What do you think?
Rate this book
Rostam Wrecks the Realm
“Fast-paced, funny, and wholly entertaining, this is a must-read for fans of Rick Riordan.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Last Dragon on Mars meets Persian mythology in this action-packed sci-fi fantasy space adventure about a boy fighting to save his planet after making a pact with an ancient demon that snuffs out their sun.
After leaving Earth, Rostam Zamini had just managed to make friends and gotten used to life on Enceladus—one of Saturn’s many moons—only to once again have to move when one of his moms gets a fancy new job on dusty and dull Pars-1. Thanks to the technology of Wishing—using djinn to power high-speed space travel—Rostam reaches his new home much sooner than he would have liked.
None of the Pars-1 kids seem to be impressed with Rostam’s big-city background. In desperate need of some space cred, Rostam makes a deal with Zahhak—a centuries-old demon prince—for popularity in exchange for the golden mace described in The Persian Book of Kings.
But when Rostam hands the mace over, he unknowingly plunges the planet into darkness by accidentally killing their ancient sun, a red giant. Now he must right his wrongs and save his new home before it’s too late.
The Last Dragon on Mars meets Persian mythology in this action-packed sci-fi fantasy space adventure about a boy fighting to save his planet after making a pact with an ancient demon that snuffs out their sun.
After leaving Earth, Rostam Zamini had just managed to make friends and gotten used to life on Enceladus—one of Saturn’s many moons—only to once again have to move when one of his moms gets a fancy new job on dusty and dull Pars-1. Thanks to the technology of Wishing—using djinn to power high-speed space travel—Rostam reaches his new home much sooner than he would have liked.
None of the Pars-1 kids seem to be impressed with Rostam’s big-city background. In desperate need of some space cred, Rostam makes a deal with Zahhak—a centuries-old demon prince—for popularity in exchange for the golden mace described in The Persian Book of Kings.
But when Rostam hands the mace over, he unknowingly plunges the planet into darkness by accidentally killing their ancient sun, a red giant. Now he must right his wrongs and save his new home before it’s too late.
Audible Audio
Published June 9, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 13, 2026
✨ Nothing sparks a lively book club quite like monsters, magical adventures & kids who aren't afraid to share exactly what they think!
Our Young Readers Book Club had an absolute blast reading Monster & Apprentice by Jessica Khoury & Rostam Wrecks the Realm by Olivia Abtahi. Both books led to nonstop discussions, plenty of laughs & more than a few "Wait...WHAT?!" moments.
🐉 Monster & Apprentice completely pulled us into its world. I loved the mix of action, mystery & heart as Rolan discovers where he truly belongs. The monster-filled world felt exciting without losing sight of the characters & I found myself rooting for Rolan as he grew into someone stronger & more confident.
What the kids had to say:
💬 "The monsters were creepy but really cool!"
💬 "Luc was tough, but he was my favorite."
💬 "I want to know what happens next!"
🚀 Rostam Wrecks the Realm was a totally different adventure & our group couldn't stop laughing at Rostam's larger-than-life mistakes. I loved how the story mixed science fiction, Persian mythology, humor & important lessons about responsibility. It was imaginative, fast-paced & gave us so much to talk about.
What the kids had to say:
💬 "Rostam kept making me laugh!"
💬 "I didn't expect THAT to happen!"
💬 "Can we read another one with him?"
What I appreciated most about both books was how different they were while still giving our readers memorable characters, exciting adventures & meaningful conversations. One delivered dark fantasy with monsters & courage, while the other offered a hilarious space adventure packed with mythology & heart. Watching our young readers light up during our discussion reminded me exactly why I love sharing books with kids.
⭐ Both books earned enthusiastic recommendations from our Young Readers Book Club & we'd happily hand either one to adventurous middle grade readers looking for their next great read.
✨️ Thank you, Simon Kids, Olivia Abtahi & Jessica Khoury, for sharing these books with us!
Our Young Readers Book Club had an absolute blast reading Monster & Apprentice by Jessica Khoury & Rostam Wrecks the Realm by Olivia Abtahi. Both books led to nonstop discussions, plenty of laughs & more than a few "Wait...WHAT?!" moments.
🐉 Monster & Apprentice completely pulled us into its world. I loved the mix of action, mystery & heart as Rolan discovers where he truly belongs. The monster-filled world felt exciting without losing sight of the characters & I found myself rooting for Rolan as he grew into someone stronger & more confident.
What the kids had to say:
💬 "The monsters were creepy but really cool!"
💬 "Luc was tough, but he was my favorite."
💬 "I want to know what happens next!"
🚀 Rostam Wrecks the Realm was a totally different adventure & our group couldn't stop laughing at Rostam's larger-than-life mistakes. I loved how the story mixed science fiction, Persian mythology, humor & important lessons about responsibility. It was imaginative, fast-paced & gave us so much to talk about.
What the kids had to say:
💬 "Rostam kept making me laugh!"
💬 "I didn't expect THAT to happen!"
💬 "Can we read another one with him?"
What I appreciated most about both books was how different they were while still giving our readers memorable characters, exciting adventures & meaningful conversations. One delivered dark fantasy with monsters & courage, while the other offered a hilarious space adventure packed with mythology & heart. Watching our young readers light up during our discussion reminded me exactly why I love sharing books with kids.
⭐ Both books earned enthusiastic recommendations from our Young Readers Book Club & we'd happily hand either one to adventurous middle grade readers looking for their next great read.
✨️ Thank you, Simon Kids, Olivia Abtahi & Jessica Khoury, for sharing these books with us!
June 5, 2026
I think I liked the idea of this book more than the execution. The sci-fi elements could have been better thought out, we’re told rather than shown that the main character is a bully, and the ways in which our story ties into the folklore feel really arbitrary.
That being said, it’s great to see a Shahnameh retelling at all because I’ve never seen another one.
That being said, it’s great to see a Shahnameh retelling at all because I’ve never seen another one.
August 20, 2026
Olivia's books are always such treasures. She has a special way of weaving in her culture and history and values into her stories. I walk away yearning to learn more! I enjoyed her take on traditional lore and will definitely be seeking out more of the Shahnameh stories. I think most kids and pre-teens can identify with Rostam and the desire to be popular no matter the consequences. This is another thing I love about Olivia's stories. She does a great job of speaking to the very real pressures of being a pre-teen and teen navigating growing up. Another great read!
Did Not Finish
October 18, 2026I put this down at 9% at the beginning of October (to read Spooky books) and I don't see myself going back to it.
Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Review to come closer to publication date.
Review to come closer to publication date.
August 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
August 23, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4. It wasn't what I was hoping for/expecting, but I enjoyed it.
November 2, 2026
Healing my inner child
April 27, 2026
Review closer to the publication date.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews