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Amir and the Jinn Princess
This enchanting tale follows a wealthy young human boy, Amir, and a fiery jinn princess as they search for Amir’s missing mother and enter a tournament of heirs, set in the same mesmerizing world from Nura and the Immortal Palace.
Twelve-year-old Amir is one of the heirs to the Rafiq Bricks Company, a wealthy
brick kiln business in Pakistan—except he wants none of it. Seeing straight through the jeweled smiles and transactional conversations, Amir would rather spend time in the courtyard garden, where he can almost feel his missing mother’s presence again.
Amir is devastated when his baba announces plans to remarry by the end of the summer, dropping all searches to find Amir’s mother. It’s just a business move, like everything else in his life. Amir’s mother was the only one who allowed him to feel like himself, but the last anyone saw of her was a year ago. Amir isn’t ready to give up yet—determined to find his mother before his life changes forever, Amir teams up with a high-spirited, wide-eyed, shape-shifting jinn princess named Shamsa, his exact opposite. The two make a deal—Shamsa will help Amir navigate the twisty and mysterious realm of jinn, and in exchange Amir must use his wits to help Shamsa win a tournament of heirs and put her on the throne. Amir and Shamsa must contend with silver-tongued tricksters and magical rivals, and a truth far more devastating than Amir ever expected....
Twelve-year-old Amir is one of the heirs to the Rafiq Bricks Company, a wealthy
brick kiln business in Pakistan—except he wants none of it. Seeing straight through the jeweled smiles and transactional conversations, Amir would rather spend time in the courtyard garden, where he can almost feel his missing mother’s presence again.
Amir is devastated when his baba announces plans to remarry by the end of the summer, dropping all searches to find Amir’s mother. It’s just a business move, like everything else in his life. Amir’s mother was the only one who allowed him to feel like himself, but the last anyone saw of her was a year ago. Amir isn’t ready to give up yet—determined to find his mother before his life changes forever, Amir teams up with a high-spirited, wide-eyed, shape-shifting jinn princess named Shamsa, his exact opposite. The two make a deal—Shamsa will help Amir navigate the twisty and mysterious realm of jinn, and in exchange Amir must use his wits to help Shamsa win a tournament of heirs and put her on the throne. Amir and Shamsa must contend with silver-tongued tricksters and magical rivals, and a truth far more devastating than Amir ever expected....
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 24, 2024
11 people are currently reading
2880 people want to read
About the author
M.T. Khan
2 books141 followersM.T. Khan is a speculative fiction author with a penchant for all things myth, science, and philosophy. She focuses on stories that combine all three, dreaming of evocative worlds and dark possibilities.
When she's not writing, M.T. Khan has her nose deep in physics textbooks or glued to her CAD computer as she majors in Mechanical Engineering. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she currently resides in Toronto, Canada, with a hyperactive cat and an ever-increasing selection of tea.
When she's not writing, M.T. Khan has her nose deep in physics textbooks or glued to her CAD computer as she majors in Mechanical Engineering. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she currently resides in Toronto, Canada, with a hyperactive cat and an ever-increasing selection of tea.
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May 9, 2024tl;dr
Two perfectly paired leads take on a series of creative challenges for a read that's super fun.
Thoughts
I love a middle grade book with a clever lead who relies on their wits. It's such a treat that this one has two. Amir is a manipulative genius with a morally gray worldview, and Shamsa is a capricious trickster with a heart of gold. They fit together perfectly as they work together to overcome a series of increasingly tricky tests. I really love the fact that the nature of the tests is varied - everything from physical prowess to poetic nuance shows up, and it was great to see their creativity as they worked together. Amir's personal journey is also a really strong through-line, as he grows from disaffected teen to being fully invested in being involved in the world and its people. The writing is super clean and flows easily, and the character voices all come across as distinct. Overall and incredibly fun read with some great characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Two perfectly paired leads take on a series of creative challenges for a read that's super fun.
Thoughts
I love a middle grade book with a clever lead who relies on their wits. It's such a treat that this one has two. Amir is a manipulative genius with a morally gray worldview, and Shamsa is a capricious trickster with a heart of gold. They fit together perfectly as they work together to overcome a series of increasingly tricky tests. I really love the fact that the nature of the tests is varied - everything from physical prowess to poetic nuance shows up, and it was great to see their creativity as they worked together. Amir's personal journey is also a really strong through-line, as he grows from disaffected teen to being fully invested in being involved in the world and its people. The writing is super clean and flows easily, and the character voices all come across as distinct. Overall and incredibly fun read with some great characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
August 15, 2024
Twelve-year-old Amir is one of the heirs to the Rafiq Bricks Company, and lives a life of luxury and privilege. He's also bored, unmotivated, and greatly misses his mother, who went missing a year ago. When his father announces he's remarrying, Amir is unhappy, and decides that he will find his mother, who was the only family member who treated him as a person, instead of as a pampered princeling.
When a young shapeshifting jinn named Shamsa comes into his life, he decides that as his mother seems to be nowhere in his land, maybe she was in the world of the jinn. The two agree to help each other out -- she'll help him look for his mother, and he'll help her navigate the mysterious and capricious demands of her position so she can win a tournament of heirs, and win the throne.
This was a wonderfully told tale with vivid characters, and some genuine pathos. Despite Amir's unthinking privilege and indolence, he is forced to grow up a lot during his adventure when he uses his smarts to help Shamsa, but also receives an education from a boy who was forced to work in poor conditions at Amir's family's company.
The plot fairly zipped along, and there's plenty of humour and fish out of water moments for Amir, but also moments when he begins to realize that he has things to contribute. Author M.T. Khan also makes good points about how the wealthy can take unfair advantage of others and resources, without consequences, and has her main character come to a realization about how he wants to change, for the better, how he thinks and behaves towards others. Amir's journey is well worth a read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When a young shapeshifting jinn named Shamsa comes into his life, he decides that as his mother seems to be nowhere in his land, maybe she was in the world of the jinn. The two agree to help each other out -- she'll help him look for his mother, and he'll help her navigate the mysterious and capricious demands of her position so she can win a tournament of heirs, and win the throne.
This was a wonderfully told tale with vivid characters, and some genuine pathos. Despite Amir's unthinking privilege and indolence, he is forced to grow up a lot during his adventure when he uses his smarts to help Shamsa, but also receives an education from a boy who was forced to work in poor conditions at Amir's family's company.
The plot fairly zipped along, and there's plenty of humour and fish out of water moments for Amir, but also moments when he begins to realize that he has things to contribute. Author M.T. Khan also makes good points about how the wealthy can take unfair advantage of others and resources, without consequences, and has her main character come to a realization about how he wants to change, for the better, how he thinks and behaves towards others. Amir's journey is well worth a read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for my review.
May 13, 2024
What a beautiful companion novel to NURA by this same author!!
Synopsis: Amir’s mom went missing a year ago at the brick kiln his family owns. And ever since then, Amir feels abandoned.
But behind her disappearance lie many mysteries, and with the help of Jinni princess Shamsa, Amir finds his own inner power and purpose.
Khan has a talent at weaving Desi fantasies that have important themes and strong character arcs. I loved Amir and felt teary eyed at many moments- and I cheered on his transformation.
The setting is stunning as always, layered with delicious south asian food and sweets, as well as vivid descriptions of landscape and flowers.
Similar to Nura, the fantasy is grounded in the real world with an entry into an alternate dimension of Jinn living. It also contains a competition as well- and was full of twists and turns.
The plot is fast paced and the story an easy read- perfect and fun for middle grade readers.
The theme of living I a world where the poor always pay the price when the wealthy run capitalist enterprises that take advantage of land resources was very valuable to read- the book gives middle grade readers insight into how young people can make powerful change and use empathy to lead.
