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Dark Ascension #3
The Wishless Ones
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Hafsah Faizal comes the untold origin story of Agrabah’s future royal vizier Jafar and his brother Rohan.
Before Jafar became Agrabah’s grand vizier, there were two brothers wishing for a different life.
Living in the shadow of their mother’s death and their father’s cruel whims, Jafar only longs to protect one person—his soft-hearted younger brother, Rohan. But Jafar knows he is destined for more, and if he has his way, he’ll soon be an apprentice at Maghriz’s elite House of Wisdom, studying alchemy.
Then a fire destroys the remains of their shattered life, and Jafar has no choice but to resort to ruses and trickery, including convincing Rohan that the House of Wisdom is their only chance at rebuilding their lives. But Maghriz holds more danger and intrigue than either brother can imagine. Its powerful Sultana is plotting a grand deception that could shape the nation’s future, and she believes the brothers are the missing piece of her scheme.
For the first time, Jafar can envision a future where he puts his own desires before Rohan’s—and Rohan feels ready to escape his brother’s shadow. As the brothers contend with their darkest impulses, they must is their ambition worth their brotherhood?
Before Jafar became Agrabah’s grand vizier, there were two brothers wishing for a different life.
Living in the shadow of their mother’s death and their father’s cruel whims, Jafar only longs to protect one person—his soft-hearted younger brother, Rohan. But Jafar knows he is destined for more, and if he has his way, he’ll soon be an apprentice at Maghriz’s elite House of Wisdom, studying alchemy.
Then a fire destroys the remains of their shattered life, and Jafar has no choice but to resort to ruses and trickery, including convincing Rohan that the House of Wisdom is their only chance at rebuilding their lives. But Maghriz holds more danger and intrigue than either brother can imagine. Its powerful Sultana is plotting a grand deception that could shape the nation’s future, and she believes the brothers are the missing piece of her scheme.
For the first time, Jafar can envision a future where he puts his own desires before Rohan’s—and Rohan feels ready to escape his brother’s shadow. As the brothers contend with their darkest impulses, they must is their ambition worth their brotherhood?
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2025
22 people are currently reading
2323 people want to read
About the author
Hafsah Faizal
12 books11.2k followersHafsah Faizal is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of WE HUNT THE FLAME, WE FREE THE STARS and A TEMPEST OF TEA, and the founder of IceyDesigns, where she creates websites for authors and beauteous goodies for everyone else. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, when she’s not writing, she can be found designing, playing Assassin’s Creed, or traversing the world. Born in Florida and raised in California, she now resides in Texas with a library of books waiting to be devoured.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 2, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
The Wishless Ones is the 3rd-offering in Disney's Dark Ascension Series. If you are unfamiliar with this series, they can be read in any order, as they are each an independent story following a different cast of characters.
Much like the Twisted Tales series, this follows characters we all know and love. It just shines a light on different aspects of their lives that we may not know about.
As the title of this series alludes to, these are Villain Origin stories; a concept I absolutely adore.
This story in particular follows one of the greatest villains of all time, Jafar, Grand Vizier of Agrabah. This man would do anything for power, but I was definitely curious as to what pushed him to such extremes.
This starts when Jafar is around 10-years old. We're also introduced to his little brother, Rohan, and his parents.
We then progress to a time when the boys are in their late teens. It was really interesting seeing Jafar in this family context. As a brother, he was protective and loving, but it's true as the boys aged, they did grow apart due to miscommunications and misunderstandings.
Nevertheless, they were still very much a bonded pair, so when a fire takes everything from them, Jafar is forced to bring his brother along with him as he journeys to the House of Wisdom in the faraway kingdom of Maghriz.
Jafar has always dreamed of studying alchemy, and there's no better place to do it than the House of Wisdom. When he discovers he's been accepted, he's elated. Although it didn't go as smoothly as he would have wished, regardless he makes the long journey to his new life with Rohan in tow.
Maghriz holds more danger and intrigue than they could have banked on though. The Sultana ends up roping them into a grand deception and the rest spirals from there.
As far as this type of Disney series goes, I think this was a very well-crafted story. There's no doubt that Hafsah Faizal is a talented writer and I definitely appreciated the quality of storytelling she brought to the page.
Honestly, I think I was expecting something a bit more drastic to be the cause of Jafar going full-blown villain. This seemed a little tame in regards to the cause. I mean, I get why he was angry, but such an extreme shift in his personality? I'm not quite sure I was sold on that.
