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The Bruising of Qilwa
In this intricate debut fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease that causes political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family.
Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.
But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.
Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.
Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.
But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.
Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.
176 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2022
83 people are currently reading
9066 people want to read
About the author
Naseem Jamnia
7 books185 followersNaseem Jamnia is the Judith A. Markowitz Award-winning and Astounding Award-nominated author of The Bruising of Qilwa, which was a finalist for the Crawford, Locus, and World Fantasy awards. Their middle grade horror debut, The Glade, releases May 27, 2025 (Aladdin). A Persian-Chicagoan, educator, and pro-library activist, Naseem lives outside Reno, NV, with their husband and four furred creatures. Find out more and join their newsletter at naseemwrites.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
April 28, 2022
Reminds me very much of early adolescence; earnest, sincere, and very awkward. I have no doubt that some will love it’s wholehearted embracement of the exploration of identity and I absolutely wish them enjoyment of this story. As a nurse caring for patients with blood cancers for over twenty years, I was looking forward to the mystery of a blood-borne disease and forbidden magic. Unfortunately, the storytelling was not up to the admittedly high bar the author has set themselves.
The story opens with the young immigrant Firuz seeking a job at a free clinic. Kofi, the owner, is in no position to turn down willing help, not with a new plague sweeping through the city. Firuz, their mother and younger brother are newly emigrated to the city, fleeing their home country and have landed in a shantytown on the outskirts of the City-State of Qilwa. I think they left because they are an ethnic subgroup, Sassanians, who are also known to practice blood magic, but there’s a lot of confusing detail about the history there that is tied up with family, gender, politics and magic. The backstory is told to the reader through the thoughts of Firuz, so it ends up being both awkward and dense (how often does one actively think about one’s ethnic history in a way that would make it easily understandable to an outsider to that history?). It is one reason I felt like the scope of the story was too big. Sometimes I thought Firuz and family left because of the plague, because of being Sassanian, or economic opportunities (yes, I’m aware it could be all of those things).
To add to the confusion, although there is a rapidly-spreading disease, Firuz, Kofi, and the local mortician are noticing what seems to be a new disease among their clients. This is where the story had a lot of potential, I thought; use the investigation of what is happening to interact with more characters and build the story. I think Jamnia tries, but it’s so limited; shortly after the the discussion around the first strange dead body, we meet Afsoneh and then take a hard left turn into working on blood magic with her and Firuz for the rest of the year-chapter.
What this mostly is is an identity story. Firuz is extremely awkward from the first. All of the following comes from the first interaction with Kofi: “Did everyone in this place present themselves with only their names…three weeks in Qilway, and Firuz still wasn’t used to it… Reminding themself to keep firm their grip, Firuz was dismayed at the unexpectedly limp grasp of their own clammy palm…Firuz pulled their shoulders back, readjusted their feet to stand steady, project a confidence they didn’t feel… ‘Huh?’ Firu touched the golden amulet they’d worn somewhat religiously for the last year…They passed it over, hiding a grimace as they did so… Spots peppered Firuz’s vision as their toes tingled [with nerves, presumably]… They played with the buttons on their shirt, willed the palpitations to calm, their muscles to loosen… “I’m–I’m a structuralist.”….”Wha….what?”
We get it, Jamnia; we get it. Firuz is awkward. Moving on now.
This is how much of the rest of the story goes; in stops and starts, fluttering forward when Firuz meets a patient with a strange symptom or encounters a trace of blood magic, and resting when Firuz undergoes internal wrestling with their own identity issues. To make it worse, Firuz is also has challenges with what could be called the identity issues of others. Going home from the clinic late one night, Firuz discovers a sick orphan in an alley, a teenager with a strong talent for blood magic. Additionally, Firuz’ younger sibling wants to undergo biological sex transition, and Firuz’s incomplete abilities in blood magic are seen as the only path to getting there. I think these are supposed to be red herrings to the mystery, but since the true wrong-doer is painfully obvious to everyone but Firuz (that’s what comes of all the navel-gazing, youngster), it most just serves to increase frustration with Firuz.
It’s divided into three sections; ‘First Year,’ ‘Second Year’ and ‘Third Year.’ As you might guess from both the titles and experiencing our own pandemic, pacing feels a bit awkward, frankly, thematically en pointe.
Where it does get points is in the attempts to integrate issues of gender norms, transitions, of immigration, beliefs surrounding disease; basically, without saying is, looking in a very (very) fragmented way of the idea of otherness. This could have been oh-so-good (see P. Djèlí Clark for an example) but needed to either tighten up (slim down on all those anxiety words, for instance) or expand into a novel. As is, your mileage will vary. If you’re intrigued, I encourage you to pick it up. If you are reading for the healing bits, I wouldn’t bother. They felt very fragmented and peripheral, serving more as adornments than baseline material.
Ultimately, I’d probably shelve it in the not-quite-for me category, under authors-to-watch division (it’s quite a sophisticated shelving system). I’d pass on the new-adult identity development unless it’s accompanied by much more cohesive world-building or mystery. Still, Jamnia has a talent with words and ideas, so they are one to watch.
Two and a half red blood cells, rounding up for good intentions.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for the eARC! As always, I’m the only one who thinks these things up!
The story opens with the young immigrant Firuz seeking a job at a free clinic. Kofi, the owner, is in no position to turn down willing help, not with a new plague sweeping through the city. Firuz, their mother and younger brother are newly emigrated to the city, fleeing their home country and have landed in a shantytown on the outskirts of the City-State of Qilwa. I think they left because they are an ethnic subgroup, Sassanians, who are also known to practice blood magic, but there’s a lot of confusing detail about the history there that is tied up with family, gender, politics and magic. The backstory is told to the reader through the thoughts of Firuz, so it ends up being both awkward and dense (how often does one actively think about one’s ethnic history in a way that would make it easily understandable to an outsider to that history?). It is one reason I felt like the scope of the story was too big. Sometimes I thought Firuz and family left because of the plague, because of being Sassanian, or economic opportunities (yes, I’m aware it could be all of those things).
To add to the confusion, although there is a rapidly-spreading disease, Firuz, Kofi, and the local mortician are noticing what seems to be a new disease among their clients. This is where the story had a lot of potential, I thought; use the investigation of what is happening to interact with more characters and build the story. I think Jamnia tries, but it’s so limited; shortly after the the discussion around the first strange dead body, we meet Afsoneh and then take a hard left turn into working on blood magic with her and Firuz for the rest of the year-chapter.
What this mostly is is an identity story. Firuz is extremely awkward from the first. All of the following comes from the first interaction with Kofi: “Did everyone in this place present themselves with only their names…three weeks in Qilway, and Firuz still wasn’t used to it… Reminding themself to keep firm their grip, Firuz was dismayed at the unexpectedly limp grasp of their own clammy palm…Firuz pulled their shoulders back, readjusted their feet to stand steady, project a confidence they didn’t feel… ‘Huh?’ Firu touched the golden amulet they’d worn somewhat religiously for the last year…They passed it over, hiding a grimace as they did so… Spots peppered Firuz’s vision as their toes tingled [with nerves, presumably]… They played with the buttons on their shirt, willed the palpitations to calm, their muscles to loosen… “I’m–I’m a structuralist.”….”Wha….what?”
