The Forbidden Wish
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
"Lush, romantic, and exquisitely written . . . a rare, glittering jewel of a novel."—Sarah J. Maas, author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series
"This is Aladdin like you've never imagined."—Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world. . . .
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.
But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of the Aladdin story from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In a departure from her scientific thrillers, Khoury (Kalahari) offers a vibrant reimagining of the story of Aladdin's lamp. Zahra is a powerful jinni who has been doomed to the prison of her lamp and the whims of humans for thousands of years. Despite this and unlike most jinni Zahra has maintained a soft spot for humans, and when Aladdin takes possession of the lamp, their relationship evolves as they become allies: Aladdin seeks to avenge the death of his parents, and Zahra hopes to escape her imprisonment by freeing a jinn prince. Secondary characters unwittingly entwined in Aladdin's and Zahra's plans such as the princess Caspida, niece of the man who killed Aladdin's parents are portrayed as vividly as the leads, and as the feelings between Zahra and Aladdin deepen, fulfilling their goals becomes ever more complicated. Playful chemistry (Aladdin promptly nicknames the shapeshifting Zahra "Smoky") and Khoury's assured storytelling should make it easy for readers to lose themselves in this rich and complex story of allegiances and betrayal. Ages 12 up.
