The Djinn's Apple

by Djamila Morani, Sawad Hussain (Translator), جميلة مراني

Historical fiction meets crime fiction in The Djinn's Apple , an award-winning YA murder mystery set in the Abbasid period—the golden age of Baghdad. A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript. When Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men frantically in search of something—or someone—she is the only one who manages to escape. And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen sets out on an unyielding mission to bring her family’s killers to justice, regardless of the cost…

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Middle East

145 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2017

Reviews

[Kealyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Djinn's Apple by Djamila Morani

4/5 stars

First I want to thank Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads for getting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful. 

In The Djinn's Apple we follow 12 year old Nardeen. She is watching her siblings having fun and being loud. Then she starts to hear screaming and she flees away. When she returns she smells a particular smell and realizes her entire family is murdered. 

In the beginning the book switches between the past and present. We learn that her father was a doctor and was working on a manuscript. And after the Caliph's cousin is murdered, they think her father did it. Because he was translating a book about poisons. And they kill him for it and his entire family. Nardeen was also supposed to die. But she was able to escape.

Nardeen ends up in the hands of a slave trader. But before he can sell her he mysteriously dies. And Muallim Ishaq takes her in his custody and becomes a sort of stepfather for her. 
He is a gifted doctor and teacher and takes her under his wing. Her father already taught her so much. And she is a brilliant student. Years pass by.

But Nardeen hasn't forgotten that Al-Aasefi murdered her entire family and she wants revenge. 

When she meets a young doctor Suhaib the story kicks off and gets really exciting. Slowly but surely we find out what truly happened and I really enjoyed that part of the story.

I did have a lot of trouble getting into the story. The book is a novella and fairly short for a full length book. A lot of information about the time period, rulers and family is dropped within the first few chapters. And I got lost in all the names. I wish the author had taken a little more time and expanded that a bit so it was a little less packed. 

But when we fast forward to when Nardeen is 16 the book has an amazing and captivating pace that kept my eyes glued to the book.

The book also contains gorgeous, gorgeous quotes! And I want to give the translator Sawad Hussain a huge compliment. 

This is one of my favorites:

"No matter how bad the pain, bury it, bury it deep. Pain was created to be buried. Let it go as deep as possible to melt, dissolve, and flow through your veins. Pain is what keeps us alive when you think about it."

This one also hit hard:

"Pain gives birth to hatred, which grows, puts down roots. Its feature form like a foetus in a womb of pain. When such hatred comes out into the light of day, you can't say that it's ugly, because the pain that gave birth to it is uglier."

And the ending. That last sentence! "I'll use them to protect my family, whatever the cost."
I agree with that one million percent!

4 huge stars for this beautiful and exciting story. 

[Alwynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Algerian writer and academic Djamila Morani’s YA novella is set in Baghdad during the reign of the famed Harun Al-Rashid who ruled in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. It centres on a young girl Nardeen whose settled existence is shattered after her father’s falsely accused of a terrible crime. He loses his position as a respected physician and the bloody aftermath leaves Nardeen orphaned. Despite everything that happens, Nardeen somehow finds a way to rebuild her life, so that she can track down the ones responsible for her family’s fate and take revenge. Morani provides fascinating insights into the everyday culture of medieval Baghdad in a turbulent era, taking in developments in areas of medicine and medical treatment. It’s fertile territory and Morani’s plot features some unexpected twists, Nardeen’s also a sympathetic but complex, feisty character. But the length meant the story could feel quite rushed at times, and I sometimes found the prose style a little stilted – I’ll be interested to see how younger readers respond to this one. This edition includes an array of useful background material on the historical context, as well as a glossary and reader’s guide. Translated from Arabic by Sawad Hussein.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Neem Tree Press for an ARC

[سماء ذات ديم · Rating 4 out of 5]

بسم الله
إن كنت يا جميلة تفكرين في كتابة جزء ثانٍ
فاكتبيه الآن
فما عدت أطيق صبرا لأرى ما يحدث بعد ذلك
أبدعت ثم أبدعت ثم أبدعت ^^
وفقك الله وسدد خطاك
نريد الجزء الثاني و بسرعة