We get it, Jamnia; we get it. Firuz is awkward. Moving on now.
This is how much of the rest of the story goes; in stops and starts, fluttering forward when Firuz meets a patient with a strange symptom or encounters a trace of blood magic, and resting when Firuz undergoes internal wrestling with their own identity issues. To make it worse, Firuz is also has challenges with what could be called the identity issues of others. Going home from the clinic late one night, Firuz discovers a sick orphan in an alley, a teenager with a strong talent for blood magic. Additionally, Firuz’ younger sibling wants to undergo biological sex transition, and Firuz’s incomplete abilities in blood magic are seen as the only path to getting there. I think these are supposed to be red herrings to the mystery, but since the true wrong-doer is painfully obvious to everyone but Firuz (that’s what comes of all the navel-gazing, youngster), it most just serves to increase frustration with Firuz.
It’s divided into three sections; ‘First Year,’ ‘Second Year’ and ‘Third Year.’ As you might guess from both the titles and experiencing our own pandemic, pacing feels a bit awkward, frankly, thematically en pointe.
Where it does get points is in the attempts to integrate issues of gender norms, transitions, of immigration, beliefs surrounding disease; basically, without saying is, looking in a very (very) fragmented way of the idea of otherness. This could have been oh-so-good (see P. Djèlí Clark for an example) but needed to either tighten up (slim down on all those anxiety words, for instance) or expand into a novel. As is, your mileage will vary. If you’re intrigued, I encourage you to pick it up. If you are reading for the healing bits, I wouldn’t bother. They felt very fragmented and peripheral, serving more as adornments than baseline material.
Ultimately, I’d probably shelve it in the not-quite-for me category, under authors-to-watch division (it’s quite a sophisticated shelving system). I’d pass on the new-adult identity development unless it’s accompanied by much more cohesive world-building or mystery. Still, Jamnia has a talent with words and ideas, so they are one to watch.
Two and a half red blood cells, rounding up for good intentions.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for the eARC! As always, I’m the only one who thinks these things up!
Read
February 3, 2025Hmmm I guess I won't review my own book, but I will say I worked very hard on it!! Also, I have a list of both content notes and types of representation in The Bruising of Qilwa on my website, if you're interested in those!
Also, this novella is standalone but the first book introducing this queernorm Persian-inspired world! More to come, hopefully.
(Not sure if it’s linking above so the website link is: https://www.naseemwrites.com/content-...)
Also, this novella is standalone but the first book introducing this queernorm Persian-inspired world! More to come, hopefully.
(Not sure if it’s linking above so the website link is: https://www.naseemwrites.com/content-...)
August 10, 2022
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I am all the way here for a Persian storyverse-inspired QUILTBAG-inclusive secondary world with a not-silly science-cum-majgickq system based on blood. This idea has me all excited, with the nigh-on irresistible urge to send the author CARE packages of food and crowdsourcing their laundry so they will not have to leave their writing desk unless answering the call of nature.
What keeps me from offering the story all five stars is the first-publication longueurs that are so very common as to feel universal. The storyverse is astonishingly successful in compelling my attention, given how brief the story here told is. There is a depth to Firuz's native Sassanians, a minority group not beloved in their world, and named by the author after the last pre-Muslim Persian empire in our world...echoes of the religious monopoly being enforced in many parts of the world, the intolerance that entails and encourages. The blood-magic system, with its science-tinged presentation, was presented as a source of fear and persecution; yet, during the plague that strikes Qilwa, it is urgently needed to help fix the problems this plague presents. The tables are turned and those so recently deemed outcast are needed to fix what the many are suffering. Always a great direction to aim a story!
So you can see that the story possesses many layers just from the little I've said; there are other normative things (eg, introducing one's self with pronoun and name, like I'd be "him–Richard" then just Richard after that...a lot like royalty gets to explain how they're addressed to us mere commoners on those rare occasions we're presented to them) that can unpack over the course of a long series of stories set in this place while instantly adding a lush richness to the present reading experience. What doesn't work so well is Firuz's social anxiety/awkwardness being borne down on narratively at every turn. I get it...they're very awkward, it's not necessary to repeat this every other page. There are points where their trans brother could've taken the stage more completely and thus enriched the read's texture; seeing him only from the outside is fine, like all inclusion, but his transition is so very much a driver of the story that allowing him to take center stage could've given me so much more. Satisfying my curiosity about how he sees this world would've given the plague, the clinic where Firuz practices healing, and what it is that Firuz and Kofi share that makes the clinic so real-feeling, needed dimensionality.
The surprisingly secondary character Afsoneh is a wild child, we're told; we're never really shown this facet of her character. Firoz mentors her and so should've had more of a struggle with her acting out if she's such a chaotic person. Instead it's brushed past. I know it's a function of the novella format. I'm even willing to go along with the clipping of storylines that this format requires uncomplainingly...IF I can trust that the characters are going to get more stage time later. Not too much later.
I bestow on this deeply involving read my most difficult-to-earn accolade: More, please.
My Review: I am all the way here for a Persian storyverse-inspired QUILTBAG-inclusive secondary world with a not-silly science-cum-majgickq system based on blood. This idea has me all excited, with the nigh-on irresistible urge to send the author CARE packages of food and crowdsourcing their laundry so they will not have to leave their writing desk unless answering the call of nature.
What keeps me from offering the story all five stars is the first-publication longueurs that are so very common as to feel universal. The storyverse is astonishingly successful in compelling my attention, given how brief the story here told is. There is a depth to Firuz's native Sassanians, a minority group not beloved in their world, and named by the author after the last pre-Muslim Persian empire in our world...echoes of the religious monopoly being enforced in many parts of the world, the intolerance that entails and encourages. The blood-magic system, with its science-tinged presentation, was presented as a source of fear and persecution; yet, during the plague that strikes Qilwa, it is urgently needed to help fix the problems this plague presents. The tables are turned and those so recently deemed outcast are needed to fix what the many are suffering. Always a great direction to aim a story!
So you can see that the story possesses many layers just from the little I've said; there are other normative things (eg, introducing one's self with pronoun and name, like I'd be "him–Richard" then just Richard after that...a lot like royalty gets to explain how they're addressed to us mere commoners on those rare occasions we're presented to them) that can unpack over the course of a long series of stories set in this place while instantly adding a lush richness to the present reading experience. What doesn't work so well is Firuz's social anxiety/awkwardness being borne down on narratively at every turn. I get it...they're very awkward, it's not necessary to repeat this every other page. There are points where their trans brother could've taken the stage more completely and thus enriched the read's texture; seeing him only from the outside is fine, like all inclusion, but his transition is so very much a driver of the story that allowing him to take center stage could've given me so much more. Satisfying my curiosity about how he sees this world would've given the plague, the clinic where Firuz practices healing, and what it is that Firuz and Kofi share that makes the clinic so real-feeling, needed dimensionality.
