Gr 9 Up--With Marghazar opening its borders, crown princess Durkhanai is determined to put aside her sheltered life and demonstrate her resourcefulness as next in line for the throne, including finding proof her grandfather, the Badshah, is innocent of a summit attack on neighboring zillas. Despite her ongoing investigation, Durkhanai can't seem to stay away from the mysterious ambassador, Asfandyar, who openly admits he's a spy. As more disasters pile up, Durkhanai must sift through the political warfare in the palace to keep those she cares about alive. Set in the 19th century in a Pakistan-inspired world, this retelling of Frank R. Stockton's 1882 short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" blossoms with political conspiracies and forbidden romance. Debut author Qureshi nails spinning new life into an old tale with a meticulous world grounded in vivid scenery and beautifully enhance with Urdu, Punjabi, and Islamic words. Durkhanai naturally progresses from sheltered, "pretty princess" to discovering her intellect and power. Her romantic relationship with Asfandyar naturally grows over the course of months yet has readers perfectly questioning what his true intentions are. While small conflicts in the story can be sleuthed out, the overall climax has a gratifying twist, revealing larger truths about whether a villain for some can be a hero for others. Durkhanai is described as having soft brown skin, while Asfandyar is biracial, the son of a Black woman, with ebony curls. VERDICT A clever twist on a classic tale, this is one to purchase for library shelves as readers will be eager to know what happens next.--Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL

A reimagining of the classic 1882 Frank R. Stockton short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" set in a Pakistan-inspired world. In the kingdom of Marghazar, 17-year-old crown princess Durkhanai Miangul is loved by her people and her grandparents, whom she would do anything to protect. So when neighboring kingdoms accuse her grandfather, the ruler, of plotting a deadly attack that left many dead during a summit to discuss a unification treaty, Durkhanai is determined to prove his innocence. She decides her best chance of clearing the king's name is by forming an alliance with Asfandyar, the frustrating but handsome ambassador from Jardum. As time passes and secrets are revealed, Durkhanai finds acknowledging her feelings for Asfandyar to be just as difficult as facing the truth of who was really behind that violent explosion with its loss of life. She is left with a choice between pursuing a forbidden romance or serving her people. Qureshi sets up a world in which readers can easily lose themselves. Urdu, Punjabi, and Islamic words and phrases are sprinkled throughout the text, adding to the feeling of immersion. The plot and characters are well fleshed out, authentic, and captivating. Although the political structure of this world can at times be confusing, this is a notable debut with an original point of view and a riveting plot. Dramatic and engrossing: a tale of royal intrigue and romance. (Historical fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.