reign of Harun al-Rashid, the story of a young girl finding her voice, and finding her way in life, following the grisly murder of her family is at once an intriguing mystery and a lively rendition of this period. I particularly appreciated thinking about the innovations in fields of medicine and translation during this time. My only gripe was that i would have loved to have spent more time with the character and the story, as I felt everything happened too quickly, but that could just be for the benefit of the intended (I believe) teen/YA audience it is meant for. Not a complaint, and I would definitely be keen to read more from this writer!

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this complimentary copy!

This short, 160 page YA book is really quite gripping. Admittedly, during the first third of the book, which is primarily world building, I had no idea what was really going on, but I was intrigued and by the half way mark, I was so invested, I truly could not put the book down. I received an early digital copy so I am not sure if the grammar errors, typos, and lacking punctuation is because it had not been through line edits yet, or a result of translation oversights, none-the-less I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in a single sitting. I wish this book was 500 pages long, with details about the time and environment, and build up to the conclusion, and angst to the romance, but it is not there, it is short, and rushed, and I don't really know how to review it, because to point out all that is wrong, doesn't convey all that was right. I am a self appointed reviewer, so I'm going to break my own standards and just copy and paste the teasing blurb, I can't say it better, you are welcome: "Historical fiction meets crime fiction in The Djinn's Apple , an award-winning YA murder mystery set in the Abbasid period—the golden age of Baghdad. A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript. When Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men frantically in search of something—or someone—she is the only one who manages to escape. And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen sets out on an unyielding mission to bring her family’s killers to justice, regardless of the cost…"

SYNOPSIS:

See above, I know my standards are slacking, but that blurb is what helped guide me when I got lost a little lost with the words on the pages.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the map and in this case the glossary and backmatter really helped me to understand the setting because the text assumes the reader knows about Harun Al-Rashid, the Golden Age of Baghdad, and the Abassids. I appreciated the Reader's Guide and further information about the Bimaristan, as well.

I like that it showed the family as being practicing Muslims, them being accused of being infidel Zoroastrian, and the adopted father and teacher being Jewish, it added a layer that entices the reader to reconsider stereotypes and look further into the society. The book doesn't offer much commentary about it, but does highlight the different religious groups and show them interacting.

The book really pulls you in and considering that I was lost and there were grammar errors and typos, really speaks to the story and heart of the writing. I am glad I read it, it will stay with me, and I may not be able to pass an AR test on it, but I do plan to get a physical copy for the library and for myself, so that I can read it again.

FLAGS:

Murder, plotting, revenge, poison, romantic feelings, fortune telling

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I need to read the book again, but yes, it would be awesome as a book club selection for Middle School or even High School to discuss, pick apart, analyze, research, and enjoy.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book. I knew very little/nothing about the bismaristan in Baghdad, the golden age of Baghdad, and the Baramikas. The grounding in history and that attention to details is the main thing that kept me reading the book. The author’s notes at the back provided great context and inspired me to do some more research.

There were interesting themes in the book, and the contrasting parental figures and guidances were intriguing. Overall, though, the storytelling felt a bit flat; there is a lot more telling than showing driving the plot, and as a result I didn’t find the characters to have much depth or development. I really wanted to get caught up in the romance and the murder mystery, but I mostly felt like I was reading about these things rather than being immersed in them.

I’d give this book 2.5 stars. I think I would ultimately put this book in my classroom library, but I would want to warn students (especially Muslim students) of the amount of violence/trauma present.

Thank you Neem tree press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this story which was short but the economic usage of words didn't mean that the story was compromised. I love the tension drama of this human interest story that follows our main character Nardeen and through her eyes, thoughts and also the scenario, a completely different world to ours. This Ya mystery is beautifully written, and wonderfully evocative of a time and a place I can only dream of visiting. I love Djamila Morano's style of writing.

Set in the Abbasid period (9th century Bagdad), The Djinn's Apple tells the story of twelve year old Nardeen whose family is brutally slaughtered one night. She is then taken under the wing of eminent scholar and doctor, Muallim Ishaq. Over the years, Nardeen plots revenge on her father's enemies whilst studying medicine.

The Djinn's Apple deals with not only loss and grief, but with elements of magic and mystery as well. It provides an insight into politics of that period and the history of medicine in the Islamic World.

Having not read anything set in this time period before, I found it to be very intriguing and hope to learn more.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

DNF @ 33%. While I loved what I understood of the Djinn’s Apple, ultimately that was far too little to understand the story itself, as the prose, structure, and pacing of the story in the first third is utterly incomprehensible. As far as I can tell, the Djinn’s Apple is non-linear, however its lack of linearity is not a fun quirk of a creative author’s storytelling, but an otherwise talented prosaist’s inability to clearly show or explain what is taking place within the story. In the end, while I wanted to love and finish this story, I couldn’t, simply because I don’t know what the heck was going on.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc!

to be honest, i went into this totally blind and with no expectations AT ALL. i barely knew what this was about, besides the summary that was provided in the netgalley website. i had never heard of the author, Djamila Morani, nor the translator, Sawad Hussain, at all, so i didn’t really know what to expect in terms of the writing either.

but. i was so so SO pleasantly surprised. it was incredibly well written, i was hooked right from the beginning. i saw this one passage on politics at the start, and i just knew this was going to be good.