The surprisingly secondary character Afsoneh is a wild child, we're told; we're never really shown this facet of her character. Firoz mentors her and so should've had more of a struggle with her acting out if she's such a chaotic person. Instead it's brushed past. I know it's a function of the novella format. I'm even willing to go along with the clipping of storylines that this format requires uncomplainingly...IF I can trust that the characters are going to get more stage time later. Not too much later.
I bestow on this deeply involving read my most difficult-to-earn accolade: More, please.
February 20, 2022
I loved this gorgeous book about blood magic, chosen family and refugees in a hostile city. Naseem Jamnia has created a rich, complex world in a very short space, and I am so into it. I've read a lot of books lately about empires and rulers and warfare, and it's so refreshing to read a book that's about healers. People in this book are trans, non-binary, asexual and aromantic, and it's never a big deal but does matter to their characters, which I just adore. Firuz works as an assistant healer at a clinic run by the kindly Kofi, while teaching the novice blood-magic user Afsoneh and helping their brother Parviz to do a kind of top surgery. But a mysterious ailment is hurting people all over the city, and Firuz needs to find the cause before their fellow refugees are blamed. Jamnia deftly reveals a subtle but potent theme: when marginalized people are scared to use their power, because they're afraid others will hate them for it, bad things result. The Bruising of Qilwa left me wanting way more of this world and its magical systems — but above all, I wanted to spend way more time with these amazing characters. I need a whole series about Firuz, Parviz and Afsoneh. You should definitely savor this one.
Read
March 20, 2023A fantasy with a trans asexual magical medic in a Persian-inspired world, of collapsed empire and collapsing city. The worldbuilding is great and intense, and the characterisation of both the MC and the younger trans sibling. It didn't entirely click with me as a book because the MC is very much reactive, all but paralysed by a variety of guilts, and in general it's one of those books where characters are just existing in the world to show their lives, rather than plot-driven. This is something I've seen in quite a few published fantasies recently so it's very clearly something a lot of people enjoy reading (I'm again wondering if this is one of those things that's been unlocked by fanfic now). I needed more plot and agency but YMMV.
July 28, 2022
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the Persian inspired cultural elements of this fantasy novella. I love dark fantasy so I liked the use of blood magic. My favourite scenes were easily the ones involving the autopsies, which had some wonderful elements of body horror. I do wish there had been more character development and worldbuilding. I think the idea of this story would have been better executed in a long format.
I enjoyed the Persian inspired cultural elements of this fantasy novella. I love dark fantasy so I liked the use of blood magic. My favourite scenes were easily the ones involving the autopsies, which had some wonderful elements of body horror. I do wish there had been more character development and worldbuilding. I think the idea of this story would have been better executed in a long format.
March 27, 2022
Thank you to Tachyon Publishing and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my owb.
This was freaking fantastic!! Loved it so much. I hope Naseem continues to write fantasy and maybe something similar to this but a full length novel. I will wait 😌
The Bruising of Qilwa follows a nonbinary refugee as they leave their home in order to find a safe haven for their family. When they arrive in Qilwa, they find a job as a healer in a free clinic, working for Kofi. As they settle in to their new life, Firuz finds an orphan, Afsoneh, who is also a powerful blood mage and takes her under their wing. Firuz promises to teach her what they know, but only in maximum secrecy. In addition, Firuz and Kofi find new signs of a disease cycling through Qilwa. Rumors of blood magic abound and Firuz is terrified for their family and the consequences of the disease.
This novella was amazing!! I loved it with my whole heart. The way Persian culture influenced this book was beautiful. I loved that the whole cast is QPOC, we need more books and novellas like this one. Also, who doesn't love blood magic!? Sign me the heck up!
The other thing about this world that I think needs to be adapted in every other book stat is the way people introduced themselves. Pronouns were always included. Firuz introduced themselves as "they-Firuz" and I just love seeing pronouns normalized in fantasy. I need more books like this.
I loved the scientific aspects to this! It was so well done and while there is still some magic involved, it never felt like the science was completely unfounded. Which is something important to me as a scientist myself. I really loved seeing Firuz explore their magic and how they investigated the new disease.
This felt like a complete story. I wouldn't mind if it had been longer, mainly because I want more time in this world. The ending made sense and though the pace definitely picked up near the end, it didn't feel rushed. All in all, this is a must read!
The author has a rep breakdown and their own CWs here: https://www.naseemwrites.com/the-brui...
Rep: Refugee BIPOC nonbinary aroace MC with c-PTSD, BIPOC trans male side character, queer BIPOC female side character with c-PTSD, QBIPOC supporting cast, nonbinary side characters that use neopronouns, WLW side pairing, muslim inspired religious characters, chronically-ill side characters.
CWs: medical content, medical trauma, racism, xenophobia, mental illness (c-PTSD), blood, vomit, violence, death, child death, plague. Moderate: dysphoria, colonisation, genocide mentioned, disordered eating, self harm (pricking fingers/hand for blood), past mentions of child abuse, body horror, descriptions of corpses, trauma.
This was freaking fantastic!! Loved it so much. I hope Naseem continues to write fantasy and maybe something similar to this but a full length novel. I will wait 😌
The Bruising of Qilwa follows a nonbinary refugee as they leave their home in order to find a safe haven for their family. When they arrive in Qilwa, they find a job as a healer in a free clinic, working for Kofi. As they settle in to their new life, Firuz finds an orphan, Afsoneh, who is also a powerful blood mage and takes her under their wing. Firuz promises to teach her what they know, but only in maximum secrecy. In addition, Firuz and Kofi find new signs of a disease cycling through Qilwa. Rumors of blood magic abound and Firuz is terrified for their family and the consequences of the disease.
This novella was amazing!! I loved it with my whole heart. The way Persian culture influenced this book was beautiful. I loved that the whole cast is QPOC, we need more books and novellas like this one. Also, who doesn't love blood magic!? Sign me the heck up!
The other thing about this world that I think needs to be adapted in every other book stat is the way people introduced themselves. Pronouns were always included. Firuz introduced themselves as "they-Firuz" and I just love seeing pronouns normalized in fantasy. I need more books like this.
I loved the scientific aspects to this! It was so well done and while there is still some magic involved, it never felt like the science was completely unfounded. Which is something important to me as a scientist myself. I really loved seeing Firuz explore their magic and how they investigated the new disease.
This felt like a complete story. I wouldn't mind if it had been longer, mainly because I want more time in this world. The ending made sense and though the pace definitely picked up near the end, it didn't feel rushed. All in all, this is a must read!
The author has a rep breakdown and their own CWs here: https://www.naseemwrites.com/the-brui...
Rep: Refugee BIPOC nonbinary aroace MC with c-PTSD, BIPOC trans male side character, queer BIPOC female side character with c-PTSD, QBIPOC supporting cast, nonbinary side characters that use neopronouns, WLW side pairing, muslim inspired religious characters, chronically-ill side characters.