My other minor grudge with this story would be Jafar's little brother, Rohan.
I was here for Jafar, but we do get a 50/50-narrative split between Jafar and Rohan. Even though he is only 2-years younger than Jafar, his behavior would lead you to believe he was 10-years younger.
He was a whiner and started to get on my last nerve. IMO, he was holding Jafar back from the start and I don't blame Jafar for going as far off the edge as he did, putting up with that guy all the time.
With this being said, everything else was entertaining and well-constructed. I feel like Faizal nailed the setting and I absolutely love that she chose to include Iago in such a prominent manner.
The relationship between Jafar and Iago was definitely one of my favorite aspects of this story. I could just picture the both of them, and loved it. That was really fun. Iago is so funny, and through this, I felt like I got to understand him as a character even more.
I also enjoyed the palace intrigue and the entire plot involving the Sultana. I wasn't sure what to expect in that regard and I did enjoy the direction it took.
I've dappled in a lot of these different Disney series over the years and I've got to say, the quality of this one is quite high. I think for fans of Villain Origin stories, fans of Aladdin, or specifically fans of Jafar, this is a must. I would recommend it as excellent supplemental material.
If you aren't any of those Readers listed above, you could probably skip this one, as I feel it is most suited to true fans of the above-listed things.
Thank you to the publisher, Disney Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm glad I picked this up. It was a good fit for my Winter mood!
The Wishless Ones is the 3rd-offering in Disney's Dark Ascension Series. If you are unfamiliar with this series, they can be read in any order, as they are each an independent story following a different cast of characters.
Much like the Twisted Tales series, this follows characters we all know and love. It just shines a light on different aspects of their lives that we may not know about.
As the title of this series alludes to, these are Villain Origin stories; a concept I absolutely adore.
This story in particular follows one of the greatest villains of all time, Jafar, Grand Vizier of Agrabah. This man would do anything for power, but I was definitely curious as to what pushed him to such extremes.
This starts when Jafar is around 10-years old. We're also introduced to his little brother, Rohan, and his parents.
We then progress to a time when the boys are in their late teens. It was really interesting seeing Jafar in this family context. As a brother, he was protective and loving, but it's true as the boys aged, they did grow apart due to miscommunications and misunderstandings.
Nevertheless, they were still very much a bonded pair, so when a fire takes everything from them, Jafar is forced to bring his brother along with him as he journeys to the House of Wisdom in the faraway kingdom of Maghriz.
Jafar has always dreamed of studying alchemy, and there's no better place to do it than the House of Wisdom. When he discovers he's been accepted, he's elated. Although it didn't go as smoothly as he would have wished, regardless he makes the long journey to his new life with Rohan in tow.
Maghriz holds more danger and intrigue than they could have banked on though. The Sultana ends up roping them into a grand deception and the rest spirals from there.
As far as this type of Disney series goes, I think this was a very well-crafted story. There's no doubt that Hafsah Faizal is a talented writer and I definitely appreciated the quality of storytelling she brought to the page.
Honestly, I think I was expecting something a bit more drastic to be the cause of Jafar going full-blown villain. This seemed a little tame in regards to the cause. I mean, I get why he was angry, but such an extreme shift in his personality? I'm not quite sure I was sold on that.
My other minor grudge with this story would be Jafar's little brother, Rohan.
I was here for Jafar, but we do get a 50/50-narrative split between Jafar and Rohan. Even though he is only 2-years younger than Jafar, his behavior would lead you to believe he was 10-years younger.
He was a whiner and started to get on my last nerve. IMO, he was holding Jafar back from the start and I don't blame Jafar for going as far off the edge as he did, putting up with that guy all the time.
With this being said, everything else was entertaining and well-constructed. I feel like Faizal nailed the setting and I absolutely love that she chose to include Iago in such a prominent manner.
The relationship between Jafar and Iago was definitely one of my favorite aspects of this story. I could just picture the both of them, and loved it. That was really fun. Iago is so funny, and through this, I felt like I got to understand him as a character even more.
I also enjoyed the palace intrigue and the entire plot involving the Sultana. I wasn't sure what to expect in that regard and I did enjoy the direction it took.
I've dappled in a lot of these different Disney series over the years and I've got to say, the quality of this one is quite high. I think for fans of Villain Origin stories, fans of Aladdin, or specifically fans of Jafar, this is a must. I would recommend it as excellent supplemental material.