[disz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars

Short but captivating is the best summary of this book, It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who seeks revenge on her family, exploring the worlds of medicine and politics as she discovers love and friendship along the way. The plot is engaging, with several twists and in fact, this is a translation from Arabic that is written in a flowy and beautiful style. As for the characters, I liked them all, especially Nardeen with her intelligent self. I enjoyed this book immensely up until the ending, which is truly worth reading for.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars A captivating YA murder mystery set in the historical Abaddid period; the golden age of Baghdad. This wonderful story is written by Djamila Morani and expertly and beautifully translated into English by Sawad Hussain. Special mention should go to the beautifully illustrated cover and end pages. I love the inclusion of the drawing of the Djinns Apple at the start, alongside maps of the period, as well as the additional information on the period, the author, and the translator at the end. They add to a much fuller understanding. The opening line is so impactful : "My siblings' screams still pierce my ears no matter how hard I squeeze my head between my hands." The Twelve year old protagonist has just witnessed the brutal and horrific murders of her entire family due to a political fall-out that has less to do with her father and more to do with their family name. Nardeen is alone and confused and extremely vulnerable. Her father was a renowned and respected doctor, but his work translating a mysterious manuscript pertaining to a magical herb has left questions over his actions and cause of murder. Nardeem faces a precarious future, but her sharp wit and knowledge of medicine, gleaned from her father, catch the attention of the most respected Professor Ishaq, and her life takes a completely different course. Still in her teens, she seeks vengeance for the deaths of her family, and her introduction to the demon responsible is nothing like she imagined. An absolutely gripping story told in less than 150 pages. The writing transports us to this wonderful golden age , revealing the limited choices for women and their need for a protector. #thedjinnsapple #djamilamorani #sawadhussain #neemtreepress #thewriterreads #booktour

[ممدوح · Rating 4 out of 5]

رواية تجذبك وتبقيك بقربها من أولى السطور
مع أسلوب الكاتبة السلس والممتع، يملؤها التشويق والإثارة وذلك الكم من المعلومات بداخلها.
هنا تعلم أن الكاتبة بحثت وتعبت لتخرج عملا بهذه الجودة.
شكرا لك أستاذة جميلة
بانتظار الجديد

[كِـنزة بـاء سيـن · Rating 4 out of 5]

جميلة ، خفيفة ، مشوقة وبسيطة
تشرفت بقراءة رواية تاريخية لكاتبة جزائرية شابة

مناي قراءة جزء ثان ، شريطة أن يكون بنفس قيمة الأول

[Beth Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 9th century Baghdad, the story follows Nardeen, first as she escapes the political, violent murder of her family and then as a teenager mentored by an eminent doctor. Both her father and her mentor see her potential in what is culturally a male dominated field, which grates with most others.

The story is a well told, and superbly translated, blend of politics, medicine and magic, with Nardeen trying to find answers to her why her family were massacred and look forward to growing into adulthood. She is taken in by her mentor and only after a message from someone else does she question his motives. It is difficult for her to view him as anything other than a trusted mentor until she uncovers more about the politics and reasons behind her family’s murder and his duplicitous behaviour.

I have not read anything set in this time period before and enjoyed finding out more.

The themes of political turmoil, trust, feminism, grief and family secrets are well handled and will promote a lot of discussion and debate.

Thanks to Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads for an ARC for review purposes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for free, to review as part of a book tour with The Write Reads.

This young adult book was quite a short read, but in some ways, it was a lot more intense than I had first anticipated. Reading just the first few pages, I felt connected to the protagonist, Nardeen, and deeply sorry for what she was going through. I think that as a reader, I somehow felt the need to stay with her, to see her through a difficult journey.

As I read on, I felt more and more connected to Nardeen. There was something about her narrative that I found thought-provoking. I also thought the general design of the book was beautiful, and despite the hardships faced by Nardeen, I found the story uplifting to read.

Thank you to Neem Tree Press, NetGalley, The Write Reads, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE DJINN'S APPLE ABOUT?
Nardeen is a remarkable twelve-year-old. Her father is a physician known for translating medical texts from a variety of languages into Arabic, and Nardeen soaks up his work. She has an astounding memory and ability to understand what she memorizes.

But due to some political intrigue that she doesn't wholly understand, Nardeen and her family have to flee their home one night. Sadly, she's the only one who survives.

Nardeen vows revenge on those responsible for her family's murder—certain that a friend of her father's is ultimately to blame.