CWs: medical content, medical trauma, racism, xenophobia, mental illness (c-PTSD), blood, vomit, violence, death, child death, plague. Moderate: dysphoria, colonisation, genocide mentioned, disordered eating, self harm (pricking fingers/hand for blood), past mentions of child abuse, body horror, descriptions of corpses, trauma.
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March 21, 2023
A queernormative Persian-inspired fantasy tale of so many wonderful (and less wonderful) things.
This was very, very good, and definitely one that I probably should have read in print versus listened to because of all of the various nuances and world-building.
This was very, very good, and definitely one that I probably should have read in print versus listened to because of all of the various nuances and world-building.
August 31, 2022
Despite a rough start and a rushed conclusion, this Persian-inspired fantasy is a compelling story with a lot to say about queerness, family relationships, and the complexity of facing oppression as a member of a group that had oppressed others.
The Bruising of Qilwa follows a non-binary immigrant and secret practitioner of blood magic working as a healer in a community clinic. But they start noticing strange symptoms in many of their patients and begin to suspect harmful magic. Meanwhile their teen brother is experiencing intense dysphoria and is desperate for something to help them fully transition, and they take in a girl off the streets who is an untrained blood mage.
The beginning is info-dumpy and kind of boring. The stakes don't become clear until a little ways into the book, and then the conclusion feels quite rushed. And because it's a relatively short novel, this definitely has an impact on the reading experience. However, what I thought initially would be more like a 3-star read really ended up selling me on its project, and the execution of the entire middle of the book is very strong. I would love to see more from this author in the future and I think this is well worth your time, just give it awhile to get going. There is a lot to like here. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Note that this book contains graphic medical imagery, blood, gore, death, remembrance of abusive training practices in childhood, racism, dysphoria, and more.
The Bruising of Qilwa follows a non-binary immigrant and secret practitioner of blood magic working as a healer in a community clinic. But they start noticing strange symptoms in many of their patients and begin to suspect harmful magic. Meanwhile their teen brother is experiencing intense dysphoria and is desperate for something to help them fully transition, and they take in a girl off the streets who is an untrained blood mage.
The beginning is info-dumpy and kind of boring. The stakes don't become clear until a little ways into the book, and then the conclusion feels quite rushed. And because it's a relatively short novel, this definitely has an impact on the reading experience. However, what I thought initially would be more like a 3-star read really ended up selling me on its project, and the execution of the entire middle of the book is very strong. I would love to see more from this author in the future and I think this is well worth your time, just give it awhile to get going. There is a lot to like here. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Note that this book contains graphic medical imagery, blood, gore, death, remembrance of abusive training practices in childhood, racism, dysphoria, and more.
June 7, 2024
The Bruising of Qilwa is a novella about refugees, a pandemic, and blood magic. Firuz-e Jafari is a refugee in the city working at a clinic and, most importantly, they're an adept in blood magic at a time the citizens of Qilwa become inflicted with a strange disease: blood bruising.
I don’t usually enjoy novellas or fantasy, so I’m sure this novella will rock someone else’s world. I did like the touch of body horror (in autopsies) and having a chosen family trope, though I liked that this was a refugee story first. This being said, I’m not really into fantasy or magic. In fact, this book had me thinking of the video game series Dragon Age and how I always side with the templars to get rid of the blood mages. I don’t know if this novella chewed enough on blood magic to know the bad things it does (maybe it doesn’t do anything bad in this world, I don’t even know, magic systems confuse me) (disclaimer that this book talks about the morals behind blood magic but I wanted a bit more? idk).
The book was quite character-focused, which I normally like, but I don’t think I connected with the main character. Seeing a refugee working at a clinic in a collapsing empire seems like a smashing good introduction to a bigger book, but as a novella, it just left me very cold and underwhelmed. Firuz-e is mostly going with the flow and reacting to things and then the book ends, basically.
While this is a bit of an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situation, I still enjoyed the book. I liked that this was queernormative and following a nonbinary main character (and asexual and aromantic! Love me some ace rep, it’s been a while since I’ve read anything with asexuality in it).
I don’t usually enjoy novellas or fantasy, so I’m sure this novella will rock someone else’s world. I did like the touch of body horror (in autopsies) and having a chosen family trope, though I liked that this was a refugee story first. This being said, I’m not really into fantasy or magic. In fact, this book had me thinking of the video game series Dragon Age and how I always side with the templars to get rid of the blood mages. I don’t know if this novella chewed enough on blood magic to know the bad things it does (maybe it doesn’t do anything bad in this world, I don’t even know, magic systems confuse me) (disclaimer that this book talks about the morals behind blood magic but I wanted a bit more? idk).
The book was quite character-focused, which I normally like, but I don’t think I connected with the main character. Seeing a refugee working at a clinic in a collapsing empire seems like a smashing good introduction to a bigger book, but as a novella, it just left me very cold and underwhelmed. Firuz-e is mostly going with the flow and reacting to things and then the book ends, basically.
While this is a bit of an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situation, I still enjoyed the book. I liked that this was queernormative and following a nonbinary main character (and asexual and aromantic! Love me some ace rep, it’s been a while since I’ve read anything with asexuality in it).
Want to read
May 21, 202221.05.2022 i can read this early now yesss
01.02.2022 a non-binary refugee and blood magic;
01.02.2022 a non-binary refugee and blood magic;
April 19, 2023
Stunning novella set in a universe reminiscent of and based upon medieval Persia. There's much to praise, the representation is stellar in my opinion and the universe Naseem Jamnia creates is vibrant and stifling at the same time. I haven't read a lot of fantastical books where medicine plays a major role, so for me this is an additional bonus. Even though the book is really short and I understand why many reviewers had problems with the pacing, I will not reduce the rating as I think this is really an exceptional book, even if it's not entirely flawless. I will for sure follow up on the author!
May 20, 2022
DRC provided directly by Tachyon in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: asexual aromantic non-binary West-Asian-coded protagonist, trans West-Asian-coded secondary character, queer West-Asian-coded secondary character, West-Asian-coded secondary and tertiary characters.
Content Warning: plague, racism, xenophobia, overworking, elitism, classism, violence, bullying, death.
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia is an intriguing fantasy novella about a magical, West-Asian inspired realm which focuses on the life of Firuz-e Jafari, their family and the plague overrunning the city-state of Qilwa.
Firuz is a blood magic user who because of the persecution of those like them in Dilmun was forced to study structural theory and escape their homeland with their family. In Qilwa, they find work in a public clinic owned by a healer sympathetic to the refugees’ misery, while an enigmatic plague infects the population, claiming lives without distinction.
I had very high expectations for this novella and I hated that it disappointed me in part. I am not saying I did not like it, let’s be clear, I thought it was good; enough that I am awaiting whatever else Naseem comes up with, but that does not mean it was perfect. I am using perfect loosely here as I know nothing can ever be “perfect”. What I mean is that although I enjoyed this book, I have some reservations about it, mostly in regards to the fact that it did not feel to me like a standalone novella, but rather the beginning of a larger story, a sort of prologue, an introduction. It seemed unfinished, incomplete, a taste of what it is come because as far as I know Naseem intends to revisit this world and I will certainly welcome with open arms other (longer) stories set in this magical realm, rooted in Persian and Iranian culture and history.
I am usually, if not almost always, of the opinion that a three-stars rating is a good rating, but I must be sincere and in this case, I am more inclined in defining this as a “negative” three-stars rating. I reckon I need to repeat though that this book is not a bad one. I just think this story needed more time to consolidate in its truest form.
The Bruising of Qilwa graces the reader with great world-building and ever greater characters whom one cannot stop themselves from falling in love with while also delving into hard political themes, especially colonisation. It may not be a “perfect” reading experience (or at least it was not for me), but I can unquestionably say that Naseem Jamnia’s craft, originality and their voice shone through in this tale and will certainly bring excellent narrations in the future.
Representation: asexual aromantic non-binary West-Asian-coded protagonist, trans West-Asian-coded secondary character, queer West-Asian-coded secondary character, West-Asian-coded secondary and tertiary characters.
Content Warning: plague, racism, xenophobia, overworking, elitism, classism, violence, bullying, death.
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia is an intriguing fantasy novella about a magical, West-Asian inspired realm which focuses on the life of Firuz-e Jafari, their family and the plague overrunning the city-state of Qilwa.
Firuz is a blood magic user who because of the persecution of those like them in Dilmun was forced to study structural theory and escape their homeland with their family. In Qilwa, they find work in a public clinic owned by a healer sympathetic to the refugees’ misery, while an enigmatic plague infects the population, claiming lives without distinction.
I had very high expectations for this novella and I hated that it disappointed me in part. I am not saying I did not like it, let’s be clear, I thought it was good; enough that I am awaiting whatever else Naseem comes up with, but that does not mean it was perfect. I am using perfect loosely here as I know nothing can ever be “perfect”. What I mean is that although I enjoyed this book, I have some reservations about it, mostly in regards to the fact that it did not feel to me like a standalone novella, but rather the beginning of a larger story, a sort of prologue, an introduction. It seemed unfinished, incomplete, a taste of what it is come because as far as I know Naseem intends to revisit this world and I will certainly welcome with open arms other (longer) stories set in this magical realm, rooted in Persian and Iranian culture and history.
I am usually, if not almost always, of the opinion that a three-stars rating is a good rating, but I must be sincere and in this case, I am more inclined in defining this as a “negative” three-stars rating. I reckon I need to repeat though that this book is not a bad one. I just think this story needed more time to consolidate in its truest form.
The Bruising of Qilwa graces the reader with great world-building and ever greater characters whom one cannot stop themselves from falling in love with while also delving into hard political themes, especially colonisation. It may not be a “perfect” reading experience (or at least it was not for me), but I can unquestionably say that Naseem Jamnia’s craft, originality and their voice shone through in this tale and will certainly bring excellent narrations in the future.
September 7, 2024
“Migrants flood the city, an outbreak disease happens, and what do we do? Bar the gates and hoard resources for ourselves, let people die in the streets instead of granting them a dignified passing. By those who call themselves learned people, no less.”
This is a fantasy novella set in a Persian-inspired world, where a refugee and secret practitioner of blood magic finds work as an aspiring healer at a free clinic. But when Firuz and their mentor, Kofi, discover a terrible disease spreading across Qilwa, they both try to find answers. Even with such an interesting premise, the story failed to capture my attention and I saw the plot twist coming, so it took me more days to finish it than it should have. That said, I appreciate the author’s discussion of topics like migration and xenophobia, as well as their introduction of a queernormative fantasy world with a non-binary protagonist.
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March 23, 2024
"What does it mean to be oppressed when you were once the oppressor?"
I will keep thinking back to this book and its implications for a while. Loved the Persian setting together with the wonderful representation of an open queer community, nonetheless that the magic system was based on medicinal science. The writing style needed a bit to get used to, especially with the cultural inflictions that were only sparsely explained. Overall though, it was a very powerful read!
I will keep thinking back to this book and its implications for a while. Loved the Persian setting together with the wonderful representation of an open queer community, nonetheless that the magic system was based on medicinal science. The writing style needed a bit to get used to, especially with the cultural inflictions that were only sparsely explained. Overall though, it was a very powerful read!
March 15, 2023
the persian and non-binary firuz is a refugee in qilwa during a plague. they work as a healer and participate in blood magic to cure illnesses and save others. while some are skeptical of them, they have a good heart and work endlessly to help others.
this novel feels a bit awkward in it’s pacing, as year one, two, and three are vastly different from each other in content and substance. there are a few odd plot holes and characters who arrive, but then disappear in later years. it is enjoyable, but not fully developed.
this novel feels a bit awkward in it’s pacing, as year one, two, and three are vastly different from each other in content and substance. there are a few odd plot holes and characters who arrive, but then disappear in later years. it is enjoyable, but not fully developed.
November 13, 2023
This debut novel by Jamnia is described as a "queernormative, Persian-inspired fantasy." For a first book, and a novella at that, it delves pretty deeply into issues of immigration, refugees, cultural identity, gender identity, family, and equitable access to medical care. All of this, deftly woven into a seemingly straightforward medical mystery with an interesting magical system. Props all around, and I will be waiting to see what else this talented author produces. Kudos to them!
February 26, 2022
NetGalley provided an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars for me.
The Bruising of Qilwa was a beautiful world filled to the brim with queer characters and an interestingly built magic system. This novella scratched the surface of this world, and while I enjoyed the introduction, I desperately wanted to know more about the world itself, as well as the characters within it. There is room for so much growth and expansion in Qilwa as well as in the backstories of the characters. We received scraps of information, and I kept reaching for just a bit more. Additionally, the pacing was a bit off for me, because it felt as though we skipped from event to event without much transition, particularly at the beginning.
With all of that said, I would happily read a full series about this world and these characters. My chief complaint was simply that I wanted more.
3.5 stars for me.
The Bruising of Qilwa was a beautiful world filled to the brim with queer characters and an interestingly built magic system. This novella scratched the surface of this world, and while I enjoyed the introduction, I desperately wanted to know more about the world itself, as well as the characters within it. There is room for so much growth and expansion in Qilwa as well as in the backstories of the characters. We received scraps of information, and I kept reaching for just a bit more. Additionally, the pacing was a bit off for me, because it felt as though we skipped from event to event without much transition, particularly at the beginning.
With all of that said, I would happily read a full series about this world and these characters. My chief complaint was simply that I wanted more.