Get yourself a copy!
Synopsis: Amir’s mom went missing a year ago at the brick kiln his family owns. And ever since then, Amir feels abandoned.
But behind her disappearance lie many mysteries, and with the help of Jinni princess Shamsa, Amir finds his own inner power and purpose.
Khan has a talent at weaving Desi fantasies that have important themes and strong character arcs. I loved Amir and felt teary eyed at many moments- and I cheered on his transformation.
The setting is stunning as always, layered with delicious south asian food and sweets, as well as vivid descriptions of landscape and flowers.
Similar to Nura, the fantasy is grounded in the real world with an entry into an alternate dimension of Jinn living. It also contains a competition as well- and was full of twists and turns.
The plot is fast paced and the story an easy read- perfect and fun for middle grade readers.
The theme of living I a world where the poor always pay the price when the wealthy run capitalist enterprises that take advantage of land resources was very valuable to read- the book gives middle grade readers insight into how young people can make powerful change and use empathy to lead.
Get yourself a copy!
January 31, 2024
A truly wonderful middle reader book that is thoroughly meshed in Pakistani culture and mythos that has much to offer western readers. Even more important is the lesson in compassion and learning to deal with adversity. Amir is presented as a very nuanced, flawed teenager who grows and learns realistically much to the reader's benefit. The ultimate lesson of how we can make the world a better place is presented perfectly, making this a highly recommended read.
June 8, 2024
I really enjoy novels set in fantasy worlds which pertain to other cultures and beliefs. Amir and the Jinn Princess is rooted in traditional Arabic and Islamic beliefs and storytelling.
When we first meet Amir Rafiq, it seems his life of privilege and comfort has made him aloof and, frankly, a bit insufferable. But, it turns out his attitude of spite and apathy might not be so hard baked, and is due to the disappearance of his mother, who it seems was a steadying influence on her family.
As potential heir of his family’s brick empire, Amir is certainly used to the finer things in life and lives with the expectation that his life will forever continue to be as easy. His mother disappearing is his first real experience of adversity.
A chance encounter with a jinn sparks a series of events that will change everything. The jinn turns out to be a princess of their realm, a being afforded privilege beyond even Amir’s experience and nothing could be more humbling than a trip to the realm of the Jinn. as Amir soon discovers. However, we soon learn Princess Shamsa and Amir have a lot more than power and privilege in common. To remain in the jinn world, unscathed, Amir must enter (at least in appearance) the service of Shamsa. His initiation into working life serves as empathy training for our young protagonist. We see him move from soulless scion to someone of note.
MT Khan’s showcases a very unique sense of humour, encompassing among other things, social awkwardness, spiky repartee, irony and a little absurdism.
The world of the jinn seems like a timeless place from folk tales and when MT Khan throws in a hyper-contemporary reference to remind her reader that it’s actually the 21st century- for instance, “Arrows start dropping like prices on on Black Friday,”- it’s a little jarring… in a good way.
Among ideas served up for readers to contemplate is hierarchy and the baked-in inequalities of such structures; friendship; identity; democracy, politics and corruption; and legacy.
I’m now keen to read MT Khan’s ‘Nura and the Immortal Palace’ and return to the jinn realm for more adventures!
When we first meet Amir Rafiq, it seems his life of privilege and comfort has made him aloof and, frankly, a bit insufferable. But, it turns out his attitude of spite and apathy might not be so hard baked, and is due to the disappearance of his mother, who it seems was a steadying influence on her family.
As potential heir of his family’s brick empire, Amir is certainly used to the finer things in life and lives with the expectation that his life will forever continue to be as easy. His mother disappearing is his first real experience of adversity.
A chance encounter with a jinn sparks a series of events that will change everything. The jinn turns out to be a princess of their realm, a being afforded privilege beyond even Amir’s experience and nothing could be more humbling than a trip to the realm of the Jinn. as Amir soon discovers. However, we soon learn Princess Shamsa and Amir have a lot more than power and privilege in common. To remain in the jinn world, unscathed, Amir must enter (at least in appearance) the service of Shamsa. His initiation into working life serves as empathy training for our young protagonist. We see him move from soulless scion to someone of note.
MT Khan’s showcases a very unique sense of humour, encompassing among other things, social awkwardness, spiky repartee, irony and a little absurdism.
The world of the jinn seems like a timeless place from folk tales and when MT Khan throws in a hyper-contemporary reference to remind her reader that it’s actually the 21st century- for instance, “Arrows start dropping like prices on on Black Friday,”- it’s a little jarring… in a good way.
Among ideas served up for readers to contemplate is hierarchy and the baked-in inequalities of such structures; friendship; identity; democracy, politics and corruption; and legacy.
I’m now keen to read MT Khan’s ‘Nura and the Immortal Palace’ and return to the jinn realm for more adventures!
October 16, 2024
I liked the peek into the world of rich Pakistani families, as well as the trip to Jinn royal succession games. I found Amir a little unlikable with his constant sense of privilege and poor rich boy attitude, as well as his reluctance to be a friend to the jinn Princess. But the stuff with his mom was good and he had some real character growth, although in a very predictable direction.
His siblings and the other side characters were barely sketched in, which undermined the worries about his home life a bit.
His siblings and the other side characters were barely sketched in, which undermined the worries about his home life a bit.
August 25, 2024
3.5
An enjoyable story about a human boy traveling to the jinn world to find his mother and help a jinn princess become heir to her kingdom. I enjoyed Shamsa's hope for bettering her kingdom and that she was not easy to get down. Amir thankfully started to understand his privilege and became more tolerable as the book went on.
I greatly appreciate that this is a standalone. So many fantasy books are the start of a series now, so it's refreshing that one isn't.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
An enjoyable story about a human boy traveling to the jinn world to find his mother and help a jinn princess become heir to her kingdom. I enjoyed Shamsa's hope for bettering her kingdom and that she was not easy to get down. Amir thankfully started to understand his privilege and became more tolerable as the book went on.
I greatly appreciate that this is a standalone. So many fantasy books are the start of a series now, so it's refreshing that one isn't.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
July 16, 2024
This 304 page middle grade fantasy book is a quick fun read. There is no religion in this Muslim authored book, jinn are not portrayed as creatures from Islamic doctrine, and with the exception of Quranic decorations hanging in a room and Zam Zam water being mentioned, once each, in passing, there is nothing hinting or signaling religion. Even the jinn come across as characters who just happen to be jinn, who have control over fire and live in an alternate world, the book uses their fantasy elements to create an added layer, but the heart of the story is making choices, doing what's right, being a good friend, and changing injustice when you can. This is a companion book to Nura and the Immortal Palace, and even with the lacking religion, I think I enjoyed this book more. The plot is clearer, the characters are relatable, the thread of the missing mother is emotional, and the commentary on corporations and labor practices are awesome to see in a middle grade book.
SYNOPSIS:
Amir is wealthy, really wealthy, and arrogant, and unlikeable, and yet, the over the top framing of him being all these things, makes even the target audience reader realize, that he is also a 12-year-old little boy who is grieving his missing mother, longing for friends, wanting to be seen in his competitive family, and ultimately smarter and more emotionally intelligent than he will ever force himself to admit. Until, a cat, or rather a jinn princess in the shape of a cat, shakes up his world, by convincing him to come to hers.
Shamsa strikes a deal with Amir, she will help him look for his mother, if he helps her battle against her siblings to be the next heir of the Kagra Kingdom. Amir knows she is a trickster, it is her nature, but he wants, no needs, to find his mother, so he is willing to pose as her slave and do her bidding. There are three tasks to test the future heirs physicality, artistry, and diplomacy, and the irony that Amir does not want to be heir to his own fortune, while helping Shamsa claim hers, is not lost on him and will in fact force him to make choices about who he wants to be and what he wants to stand for.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that the book discusses monopolies and business and corporations and systemic gatekeeping. It stays on level and articulates the points it wants the reader to explore with Amir, but does so without taking away from the story. Also the ability to see all that Amir has, because he is wealthy, also allows the reader to see what he is also missing, and this is done with a little more subtly, some self-awareness, and some quality writing which results in making Amir a little more relatable.
I do wish there was some Islam, jinn are Islamic based and to not have any signaling seems a bit lacking. Perhaps it kept it so that accuracy or rep was not a factor, I don't know, but when Amir says that he thought only the uneducated believe in such creatures, it rubbed me the wrong way, just like when he makes a comment that, "those are the kinds of games God like to play with me." The lines are minor, but when that is the only religion mentioned and it is done in a negative trivial, dismissive way, they carry more weight than perhaps intended.
I like that the characters and plot are solid. It doesn't feel like Amir is free-falling through a crazy chaotic world, there is direction and purpose. There really isn't a lot of world building or even Pakistani culture, it really is about the characters and their arc of growth and coming in to their own.
FLAGS:
Fantasy, jinn, lying, sneaking, death, abuse, manipulation, plotting, casinos, fears of water, abandonment, abuse.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Probably wouldn't do it as a book club, there are teachable moments and concepts that would be fun to discuss perhaps with economic or business tie-ins, but I don't know that there is that much to discuss outside of what the book offers. I do plan to shelve this though, so my own kids have easy access to pick it up and read and hope teachers, librarians, and parents will as well.
SYNOPSIS:
Amir is wealthy, really wealthy, and arrogant, and unlikeable, and yet, the over the top framing of him being all these things, makes even the target audience reader realize, that he is also a 12-year-old little boy who is grieving his missing mother, longing for friends, wanting to be seen in his competitive family, and ultimately smarter and more emotionally intelligent than he will ever force himself to admit. Until, a cat, or rather a jinn princess in the shape of a cat, shakes up his world, by convincing him to come to hers.
Shamsa strikes a deal with Amir, she will help him look for his mother, if he helps her battle against her siblings to be the next heir of the Kagra Kingdom. Amir knows she is a trickster, it is her nature, but he wants, no needs, to find his mother, so he is willing to pose as her slave and do her bidding. There are three tasks to test the future heirs physicality, artistry, and diplomacy, and the irony that Amir does not want to be heir to his own fortune, while helping Shamsa claim hers, is not lost on him and will in fact force him to make choices about who he wants to be and what he wants to stand for.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that the book discusses monopolies and business and corporations and systemic gatekeeping. It stays on level and articulates the points it wants the reader to explore with Amir, but does so without taking away from the story. Also the ability to see all that Amir has, because he is wealthy, also allows the reader to see what he is also missing, and this is done with a little more subtly, some self-awareness, and some quality writing which results in making Amir a little more relatable.
I do wish there was some Islam, jinn are Islamic based and to not have any signaling seems a bit lacking. Perhaps it kept it so that accuracy or rep was not a factor, I don't know, but when Amir says that he thought only the uneducated believe in such creatures, it rubbed me the wrong way, just like when he makes a comment that, "those are the kinds of games God like to play with me." The lines are minor, but when that is the only religion mentioned and it is done in a negative trivial, dismissive way, they carry more weight than perhaps intended.
I like that the characters and plot are solid. It doesn't feel like Amir is free-falling through a crazy chaotic world, there is direction and purpose. There really isn't a lot of world building or even Pakistani culture, it really is about the characters and their arc of growth and coming in to their own.
FLAGS:
Fantasy, jinn, lying, sneaking, death, abuse, manipulation, plotting, casinos, fears of water, abandonment, abuse.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Probably wouldn't do it as a book club, there are teachable moments and concepts that would be fun to discuss perhaps with economic or business tie-ins, but I don't know that there is that much to discuss outside of what the book offers. I do plan to shelve this though, so my own kids have easy access to pick it up and read and hope teachers, librarians, and parents will as well.
April 5, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Amir Rafiq is a possible heir to his Baba's (father) brick making fortune in Lahore, Pakistan... if his father doesn't favor his older brother Ashar or sister Alishba. It's possible he might, because Amir is rather entitled and spoiled, and has been getting in trouble in school and not doing well in classes ever since the disappearance of his mother nearly a year ago. He takes some comfort in his father's mother, Dadi (who never liked his mother), although he is rarely allowed to spend time with his mother's mother, Nani. When Dadi arranges a marriage for Baba, Amir is understandably upset. He also isn't thrilled with the fact that he has to spend the summer out at the family farm. When local residents protest the expansion of the brick factory, which is going to demolish a lot of a forest, Amir is interest but appalled to find out that factory workers have been going missing in a fashion very similar to his mother. He's brought home a cat that followed him on his way from school, and is very surprised to find that it isn't, in fact, a cat. It's Shamsa, a jinn who is glad that Amir gave her sweets, and wants to help him prove that his destiny isn't set in stone. Before he knows it, the two are sneaking past the family guards, getting on the jinn train, and traveling to the Kagra Kingdom. Once there, Shamsa has another surprise; she is actually the 14th jinn princess, and is entering a competition to hopefully become heir to the throne. This will involve contests in physicality, artistry, and diplomacy, but if Amir helps her with the contest, she will help him find his mother. Since she's not in the human world, it seems likely that she has slipped through a portal and is stuck in the jinn world. Amir is a big help in the competitions, but when he is looking for his mother, he finds out some alarming truths about the Rafiq brick company. Not only are workers treated horribly, but the role that the company (as well as Shamsa's main competitor, her sister Golnaz) is not something that Amir can support. Can the two work together to insure a better future for both worlds? And will Amir be able to find out what has become of his mother?
Strengths: Khan constructs excellent fantasies that are easy to remember and involve some novel elements, which is very rare in middle grade fantasy. Instead of a quest, we have a competition to be a jinn heir, with different competitions that aren't related to a magical school. Amir and Shamsa's relationship is interesting, and while they do help each other out, there's also some obfuscation that causes tension. The tie between the human business of Rafiq's bricks and the jinn world is very interesting, and the inclusion of the treatment of workers was fascinating. Amir, who is not the most pleasant character at the beginning of the book, does have his eyes opened to the way other people have to live, and the challenges that they face, and this makes him a better person.
Weaknesses: It was not necessary to kill off Amir's mother to involve him in the jinn world. I'm may buy this book, since I enjoyed it, but I'm just not sure I have the readers for it. There are so many fantasy books, and I have hundreds and hundreds gathering dust on my shelves. Khan at least writes stand alones instead of series, which does make this one a good one to purchase.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's Nura and the Immortal Palace, or other fantasy adventures that address environmental and social issues, like Smith's Where the Black Flowers Bloom, Ryan's Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs, or Young's The Healer of the Water Monster.
