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spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
2.0
popi's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ryner's review against another edition
2.0
As the story opens Idrisi, a scholar and mapmaker, is on a sea voyage putting the finishing touches on his world map and readying to return to Palermo and turn the completed work over to the Sultan Rujari. Though most of the population of the island of Siqilliya (Sicily) are Muslim, Rujari (Roger II) is Christian, and and Idrisi feels torn between his friendship of many years with the sultan, and the indignities and violence carried out on the locals by Christian authorities, resulting in a simmering unrest. To add to his heartache, the woman he's loved for decades is a permanent member of the sultan's harem.
Though I am a fan of Ali's writing, this novel is probably my least favorite of the four I've so far read in his Islam Quintet (I'd rank them 1, 3, 2, 4). I am looking forward to rounding out the series with the final installment soon.
Though I am a fan of Ali's writing, this novel is probably my least favorite of the four I've so far read in his Islam Quintet (I'd rank them 1, 3, 2, 4). I am looking forward to rounding out the series with the final installment soon.
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