September 25, 2024
2024 reads: 85/250
firuz-e jafari leaves home to find a refuge for their family. they find a job in qilwa as a healer, leading to them discovering signs of a new disease that could put their new life and their family in danger.
i tend to be a bit skeptical of fantasy novellas, as it just doesn’t seem like there’d be enough time to fully build a world i can immerse myself into. however, this was not the case for this one! naseem jamnia did an incredible job with creating this world and using it to explore themes of colonization, queerness, and immigration.
firuz-e jafari leaves home to find a refuge for their family. they find a job in qilwa as a healer, leading to them discovering signs of a new disease that could put their new life and their family in danger.
i tend to be a bit skeptical of fantasy novellas, as it just doesn’t seem like there’d be enough time to fully build a world i can immerse myself into. however, this was not the case for this one! naseem jamnia did an incredible job with creating this world and using it to explore themes of colonization, queerness, and immigration.
November 19, 2023
I so wanted to love this novel I did but I couldn't. The themes were relevant, like immigration and colonisation. The magic system was interesting, and rather intriguing, especially since it is medical fantasy, if you will. Yet the storytelling was sometimes stilted and awkward and fragmented I found it hard to immerse myself and relate with the characters. Even finishing more than once chapter in every sitting sometimes became a chore. There was a mystery plot of a mysterious disease that had the potential to be a riveting or suspenseful read but it did not. There were many 'almosts', I think. Yet, I am glad I read this and nominated it for a group read. I think it is a story that could widen your views. Anyway, I plan to read the short story, maybe it would be a better experience.
March 6, 2024
A beautiful short fantasy book – perhaps slightly too short, as I’ll get to in a minute! The story follows Firuz, a refugee who is partially trained as a blood-mage healer, and who is currently living in the City-State of Qilwa with their mother and brother. Firuz gets a job working with local healer Kofi in a clinic that serves the low-income area where they live, and after a while are alarmed to see that a “normal” plague that had been affecting the immigrants seems to have given way to a strange disorder of the blood that causes bruising. They fear that it is caused by the activities of a poorly-trained blood-mage…but can’t say so because they don’t want to give away that both they and a teenage girl they’ve taken on as a mentee use this forbidden magic themselves.
I really enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book…which is why I wish some of them had been expanded on just a bit further! For instance, the conflict between Qilwa and Dilmun, and the reasons neither place is very nice to Sassanians (the ethnic group Firuz belongs to) are both thematically important, so it would have been nice to have a map and/or a historic timeline to ensure that readers definitely understand what is happening. Likewise, I love that Firuz being nonbinary and their brother being trans is just a fully accepted part of this world that causes no conflict (except when ‘alignments’ – transition magic – are made inaccessible by socio-economic factors, that is). But I would have loved to get a little bit more on the pronoun systems. Besides “he” and “she”, there’s “they”, “hu”, “ou”, and – I think – “ey”. Given that this is a long-established part of the language, I would expect the last 3-4 to mean at least slightly different things, and indeed “ou” only seems to be used for gods…but I can’t really tell otherwise, and it would be cool if (as I’m imagining) this culture actually has 4-5 long-accepted human gender categories. The three different magic systems were awesome; I think we got enough to understand them, but I certainly wouldn’t have minded seeing more, like the growing of the giant mushroom boats, or the way Kofi uses environmental magic for healing! Finally, the ending was a bit more rushed than I would prefer.
I’d seen a lot of reviews complaining that the pacing of this book was weird. I didn’t know what that meant until Jassmine, who was also reading this for WBTM, and wasn’t bothered by the pacing either, noted that serious action/plot advancement only happens periodically, and in between there’s a lot of Firuz’s everyday life and internal reflections. This reminds me of Ursula Le Guin’s observation that many people are bothered by the “rocking horse gait” of Lord of the Rings, where actiony bits are interspersed with long slow bits. But it isn’t like the slow bits in both stories aren’t doing anything! They are quite important for developing the themes, character interactions, and sense of immersion in the world. So, since that didn’t bother me over 1000-some pages of LOTR, of course it didn’t bother me in less than 200 pages!
I really enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book…which is why I wish some of them had been expanded on just a bit further! For instance, the conflict between Qilwa and Dilmun, and the reasons neither place is very nice to Sassanians (the ethnic group Firuz belongs to) are both thematically important, so it would have been nice to have a map and/or a historic timeline to ensure that readers definitely understand what is happening. Likewise, I love that Firuz being nonbinary and their brother being trans is just a fully accepted part of this world that causes no conflict (except when ‘alignments’ – transition magic – are made inaccessible by socio-economic factors, that is). But I would have loved to get a little bit more on the pronoun systems. Besides “he” and “she”, there’s “they”, “hu”, “ou”, and – I think – “ey”. Given that this is a long-established part of the language, I would expect the last 3-4 to mean at least slightly different things, and indeed “ou” only seems to be used for gods…but I can’t really tell otherwise, and it would be cool if (as I’m imagining) this culture actually has 4-5 long-accepted human gender categories. The three different magic systems were awesome; I think we got enough to understand them, but I certainly wouldn’t have minded seeing more, like the growing of the giant mushroom boats, or the way Kofi uses environmental magic for healing! Finally, the ending was a bit more rushed than I would prefer.
I’d seen a lot of reviews complaining that the pacing of this book was weird. I didn’t know what that meant until Jassmine, who was also reading this for WBTM, and wasn’t bothered by the pacing either, noted that serious action/plot advancement only happens periodically, and in between there’s a lot of Firuz’s everyday life and internal reflections. This reminds me of Ursula Le Guin’s observation that many people are bothered by the “rocking horse gait” of Lord of the Rings, where actiony bits are interspersed with long slow bits. But it isn’t like the slow bits in both stories aren’t doing anything! They are quite important for developing the themes, character interactions, and sense of immersion in the world. So, since that didn’t bother me over 1000-some pages of LOTR, of course it didn’t bother me in less than 200 pages!
September 11, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Tachyon Publications for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
In a narrative that's as awkward as our protagonist, I appreciated the commentary on identity, probably more than the story deserves.
Unfortunately, I don't think The Bruising of Qilwa is long enough to meet the expectations Jamnia sets. There is so much to cover; refugees, colonisation, and overcoming history are the first group of big-ticket items we're introduced to, but this is quickly followed by trans and non-binary talking points. I liked that pronouns weren't a big issue, but gender reassignment is definitely more complicated - and yet less complicated, depending on where you live in our world. This feeling of more or less or maybe not complicated is one I felt a lot throughout The Bruising of Qilwa . Because, despite everything we're already juggling, let's throw in acceptable magics vs cursed/possibly illegal blood magic, a plague, a mysterious disease, a surprise untrained orphan mage, and family problems. Did I mention that book is less than 200 pages?
"Blood would always tell, and its capacity to heal the body and fight off disease would forever impress them. What else could it do that they'd yet to discover?"
While Firuz's awkwardness never wanes, their pure goodness made it easier to stomach. Feeling guilty for every decision made is not an easy way to go through life. Beautifully written, I never wondered what the setting was like - Jamnia has a gift for placing you somewhere and making it real in every way. I wish more of this was directed towards the magic/fantasy parts of the read - it did feel shuffled to the side sometimes to make way for everything else going on. I think Jamnia did an impressive job for the length of this story, but I wish it was longer and more fully fleshed out.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
In a narrative that's as awkward as our protagonist, I appreciated the commentary on identity, probably more than the story deserves.