Amir Rafiq is a possible heir to his Baba's (father) brick making fortune in Lahore, Pakistan... if his father doesn't favor his older brother Ashar or sister Alishba. It's possible he might, because Amir is rather entitled and spoiled, and has been getting in trouble in school and not doing well in classes ever since the disappearance of his mother nearly a year ago. He takes some comfort in his father's mother, Dadi (who never liked his mother), although he is rarely allowed to spend time with his mother's mother, Nani. When Dadi arranges a marriage for Baba, Amir is understandably upset. He also isn't thrilled with the fact that he has to spend the summer out at the family farm. When local residents protest the expansion of the brick factory, which is going to demolish a lot of a forest, Amir is interest but appalled to find out that factory workers have been going missing in a fashion very similar to his mother. He's brought home a cat that followed him on his way from school, and is very surprised to find that it isn't, in fact, a cat. It's Shamsa, a jinn who is glad that Amir gave her sweets, and wants to help him prove that his destiny isn't set in stone. Before he knows it, the two are sneaking past the family guards, getting on the jinn train, and traveling to the Kagra Kingdom. Once there, Shamsa has another surprise; she is actually the 14th jinn princess, and is entering a competition to hopefully become heir to the throne. This will involve contests in physicality, artistry, and diplomacy, but if Amir helps her with the contest, she will help him find his mother. Since she's not in the human world, it seems likely that she has slipped through a portal and is stuck in the jinn world. Amir is a big help in the competitions, but when he is looking for his mother, he finds out some alarming truths about the Rafiq brick company. Not only are workers treated horribly, but the role that the company (as well as Shamsa's main competitor, her sister Golnaz) is not something that Amir can support. Can the two work together to insure a better future for both worlds? And will Amir be able to find out what has become of his mother?
Strengths: Khan constructs excellent fantasies that are easy to remember and involve some novel elements, which is very rare in middle grade fantasy. Instead of a quest, we have a competition to be a jinn heir, with different competitions that aren't related to a magical school. Amir and Shamsa's relationship is interesting, and while they do help each other out, there's also some obfuscation that causes tension. The tie between the human business of Rafiq's bricks and the jinn world is very interesting, and the inclusion of the treatment of workers was fascinating. Amir, who is not the most pleasant character at the beginning of the book, does have his eyes opened to the way other people have to live, and the challenges that they face, and this makes him a better person.
Weaknesses: It was not necessary to kill off Amir's mother to involve him in the jinn world. I'm may buy this book, since I enjoyed it, but I'm just not sure I have the readers for it. There are so many fantasy books, and I have hundreds and hundreds gathering dust on my shelves. Khan at least writes stand alones instead of series, which does make this one a good one to purchase.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's Nura and the Immortal Palace, or other fantasy adventures that address environmental and social issues, like Smith's Where the Black Flowers Bloom, Ryan's Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs, or Young's The Healer of the Water Monster.
March 28, 2024
Amir is the son of a wealthy Pakistan business owner, raised to be above others and given every opportunity to do so. Shamsa is the Jinn Princess overshadowed by her many talented siblings. When they meet by chance they must embark on an adventure together: Amir to find his missing mother before his grandmother forces his father to remarry, and Shamsa to set herself above her siblings and become the heir to the throne.
Amir is such a wonderful main character. He deals with the loss and grief surrounding his mother’s disappearance in such a realistic way. At first he doubts, then he is angry; he wants to pretend it doesn’t bother him, but then he slowly starts to think “was it something I did?” We get to go along this emotional journey with him and see how he not only accepts these emotions but learns to move past them as well.
He is pitted against his siblings in a competition none of them seem to want to be in but are nonetheless expected to. Fortunately this gives him an edge in his quest to help Shamsa. Along the way they bolster each other and give each other the courage to show the world their real selves.
Shamsa is such an underdog character but she has a ton of compassion and a big heart. She wants to be heir for the recognition at first (poor girl has 30 siblings!) but as the competition progresses and her eyes are opened to the plights of her people she realizes she wants to make her home a better place for everyone, not just the wealthy. The best lesson she learned was the one thing she hated about herself—not having fire powers like the rest of her siblings—allowed her to be the one to save the kingdom and make herself heir (along with cool water powers instead!).
Overall this was a fun ride for readers of all ages, but I especially believe that younger readers will see a lot of themselves in both Amir and Shamsa, and the story will help them to learn some great life lessons about grief and familial expectation.
Amir is such a wonderful main character. He deals with the loss and grief surrounding his mother’s disappearance in such a realistic way. At first he doubts, then he is angry; he wants to pretend it doesn’t bother him, but then he slowly starts to think “was it something I did?” We get to go along this emotional journey with him and see how he not only accepts these emotions but learns to move past them as well.
He is pitted against his siblings in a competition none of them seem to want to be in but are nonetheless expected to. Fortunately this gives him an edge in his quest to help Shamsa. Along the way they bolster each other and give each other the courage to show the world their real selves.
Shamsa is such an underdog character but she has a ton of compassion and a big heart. She wants to be heir for the recognition at first (poor girl has 30 siblings!) but as the competition progresses and her eyes are opened to the plights of her people she realizes she wants to make her home a better place for everyone, not just the wealthy. The best lesson she learned was the one thing she hated about herself—not having fire powers like the rest of her siblings—allowed her to be the one to save the kingdom and make herself heir (along with cool water powers instead!).
Overall this was a fun ride for readers of all ages, but I especially believe that younger readers will see a lot of themselves in both Amir and Shamsa, and the story will help them to learn some great life lessons about grief and familial expectation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
From the very first page, Amir and the Jinn Princess swept me straight into a world of glittering magic, sharp wit, and emotional heartache. Think Aladdin meets Percy Jackson, but make it layered, lyrical, and rooted in the rich cultural magic of Pakistan.
Twelve-year-old Amir is supposed to be living the dream he’s heir to a brick empire, surrounded by wealth and luxury but underneath the polished tiles and marble halls is a boy who just wants his mother back. When his father announces he’s giving up the search and moving on with a new marriage like it’s another business deal, Amir’s heartbreak feels so raw and real I wanted to reach into the page and hug him.
Enter Shamsa the jinn princess with more fire than a thousand suns and an attitude to match. She’s everything Amir isn’t: loud, impulsive, dazzling, and absolutely hilarious. Their reluctant partnership is the stuff of middle-grade gold. Watching Amir’s quiet determination clash and eventually mesh with Shamsa’s chaotic energy was pure joy. Their banter sparkles, their growth is beautifully intertwined, and the magical world they explore filled with trickster jinn, impossible riddles, and a high-stakes tournament feels alive with wonder and danger.
What I loved most, though, was how M.T. Khan weaves real-world emotion into the fantasy. Beneath all the glittering magic is a story about grief, identity, and what it means to choose your own path, even when everyone expects you to follow theirs.
By the end, I was grinning, teary-eyed, and a little in awe of how much heart this story packed into every chapter. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you wanting to believe in magic again and maybe wishing for a jinn princess sidekick of your own.
Twelve-year-old Amir is supposed to be living the dream he’s heir to a brick empire, surrounded by wealth and luxury but underneath the polished tiles and marble halls is a boy who just wants his mother back. When his father announces he’s giving up the search and moving on with a new marriage like it’s another business deal, Amir’s heartbreak feels so raw and real I wanted to reach into the page and hug him.
Enter Shamsa the jinn princess with more fire than a thousand suns and an attitude to match. She’s everything Amir isn’t: loud, impulsive, dazzling, and absolutely hilarious. Their reluctant partnership is the stuff of middle-grade gold. Watching Amir’s quiet determination clash and eventually mesh with Shamsa’s chaotic energy was pure joy. Their banter sparkles, their growth is beautifully intertwined, and the magical world they explore filled with trickster jinn, impossible riddles, and a high-stakes tournament feels alive with wonder and danger.
What I loved most, though, was how M.T. Khan weaves real-world emotion into the fantasy. Beneath all the glittering magic is a story about grief, identity, and what it means to choose your own path, even when everyone expects you to follow theirs.
By the end, I was grinning, teary-eyed, and a little in awe of how much heart this story packed into every chapter. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you wanting to believe in magic again and maybe wishing for a jinn princess sidekick of your own.