If you aren't any of those Readers listed above, you could probably skip this one, as I feel it is most suited to true fans of the above-listed things.
Thank you to the publisher, Disney Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm glad I picked this up. It was a good fit for my Winter mood!
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April 22, 2024It's confirmeddd. This is the #secretvillainbook
Want to read
April 22, 2024#secretvillainbook is a Jafar (from Aladdin) origin story!!
January 11, 2025
This is the best entry in the Dark Ascension series so far. The author has done justice to this multi-layered and complex villain. Jafar, who is mistreated and second-guessed by his father, forces himself to embrace a dark side that slowly festers within him. His younger brother is the only person who keeps Jafar's darkness in check. Jafar feels responsible for their survival when chaos strikes, and their lives will be forever altered.
The dynamics among Jafar, his brother, and Yago are simply perfect. The snarky remarks, the resting bitch face, and the disdain are all present. We also learn about Yago's backstory and what he could have been before being sold to Jafar's family at a bazaar. Rohan, Jafar's younger brother, acts as an anchor, keeping Jafar somewhat grounded as he grows more important throughout the story.
Jafar is depicted as a misunderstood young boy who brings an empire down and eventually becomes one of the smartest and most sophisticated villains ever.
The dynamics among Jafar, his brother, and Yago are simply perfect. The snarky remarks, the resting bitch face, and the disdain are all present. We also learn about Yago's backstory and what he could have been before being sold to Jafar's family at a bazaar. Rohan, Jafar's younger brother, acts as an anchor, keeping Jafar somewhat grounded as he grows more important throughout the story.
Jafar is depicted as a misunderstood young boy who brings an empire down and eventually becomes one of the smartest and most sophisticated villains ever.
Want to read
April 22, 2024I will read ANYTHING written by Hafsah Faizal, I’m so excited for this!!!
May 9, 2025
never knew i needed Jafar's untold origin story until now... and keep in mind that i usually don't even fw anything Disney-related! but this was Hafsah Faizal and i knew i had to pick it up.
she did not disappoint. i found her prose a bit less lyrical than it was in We Hunt the Flame, a bit simpler, but still delightful to read. she wrote Jafar and his brother Rohan's relationship so beautifully that i kept checking to see if Disney's Jafar actually had a brother and if i could find out what happened to him after the end of the book.. i didn't find anything of course.
i also loved how the atmosphere was conveyed—there's a great attention to detail with how the food, clothes and smells are described, that almost made me feel like i was right there with the characters.
the only thing i wish was done differently is Jafar's use of alchemy! it felt like we weren't really shown exactly how it works—only that he learns the spells or uses the rubies. since it's such a huge part of his rise to power and how he eventually learns to control others, i think it would have warrranted a bit more explanation!
she did not disappoint. i found her prose a bit less lyrical than it was in We Hunt the Flame, a bit simpler, but still delightful to read. she wrote Jafar and his brother Rohan's relationship so beautifully that i kept checking to see if Disney's Jafar actually had a brother and if i could find out what happened to him after the end of the book.. i didn't find anything of course.
Jafar was only two when his brother was born, and Rohan was so tightly woven into the fabric of his being that there were times Jafar felt he would cease to exist without him.
i also loved how the atmosphere was conveyed—there's a great attention to detail with how the food, clothes and smells are described, that almost made me feel like i was right there with the characters.
the only thing i wish was done differently is Jafar's use of alchemy! it felt like we weren't really shown exactly how it works—only that he learns the spells or uses the rubies. since it's such a huge part of his rise to power and how he eventually learns to control others, i think it would have warrranted a bit more explanation!
January 15, 2025
3.5⭐️
keeping in mind that this book is meant for a younger audience, i think it was done quite well. the plot is well-constructed, and we get a bit of insight into all the characters rather than just focusing entirely on Jafar.
however, i imagined this book to be more intense and eventful. after all, it’s a villain origin story, but the 180-degree switch in Jafar’s personality and his sudden transformation into a villain felt forced. it reminded me of Scar’s story in Mufasa, where Scar’s motivations were never fully explained. even though i loved the movie, it didn’t provide clarity on Scar’s character—and the same can be said for this book.
the ending felt rushed as well. considering we spend two-thirds of the book learning about the rubies and Jafar’s intentions, it was disappointing to see that is all he does with them, and then, just leaves?
all that said, i loved Iago’s character and his relationship with both brothers (Rohan infuriated me so much though!)