But before then, she finds herself being taken under the wing of a legendary physician and teacher, Muallim Ishaq. He recognizes her gifts and her heritage from her father—he arranges (mostly by the force of his will) to have her learn at The Bimaristan, a hospital of great renown. There, she's able to hone her skills and knowledge—and sharpen her tools, resolve, and ability to mete out that vengeance.

FATHER VS. FATHER
There are a handful of various conflicts in this book (like with any good book), but at the core, this book seems to be a conflict within Nardeen herself. On the one hand, she has her memories of her father and what he taught her—what he showed her by example—about the way to live. She also has to wrestle with what she's told about her father—by those who profess to have admired him and those who worked against him.

On the other hand, she has her (for all intents and purposes) adoptive father, what he's trying to teach her—what he shows her by example—about the way to live. She also has to wrestle with what she's told about him—by those who profess to admire him and those who work against him.

In many ways, these two fathers line up—but in significant ways, they follow and lead her down divergent paths. So much of how the plotlines of this book resolve depends on Nardeen's acceptance/rejection of what these men stand for.

THE SETTING
So, this takes place during the "golden age of Baghdad"—Harun al-Rashid's rule of the Abbasid Caliphate from 786 to 809. Now, everything that I know about this period of time comes from the appendices to this novel "Harun Al-Rashid: The Golden Age of Baghdad" and "The Bimaristan." As they are appendices, I read them afterward. So I came into this not knowing anything—which is a bit intimidating. And I figure I'm not alone in this (particularly for the intended YA audience, who probably haven't had much opportunity to study Eigth-Century history).

But honestly? Anyone who reads Fantasy/SFF knows how to approach something like this—sure, this is a representation of actual history, but the same tools and imagination you need to understand Westeros, Panem, or the world of the Shadowhunters equip you to get into this world.

And, like with those worlds, after getting this taste, you'll likely want to read more about it.

While reading, and since then, I do have to wonder a little bit about how much Morani was stretching things about the opportunities presented to women in this time and place. Not just for Nardeen, either—but all the women she encounters at the Bimaristan (and I'd be saying this if the city was Paris or Rome, not just because it's Baghdad). But I'm willing to both suspend disbelief for the sake of a good story and to trust that someone who's as familiar with Arabic literature as Morani is more than my hunches.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE DJINN'S APPLE?
This book hits the ground running—Morani doesn't give you the opportunity to settle in and get comfortable in this world or anything like that. She thrusts the reader—and poor Nardeen—straight into life-or-death action. Nardeen has a slightly better understanding of what's going on than the reader does—but not much. This was a great way to start this read—you don't get the chance to indulge curiosity or get lulled into thinking it's a different kind of book than it is—you have to rush to catch up and then keep up with Nardeen and only get the luxury of starting to understand the world until she's (relatively) safe.

There were a couple of times that I wondered about the timelines and how well they worked. I assume I just missed something (and didn't want to take the time to go back and check). It wasn't anything that bugged me enough to look into it, but I would've appreciated things being a bit clearer.

The characters of Nardeen and Muallim were so well drawn, so vivid, and so compelling that I really wish we had more time with them. Particularly Muallim—this cantankerous genius is the kind of character I really respond to. Now, given the pacing of this book, that's impossible. And Morani picked the better option for her story. But the eccentric teacher and the stubborn and gifted student is a combination that could've made for a lot of fun.

Somehow in the midst of this propulsive pacing, Morani is able to litter the book with some great observations, some drops of wisdom (primarily from the teacher and student), and memorable prose (some of that credit has to be given to Hussain as well).

This is a fast, immersive read that'll leave you guessing from the beginning right up to the end. You'd be doing yourself a favor if you pick it up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads via NetGalley.

[Marie Sinadjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Djinn's Apple is a short, fast read — in fact, I finished it in one sitting. It's written in the style I prefer: clear, easily understandable prose littered with quotable gems and without excessive worldbuilding. (There's a glossary at the back as well as notes about the setting, which I read too.)

The book might be short, but it packs a punch and manages to bring to life an interesting ensemble of characters despite its length. I rooted for Nardeen from the beginning; hard not to, given that she's a smart, strong woman in a society where "men were made to use their brains and women to look pretty," and slavery is still a thing.

The ending was satisfying for me too. I was filled with dread (and excitement, because I like guessing endings) as the pieces came together and I had my conclusions... only to get one more surprise at the very end. Just the way I like it!

