What is so thrilling about Tahir's writing is that everything, and I mean everything plays a role - every tidbit of information scattered either in Ember or in Torch, every simple line a character says. Nothing is left unused. And it makes the writing as sharp as a Teluman sword.
Sabaa Tahir has a kehanni's skill in weaving a story. An Ember in the Ashes writhes with emotion, tension, and a world so built out, scenes are vivid.
Ivory and Bone is an Ice Age retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
I've decided to end 2019 with a month of dark retellings!
Based more on Persian folklore, Whichwood tells the story of Layla, a mordeshoor who washes the dead and sends their spirits off to the next world. And by washing the dead, I mean that she washes the bodies in a tub, hangs them on a clothesline to dry, and then plucks a rose petal out of her mouth.
A captivatingly colorful and whimsical retelling of Alice in Wonderland, Furthermore pushes the boundaries of imaginative and intriguing.
A quick read with a younger voice, this was a different retelling of the Snow Queen, though it kept true to the Snow Queen's character.
Sisters of Shadow and Light had potential, but failed to realize it.
For November, I'll be reading through Middle Eastern-themed fiction, including a few I've read before, but loved.
Folkloric and atmospheric, The Bone Houses was one of the better books I've read this year.