i went in with no expectations, but it still didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
keeping in mind that this book is meant for a younger audience, i think it was done quite well. the plot is well-constructed, and we get a bit of insight into all the characters rather than just focusing entirely on Jafar.
however, i imagined this book to be more intense and eventful. after all, it’s a villain origin story, but the 180-degree switch in Jafar’s personality and his sudden transformation into a villain felt forced. it reminded me of Scar’s story in Mufasa, where Scar’s motivations were never fully explained. even though i loved the movie, it didn’t provide clarity on Scar’s character—and the same can be said for this book.
the ending felt rushed as well. considering we spend two-thirds of the book learning about the rubies and Jafar’s intentions, it was disappointing to see that is all he does with them, and then, just leaves?
all that said, i loved Iago’s character and his relationship with both brothers (Rohan infuriated me so much though!)
i went in with no expectations, but it still didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
February 8, 2025
This is the first Hafsah Faizal book that I didn’t absolutely love. I want to attribute it to the fact that she was writing about existing characters in was constrained by that. While I did find it interesting how she was tied in some of the elements from Aladdin into this book, and how she showed the parallels between Aladdin and Jafar, this book just did not do it for me. It felt like it was all over the place with the writing and with the way the characters acted. I’m just going to pretend this one doesn’t exist and will hope for a return to form with A Steeping of Blood.
January 7, 2025
Not a Jafar fan but I am a big Hafsah Faizal fan ❤️
June 24, 2025
The only thing that kept this book from being a complete disaster is Faizal's writing. This book is the third installment in a series about Disney villains a la the Maleficent movie, an attempt to humanize them and explain how they came to embody the villains we know from the movies. This book attempted to do that with Jafar from Aladdin. I'm usually a hard sell with villain origin stories but decided to give this one a chance because I enjoy Faizal's writing. Unfortunately, Faizal could not save this story. The narrative alternates perspectives between Jafar (who quickly acquires the parrot companion, Iago) and his younger brother whose name I have forgotten. Did I miss the part about Jafar's younger brother and his royal connections in the movie? Um. Yeah. That part made little sense. Then the ending came with reveals and a war thrown in and resolved all off page. Needless to say, this book did not work for me.
August 9, 2025
Meh.
I really wanted to like it but it didn’t feel like Jafar. It seems like he was always evil ? From the beginning? Like I thought this was a villain origin story but there seemed to have always been a darkness around him, however that was not explored. I have so many questions?! Why was Rohan even a character? He only served as something to make Jafar more likeable but it wasn’t done well. We spend all this time focusing on the importance of the rubies and lamp yet when we get to its use, it’s shadowed over and unimportant? The plot wasn’t really a plot, there was no direction and I honestly felt so bored :(
I really wanted to like it but it didn’t feel like Jafar. It seems like he was always evil ? From the beginning? Like I thought this was a villain origin story but there seemed to have always been a darkness around him, however that was not explored. I have so many questions?! Why was Rohan even a character? He only served as something to make Jafar more likeable but it wasn’t done well. We spend all this time focusing on the importance of the rubies and lamp yet when we get to its use, it’s shadowed over and unimportant? The plot wasn’t really a plot, there was no direction and I honestly felt so bored :(
January 20, 2025
3.75!!
January 22, 2025
Doesn’t Hafsah Faizal get tired of cooking all the time?
September 29, 2025
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought it would.
It is a very believable origin story for Jafar, tho it concluded very abruptly with a lot of plot holes!
It is a very believable origin story for Jafar, tho it concluded very abruptly with a lot of plot holes!
Read
June 27, 2024no rating because of the disney boycott.
this was so disappointing i don't really know what to think. hafsah faizal is one the authors i've been following long before their debut, and whose books i've really loved over the years. which is why reading this came off as so appalling, i barely know what to say. it's not a good book by any standards - the writing is very uninspired and dull, the plot is rickety and lackluster, the characters tossed from one point to another, without sense or development. the story centers around two brothers, jafar and rohan, and their hopes in finding magical artifacts to return what was taken from them, and become family once again - but their relationship is written unbelievably poorly and i never resonated with them or their misconstrued “ambition”, neither at the start nor at the end. the side characters were somehow even worse, idiotic in their schemes and cartoonish in their motives. subsequently, any bonds and fallouts read incredibly shallow and frankly pathetic - and led the entire book, with all the so called glamorous kingdoms and alchemy and rotten cores, to fall flat.