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

— Family is a necklace; if it comes loose, all its beads will fall.

— Just a jangle from our anklets, and people know that we women are around. It announces our presence, and draws everyone's attention to us in this world ruled by men.

— This world wasn't ready for a girl with dreams like mine.

— How can it be so easy for someone to kill another human, then so hard for them to come up with one reason to explain why?

— Doctors evaluate, but death at the end of the day is all in God's hands.

— Betrayal sleeps below the shade of trust—if we cut off the branches of this trust, if we uprooted the tree entirely, then we wouldn't be afraid anymore of this treachery that lies sleeping beneath it, waiting for us to take one wrong step: without trust we're safe.

— Being alone isn't as bad as people think it is. The true birth of a person isn't when they come out from the womb into the world, but rather when they leave the world behind to look inwards, and that only happens when you're alone.

— A mother's heart chokes if it keeps its love inside too long.

— Don't tremble, you're the one who decided to help him. Finish what you started. [...] If you don't believe in yourself, no one else ever will.

— Everything that awakens uncertainty in us and handcuffs our hopes, and puts limits on us, is fear. Fear over what we own, over ourselves, our family, our reputation, our health. Loss saves us the trouble of looking back. All that is behind us is destruction, and what's to come won't be worse than what we left behind. When you lose everything, you have nothing left to lose, and so you're a winner.

— The body may only need time to heal, but the soul needs more than time. The soul needs another one like it to heal.

— Pain gives birth to hatred, which grows, puts down roots. Its features form like a foetus in the womb of pain. When such hatred comes out into the light of day, you can't say that it's ugly, because the pain that gave birth to it is uglier. People only see the pain that burns them—how selfish they can be! They don't feel the pain that rages inside each of us... they don't know that what has burned them are the flames that live in us every hour of every day.

— But waiting is a large stone that not every back can carry. It needs more than a strong back, it needs a heart overflowing with faith.

[din · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHH SO EXCITED TO READ THIS <333

___

4.75 stars rounded up! could’ve been actually five stars if this wasn’t anti-climatic and so rushed at the end :/ but the writing!!! i’m in love with it. thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc! rtc!

——-

thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc!

to be honest, i went into this totally blind and with no expectations AT ALL. i barely knew what this was about, besides the summary that was provided in the netgalley website. i had never heard of the author, Djamila Morani, nor the translator, Sawad Hussain, at all, so i didn’t really know what to expect in terms of the writing either.

but. i was so so SO pleasantly surprised. it was incredibly well written, i was hooked right from the beginning. i saw this one passage on politics at the start, and i just knew this was going to be good.

‘Politics has beautiful side that charms men who fall into her clutches and worship her, giving her everything they have. But she's also a woman with secrets too holy to divulge, desires too ugly to speak aloud, promises like sandcastles crumbling under the waves of her fury. If she showed them her true face with all its adornment, their souls would be the sacrifice.’ like woah!!!!

and from then on, all i found was a sentence, a paragraph, a passage, to annotate, because it truly BLEW my mind. it was a short book, but so concise and beautifully put that you just can’t help but be immersed in it.

our main character, Nardeen, was hard headed and strong-willed. i love seeing her grow and how she navigated her new circumstances after the tragedy, both under the influence of her new teacher, Muallim Ishaq, and through her own way. though we didn’t really get into much details of it, for it is again a really short book, we still got enough glimpses of it to know how she developed, with grief and anger still rooted deep inside her.

i loved how we got to know more about Baghdad in the past too. i loved how they put a glossary and also a reader’s guide at the end to put more context in the historical figure and place that were mentioned in the story.

i’m going to be honest, if there’s one thing i least expected to be in this book was that there would be a romance story. BUT THERE IS. and i actually loved it. i lost all of my annotations because i stupidly deleted the netgalley app before thinking twice, but there is a simple fleeting moment there that still sticks in my mind. simply written, but said a ton.