Unfortunately, I don't think The Bruising of Qilwa is long enough to meet the expectations Jamnia sets. There is so much to cover; refugees, colonisation, and overcoming history are the first group of big-ticket items we're introduced to, but this is quickly followed by trans and non-binary talking points. I liked that pronouns weren't a big issue, but gender reassignment is definitely more complicated - and yet less complicated, depending on where you live in our world. This feeling of more or less or maybe not complicated is one I felt a lot throughout The Bruising of Qilwa . Because, despite everything we're already juggling, let's throw in acceptable magics vs cursed/possibly illegal blood magic, a plague, a mysterious disease, a surprise untrained orphan mage, and family problems. Did I mention that book is less than 200 pages?
"Blood would always tell, and its capacity to heal the body and fight off disease would forever impress them. What else could it do that they'd yet to discover?"
While Firuz's awkwardness never wanes, their pure goodness made it easier to stomach. Feeling guilty for every decision made is not an easy way to go through life. Beautifully written, I never wondered what the setting was like - Jamnia has a gift for placing you somewhere and making it real in every way. I wish more of this was directed towards the magic/fantasy parts of the read - it did feel shuffled to the side sometimes to make way for everything else going on. I think Jamnia did an impressive job for the length of this story, but I wish it was longer and more fully fleshed out.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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March 24, 2023
Ahoy there mateys! This book is described by the publisher with “Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family.” The main character is a nonbinary refugee who has to hide their blood magic and works as a healer. This was another book where I enjoyed a lot of the elements but overall was a left unsatisfied. I did not feel that the book was nuanced, just messy. The mystery was not really surprising and how it gets solved was rather boring. In general I felt like this book would have been much improved with a larger page count. I ended up not really understanding the politics or history of the region. The main character was awkward and clueless and I couldn’t really grasp if they were actually supposed to be an adult or not. The plot gets muddied with the plotline of a rescued street orphan. The main character’s brother had a sympathetic plight but went about it the wrong way. No one communicated properly. I didn’t dislike this book but didn’t really love it either. I would read something else by the author though to give their work another shot. Arrr!
March 14, 2022
“What does it mean to be oppressed when you were once an oppressor?”
Absolutely LOVED this. This book was a gorgeously written deep dive into immigration, gender and sexuality, and healing from trauma. And an all-queer, all-BIPOC cast has me so excited to recommend this to customers when it comes out.
A medical drama meets political fantasy, Firuz, a mistrusted refugee training as a healer, tries to find the cause to a strange new plague after immigrating to the recently freed state of Qilwa. This was so gripping through and through — as a part of a marginalized ethnic group, Firuz goes through a lot of personal development as they protect their siblings from the horrors of discrimination while making a life for them in a place that doesn’t want to see them succeed.
Wish I could go into more without spoiling it but this is one of my favorite reads so far of 2022! Also really recommend looking into Spear by Nicola Griffith if this sounds like something you’re into!
Absolutely LOVED this. This book was a gorgeously written deep dive into immigration, gender and sexuality, and healing from trauma. And an all-queer, all-BIPOC cast has me so excited to recommend this to customers when it comes out.
A medical drama meets political fantasy, Firuz, a mistrusted refugee training as a healer, tries to find the cause to a strange new plague after immigrating to the recently freed state of Qilwa. This was so gripping through and through — as a part of a marginalized ethnic group, Firuz goes through a lot of personal development as they protect their siblings from the horrors of discrimination while making a life for them in a place that doesn’t want to see them succeed.
Wish I could go into more without spoiling it but this is one of my favorite reads so far of 2022! Also really recommend looking into Spear by Nicola Griffith if this sounds like something you’re into!
August 5, 2022
Thank you to Naseem Jamnia, Tachyon Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Bruising of Qilwa is the queer normative fantasy medical mystery I didn't know I needed. Set in a Persian inspired fantasy world, this story takes us along with Firuz, a non binary refugee, as they face many difficult situations such as immigration, colonization and being colonized and the multiple layers of grief and resilience. And along the way, forms strong bonds with their family, discovered a new plague in their town, and must help a orphan with her magic.
I am truly in awe of the world-building in Qilwa, the queer normative language and idea of gender, family, and magic. This novella was exactly what I needed and is still stuck with me. I catch myself thinking of the world Jamnia crafted and I can't wait to read more from them.
The Bruising of Qilwa is the queer normative fantasy medical mystery I didn't know I needed. Set in a Persian inspired fantasy world, this story takes us along with Firuz, a non binary refugee, as they face many difficult situations such as immigration, colonization and being colonized and the multiple layers of grief and resilience. And along the way, forms strong bonds with their family, discovered a new plague in their town, and must help a orphan with her magic.
I am truly in awe of the world-building in Qilwa, the queer normative language and idea of gender, family, and magic. This novella was exactly what I needed and is still stuck with me. I catch myself thinking of the world Jamnia crafted and I can't wait to read more from them.
January 9, 2024
I really loved this! I actually think I might be able to write this review right away...
Why should you read this:
1. Queer-normative world kind of reminiscent of Neon Yang's or Becky Chambers's work. All the pronouns!
2. NB asexual protagonist who very much feels like a real person.
3. The relationships between our characters are so...! Just so real... this book focuses on relationship between siblings a lot and I loved that part, I'm always sucker for that. And then also on a relationships between mentors and their mentees. All of those feel very real (as I already said, could you tell I really liked this book?), featuring both the joys and the grieves. The book was sometimes absolutely heart wrenching, but also very sweet in places.
4. The setting feels very lush and rich (and poor, because you know, slums...) and it kind of reminded me P. Djèlí Clark's A Dead Djinn in Cairo Universe, so... I feel like if you enjoyed that one, you might like this and vice versa. (Obviously, Dead Djinn in Cairo is set in... Cairo, while this novella is set in fantasy version of Iran, so it's different, but...)
I feel like I need to add that this isn't an exciting book with lot of action and backstabbing. The story is always there, but it's kind of understated and the book MIGHT be boring for some people, but I guess those people have no taste. This was a lovely read that I highly recommend, the actual rating is nearing 4,5⭐
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
___________
Edit: 9.1.2024 I read Nothing Less Than Bones short-story you will get if you sign up for Jamnia's newsletter. It was an interesting read, in the way Alt Universe fanfic is interesting. I suppose Nothing Less Than Bones is the earlier version of the novella and as such is interesting to read, but if I compared them I much prefer the novella version. I can't pinpoint what bothered me about the ending of this one, but something did. I would recommend this if you are interested in the creative process and if you like Alt Universe stories, I guess you are safe to skip this otherwise.
Why should you read this:
1. Queer-normative world kind of reminiscent of Neon Yang's or Becky Chambers's work. All the pronouns!
2. NB asexual protagonist who very much feels like a real person.
3. The relationships between our characters are so...! Just so real... this book focuses on relationship between siblings a lot and I loved that part, I'm always sucker for that. And then also on a relationships between mentors and their mentees. All of those feel very real (as I already said, could you tell I really liked this book?), featuring both the joys and the grieves. The book was sometimes absolutely heart wrenching, but also very sweet in places.