it honestly often felt like the author didn't even bother trying while writing this, a sham of a book, which is so unfortunate because there was so much story matter to pull from, a rich background that could've worked wonders with hafsah's skill set. maybe even if the existing plot were expanded upon more..? but it wasn't, and we're left with a boring and out of tune - if not downright hopeless storytelling of a very intense and vivid original character made drab. some part of me is convinced it's written so badly because hafsah is boycotting disney from inside their walls... soo true!!
anyways. thank you to netgalley for the arc.
this was so disappointing i don't really know what to think. hafsah faizal is one the authors i've been following long before their debut, and whose books i've really loved over the years. which is why reading this came off as so appalling, i barely know what to say. it's not a good book by any standards - the writing is very uninspired and dull, the plot is rickety and lackluster, the characters tossed from one point to another, without sense or development. the story centers around two brothers, jafar and rohan, and their hopes in finding magical artifacts to return what was taken from them, and become family once again - but their relationship is written unbelievably poorly and i never resonated with them or their misconstrued “ambition”, neither at the start nor at the end. the side characters were somehow even worse, idiotic in their schemes and cartoonish in their motives. subsequently, any bonds and fallouts read incredibly shallow and frankly pathetic - and led the entire book, with all the so called glamorous kingdoms and alchemy and rotten cores, to fall flat.
it honestly often felt like the author didn't even bother trying while writing this, a sham of a book, which is so unfortunate because there was so much story matter to pull from, a rich background that could've worked wonders with hafsah's skill set. maybe even if the existing plot were expanded upon more..? but it wasn't, and we're left with a boring and out of tune - if not downright hopeless storytelling of a very intense and vivid original character made drab. some part of me is convinced it's written so badly because hafsah is boycotting disney from inside their walls... soo true!!
anyways. thank you to netgalley for the arc.
March 2, 2025
Ever since the 1992 animated film, Jafar has been one of my favorite characters of all time. I was excited to learn that a book, with ties to Disney no less, was coming out revealing the origin and backstory of Jafar!
I'm disappointed to report that I did not love this book as much as I hoped to. It's well-written, and I did enjoy it, but I had some problems with it.
I'll start by saying that Jafar himself, and Iago, were great. Their relationship ended up being the best part of the book for me. Jafar is younger and far less world-weary in this book, which I can appreciate, and Hafsah Faizal does a brilliant job of delivering a Jafar that is slowly descending into the amoral psychopath of the original film. His need for control, his selfish scheming, his questionable morals, the backstory that made you empathize with him and understand to an extent where he's coming from... I very much enjoyed his character!
My main issue was with the character of Rohan, Jafar's younger brother. On one hand, it was nice to have someone with whom we could see Jafar's more compassionate, human side. Jafar cared deeply for his brother. But Rohan is just unbearably childish and naive. For most of the book, the brothers are in their late teens, but Rohan's entire thought process and personality come off as FAR younger than he's supposed to be. As I was reading, I was half-expecting Rohan to end up being the Sultan, Jasmine's father, from the animated film due to their similar childish natures. But the book doesn't really confirm one way or the other if that happens? I'm not sure if that was the author's intention though, as after finishing the book it seems possible but unlikely. Ultimately I'm not sure how necessary this character was, and he takes up FAR too much of the spotlight for me.
I also wished we got more with the storyline involving the Sultana. I won't give spoilers, but there was a lot of potential for political intrigue, and the Sultana had the potential to be a great villain, but I feel like that story just doesn't really go anywhere? I would've preferred to have a story focusing more on Jafar's climb to power and the Sultana's machinations, and less on Rohan and his search to revive their father.
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't love it. And for a book about one of my favorite characters ever, I was really hoping I would love it.
I'm disappointed to report that I did not love this book as much as I hoped to. It's well-written, and I did enjoy it, but I had some problems with it.
I'll start by saying that Jafar himself, and Iago, were great. Their relationship ended up being the best part of the book for me. Jafar is younger and far less world-weary in this book, which I can appreciate, and Hafsah Faizal does a brilliant job of delivering a Jafar that is slowly descending into the amoral psychopath of the original film. His need for control, his selfish scheming, his questionable morals, the backstory that made you empathize with him and understand to an extent where he's coming from... I very much enjoyed his character!
