Every Rising Sun
As a young teenager in 12th-century Persia, Shaherazade, daughter of Vizier Muhammad, witnesses the infidelity of the king’s wife. When she notifies him of the fact, he beheads his unfaithful spouse, but the danger doesn’t stop there. Driven by a desire for revenge, the king proceeds to marry two other young women and behead them afterward.
Witnessing this, Shaherazade is wracked with guilt yet also feels desire for the king. She prevails upon her father to offer her hand in marriage to the vengeful monarch. On the night of their wedding, she begins to weave a story, only for it to end abruptly, requiring her to finish the following night. She walks a fine line of having to tell alluring tales so that she can survive the king’s bloodlust.
In this gorgeous retelling of A Thousand and One Nights, we hear Shaherazade’s story through her own bewitching words. This is Jamila Ahmed’s debut novel, and what a masterfully woven tale it is. In Shaherazade, we have a strong protagonist who is human, vulnerable, and utterly relatable. I loved her as the main character. Ahmed writes in a way that brings a bygone world to life, using compelling illustrations and descriptions. You can almost feel the richness of the fabrics and the flavors of the delicious food.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Every Rising Sun is an engrossing read from start to finish, and I look forward to reading what else Ahmed will write in the future.
