Scan barcode
A review by alisarae
Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn: A Steampunk Faerie Tale by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
4.0
If you were to guess that this book is a retooled tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, you would be correct. Like any good fairy tale, it is not incredibly original, but it blends Arabic, Persian, and Egyptian culture and vocabulary with some of the more famous Arabian Nights stories, creates scenes that transport the readers to the early twentieth century Arabia (if it had magic and steampunk additions), and teaches us about the nature of the Islamic faith through the patient piety of the main character Baba Ali.
The story is well structured and thoughtfully paced. Its suspense elements are not revealed too quickly, and I enjoyed guessing at the mysteries rather than being hammered over the head with their answers. The steampunk touches pump in elements of fun, and it was easy to immerse myself in the descriptions without the progression of the story being bogged down. Sometimes the characters felt a little distant to me as the reader, but they are multidimensional and interesting. Overall, the book is a light-hearted adventure story that will entertain and enlighten you.
Full review upcoming on Papercuttts.
(note: I got this book as an ARC, but that didn't affect my honest opinion)
The story is well structured and thoughtfully paced. Its suspense elements are not revealed too quickly, and I enjoyed guessing at the mysteries rather than being hammered over the head with their answers. The steampunk touches pump in elements of fun, and it was easy to immerse myself in the descriptions without the progression of the story being bogged down. Sometimes the characters felt a little distant to me as the reader, but they are multidimensional and interesting. Overall, the book is a light-hearted adventure story that will entertain and enlighten you.
Full review upcoming on Papercuttts.
(note: I got this book as an ARC, but that didn't affect my honest opinion)