‘i studied the corner of his mouth turning downwards. it hit me, the magnitude of the crime that we committed against Suhaib— me and Al-Aesafi— I bowed my head in sorrow and walked silently’

like. ALL THIS. “the magnitude of the crime that we committed against Suhaib” and it’s literally just him losing his smile 😔😔😔😔

well i actually did lose my mind, thank you very much.

my only complaint about this book, the only reason why it didn’t touch 5 stars for me (though i’m very tempted), it’s just that it’s waayyyy too short.

it wasn’t much of a problem at the beginning nor the middle part, but the ending just ended up feeling so rushed. like it was suddenly just finished. a bit anticlimactic. i just wish we didn’t toppled all at once into the ending but instead went through the revelation slowly and with more tension in the air.

i loved this book though, that’s why i didn’t want to end it so fast and so suddenly!

all things aside, this is a story about family and grief and loss. and, as a consequence of that, it’s also a story about avenge and revenge. and the way the author described nardeen’s feelings around it, and overtime as it stayed and disappeared, was just sublime.

to me, the part in which this book lacked a bit (tension), was made up for the delivery of the lyrical writing and the easy flow of the story.

if you want something short, and yet also something that would also leave a mark, something that’s beautifully written and filled with sentences after sentences to take with you, then i would DEFINITELY recommend this book! in fact, i could not recommend it enough!! GO READ IT ‼️

4.75 stars! (★ ★ ★ ★.75)

[Bookbugworld · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Djinn's Apple is the story of a simple girl named Nadeera who is caught up in the politics of the royal family. More than the plot , I enjoyed the overall theme and the world where this story was set. It is reminiscent of a glorious past and a yearning for all that was lost. It was a quick one time read for me. Here is the link to my full review : https://bookbugworld.com/review-the-d...

[إلهام مزيود · Rating 4 out of 5]

أعرف جميلة مراني كصديقة على الفيسبوك، أقرأ المنشورات القصيرة التي تكتبها وأعجب بها عادة لكنه لم يخطر لي أن أقرأ لها رغم حصولي على الرواية منذ سنتين، أو لأكون أكثر صراحة لم أشأ أن أقرأ لها لسببين:
الأول أنني لا أحب الفنتازيا ولا تستهويني أبدا القراءة في هذا الصنف، الثاني: أنني أحبها كصديقة وكنت متوجسة من أن لا تروق لي روايتها أو أن أضطر لمجاملتها.. لكن جميلة الجميلة أزاحت السببين، فالفنتازيا جاءت مزيج بين التاريخ والعلوم فرأيتها جد رائعة وأنا ألتهم صفحات تفاح الجن، والتوجس قد زال نهائيا ويمكنني القول بكل راحة ضمير " جميلة كاتبة لا يستهان بها".
رواية تفاح الجن التي تقع في 128 صفحة والتي تمنيتها أن لا تنتهي أبدا، استطعت إنهاءها في جلستين ولولا ظروفي الخاصة لأنهيتها في جلسة واحدة، فالأسلوب سلس والمتزن واللغة جيدة والأحداث جد مشوقة، والمعلومات التي اكتسبتها لا بأس بها، جعلتني في كل مرة أقفز نحو غوغل للبحث والتقصي بدءاً بحقيقة البرامكة وصولا إلى نبتة تفاح الجن التي ولقلة معارفي كنت أظنها من خيال الكاتبة الخصب الذي كنت في كل مرة وأنا أقلب الصفحات أتمنى لو أني أملك مثله أو بعضا منه.
شخصيات الرواية مدروسة بعناية، اندمجت معها حتى أنها لم تبق حبيسة الكتاب وأنا أضعه بجانبي قبل أن أخلد للنوم بل تسربت معي إلى أحلامي ورافقتني ليلة الأمس.
تمنيت أن تطول الرواية أكثر، لكن عمر الأشياء الجميلة قصير، مستعدة أن أقرأ لك أكثر وأكثر، وأنتظر روايتك القادمة بشوق يا جميلة.
Ps:
ستكون ابنتك جد فخورة بك وبانجازاتك.

[Sookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a novella that I truly wish was a full length novel, because, as a novella it falls short with narration without having to explore the depths of plot or the characters. Be that as it may, the novella still offers a delightful story of a strong girl - Nardeen, who grows into a confident and complex young woman battling the tragedy of her past and a mind occupied with revenge.

A nostalgic look at the past - its clear that the character is meant for greatness; she is intelligent, street smart and has strong sense of character. The times are turbulent and she must navigate the areas of medicine and politics to avenge wrongful death of her family.

I forget how poetic Arabic writing can be and even in translation, it flows beautifully.