October 27, 2025
I forgot how I came across this book but it sounded interesting. Amir, the heir of the Rafiq Bricks Company in Pakistan, is in training to do help run the business. Except he is grieving for his mother, who has been missing for some time. So he's even more devastated when his father announces he will remarry, effectively ending the search for his mother. So Amir ends up making a deal with a jinn princess, Shamsa. Shamsa will help Amir navigate the world of the jinn while he will help her win the throne.
So Amir ends up going into a world so very different from his own, away from the pampered lifestyle of an heir. But at the same time, it ends up not being so different from his own after all. And between helping Shamsa survive, Amir finds out more about both himself and his mother.
Overall it was okay. As a concept it was interesting, but execution-wise it felt like a great big shrug. I was not particularly interested in Shamsa, also found the search for Amir's mother boring (the final reveal was also not all that shocking). Maybe I have been reading too many middle grade books this one just did not quite meet the mark. I appreciate being able to explore the world of the jinn, but the story wasn't really that compelling.
That said, it might make a good book for the MG reader in your life and would not be a bad addition to a personal or elementary school (probably older grades but YMMV) library. However, I am glad this was a standalone with no overly extended world-building cliffhanger deals and probably won't read anything else by the author.
Bargain buy was best for me.
So Amir ends up going into a world so very different from his own, away from the pampered lifestyle of an heir. But at the same time, it ends up not being so different from his own after all. And between helping Shamsa survive, Amir finds out more about both himself and his mother.
Overall it was okay. As a concept it was interesting, but execution-wise it felt like a great big shrug. I was not particularly interested in Shamsa, also found the search for Amir's mother boring (the final reveal was also not all that shocking). Maybe I have been reading too many middle grade books this one just did not quite meet the mark. I appreciate being able to explore the world of the jinn, but the story wasn't really that compelling.
That said, it might make a good book for the MG reader in your life and would not be a bad addition to a personal or elementary school (probably older grades but YMMV) library. However, I am glad this was a standalone with no overly extended world-building cliffhanger deals and probably won't read anything else by the author.
Bargain buy was best for me.
February 28, 2025
“I glance down at my hands. They're filthy. I'm filthy. All this time, I looked down on others for not working hard enough. I really believed that anyone could earn their way to the position I'm in. But there's always going to be someone rich that'll buy their way to the top. What's hard work going to do for you then?"
I read this author's other book a few years back and loved it so I was really excited to read her second book. It's considered middle grade fantasy and the protagonists are young children, but she does not shy away from ugly realities—child labour, exploitation of the poor, the insatiable greed and cruelty of the rich and powerful—filtered through the eyes of young children soon to be further disillusioned. She does not dumb down or sugarcoat real world problems or condescend to her intended audience and I can really get behind that. Both of her books a slightly reminiscent of Spirited Away in that children find themselves transported to the Jinn realm which, surprise surprise, operates very much like the capitalism human realm underneath all the glitz and glamour.
Amir is the youngest of three children and he has no interest in becoming the heir to his father's brickmaking dynasty. All he cares about is his mother who went missing. Just as he resolves to find her and stop his father from remarrying, he befriends a Jinn princess who needs his help to compete for the position of heir to her kingdom. He agrees in exchange for the chance to look for his mother, but what he uncovers is much, much worse than he could have expected.
I read this author's other book a few years back and loved it so I was really excited to read her second book. It's considered middle grade fantasy and the protagonists are young children, but she does not shy away from ugly realities—child labour, exploitation of the poor, the insatiable greed and cruelty of the rich and powerful—filtered through the eyes of young children soon to be further disillusioned. She does not dumb down or sugarcoat real world problems or condescend to her intended audience and I can really get behind that. Both of her books a slightly reminiscent of Spirited Away in that children find themselves transported to the Jinn realm which, surprise surprise, operates very much like the capitalism human realm underneath all the glitz and glamour.
Amir is the youngest of three children and he has no interest in becoming the heir to his father's brickmaking dynasty. All he cares about is his mother who went missing. Just as he resolves to find her and stop his father from remarrying, he befriends a Jinn princess who needs his help to compete for the position of heir to her kingdom. He agrees in exchange for the chance to look for his mother, but what he uncovers is much, much worse than he could have expected.
August 20, 2024
Amir is a young lad who has been brought up in wealth and privilege. His family owns one of the most profitable businesses in Pakistan, Rafiq Bricks Company. His father and older siblings have a very narrow-minded and warped way of looking at the world. They focus on profit and how they are better than others because they have money.
Amir doesn’t share their views but feels stuck that his life and path have been chosen for him and that he is destined to work at the company. He is also heartbroken as his mother went missing months ago after a visit to the family factory. He wants to find her before his father remarries and when a Jinn princess turns up in his bedroom he knows that she is the only one who can help him locate his mother, but not in this world.
Amir and the Jinn Princess has been beautifully written. The opening chapter will probably, like it did to me, have you hating Amir and his stuck-up nonsense but it doesn’t take long before his true colours are shown and his likeable character comes through.
The book moves at a fast pace and is completely enjoyable the whole way through. The characters have been superbly created and the Jinn realm is both colourful and divine.
Overall, Amir and the Jinn Princess is a fantastic middle-grade read that is both exciting and touching. There are plenty of life lessons within the pages and I do hope that the readers realise that wealth does not make someone a better person, ever.
Amir doesn’t share their views but feels stuck that his life and path have been chosen for him and that he is destined to work at the company. He is also heartbroken as his mother went missing months ago after a visit to the family factory. He wants to find her before his father remarries and when a Jinn princess turns up in his bedroom he knows that she is the only one who can help him locate his mother, but not in this world.
Amir and the Jinn Princess has been beautifully written. The opening chapter will probably, like it did to me, have you hating Amir and his stuck-up nonsense but it doesn’t take long before his true colours are shown and his likeable character comes through.
The book moves at a fast pace and is completely enjoyable the whole way through. The characters have been superbly created and the Jinn realm is both colourful and divine.
Overall, Amir and the Jinn Princess is a fantastic middle-grade read that is both exciting and touching. There are plenty of life lessons within the pages and I do hope that the readers realise that wealth does not make someone a better person, ever.
December 25, 2024
4.25⭐
Amir is the third child and one of the potential heirs of the owner of one of Pakistan's largest brick companies. His life is one of splendour and luxury; his future is secure and he wants for nothing. Until one year ago, when his mother went missing. Amir's Dadi is convinced that his mother abandoned the family and plans to get his father remarried by the end of summer. Amir has that long to track down his mother and bring her home. Just how to do it is the question. A question whose answer may lie in the hands of a mysterious jinn girl named Shamsa who makes a sudden appearance in Amir's life. In return for helping her win the competition that will make her the heir to her kingdom, Shamsa promises to help Amir look for his mother in the jinn world, the only place where she could possibly have escaped discovery thus far.
As with her previous book, the author covers topics of social injustice, class discrimination and exploitative corporations, mixed in with themes of friendship, hope and doing what's right. Unlike her other book, however, the writing flows so much more smoothly in this one. The story is more captivating and I personally found Amir to be a much more likeable protagonist than Nura was (Yaqub is my favourite character in the book though 😁). The challenges Shamsa had to face and Amir's solutions for them were an interesting addition to the story while his hunt for his missing mother provided an emotional angle.
Amir is the third child and one of the potential heirs of the owner of one of Pakistan's largest brick companies. His life is one of splendour and luxury; his future is secure and he wants for nothing. Until one year ago, when his mother went missing. Amir's Dadi is convinced that his mother abandoned the family and plans to get his father remarried by the end of summer. Amir has that long to track down his mother and bring her home. Just how to do it is the question. A question whose answer may lie in the hands of a mysterious jinn girl named Shamsa who makes a sudden appearance in Amir's life. In return for helping her win the competition that will make her the heir to her kingdom, Shamsa promises to help Amir look for his mother in the jinn world, the only place where she could possibly have escaped discovery thus far.