4. The setting feels very lush and rich (and poor, because you know, slums...) and it kind of reminded me P. Djèlí Clark's A Dead Djinn in Cairo Universe, so... I feel like if you enjoyed that one, you might like this and vice versa. (Obviously, Dead Djinn in Cairo is set in... Cairo, while this novella is set in fantasy version of Iran, so it's different, but...)
I feel like I need to add that this isn't an exciting book with lot of action and backstabbing. The story is always there, but it's kind of understated and the book MIGHT be boring for some people, but I guess those people have no taste. This was a lovely read that I highly recommend, the actual rating is nearing 4,5⭐
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
___________
Edit: 9.1.2024 I read Nothing Less Than Bones short-story you will get if you sign up for Jamnia's newsletter. It was an interesting read, in the way Alt Universe fanfic is interesting. I suppose Nothing Less Than Bones is the earlier version of the novella and as such is interesting to read, but if I compared them I much prefer the novella version. I can't pinpoint what bothered me about the ending of this one, but something did. I would recommend this if you are interested in the creative process and if you like Alt Universe stories, I guess you are safe to skip this otherwise.
April 8, 2024
Short but unique and very immersive.
This a story about what it means to be an unwanted refugee from a country that once treated outsiders badly itself. It's a story about family and the fight to keep it together. It's a story about the dangers of too much knowledge and the power behind it.
Overall, it's quite an impressive and moving novella that was wonderfully paced and well crafted in its characters.
This a story about what it means to be an unwanted refugee from a country that once treated outsiders badly itself. It's a story about family and the fight to keep it together. It's a story about the dangers of too much knowledge and the power behind it.
Overall, it's quite an impressive and moving novella that was wonderfully paced and well crafted in its characters.
February 21, 2025
reread 2024: listened to the audiobook this time around. I love this world and am so excited we are getting more.
original review:
Firuz is one Sassanian refuge of many who are seeking safety behind Qilwa's walls with their family. Their blood magic abilities are just another reason for them to be careful when they start working under healer Kofi's guidance.
This layered debut explores themes of gender, immigration and family while having a new, disturbing sickness spreading through the city.
The beautiful cover of this Persian-inspired fantasy encaptures the feeling of reading it well. It's rich in colours and descriptions, the ambiance works in tandem with our nonbinary aroace protagonist to bring you closer, the many little details that offer a rich and complicated history to make it all fit together.
I enjoyed simply existing in this world, following Firuz as they worked so hard for their trans brother and their old mother to bring food to the table, always willing to lend a helping hand. It's also wonderful to see that the entire cast consists of queer characters of colour (SWANA-coded) that are existing in a queernormative world, including neopronouns.
I liked all this but I was expecting more thrill for a book with an unknown disease. It's suprsisingly mellow despite the graphic content and I was never feeling the fear of a possible outbreak.
The more interesting point of tension I was not really expecting revolves around the cultural history of Qilwa and how to deal with your racial identity when you've been both the oppressor and the oppressed.
As of right now, I enjoyed my time reading this story. I liked all the characters and the overall plot progression. But I don't feel truly satisfied. The story touches upon a lot of things which in turn means that some things don't get as much attention as they might deserve (or require) to shine. I am honestly a little unsure as to why the page count is so low since there was plenty of opportunity to expand (on plot, on mystery, on characterization) yet the author decided not to.
As a novella, it does not quite hit the spot for me. As a full novel, it doesn't quite either.
I received an advanced reading copy from Tachyon Publications through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
original review:
Firuz is one Sassanian refuge of many who are seeking safety behind Qilwa's walls with their family. Their blood magic abilities are just another reason for them to be careful when they start working under healer Kofi's guidance.
This layered debut explores themes of gender, immigration and family while having a new, disturbing sickness spreading through the city.
The beautiful cover of this Persian-inspired fantasy encaptures the feeling of reading it well. It's rich in colours and descriptions, the ambiance works in tandem with our nonbinary aroace protagonist to bring you closer, the many little details that offer a rich and complicated history to make it all fit together.
I enjoyed simply existing in this world, following Firuz as they worked so hard for their trans brother and their old mother to bring food to the table, always willing to lend a helping hand. It's also wonderful to see that the entire cast consists of queer characters of colour (SWANA-coded) that are existing in a queernormative world, including neopronouns.
I liked all this but I was expecting more thrill for a book with an unknown disease. It's suprsisingly mellow despite the graphic content and I was never feeling the fear of a possible outbreak.
The more interesting point of tension I was not really expecting revolves around the cultural history of Qilwa and how to deal with your racial identity when you've been both the oppressor and the oppressed.
As of right now, I enjoyed my time reading this story. I liked all the characters and the overall plot progression. But I don't feel truly satisfied. The story touches upon a lot of things which in turn means that some things don't get as much attention as they might deserve (or require) to shine. I am honestly a little unsure as to why the page count is so low since there was plenty of opportunity to expand (on plot, on mystery, on characterization) yet the author decided not to.
As a novella, it does not quite hit the spot for me. As a full novel, it doesn't quite either.
I received an advanced reading copy from Tachyon Publications through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
THE BRUISING OF QILWA is a layered work, indeed. It explores the legacy of an empire—post-imperialist, post-colonialist inhabitants coming to terms with their cultural history and identity.
Specifically, in the afterword, the author asks the question “What does it mean to be oppressed when you were once an oppressor”- which feels like one of the major questions this book is asking.
But that’s only one part of this intersectional work, with nuanced character motivations and some fantastic queer (non-binary and aro/ace) representation. What seemed like a simple medical fantasy at first, another “COVID novel” (I feel like I’ve already read too many of those, and COVID isn’t even over yet…) surprised me with its complex themes and challenges.
Definitely feels like the author had more to say here. I would love to be able to explore this world further. There was so much to unpack in this novella… Most importantly, it all feels executed rather well. This is such a diverse work—prominent queer representation, multiculturalism, colonization, genocide, plague, trauma, refugees, … a lesser writer would not have been able to do it justice in so few words.
I look forward to reading more Naseem Jamnia books in the future. A voice to look out for.
DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Specifically, in the afterword, the author asks the question “What does it mean to be oppressed when you were once an oppressor”- which feels like one of the major questions this book is asking.
But that’s only one part of this intersectional work, with nuanced character motivations and some fantastic queer (non-binary and aro/ace) representation. What seemed like a simple medical fantasy at first, another “COVID novel” (I feel like I’ve already read too many of those, and COVID isn’t even over yet…) surprised me with its complex themes and challenges.
Definitely feels like the author had more to say here. I would love to be able to explore this world further. There was so much to unpack in this novella… Most importantly, it all feels executed rather well. This is such a diverse work—prominent queer representation, multiculturalism, colonization, genocide, plague, trauma, refugees, … a lesser writer would not have been able to do it justice in so few words.
I look forward to reading more Naseem Jamnia books in the future. A voice to look out for.
DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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