[Dele Makinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting and I’m glad I did. The plot was very novel and unlike other books I’d read in the past. Although I can’t read Arabic, I love the way it translates almost as poetry. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Amy Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combining murder mystery, historical fiction, romance, AND a poignant coming-of-age tale, The Djinn’s Apple is the first of Algerian author and academic Djamila Morani’s full-length works to be translated into English but, hopefully, won’t be the last.

Set during the reign of Harun Al-Rashid, of the most famous rulers of the Abbasid caliphate, The Djinn’s Apple opens with the brutal murder of twelve-year-old Nardeen’s entire family. Although choosing medicine over politics, Nardeen’s father appears to have fallen foul of the caliph’s denunciation of the once-powerful Baramika family. Betrayed by those once thought to be friends, Nardeen swears vengeance upon her family’s killers. But what can one twelve-year-old girl do against the might of the Abbasid caliphate?

Nardeen’s journey will span several years and take her into the heart of the Bimaristan: one of the most advanced hospitals in the world. There she will meet the enigmatic teacher Muallim Ishaq and his former pupil, Suhaib. And there she will, eventually, learn of the Djinn’s Apple and come to discover the true reason that her family were taken from her.

As you might be able to tell from that brief summary, there is a lot of plot packed into a slender 132 pages. Although this makes The Djinn’s Apple a fast-paced, page-turning read, there were moments when I wished that the story had just a little more room to breath. Although there is a glossary provided at the end of the book, and some very interesting notes about Harun Al-Rashid, the Golden Age of Baghdad, and the Bimaristan, I still found myself wanting to know more about Nardeen and her world.

This isn’t to say that the story doesn’t feel finished. Indeed, it is impressive just how much characterisation Djamila Morani has managed to pack into the novel. I found myself really empathising with Nardeen and enjoyed watching her mature from a distraught child, motivated by righteous anger, into a more considered and reflective player of the political game. I also loved the way in which Nardeen has to learn to use the tools available to her as a young woman in a male-dominated world and the way in which is is her fiery intellect and unquenchable spirit that eventually lead her to discover the truth behind her family’s murder.

Morani’s writing – or rather, Sawad Hussain’s translation of it – is beautifully sparse. Words are very rarely wasted but Morani and Hussain still convey a whole world and all of the senses within it. Whilst reading, I could practically hear the dawn call to prayer, see the luscious gardens of the Bimaristan, and imagine myself sitting before Muallim Ishaq as he lectures to his students.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Djinn’s Apple. Although my time with Nardeen was all-too-brief, her story was absolutely gripping and utterly transported me to a place and time about which I knew very little. From the back-and-forth with her fellow pupil (and, later, love interest) Suhaib, to the wisdom passed down to her from her father, her mother, and her mentor Muallim Ishaq, I really felt like I was getting a little glimpse into Nardeen’s life and world whilst I was reading, and that I was alongside her as she sought the truth about her family’s untimely deaths.

Offering a blend of crime fiction, historical fiction, and coming-of-age tale (and with just a dash of YA romance), The Djinn’s Apple is an engaging and thought-provoking read for older teens and adults alike. Beautifully translated and presented (credit must also go to Holly Ovenden, the designer of the beautiful cover and illustrator of the stunning chapter headers, map, and front/endpapers), this will hopefully not be the last of Djamila Morani’s work that we see translated for English readers to enjoy.

NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book source ~ TWR Blog Tour

Nardeen’s family is brutally murdered when she’s 12. Her father helped her to get away before he and the rest are slain. She goes back to the house and only gleans a few hints as to how and why before she’s beaten and sold to a slaver. Her life begins again when she is taken under the wing of a famous doctor. Four years pass as she learns more and more about being medicine and being a doctor under his tutelage. Then things really hit the fan.

This book starts off with a brutal bang and doesn’t let up until the end. Nardeen is a great character and while 1st person isn’t my favorite POV, it works. The pacing is just right and the world building is excellent even if there are a lot of names to remember and how they relate to each other. I know nothing about this region and period of history so it’s all a bit bewildering to me. Fascinating though. I have to say, I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to adding the author to my favorites list.

