The Jinn Daughter
A Novel
Format:Paperback
Publisher:American University in Cairo Press
Published:2nd Apr '24
£14.99
Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.
A stunning debut novel and an impressive feat of storytelling that pulls together mythology, magic, and ancient legend in the gripping story of a mother’s struggle to save her only daughter
Nadine is a jinn tasked with one job: telling the stories of the dead. She rises every morning to gather pomegranate seeds—the souls of the dead—that have fallen during the night. With her daughter Layala at her side, she eats the seeds and tells their stories. Only then can the departed pass through the final gate of death.
But when the seeds stop falling, Nadine knows something is terribly wrong. All her worst fears are confirmed when she is visited by Kamuna, Death herself and ruler of the underworld, who reveals her desire for someone to replace her: it is Layala she wants.
Nadine will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe, but Kamuna has little patience and a ruthless drive to get what she has come for. Layala’s fate, meanwhile, hangs in the balance.
Rooted in Middle Eastern mythology, Rania Hanna deftly weaves subtle, yet breathtaking, magic through this vivid and compelling story that has at its heart the universal human desire to, somehow, outmaneuver death.
"Lyrical and magical, The Jinn Daughter captivates with its fierce imagination and its visceral prose. Hanna spins a folkloric tale of family bonds and the power that the dead hold over the living. An extraordinary novel that will linger long after the final page!"—Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni
"A beautiful, haunting homage to Middle Eastern folklore,The Jinn Daughter is a stirring tale of love, grief, and the depths we're willing to go to save our loved ones. Hanna's beautifully drawn, complex characters weave together a story that will find its way into your very bones and leave you wanting more."—Ehigbor Okosun, author of Forged by Blood
"Hanna seamlessly weaves compelling and complex characters into a lush tapestry of Middle Eastern folklore, creating a tragic, haunting world that is as dark as it is beautiful." —Samantha Sotto Yambao, author of Before Ever After
“Rania Hanna’s debut is a moving tale of mothers and daughters, magic and mysticism, love and death. The Jinn Daughter offers fresh storytelling, rich characters and food for thought."—Ms. Magazine
"Compelling. . . . and its imagined world is vast and fascinating."—Washington Independent Review of Books
“Subtle but breathtaking.” —Geek Girl Authority
"Enchanting . . . spellbinding . . . readers will feel like they have stumbled upon an ancient text of legends and wisdom. . . .The fairytale-like and bizarre scenes elevate the story's mystique and are reminiscent of a mature and Middle Eastern Grimm Brothers tale. Ultimately, The Jinn Daughter will leave all who have the privilege to read it in a spellbound and wistful state of reflection."—The New Arab
"A hauntingly inimitable debut. . . . Bridging life and death with intimate relationships, grief, loss, hope, and love, Hanna’s novel develops ominously from its first sentence. Her characters’ lives are riddled with obstacles as they serve as the viceregents of opposing worlds, attempting to live some semblance of the lives they have inherited. And as a mother is pushed to the brink of the world for her daughter, the heart of the story is about love and sacrifice."—Arab News
“Lush . . . powerful . . . vibrant . . . provocative”—Foreword Reviews (starred)
“A captivating read. . . . Lyrical language and descriptive world building make this a good recommendation for book discussion groups, and literary and fantasy readers.”—Booklist
“A moving, imaginative tale of magic, myth, life and death, and a mother's love”—Shelf Awareness
"Rania Hanna [is] a modern-day fabulist who certainly understands the great appeal of storytelling to wrestle with parenting’s grandest dilemmas. In The Jinn Daughter, Rania explores just how far a mother will go to rescue her daughter from death."—Foreword This Week
ISBN: 9781649033635
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
274 pages