My main issue was with the character of Rohan, Jafar's younger brother. On one hand, it was nice to have someone with whom we could see Jafar's more compassionate, human side. Jafar cared deeply for his brother. But Rohan is just unbearably childish and naive. For most of the book, the brothers are in their late teens, but Rohan's entire thought process and personality come off as FAR younger than he's supposed to be. As I was reading, I was half-expecting Rohan to end up being the Sultan, Jasmine's father, from the animated film due to their similar childish natures. But the book doesn't really confirm one way or the other if that happens? I'm not sure if that was the author's intention though, as after finishing the book it seems possible but unlikely. Ultimately I'm not sure how necessary this character was, and he takes up FAR too much of the spotlight for me.
I also wished we got more with the storyline involving the Sultana. I won't give spoilers, but there was a lot of potential for political intrigue, and the Sultana had the potential to be a great villain, but I feel like that story just doesn't really go anywhere? I would've preferred to have a story focusing more on Jafar's climb to power and the Sultana's machinations, and less on Rohan and his search to revive their father.
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't love it. And for a book about one of my favorite characters ever, I was really hoping I would love it.
January 22, 2025
At first, I was skeptical about this book, because I thought that because it was published by Disney Hyperion, it would be more on the childish wonder side, and boy, was I wrong. The important thing to note about this book is how much pain and suffering each of the characters went through. The narrative really emphasises just how much the brothers Rohan and Jafar struggle with finding themselves and with recognising who they are, amidst everything that is happening around them. Neither of them are what they really seem to be, and the fact that Ms Faizal was able to so poignantly reveal the nature of human frailty and emotion in such a narrative really astounds me.
Through the use of events and supporting characters, Ms Faizal is able to bring across the years of pent up frustration and hurt these characters feel, and yet we also see their soft sides, the parts of them that give in and relent because of love.
On the whole this book is dark and there are elements of blood and the greed that comes with tasting power, however, it is important to remember that it is a villain origin story, so these elements are expected.
This book was truly the best book to start the year with, and it serves to remind us that everyone has demons and angels within them.
Also, the language used is absolutely amazing, and worthy of admiration, as with all of Ms Faizal's work.
PLEASE GET YOUR COPY NOW!
Through the use of events and supporting characters, Ms Faizal is able to bring across the years of pent up frustration and hurt these characters feel, and yet we also see their soft sides, the parts of them that give in and relent because of love.
On the whole this book is dark and there are elements of blood and the greed that comes with tasting power, however, it is important to remember that it is a villain origin story, so these elements are expected.
This book was truly the best book to start the year with, and it serves to remind us that everyone has demons and angels within them.
Also, the language used is absolutely amazing, and worthy of admiration, as with all of Ms Faizal's work.
PLEASE GET YOUR COPY NOW!
October 1, 2024
What makes a villain? How does a person get to be so . . . wicked?
This is the story of a young Jafar and his younger brother. Raised by a loving mother and an appalling father, a teenage Jafar desires nothing more than to make something of himself and to learn more about the world around him. When Jafar and his brother find themselves alone and working to create a new life, they know there is only one place to go if they want to learn more about the alchemy Jafar's mother spoke of when they were little. What they didn't count on was becoming pawns of the queen and being set against each other in their quest for greatness.
Who doesn't love a good villain backstory? And this is one of the best villains of all time, with so many ways it could have gone. However, the storyline is spotty and hard to follow, the emotional development between the characters is so flat as to be nonexistent, and the development of a villain just never actually . . . developed. This had such great potential and was a huge flop for me. It was readable and had complete sentences and was a quick read, but not one to waste time on if you are hoping for an engrossing and rewarding villain story.
I received a DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.com.
S-L, V-L, L-N
This is the story of a young Jafar and his younger brother. Raised by a loving mother and an appalling father, a teenage Jafar desires nothing more than to make something of himself and to learn more about the world around him. When Jafar and his brother find themselves alone and working to create a new life, they know there is only one place to go if they want to learn more about the alchemy Jafar's mother spoke of when they were little. What they didn't count on was becoming pawns of the queen and being set against each other in their quest for greatness.
Who doesn't love a good villain backstory? And this is one of the best villains of all time, with so many ways it could have gone. However, the storyline is spotty and hard to follow, the emotional development between the characters is so flat as to be nonexistent, and the development of a villain just never actually . . . developed. This had such great potential and was a huge flop for me. It was readable and had complete sentences and was a quick read, but not one to waste time on if you are hoping for an engrossing and rewarding villain story.
I received a DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.com.