As with her previous book, the author covers topics of social injustice, class discrimination and exploitative corporations, mixed in with themes of friendship, hope and doing what's right. Unlike her other book, however, the writing flows so much more smoothly in this one. The story is more captivating and I personally found Amir to be a much more likeable protagonist than Nura was (Yaqub is my favourite character in the book though 😁). The challenges Shamsa had to face and Amir's solutions for them were an interesting addition to the story while his hunt for his missing mother provided an emotional angle.
June 6, 2024
Oh my gosh! What a powerful and beautifully written book.
This story brought me to tears. A magical, enchanting adventure. It is filled with gorgeous imagery, warmth, and charm. It is more than this, though. Deep down, this story is about how we see and treat people who are less fortunate than us. Which end of the moral compass we sit on. How power and riches corrupt, and that your destiny doesn't have to be chosen for you. To fight for what you truly believe in. To do better. I could gush about this book so much more, and my review will never give this story enough praise. I think this book and its messages should be read in schools to children.
I'm so glad I got to read it. It will forever stay with me.
Synopsis
Amir was born into a life of wealth and power. Having everything handed to him on a plate. Spoilt and ignorant. Taught to think that people are poor because they don't work hard enough and they make bad decisions. Desperate to find his missing mother, he meets Shamsa, a Jinn from a different realm. A princess, she too comes from a powerful family. She is an outcast to them because she does not hold great powers or see the world as her parents do. They embark on this journey together in hopes of finding Amir's missing mother.
Thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books.
My opinions are my own
This story brought me to tears. A magical, enchanting adventure. It is filled with gorgeous imagery, warmth, and charm. It is more than this, though. Deep down, this story is about how we see and treat people who are less fortunate than us. Which end of the moral compass we sit on. How power and riches corrupt, and that your destiny doesn't have to be chosen for you. To fight for what you truly believe in. To do better. I could gush about this book so much more, and my review will never give this story enough praise. I think this book and its messages should be read in schools to children.
I'm so glad I got to read it. It will forever stay with me.
Synopsis
Amir was born into a life of wealth and power. Having everything handed to him on a plate. Spoilt and ignorant. Taught to think that people are poor because they don't work hard enough and they make bad decisions. Desperate to find his missing mother, he meets Shamsa, a Jinn from a different realm. A princess, she too comes from a powerful family. She is an outcast to them because she does not hold great powers or see the world as her parents do. They embark on this journey together in hopes of finding Amir's missing mother.
Thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books.
My opinions are my own
July 7, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Amir and the Jinn Princess is another immersive middle grade fantasy from M.T. Khan. Set in the same world as her debut novel, I once again enjoyed the Pakistani and Islamic cultural and mythological influences to the world building, woven into a fast-paced adventure story.
Amir is a sympathetic protagonist. While he’s lived a fairly privileged life, he’s struggling with his mother’s disappearance and the fact that his father has given up on looking for her, choosing to remarry. I loved the way his recollections of his relationship with his mother were conveyed, motivating his arc throughout. And while he’s always felt some apathy toward the family business, I really enjoyed how his journey led him to recognize there was something not quite right going on within his father’s company.
Amir ends up teaming up with the jinn princess, Shamsa, who is trying to win a competition to become heir to the throne against her sister. Amir and Shamsa team up to help each other accomplish their respective goals, and it was great to see them working together and helping each other.
This was another solid read from M.T. Khan, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a Middle Grade multicultural fantasy-adventure.
Amir and the Jinn Princess is another immersive middle grade fantasy from M.T. Khan. Set in the same world as her debut novel, I once again enjoyed the Pakistani and Islamic cultural and mythological influences to the world building, woven into a fast-paced adventure story.
Amir is a sympathetic protagonist. While he’s lived a fairly privileged life, he’s struggling with his mother’s disappearance and the fact that his father has given up on looking for her, choosing to remarry. I loved the way his recollections of his relationship with his mother were conveyed, motivating his arc throughout. And while he’s always felt some apathy toward the family business, I really enjoyed how his journey led him to recognize there was something not quite right going on within his father’s company.
Amir ends up teaming up with the jinn princess, Shamsa, who is trying to win a competition to become heir to the throne against her sister. Amir and Shamsa team up to help each other accomplish their respective goals, and it was great to see them working together and helping each other.
This was another solid read from M.T. Khan, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a Middle Grade multicultural fantasy-adventure.
October 1, 2024
I read this in paperback with this picture beautiful picture on the front cover.
I absolutely loved this bright colourful cover.
At the wealthy private, Lahore Boys Grammar School Amir Rafiq and Abdul have had a fight, where the headmistress Baqil is not happy with them. The strange thing is Amir is blaming a Jinn curse has possessed him. And since Amir’s mama ran away, he has cut of all of his friendships, and it seems like it has gone to head, he thinks he is better than anyone else, because he is the youngest of three potential heirs to one of the Pakistan’s largest brick companies.
He gets driven everywhere, and wears designer clothes. Amir’s sister is in her twenties and not married yet. Strange things are happening there’s a girl like creature, a Jinn in Amir’s bed.
With getting even weirder, with the Jinn talking to him, he begins to think he is hallucinating. The one thing that Amir wants more than anything is to find his mama and apologise to her.
The first thing anyone learns about Jinn is that they are tricksters. Can this red eyed girl help Amir?
What I liked about this story I could hear the voices of all of the characters, the Jinn and Amir.
This amazing novel, Amir and the Jinn Princess takes young readers into a puff of magic and fantasy!
I absolutely loved this bright colourful cover.
At the wealthy private, Lahore Boys Grammar School Amir Rafiq and Abdul have had a fight, where the headmistress Baqil is not happy with them. The strange thing is Amir is blaming a Jinn curse has possessed him. And since Amir’s mama ran away, he has cut of all of his friendships, and it seems like it has gone to head, he thinks he is better than anyone else, because he is the youngest of three potential heirs to one of the Pakistan’s largest brick companies.
He gets driven everywhere, and wears designer clothes. Amir’s sister is in her twenties and not married yet. Strange things are happening there’s a girl like creature, a Jinn in Amir’s bed.
With getting even weirder, with the Jinn talking to him, he begins to think he is hallucinating. The one thing that Amir wants more than anything is to find his mama and apologise to her.
The first thing anyone learns about Jinn is that they are tricksters. Can this red eyed girl help Amir?
What I liked about this story I could hear the voices of all of the characters, the Jinn and Amir.
This amazing novel, Amir and the Jinn Princess takes young readers into a puff of magic and fantasy!
October 9, 2024
Amir Rafiq (12) is in competition with his brother and sister to be the heir of their famiy's extensive Pakistan brick-making business. Wealthy, privledged, and snotty, Amir doesn't want the business; instead, he'd rather spend time in the family garden where he has beautiful memories of his mother who has been missing for a year. When his overbearing grandmother announes his father is going to remarry, Amir is determined to find his missing mother. With the help of a shape-shifting jinn princess, Shamsa, he finds himself in the jinn's magical world in an agreement to help Shamsa become heir to the throne and her to help him look for his mother. Shamsa is Amir's total opposite - selfless, a dreamer, unhappy with the strife in her Kingdom where Amir wants nothing to do with his family's business and doesn't pay attention to the issues and mistreatment the workers suffer. Joining together, Amir helps Shamsa learn how to step up to be a worthy heir while they fight in battles, deal with political backstabbing, and seeing the true differenct between the rich and privledges and the poor and struggling. Amir and Shamsa both grow as characters as the story progresses, each in a different way, both learning hard truths and facing secrets they weren't ready to face. The glimpes into jinn mythology and the magical realm spans the book, rich and coloful and filled with danger.
