In the Kingdom of Ardunia, the long-ago fall of fireborn Jinn Iblees, the devil, left the Jinn a hated race. Though accords eventually put an end to eons of bloodshed between Jinn and humankind, the Jinn nevertheless continue to face constant persecution, and use of their fiery powers carries the death penalty. Against this backdrop, olive-skinned 18-year-old Alizeh toils as a servant at a duchess's estate following her parent's death. Soon, she encounters Kamran, Ardunia's crown prince, also 18 and olive skinned. Though Alizeh's blood carries the ice that marks her as heir to an ancient kingdom that could destroy his own, he finds that he cannot forget her--setting the stage for a violent upheaval of not just his life, but of the land itself. In a heart-wrenching novel based in Islamic texts and Persian poem the Shahnameh, Mafi (An Emotion of Great Delight) complements rich worldbuilding with lushly descriptive, sensorial prose that inspires the novel's mythological backdrop, against which plays out an emotional plot, and a tortured romance, layered with court intrigue. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Feb.)

Gr 9 Up--Mafi's new high fantasy series has roots in Islamic tradition and the Persian epic Shahnameh, giving fairy-tale vibes to a star-crossed romance. A treaty has ended the brutal wars between Jinn and humankind, but it leaves the Jinn persecuted and oppressed. Any use of a Jinn's innate magic earns them a death sentence, but Alizeh's magic is especially treacherous: in her veins runs the ice of the royal line, marking her the queen of their lost kingdom. Kamran, the crown prince, has dedicated his life to the empire and becoming a just ruler, trying to parse the prophecies about the death of the king. When Kamran and Alizeh run into each other, they're immediately captivated. Even knowing the dangers they face can't make them ignore the pull of their hearts, setting the stage for a violent upheaval not just of their lives, but of the world. Mafi's intricate worldbuilding sets high stakes for the trilogy. The setting grapples with themes of discrimination and equity versus equality as the Jinn are forced to make themselves less in order to keep from outshining their human neighbors. Mafi's exposition-heavy style won't appeal to all readers; while her writing is beautiful, it does weigh down the pacing as much as it amplifies the angst-filled romance. The majority of the cast is olive-skinned. VERDICT Hand this one to fans of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes. Mafi's slow-build story is braiding a complex plot that promises a payoff in the sequels.--Emmy Neal

Magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love collide in Mafi's tale inspired by Islamic tradition and the Persian epic poem the Shahnameh. Ever since the fall of Iblees, a Jinn and being of fire who rebelled against God's creation of humans, all Jinn-kind have been forsaken by a universe that bore witness to the fall of their civilization and humanity's inheritance of the world. Though the kingdom of Ardunia's Fire Accords established a tenuous peace between the two races, ingrained hatred for those associated with the devil resulted in the exploitation of Jinn and curtailing of their abilities. Alizeh, a Jinn working as a servant in a noble house, hopes for a reprieve from her state of destitution, grief over her parents' deaths, and flight from constant persecution. Because in addition to being Jinn, ice also runs through Alizeh's blood, marking her as the heir to a lost kingdom whose power will lead to the unification and liberation of her people. When Prince Kamran discovers Alizeh, he cannot deny his attraction to her, even as her very existence threatens his grandfather, the king; the continuity of Ardunia; and perhaps humanity itself. Alizeh agonizes over her own feelings for the prince and the implications of the prophecy while she navigates between those who see her as an enemy and those who wish to use her. Richly textured, descriptive prose coupled with agonizing romance combine in this fantastical epic. Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. (author's note) (Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

After a successful foray into contemporary fiction (A Very Large Expanse of Sea, 2018), Mafi returns to fantasy with this illustrious tale of magic, court intrigue, and romance. Alizeh is an orphaned servant who keeps to the shadows and tries to avoid drawing attention to herself. She is a jinn, and even though there is a truce between the jinn and the clay, that doesn't mean that she is safe from violence. In the palace across the city lives Crown Prince Kamran, who spends his time dedicated to the empire and aspiring to be a ruler like his grandfather. When their worlds collide, both Alizeh and Kamran must accept truths that will affect their futures and that put them on opposing sides. Captivating readers from the very first chapter, this story features sympathetic characters who are just trying to meet expectations. Fans of slower-paced fantasies will appreciate Mafi's deliberate unfurling of the world and her characters, all leading to an explosive ending. A magnetic series opener that will delight fans of Mafi's previous series.