S-L, V-L, L-N
December 29, 2024
The Wishless Ones tells the backstory of Jafar and his rise to villainy. The story focuses on Jafar and his younger brother Rohan, dealing with the aftermath of their mother's death while growing up with a ruthless father. Jafar is determined to protect his soft-hearted brother from the world's cruelties but still feels held back. His dream is to study alchemy at the esteemed House of Wisdom. When the opportunity comes, Jafar does not hesitate to get what he wants.
I love a good villain's backstory, especially when we gain insight into their thinking and understand, almost sympathize, how they came to be. However, this story doesn't provide any complexities to Jafar. He and Rohan are both flat, one-dimensional characters. I know we're not supposed to like Jafar, but usually, a villain story gives us some empathy for the villain and leaves us conflicted with our feelings! This book didn't do that at all. None of the characters were likable to me.
This was such a shame because I love Faizal's writing SO much! I've read all of her books; her writing style is beautiful. She brings that metaphorical style to this story, but writing for someone else's IP is hard. I don't think this book accurately reflects her as a writer.
I love a good villain's backstory, especially when we gain insight into their thinking and understand, almost sympathize, how they came to be. However, this story doesn't provide any complexities to Jafar. He and Rohan are both flat, one-dimensional characters. I know we're not supposed to like Jafar, but usually, a villain story gives us some empathy for the villain and leaves us conflicted with our feelings! This book didn't do that at all. None of the characters were likable to me.
This was such a shame because I love Faizal's writing SO much! I've read all of her books; her writing style is beautiful. She brings that metaphorical style to this story, but writing for someone else's IP is hard. I don't think this book accurately reflects her as a writer.
February 18, 2025
Another great addition to the dark ascension series! I loved the Wicked Ones, always enchanted by the Lost Ones, and was awed by this one... But, it's not my favorite in the series... I'll start with what I liked.
I liked how Jafar never strays from being a bad person! He is horrible, but he has a sad backstory. They were able to keep the essence of the character, and not excuse him while including a troubled life. I liked everything to do with the Sultana... I liked the vibes... I liked Iago... And then there are the things that irk me.
Rohan is the one dragging Jafar down. He is constantly complaining... He's constantly filled with angst... He is annoying! That is the point, but it makes his pov chapters to be a struggle. I also did not like the brief love interest. Wasn't needed, and their "chemistry" felt super forced...
But, it is a fun novel! It has a lot of talks with politics, and I really liked that! It reminded me of Disney's recent Queens Council series.
So, it's not perfect, but it is still good... It's my personal favorite Disney Villains series, so I hope they continue!
I liked how Jafar never strays from being a bad person! He is horrible, but he has a sad backstory. They were able to keep the essence of the character, and not excuse him while including a troubled life. I liked everything to do with the Sultana... I liked the vibes... I liked Iago... And then there are the things that irk me.
Rohan is the one dragging Jafar down. He is constantly complaining... He's constantly filled with angst... He is annoying! That is the point, but it makes his pov chapters to be a struggle. I also did not like the brief love interest. Wasn't needed, and their "chemistry" felt super forced...
But, it is a fun novel! It has a lot of talks with politics, and I really liked that! It reminded me of Disney's recent Queens Council series.
So, it's not perfect, but it is still good... It's my personal favorite Disney Villains series, so I hope they continue!
January 24, 2025
Faizal gives us a compelling look into the mind of Jafar, a young boy who only wanted to protect his brother.
Jafar and Rohan used to be street rats, stealing to eat and just trying to live their best lives. When their mother unfortunately passes away, their father finally decides he's going to work. He becomes a merchant, and he's great at it, but at what cost? He abuses Jafar and manipulates Rohan.
When they get the chance to escape, Jafar's only wish is to go to the House of Wisdom. Wishes don't always have the outcome you'd like, though, do they?
This novel was compelling and so well studied I felt that I was in Maghriz with the boys. Following along on their trials and tribulations, feelings their joys and heartbreaks.
This has now become my favorite in the Dark Ascension series!
Jafar and Rohan used to be street rats, stealing to eat and just trying to live their best lives. When their mother unfortunately passes away, their father finally decides he's going to work. He becomes a merchant, and he's great at it, but at what cost? He abuses Jafar and manipulates Rohan.
When they get the chance to escape, Jafar's only wish is to go to the House of Wisdom. Wishes don't always have the outcome you'd like, though, do they?
This novel was compelling and so well studied I felt that I was in Maghriz with the boys. Following along on their trials and tribulations, feelings their joys and heartbreaks.