November 10, 2024
12-year-old Amir Rafiq lives a privileged life as one of the heirs to his wealthy family’s brick business in Pakistan. Amir is spoilt and manipulative, but he also deeply misses his mother, who mysteriously disappeared years ago and is assumed to have run away by his family.
As Amir’s father prepares to remarry, Amir encounters Shamsa, a shape-shifting jinn princess. Driven by the hope of finding his mother, Amir follows Shamsa to the jinn realm. Shamsa enlists Amir’s help to secure her place as heir to her kingdom and together, they face tricky jinns and treacherous challenges. Despite the dangers, Amir is determined to help Shamsa and find his mother, and Shamsa, to become heir and change her kingdom for the better.
Amir and the Jinn Princess is a beautifully written story about hope, and being the change you want to see. Set mostly in a fantasy jinn realm, Khan weaves in real-world issues like the exploitation of the poor and the importance of supporting the underprivileged. I enjoyed both Amir and Shamsa's character arcs in the story - one learns to empathise with the less fortunate, and the other gains confidence despite not fitting the typical jinn mold.
Thank you Definitely Books Kids (Pansing) for sending this delightful book to us for our review ❤
As Amir’s father prepares to remarry, Amir encounters Shamsa, a shape-shifting jinn princess. Driven by the hope of finding his mother, Amir follows Shamsa to the jinn realm. Shamsa enlists Amir’s help to secure her place as heir to her kingdom and together, they face tricky jinns and treacherous challenges. Despite the dangers, Amir is determined to help Shamsa and find his mother, and Shamsa, to become heir and change her kingdom for the better.
Amir and the Jinn Princess is a beautifully written story about hope, and being the change you want to see. Set mostly in a fantasy jinn realm, Khan weaves in real-world issues like the exploitation of the poor and the importance of supporting the underprivileged. I enjoyed both Amir and Shamsa's character arcs in the story - one learns to empathise with the less fortunate, and the other gains confidence despite not fitting the typical jinn mold.
Thank you Definitely Books Kids (Pansing) for sending this delightful book to us for our review ❤
June 6, 2024
This is a great, fast paced adventure about learning to be yourself despite your background, standing up for yourself and others and generally being kind.
Amir isnt a stuck up rich boy, but he does suffer a bit from rich blindness, being taught by his rich businessman father that the poor are only that way because they don't try hard enough and the have failed to thrive, but treats his workers almost like slaves.
Amir meets a Jinn princess, fighting to be the next Jinn heir, but she's always put down by her many siblings because she's different. She doesn't have fire powers like a proper Jinn, she's too dreamy.
Amir is desperate to find his mother who recently went missing, and the princess promises to help him look for her in the Jinn realm, as a lot of humans have been winding up there recently for unknown reasons, as long as he helps her with the heir race.
And so an unlikely duo is formed.
I thought this book was really fun and a nice read with some really great moral teachings. Impressed and I recommend it!
Amir isnt a stuck up rich boy, but he does suffer a bit from rich blindness, being taught by his rich businessman father that the poor are only that way because they don't try hard enough and the have failed to thrive, but treats his workers almost like slaves.
Amir meets a Jinn princess, fighting to be the next Jinn heir, but she's always put down by her many siblings because she's different. She doesn't have fire powers like a proper Jinn, she's too dreamy.
Amir is desperate to find his mother who recently went missing, and the princess promises to help him look for her in the Jinn realm, as a lot of humans have been winding up there recently for unknown reasons, as long as he helps her with the heir race.
And so an unlikely duo is formed.
I thought this book was really fun and a nice read with some really great moral teachings. Impressed and I recommend it!
March 20, 2025
2.5 is the best I can give it.
Did anyone actually get surprised by the plot “twists”?
The reveal about Amir’s mother had no real value- it was essentially just Amir passing the “Denial” stage of grief. The reveal about Shamsa’s powers was foreshadowed too heavily, I think. I’d guessed it far before the reveal, about halfway through the book. Maybe that’s due to me not knowing anything about Jinn prior to reading, maybe it’s legitimately just mediocre writing. Also- the reveal that Shamsa knew Amir’s mother wasn’t very valuable.
I felt disconnected with all the characters throughout the book. There’s out-of-character here and there, which completely destroys the immersion for me. I do love the way the Jinn realm is described, but it feels like it doesn’t have much to do with fire. It feels like the author just recolored their own city.
I love mythology, it’s probably my favorite form of history, but this book was just so mediocre that I was mostly uninterested in the Jinn culture.
I finished it but I would *not* recommend it.
Did anyone actually get surprised by the plot “twists”?
The reveal about Amir’s mother had no real value- it was essentially just Amir passing the “Denial” stage of grief. The reveal about Shamsa’s powers was foreshadowed too heavily, I think. I’d guessed it far before the reveal, about halfway through the book. Maybe that’s due to me not knowing anything about Jinn prior to reading, maybe it’s legitimately just mediocre writing. Also- the reveal that Shamsa knew Amir’s mother wasn’t very valuable.
I felt disconnected with all the characters throughout the book. There’s out-of-character here and there, which completely destroys the immersion for me. I do love the way the Jinn realm is described, but it feels like it doesn’t have much to do with fire. It feels like the author just recolored their own city.
I love mythology, it’s probably my favorite form of history, but this book was just so mediocre that I was mostly uninterested in the Jinn culture.
I finished it but I would *not* recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2025
I loved this book and the author's previous one (Nura) too, both 5-star! The author is SO TALENTED and the stories are well-crafted, entertaining and impart valuable lessons to kids. The only problem I had with this one (and I'm not deducting any stars from the author because it's not her fault) is that the audiobook was so weird?
Amir is, I think 12? But the voice actor has a DEEEEEP velvety adult male voice, he's like two steps away from being South Asian Barry White. I'd love for him to read me a spicy romance in the dark but what is he doing reading in first person POV as a young boy?? He doesn't even try to do a kid voice lol, he just went in HARD like he wanted Amir to be 35 and didn't care about the listeners at all.
It would have worked had the book been like Lemony Snicket or Bartimaeus, but because he was reading AS AMIR, (and giving Amir a bit too much snotty/arrogant tone) I had such a hard time taking it seriously. Again, very nice voice, very talented actor, but very miscast for the role.
Amir is, I think 12? But the voice actor has a DEEEEEP velvety adult male voice, he's like two steps away from being South Asian Barry White. I'd love for him to read me a spicy romance in the dark but what is he doing reading in first person POV as a young boy?? He doesn't even try to do a kid voice lol, he just went in HARD like he wanted Amir to be 35 and didn't care about the listeners at all.
It would have worked had the book been like Lemony Snicket or Bartimaeus, but because he was reading AS AMIR, (and giving Amir a bit too much snotty/arrogant tone) I had such a hard time taking it seriously. Again, very nice voice, very talented actor, but very miscast for the role.
August 16, 2024
In terms of fantasy literature, I think this book is well built and has a solid fantastical foundation in the established jinn mythology. The world of the jinn the author crafts is equal parts unbelievably magical and described so well the reader can see it in their mind. Having a society of fire creature in a water-based kingdom is an interesting take. It also introduces a lot of very modern, anti-capitalist thought to a young audience.
I did find it a bit preachy - the rich don't care, the poor suffer, change has to happen from the top, etc. etc. But I'm a millennial adult and have been living these truths for some time now. Kids may not know? I guess?
I enjoyed it! It's a completely different look at fantasy than we usually get. The ending was so strong and hopeful for the kiddos. I can definitely see the kids latching on to this and I know exactly the kids I'm going to hand this book to.
