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A review by seshoptaw
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
3.75
3.75*
<i>“When the dust rises over the desert, the villagers know that Lo-Melkhiin is coming with his guards to choose another wife. He always takes one wife from each village, or each district within a city. And she always dies”</i>
When a novel starts out with the threat of certain death, it captures my attention. Usually, this means that we watch the main character fight, and learn, and grow throughout the novel and eventually, he/she <b>overcomes</b>. This is not exactly what happens in this book. Our character never changes, instead, staying the same throughout. She never chooses to be anything other than brave and good. She desires to live but is resigned to die.
This was a beautiful piece of literature that can be read by anyone from (probably) 10 to 100. I loved the author’s writing style and, even though it was slower than the fast-paced action-packed novels I’ve been reading lately, this by no means takes away from the novel. The author was poetic in her prose and the way she wrote the main character was perfect.
I found this book completely unique in that we never learn the main character’s name, or <i>any</i> woman’s name, for that matter. But this is so appropriate because it speaks of the nature of what history has been. The feats of men are what usually get recorded in history books and passed down from generation to generation; women are rarely thought of. This novel showcase’s <b> the forgotten</b>. It focuses on the women: the mothers, wives, and daughters. And sometimes, a <b>woman</b> is what saves the day.
<i>”Men prospered under Lo-Melkhiin’s rule, and if it cost them a daughter, it was no more than a hard winter might demand as payment for survival. The wives and mothers, though, grieved each loss…”</i>
It was a captivating read with a magical setting. It was magic and mystery; demons and heroes; the power of being good and how easy it is to fall. The main character is utterly dedicated to her family and her love, especially for her sister, is the most beautiful kind of love story – just maybe not the kind of love you’re usually looking for. And what’s more, her love feels <i>real</i>. She is willing to risk her own life so that her sister might live and she can keep Lo-Melkhiin from her. Her love for her sister is what gives her strength as she goes to bed each night wondering if it may be her last.
<i>“There is a fire in my sister,” I said to him, “and I did not want you to have it.”
“I still might,” he said. “You might die quickly, as you have said.” … “The fiery ones do not marry young. They wait for a fire to match their own.”
…“My sister finds the fire in others,” I said. “Her husband may be the quietest man at the market until he sees her. Then he will burn with a flame to match her own.”
…“My sister is no fool and she is not tender-hearted. My sister fights for her home, and takes what risks she must. That is why I put myself before her today—why I would not let you have her. My sister burns, and she does not burn for you.”</i>
Our main character is special because she was so clever and she wished to save her sister above all. Because of this, she has a power all her own. This novel is not a romance. Our heroine does not fall in love with the villain and our villain never becomes “good” or redeemable. If she catches his attention, it is because she doesn’t die and he wants to exploit and consume whatever power it is she possesses. He is destructive and takes pleasure in the destroying.
<i>She was not of my kind, yet there was some power to her that was not human, not quite. She did not die, and I wondered if I might at last have found a queen for whom I could set the desert on fire.”
… “Watch your world burn, light of my heart. Tomorrow we will find another one and burn that too.”</i>
My only complaint about this novel was the ending. Although the ending was not bad, I feel like there was so much more I wanted to learn about what happens next in the story. I didn’t want it to end. And yes, maybe I was looking for a <i>happier</i> ending (or beginning?). I think this may just be the mark of a good novel though, when it’s readers don’t want it to stop.
I would definitely recommend this one.
<i>“When the dust rises over the desert, the villagers know that Lo-Melkhiin is coming with his guards to choose another wife. He always takes one wife from each village, or each district within a city. And she always dies”</i>
When a novel starts out with the threat of certain death, it captures my attention. Usually, this means that we watch the main character fight, and learn, and grow throughout the novel and eventually, he/she <b>overcomes</b>. This is not exactly what happens in this book. Our character never changes, instead, staying the same throughout. She never chooses to be anything other than brave and good. She desires to live but is resigned to die.
This was a beautiful piece of literature that can be read by anyone from (probably) 10 to 100. I loved the author’s writing style and, even though it was slower than the fast-paced action-packed novels I’ve been reading lately, this by no means takes away from the novel. The author was poetic in her prose and the way she wrote the main character was perfect.
I found this book completely unique in that we never learn the main character’s name, or <i>any</i> woman’s name, for that matter. But this is so appropriate because it speaks of the nature of what history has been. The feats of men are what usually get recorded in history books and passed down from generation to generation; women are rarely thought of. This novel showcase’s <b> the forgotten</b>. It focuses on the women: the mothers, wives, and daughters. And sometimes, a <b>woman</b> is what saves the day.
<i>”Men prospered under Lo-Melkhiin’s rule, and if it cost them a daughter, it was no more than a hard winter might demand as payment for survival. The wives and mothers, though, grieved each loss…”</i>
It was a captivating read with a magical setting. It was magic and mystery; demons and heroes; the power of being good and how easy it is to fall. The main character is utterly dedicated to her family and her love, especially for her sister, is the most beautiful kind of love story – just maybe not the kind of love you’re usually looking for. And what’s more, her love feels <i>real</i>. She is willing to risk her own life so that her sister might live and she can keep Lo-Melkhiin from her. Her love for her sister is what gives her strength as she goes to bed each night wondering if it may be her last.
<i>“There is a fire in my sister,” I said to him, “and I did not want you to have it.”
“I still might,” he said. “You might die quickly, as you have said.” … “The fiery ones do not marry young. They wait for a fire to match their own.”
…“My sister finds the fire in others,” I said. “Her husband may be the quietest man at the market until he sees her. Then he will burn with a flame to match her own.”
…“My sister is no fool and she is not tender-hearted. My sister fights for her home, and takes what risks she must. That is why I put myself before her today—why I would not let you have her. My sister burns, and she does not burn for you.”</i>
Our main character is special because she was so clever and she wished to save her sister above all. Because of this, she has a power all her own. This novel is not a romance. Our heroine does not fall in love with the villain and our villain never becomes “good” or redeemable. If she catches his attention, it is because she doesn’t die and he wants to exploit and consume whatever power it is she possesses. He is destructive and takes pleasure in the destroying.
<i>She was not of my kind, yet there was some power to her that was not human, not quite. She did not die, and I wondered if I might at last have found a queen for whom I could set the desert on fire.”
… “Watch your world burn, light of my heart. Tomorrow we will find another one and burn that too.”</i>
My only complaint about this novel was the ending. Although the ending was not bad, I feel like there was so much more I wanted to learn about what happens next in the story. I didn’t want it to end. And yes, maybe I was looking for a <i>happier</i> ending (or beginning?). I think this may just be the mark of a good novel though, when it’s readers don’t want it to stop.
I would definitely recommend this one.