Novel Reimagines 1001 Nights With a Feminine Take
Reviewed by Casey Hurtt
Every Rising Sun
Jamila Ahmed. Henry Holt and Company, 2023.
Every Rising Sun, the debut historical fiction novel by writer and lawyer Jamila Ahmed, reimagines the classic One Thousand and One Nights but with a newfound feminine perspective. In 12th-century CE Persia, protagonist Shaherazade grows up sheltered in the splendor and ease of palace life as the eldest daughter of the vizier to the Malik, or ruler. Shaherazade stumbles upon the Malik Shahryar’s beautiful wife, Fataneh, in a compromising situation, awakening a malicious streak of retribution and revenge. The tale unfolds through layers of stories within stories, revealing the power of words to shatter even the hardest of hearts and heal wounds that have lasted generations. Shaherazade assigns herself as the champion by marrying the Malik and striving to end his relentless execution of brides, a cycle born from betrayal. Shaherazade’s battle begins as a personal struggle against the Malik’s tyranny. Her defiance, however, sparks a wider rebellion. Armed with the power of storytelling, she wields the enticement of cliffhangers, each tale a promise of an enthralling and captivating story that sways hearts and minds. Shaherazade captivates her listeners—readers, court members, the Malik and even caliphs—by weaving tales of fantastical adventures. The heroine’s journey traverses the annals of history and balances on the backstory of one of the most renowned folktales ever.
"I once thought opportunities were ever arising, but now, older, I realize how thinly the door to destiny opens, how quickly it shuts."
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