‘Politics has beautiful side that charms men who fall into her clutches and worship her, giving her everything they have. But she's also a woman with secrets too holy to divulge, desires too ugly to speak aloud, promises like sandcastles crumbling under the waves of her fury. If she showed them her true face with all its adornment, their souls would be the sacrifice.’ like woah!!!!

and from then on, all i found was a sentence, a paragraph, a passage, to annotate, because it truly BLEW my mind. it was a short book, but so concise and beautifully put that you just can’t help but be immersed in it.

our main character, Nardeen, was hard headed and strong-willed. i love seeing her grow and how she navigated her new circumstances after the tragedy, both under the influence of her new teacher, Muallim Ishaq, and through her own way. though we didn’t really get into much details of it, for it is again a really short book, we still got enough glimpses of it to know how she developed, with grief and anger still rooted deep inside her.

i loved how we got to know more about Baghdad in the past too. i loved how they put a glossary and also a reader’s guide at the end to put more context in the historical figure and place that were mentioned in the story.

i’m going to be honest, if there’s one thing i least expected to be in this book was that there would be a romance story. BUT THERE IS. and i actually loved it. i lost all of my annotations because i stupidly deleted the netgalley app before thinking twice, but there is a simple fleeting moment there that still sticks in my mind. simply written, but said a ton.

‘i studied the corner of his mouth turning downwards. it hit me, the magnitude of the crime that we committed against Suhaib— me and Al-Aesafi— I bowed my head in sorrow and walked silently.’

like. ALL THIS. “the magnitude of the crime that we committed against Suhaib” and it’s literally just him losing his smile 😔😔😔😔

well i actually did lose my mind, thank you very much.

my only complaint about this book, the only reason why it didn’t touch 5 stars for me (though i’m very tempted), it’s just that it’s waayyyy too short.

it wasn’t much of a problem at the beginning nor the middle part, but the ending just ended up feeling so rushed. like it was suddenly just finished. a bit anticlimactic. i just wish we didn’t toppled all at once into the ending but instead went through the revelation slowly and with more tension in the air.

i loved this book though, that’s why i didn’t want to end it so fast and so suddenly!

all things aside, this is a story about family and grief and loss. and, as a consequence of that, it’s also a story about avenge and revenge. and the way the author described nardeen’s feelings around it, and overtime as it stayed and disappeared, was just sublime.

to me, the part in which this book lacked a bit (tension), was made up for the delivery of the lyrical writing and the easy flow of the story.

if you want something short, and yet also something that would also leave a mark, something that’s beautifully written and filled with sentences after sentences to take with you, then i would DEFINITELY recommend this book! in fact, i could not recommend it enough!! GO READ IT ‼️

4.75 stars! (★ ★ ★ ★.75)

Rating: 3.3

Thanks to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to start this review with what I loved about this book.

First, the setting. The Djinn's Apple was set in Abbasid period or golden age of Baghdad. This is a time period I've not seen covered much in other books, so it's really interesting how the story offers a brief yet fascinating glimpse of life at that time.

Second the romance #lol. The romance is really subtle and brief, but I love the amount of yearning and angst it serves.

Third, the main character. I personally drawn for a character that is driven by revenge and can't let go. That kind of character speak to me more than a kind forgiving character. Some crimes are too big to let go, sorry. I enjoy watching my enemy burn.

Now, what I dislike about this story is IT'S TOO SHORT. The ebook version is only 106 pages, I didn't know about the physical version but I expect it to be even shorter.

The length meant the story could feel quite rushed at times, and I really wish it was longer so I can spend more time to build a stronger bond with our main character, Nadeem.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader copy (arc) in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️ 4 stars
Short but captivating is the best summary of this book, It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who seeks revenge on her family, exploring the worlds of medicine and politics as she discovers love and friendship along the way. The plot is engaging, with several twists and in fact, this is a translation from Arabic that is written in a flowy and beautiful style. As for the characters, I liked them all, especially Nardeen with her intelligent self. I enjoyed this book immensely up until the ending, which is truly worth reading for.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It gave a lot to think about. I liked that it was set in the golden age of Baghdad (a time period I've not seen covered much in other books). If you're looking for a book with a strong female lead that empowers women you might like this one.
Whilst I did feel connected to Nardeen I felt I wanted more from the other characters in the book.

This was an interesting story set during the Caliph of Harun ar Rashid which is what initially peaked my interest. The first half of the story was quite slow but once we got to halfway it started to come together and I enjoyed the story more. It was a an interesting murder mystery where we slowly learn that not everyone is who they claim to be. Though I do wish there was more character development for the characters. I did like how we see the Abissid caliphate and the way there is advancement in healthcare especially. We also get to see Zubaida, the wife of the Caliph in the story which was a nice addition to the story.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, I loved that we got a murder mystery/vengeance quest that WASN'T in America or Europe. There are lots of quotable prose and it's overall good.

However, my only complaint was that this could've been longer. Some parts of the book felt a bit rushed to me.

This was a well-written book. Very captivating in terms of plot and pacing and the translation was really good. A great read for teens and adults who read teen books. It covered a lot of history without sounding like a dry, boring lecture and a great way to introduce young audiences to history and political intrigues. Djamila Morani is an author I'll be following closely. I will be sending out my review of this book and will update with the link when officially published.

It barely includes magical elements, but is filled with interesting characters that could well belong to an epic fantasy story.

I really enjoyed this one and would’ve loved every element to be more developed in a longer format.