[Runalong · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Review - an impressive unpredictable YA historical mystery set in 8th century Baghdad where a royal murder, medicine and revenge become key elements - well worth your attention

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[إنجي مطاوع]

الغلاف غريب في البداية حسيت ان ملوش علاقة بالاسم لكن بعد القراءة لقيت انه اكثر غلاف واكثر شكل معبر عنها
الاسم كمان يوحي بأني داخله على مغامرة مع عالم الجن والعفاريت والشياطين فوجئت انها قصة علمية
تاريخ وعلم بطريقة مبسطة جدا
وازاي تم التضحية بالبرامكة حتى ممن ليس لهم علاقة بالسياسة بسبب خيانه احدهم
فكرني بالاخوان دخلوا سياسة يتحاموا بالسلطة اتقلبت الترابيزة عليهم وجلبوا الوبال على نفسهم واحبابهم
الحبكة حلوة والمضمون كمان مفيد ومميز وسلس
السرد ممتع
الحبكة حلوة وبتشد لانك تخلصها مرة واحدة
اللغة قوية جدا وده شيء مش مستبعد على كاتبة جزائرية

ينقصها فقط أن جزء التاريخ كان يزيد كنت محتاجة اعرف عن البرامكة اكتر وعن حياتهم وازاي بعد انقلاب الخليفة هارون الرشيد تحولوا من النفوذ والقوة للضعف والمطاردة
من القوة الشبة مطلقة الى المطاردين الفارين
شكيت في المعلم في البداية لكن الاحداث كانت بتتم بذكاء وصلني لاحساس واهمه أنتي المعلم بريئ
فرحت بالنهاية
وفرحت بانتقام نادين لانها خدت انتقامها من غير ما تلوث ايديها بالدم
لعبتها بذكاء حاد
جميل كمان من الكاتبة انها اظهرت الصعوبات اللي قابلت بنت مضطهدة بيتعامل معها انها بنت للشيطان
في مواجهه الحياة اليومية ومحاولاتها للتعايش والتأقلم
واستفدت كتير من الحكم الموجودة بين السطور وغن كانت من المعلم اليهودي اسحاق لانها للاسف واقعية وتنفع لزمنا الحالي
:)
بسببك دخلت ادور على تفاح الجن واشوف شكله وبيعمل ايه
زعلت جدا ان الرواية ليها اجزاء لاني معنديش صبر وبحب اعرف كل حاجة بسرعه صبري قليل
موفقة ومبدعه وفي انتظار المزيد

[OTina · Rating 5 out of 5]

من اجمل ما قرأت لغة سلسة اسلوب راقي حبكة وافكارجد مترابطة
فعلا الجزائر بخير مادام فيها مبدعين

[Klaartje · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, philosophical and beautifully written YA historical mystery novella set in Baghdad in the Abbasid period. The Djinn's Apple follows Nardeen, a young girl seeking revenge for the brutal murder of her family after her father had been accused of killing the caliph's cousin.

Many different themes are explored in this relatively short book: medicine and magic, grief, justice and revenge, politics, the position of women, religious persecution, love and more. Morani has a very lyrical and philosophical writing style which often encouraged me to stand still and reflect on the different meanings behind a sentence.

I was especially captivated by the very three-dimensional protagonist and how she changes throughout the story. Because the book is less than 150 pages some other characters didn't feel fleshed out enough for me, Al-Aasefi and Suhaib in particular. I think I would have loved the story even more if it was a bit longer.

However, the shocking conclusion to the murder mystery had me at the edge of my seat and will stay with me for a long time!

My rating: 4⭐️

Thank you to the author, to Neem Tree Press and to Edelweiss for the eARC.

Content warnings: blood, death of a sibling, death of a parent, medical procedures, misogyny, murder, physical illness, physical injury, physical violence, poisoning, religious persecution, slavery, suicidal ideation

[Tami Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What will some people do to achieve their innermost desires? Murder, poison, deceit.
Nardeen was 12 when her family was brutally murdered after her father, a doctor, was false accused of murder ing a politician. Nardeen escaped and was saved and raised by her father’s colleague, Muslim Ishaq. He trains her to be a doctor, something that was taboo at the time. Nardeen has spent most of her life vowing revenge against the person she believed killed her family, however, all is not as it seems. Add to that, Nardeen falls in love with the man’s son (spoiler alert) and things get complicated. She finally learns the truth about her family’s deaths and the secret of the Djinn’s Apple, which is at the root of all the trouble. I found this story absolutely fascinating. Learning about the ancient politics of this time period in Baghdad. The story is filled with rich description, creating the backdrop for Nardeen’s story, from grand palaces to the hospitals and surrounding areas of ancient Baghdad. The characters were interesting. I really felt for Nardeen and was pleased how her life eventually turned out. I had no sympathy for Ishaq in the end, he got what he deserved. The story is beautifully written and translated. It was an excellent, enjoyable read.