I did find it a bit preachy - the rich don't care, the poor suffer, change has to happen from the top, etc. etc. But I'm a millennial adult and have been living these truths for some time now. Kids may not know? I guess?
I enjoyed it! It's a completely different look at fantasy than we usually get. The ending was so strong and hopeful for the kiddos. I can definitely see the kids latching on to this and I know exactly the kids I'm going to hand this book to.
November 6, 2025
I really enjoyed the author’s last book but this one didn’t have the same impact for me. I loved the use of Pakistani myths, legends, and folk traditions. Particularly through the Jinn and their world. I enjoyed reading up on the Jinn and how they bridge culture, folktales and religion.
However think the 'rich kid who thinks he has no choices and a hard life, looses his mum and goes on a find himself adventure' is hard to do without creating a character who just seems so devoid from reality. A good example would be when Amir realises that some people might not be able to have academic tutors or perhaps even an education. I think it was written in a more ironic or reflective way it might have worked. There was some character growth. But it feels like we are meant to be rooting for rich boy and I wasn’t.
That said there were some great middle grade age appropriate comments on intended labour; wealth inequality; and corruption. The plot definitely takes you on an adventure too.
However think the 'rich kid who thinks he has no choices and a hard life, looses his mum and goes on a find himself adventure' is hard to do without creating a character who just seems so devoid from reality. A good example would be when Amir realises that some people might not be able to have academic tutors or perhaps even an education. I think it was written in a more ironic or reflective way it might have worked. There was some character growth. But it feels like we are meant to be rooting for rich boy and I wasn’t.
That said there were some great middle grade age appropriate comments on intended labour; wealth inequality; and corruption. The plot definitely takes you on an adventure too.
June 13, 2024
Amir and the Jinn Princess is a fantastic read, and one that I think is really important for younger readers.
Khan sends Amir on an adventure with the Jinn Princess, Shamsa, to find and bring his mother back so his father won’t get remarried and their family will be whole and reunited. Upon this adventure, Amir is confronted with his privilege and how his gain comes at the extent of others. He is forced to question his life long belief that if people were to just work harder, they’d have the same success as him and his family. This contrasts him with Shamsa, who is also privileged, and yet she is attempting to see what is wrong and work to fix it for the betterment of everyone.
These messages that the book sends — to be compassionate, to confront your privilege and see how it impacts others — are incredibly relevant in society. These are things kids will be growing up learning about, and will be impacted by. How often do we see on the news the wealthy blaming the poorer class for their situations, as if it is not them who control the flow of money and who gets it? Who control who gets the opportunities? There’s a lot more to it than ‘working hard’. I also think this book brings up a great point that success and happiness also looks to everyone. One man’s trash is another man’s gold.
I hought the mystery was good and I liked how it died in to the deeper meaning that the novel was exploring, with wealth and privilege and sacrifice. I do think that this book perhaps could have been a little bit longer as it felt things had occurred so fast, and I would have liked to see Shamsa and Amir have more time together, but overall I think the novel was really well paced and really well constructed.
Thank you to Walker Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Khan sends Amir on an adventure with the Jinn Princess, Shamsa, to find and bring his mother back so his father won’t get remarried and their family will be whole and reunited. Upon this adventure, Amir is confronted with his privilege and how his gain comes at the extent of others. He is forced to question his life long belief that if people were to just work harder, they’d have the same success as him and his family. This contrasts him with Shamsa, who is also privileged, and yet she is attempting to see what is wrong and work to fix it for the betterment of everyone.
These messages that the book sends — to be compassionate, to confront your privilege and see how it impacts others — are incredibly relevant in society. These are things kids will be growing up learning about, and will be impacted by. How often do we see on the news the wealthy blaming the poorer class for their situations, as if it is not them who control the flow of money and who gets it? Who control who gets the opportunities? There’s a lot more to it than ‘working hard’. I also think this book brings up a great point that success and happiness also looks to everyone. One man’s trash is another man’s gold.
I hought the mystery was good and I liked how it died in to the deeper meaning that the novel was exploring, with wealth and privilege and sacrifice. I do think that this book perhaps could have been a little bit longer as it felt things had occurred so fast, and I would have liked to see Shamsa and Amir have more time together, but overall I think the novel was really well paced and really well constructed.
Thank you to Walker Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2024
M. T. Khan has done it again—if not better. I loved NURA and let me tell you, I *ADORED* AMIR. Seriously, I inhaled this magical, heartfelt story within a few hours & I was genuinely disappointed to be finished.
This is everything I adore about middle grade. It's quirky, thrilling, and full of magical, colourful settings. But it also has a beautiful emotional depth, dealing with everything from grief to wealth inequality and exploitation—all of which were handled beautifully. Amir & Shamsa have the bestest character arcs and they'll both live in my heart for a long, long time.
What can I say? Read this, no matter if you're an adult or an MG'er. Whatever M. T. Khan comes up with next (more jinn stories!! please!!) I will be happily seated.
This is everything I adore about middle grade. It's quirky, thrilling, and full of magical, colourful settings. But it also has a beautiful emotional depth, dealing with everything from grief to wealth inequality and exploitation—all of which were handled beautifully. Amir & Shamsa have the bestest character arcs and they'll both live in my heart for a long, long time.
What can I say? Read this, no matter if you're an adult or an MG'er. Whatever M. T. Khan comes up with next (more jinn stories!! please!!) I will be happily seated.
October 20, 2024
Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Amir is a great, flawed character who sees the undercurrent of situations while Shamsa is innocent, fiery, and loveable. These two characters play off each other very well and I loved reading them both. I enjoyed seeing the changes within Amir, especially toward the climax of the story, and how he chose to move forward with his newfound knowledge of labor malpractices.
The world of Jinn is absolutely wonderful and colorful and the author did a great job showcasing that just because one side is all jewels and glitter doesn't mean it's all entirely like that. We get to see the slums and how both Jinn and humans live in poverty, forced to work for unlivable wages and little meals that hardly fill anyone's stomachs.
It was awesome seeing Amir use all his teachings to help Shamsa and in turn Shamsa break down his inner walls. Towards the end of the book I was cheering for them both.
If you want adventure, great writing, and a lead that you'll root for, I highly recommend Amir and the Jinn Princess by M. T. Khan!
The world of Jinn is absolutely wonderful and colorful and the author did a great job showcasing that just because one side is all jewels and glitter doesn't mean it's all entirely like that. We get to see the slums and how both Jinn and humans live in poverty, forced to work for unlivable wages and little meals that hardly fill anyone's stomachs.
It was awesome seeing Amir use all his teachings to help Shamsa and in turn Shamsa break down his inner walls. Towards the end of the book I was cheering for them both.
If you want adventure, great writing, and a lead that you'll root for, I highly recommend Amir and the Jinn Princess by M. T. Khan!
March 7, 2025
Amir is the son of a wealthy brick manufacturer in Pakistan and is apathetic about competing with his siblings to be heir of the company. He is also arrogant and plays classmates off each other as they vie for his attention. He also misses his mom who has been missing for a year. When his grandmother announces that his father will remarry, he is so upset he takes a jinn up on her offer to help him find his mother. He soon discovers that the silly jinn girl who turns into a kitten, is actually a jinn princess with family issues and family succession issues of her own. A fun adventure for middle grade readers.
March 24, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and M. T. Khan!
This was a very good middle grade read. It deals with so many things loss, grief, loneliness, ect, and does so greatly with young readers in mind. I loved how Amir and Shamsa grew into new ways of thinking through the book. I will definitely be recommending it to my children when it releases.
This was a very good middle grade read. It deals with so many things loss, grief, loneliness, ect, and does so greatly with young readers in mind. I loved how Amir and Shamsa grew into new ways of thinking through the book. I will definitely be recommending it to my children when it releases.
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