Daughter of Light and Dark

Loved this book. I gave it 5 stars because I couldn't give any higher! This book is a masterpiece and deserves more than "just" 5 stars. I recommend everyone to read this book asap.

This was a fantastic beginning to the Rings and Chains series; the mythological element was wonderfully balanced with an original overall concept. It was a fantastic first chapter in the series and the characters felt like they belonged in this environment. I found the Jinn part to be really well done, and I was really interested in what was happening with Mina. Ahlam Faris writes books of this genre so well that I'm looking forward to more from her. The worldbuilding in this case, which combined a fantasy element with a setting modeled after the Ottoman Middle East, was excellent. I am grateful to the author for providing me with an eARC!

I havent read many books that include Jinn mythology and now I know I need to find more. I like the way the magic and the veil are woven into the heart of the story with seers and Jinn fighting for survival to a degree.

Our FMC is on a quest of some sort that is told as a nursery story to children about how the Jinn and the veil came to be. She deals with so much loss and mistrust on this journey and I really loved her connection with the Jinn ‘The lord of chains’, their companionship during this book is a real highlight for me.

This book was amazing! The story was perfectly written and it was so entertaining. And I loved the main characters so much!

Mina has been called many things in her time, not all of them kind. In a world where humans summon and enslave Jinn into rings, Mina has the uncommon ability to see and speak with them freely. So she knows what it means for a Jinn's freedom to be taken—not just for the Jinn themselves, but for the very fabric of reality. So, with the help of her Jinn protector Ashrush, she sets out to free the powerful spirits trapped inside a dozen gold rings. That includes the one belonging to her late mother.

On the first leg of this daunting task, Mina faces opposition from many fronts. Four of these rings belong to members of the Sultan's family, and Mina must engineer friendships in high places to even get close to them. Meanwhile, a cult is systematically killing off the Seers who commune with Jinn, and it would seem that Mina's friend Saif has some sort of connection to them. And there's something else: a dark power within Mina that has begun to emerge for. Could this have something to do with the name the Jinn use for her—the Daughter of Light and Dark?

Ahlam Faris's first book is enjoyable, with a good structure and an interesting narrative. It does suffer a bit from the common issues of a first book, especially a self-published first book: unchecked typos and occasional grammatical issues, plot points that could be better grounded with a second pass, and so on. But none of these factors counts against Faris's talent. She's brewed up an intriguing story in an equally intriguing setting, and I look forward to seeing her writing grow and evolve over time.

4.25 stars.

Daughter of Light and Dark takes on a new spin on fantasy. Prepare to be transported to a mesmerizing world where magic and danger intertwine in "Daughter of Light and Dark" by Ahlam Faris. This enchanting novel took me on a spellbinding journey reminiscent of Arabian Nights and Aladdin, where the exotic and the fantastical blend seamlessly. I was transported into this story, and I cannot wait to be brought back to this realm once the new book comes out!

Mina is a courageous and fierce young woman driven by a singular mission: to free her mother’s Jinn from a golden ring. But this seemingly simple quest spirals into a grand adventure as Mina discovers that liberating one Jinn means she has to collect all of the other rings containing the Kings to release them, too. Her journey to recover the eleven golden rings of the Kings of Jinn is as perilous as it is thrilling, fraught with cunning royals, a troubled friend, and a crumbling world on the brink of chaos.

If a person has a Jinn, a spirit-like being hovering around them, then it either means that they bound the Jinn to them by a ring or they're like a witch who practiced blood rituals to get the Jinn to be attached to them and to covet their powers. Mina, on the other, has done none of these things, yet she has one of the most powerful Jinns with her: the Lord of Chains. Because of this, people call her a witch because she is also able to other Jinns and to do that, one of the two rituals must have happened. Mina doesn't know why she can see every Jinn and interact with them, and she doesn't know why the Lord of Chains chose to protect and follow her. Think of every alpha male character that you've read about, and that is the Lord of Chains. He stands as both a fierce guardian and a symbol of boundless power. His presence adds a layer of intensity and intrigue to Mina’s quest, as he is not just a protector but a force to be reckoned with. His reactions to things that happen to Mina make me laugh. I am excited to learn more about him and Mina as the next book comes out.

Faris's portrayal of the setting vividly evokes the opulence and mystique of a fantastical Arabian realm. I was quite literally transported to this realm that the author created. The rich, immersive world-building drew me into a landscape of ancient magic and shifting allegiances from the very beginning. A true delight and pleasure to be able to experience such a book.

"Daughter of Light and Dark" is more than just an adventure; it’s a thrilling exploration of freedom, power, and destiny. It's a tale that balances heart-pounding action with deep emotional stakes, and when I tell you I cried, I cried. You begin to feel for these characters as if they are your personal friends. I know fantasy readers will eat this up!

Daughter of light and dark is a beautifully written book, it is the first part of the rings and chains book series.

The story is about Mina whose realm is slowly falling apart. There’s 2 worlds that are separated by a veil, a long time ago the 12 Jinn kings held up this veil but slowly they started to become weaker and now only one king is left standing. The more time passed, the more people became seers which means that they could see and be bound to jinn. If the last king fell down, chaos would arrive.
Mina’s mission is to collect the eleven rings that are bound to those kings and free them.
Except she’s also a seer whose companion is one of the strongest jinnys to exist the king of chains. Mina is a morally gray character and her companion is very overprotective, he even has been with her since she was young of his own will. 👀

Not only that but theres a murderer going around town, killing women, taking their livers and emptying their blood.

The thing I loved the most was that it’s a fantasy book set in arabian lands. Arabic words are sometimes used and theres a glossary in the back if you dont know the meanings, I didn’t need it personally but if you don’t know arabic its really helpful.

The author is also so sweet and helpful please check out the book and her page. 🤗🤍

Wow I don't think I have ever read a book like this. It is such a unique story. It does the perfect job of gradually exposing secrets, and an even better job of connecting the readers to the characters. I loved reading about this world and I can only hope I get to read more of it soon.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review