[Sofia Silverchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nardeen comes from a Persian generation line, the Baramikas, who helped the great Caliph, Harun Al-Rashid, come to power but fell on dismay and were executed. She is the sole survivor of her family's slaughter and has to hide from the Caliph's men for fear of her life. She finds an unexpected ally in Muallim Ishaq, a great Jewish teacher and doctor at the hospital her father worked and he becomes her new family. But the pain lingers in her heart and she wants revenge.
I loved it. There's a glossary and other information about the Persian empire and the Caliph, who was a historical figure. The author presents life and medicine in the Persian empire in detail as well as the place of a woman in them. The book got the English PEN Translates Award.

[Theta Chun]

DNF @ 33%. While I loved what I understood of the Djinn’s Apple, ultimately that was far too little to understand the story itself, as the prose, structure, and pacing of the story in the first third is utterly incomprehensible. As far as I can tell, the Djinn’s Apple is non-linear, however its lack of linearity is not a fun quirk of a creative author’s storytelling, but an otherwise talented prosaist’s inability to clearly show or explain what is taking place within the story. In the end, while I wanted to love and finish this story, I couldn’t, simply because I don’t know what the heck was going on.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

[Mirjana (Mirjana_bere) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Mladinski roman alžirske pisateljice se dogaja v 9. stoletju, v zlati dobi Bagdada. Je mešanica zgodovinske fikcije, krimija in (mladinske) romance.

Družina 12 letne Nardeen je kruto umorjena, ona preživi proti vsem pričakovanjem. Pod svoje krilo jo vzame učenjak in zdravnik Muallim Ishaq, zaradi svoje inteligence, marljivosti in interesa za zdavljenje dobi - neobičajno za dekle ali žensko - možnost medicinske izobrazbe. S svojim znanjem in dostopom tako do bolnice kot do oseb v vrhu družbe pa počasi začne gledati drugače na ljudi okoli sebe in na pretekle dogodke.

Luštno branje, sem pa prepričana, da bi v rokah kakšne 12-15 letnice dobila več zvezdic.

[Raina Hasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

read in one sitting. quickly drawn into world and well written. more historical fiction than fantasy.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publishers as part of this tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

THE DJINN'S APPLE is a historical novella set in late 8th century Baghdad, the city's golden era.

I loved getting a glimpse into the world of Abbasid Baghdad. This is a period of a vast caliphate that in its west is fighting against the Byzantines and expanding in its east deep into Central Asia. My knowledge about it comes from the fighting on the western border (the disadvantages of a Euro-centric education!), so I loved getting to see more of normal life in its heartlands.

The book looks at the consequences of political purges as Nardeen is trying to survive after her family falls afoul of palace politics - and also wanting revenge for their death. It is a tale of learning new skills, finding new family, and searching for the truth no matter how painful it is.

I enjoyed the tensions between Ishaq (her teacher and adoptive father) and the powerful lord who heads up the hospital; where they both work, who is linked to her parents death. It was a dense knit of conflicting motivations and raised the stakes for Nardeen as the lord had multiple reasons to want to kill her if he knew who she was - the last survivor of a massacre and also the student of his greatest rival. To complicate matters, Nardeen starts a relationship with the lord's son, who also has a past with Ishaq.

This is a translated novel, translated from the original Arabic by Sawad Husssain. It's a novel that showcases what a novella can be - a lot of plot, a lot of character development, and a lot of world building in a very short word count. It flows well, taking through the amount of information packed in so that you don't notice how much is coming at you, every word used for maximum effect.

[rara ➶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so captivated by this story that I read the whole thing during my commute. The vibe, the intrigue, and the ~magical~ elements were just what I was looking for in a book.

Women in Translation, Algerian novelist, Book had less than 150 pages, just LOVED.

[Khadeejah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the e-arc of this book.
This book was amazing. Everything was there to make it a great read: outstanding writing, story, and characters. The only flaw was that it was too short. The story was around 200 pages and looking at how much was in the story, it was very fast paced. The pace I didn't mind, but sometimes it felt like important events were skimmed over and I was left wanting more. Nonetheless, it's a satisfying, quick read with mystery, great character development, and a pinch of romance.