This has now become my favorite in the Dark Ascension series!
June 24, 2025
3,5/5
Honestly this book is more enjoyable than i thought plus Jafar is likeable in this story.
He's just an abused and nostalgic boy who wants learn and learn every single day. But in facts, Jafar is just a nineteen year-old boy who imperfect like a human and who do choices for survive with his little bro. I liked follow the way darkness impregnates him more and more along the story.
On the other hand, his little bro bored me. Rohan is a 17-year-old dumb crybaby and argh. Around 50% of the way through the book, his POV becomes so boring, why he’s acts like what he’s put on competition with his bro ? Yes I understand that also difficult for him but he's acting childish and he's complained when treated as such.
However, faizal’s writing is still as beautiful and poetic as ever.
Honestly this book is more enjoyable than i thought plus Jafar is likeable in this story.
He's just an abused and nostalgic boy who wants learn and learn every single day. But in facts, Jafar is just a nineteen year-old boy who imperfect like a human and who do choices for survive with his little bro. I liked follow the way darkness impregnates him more and more along the story.
On the other hand, his little bro bored me. Rohan is a 17-year-old dumb crybaby and argh. Around 50% of the way through the book, his POV becomes so boring, why he’s acts like what he’s put on competition with his bro ? Yes I understand that also difficult for him but he's acting childish and he's complained when treated as such.
However, faizal’s writing is still as beautiful and poetic as ever.
March 21, 2025
"One cannot afford to be second best."
I love me a villain origin story. And coming off of Twisted, a Jafar origin story was definitely interesting. I like the set up for the Disney movie and love the backstory for Iago, something that I swear I've never seen explained anywhere? (Though I haven't seen the Aladdin animated series in a long time, so idk?) But the family backstory was different than any of the other other retellings I've read.
I love me a villain origin story. And coming off of Twisted, a Jafar origin story was definitely interesting. I like the set up for the Disney movie and love the backstory for Iago, something that I swear I've never seen explained anywhere? (Though I haven't seen the Aladdin animated series in a long time, so idk?) But the family backstory was different than any of the other other retellings I've read.
Read
January 8, 2025This is a beautiful back story that could go either way. Yes, we know that Jafar turns into a villain but his brother we have never heard anything about and there are times in this story where you question what his motives are. This is a beautifully crafted story that gives readers a deeper look into one of the most devious villains in Disney lore. I think that readers are going to love reading this back story and are going to be asking for more.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
January 13, 2025
i love retailings and i was excited about this despite my never reading Hafsah Faizal, but i found it to be very underwhelming and predictable! two characters’ constant change of feelings also made this book repetitive! but it was intriguing nonetheless! i wanted to see what would make Jafar evil but his turning into an evil person felt forced! 🥴 the ending made no sense to me! he did all that for power and then just left??? just like that??? the characters were not likeable either especially Rohan! that entitled brat got on my nerves throughout the book! 😑
February 6, 2025
I'm keeping in mind that these books are aimed at a younger audience. I'll read anything by Hafsah Faizal. I love the way she writes and pulls you in which she did with this book as well. As far as disney villain origin stories go I think the Once Upon a Time tvshow did Jafars story perfectly. I think I just wanted there to be more to his affinity with magic apart from him just being that smart.
March 21, 2025
Jafar and his younger brother Rohan fear their abusive merchant father.
Their mother is close to death, but has the strength to tell them one last story.
The brothers travel to the sultanate of Maghriz where the House of Wisdom is located.
Faizal incorporates nods to the animated Disney classic: Aladdin
Their mother is close to death, but has the strength to tell them one last story.
The brothers travel to the sultanate of Maghriz where the House of Wisdom is located.
Faizal incorporates nods to the animated Disney classic: Aladdin
May 19, 2025
Wow-what a story! No wonder Jafar is the way he is. He literally had everything taken from him by his brother; his future, his role as prince, and his one true love. The anger he drew upon made him powerful. This story is told in alternating perspectives and I found that to be confusing as it tried to maintain the same storyline but from different POV.
January 21, 2025
4.25 stars
The narrative pace was at neck-breaking speed but, still giving you enough info for you to feel like you weren’t missing anything to do with the plot. I really like getting origin stories of villains from movies/stories that I grew up with.
The narrative pace was at neck-breaking speed but, still giving you enough info for you to feel like you weren’t missing anything to do with the plot. I really like getting origin stories of villains from movies/stories that I grew up with.
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