Publishers Weekly
11/23/2015
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. Agent: Lucy Carson, Friedrich Agency. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
**A Goodreads Best Book of February**
"An exciting tale of deception, forbidden love, and dangerous magic, starring a cheeky thief and powerful but vulnerable jinni. Fans of fairytale retellings set in faraway lands full of romance, daring-do and pulse-pounding action will fall for this swoon-worthy tale."
—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
"Lush and magical . . . anyone who ever loved Aladdin or One Thousand and One Nights is going to be hooked."
—Bustle
"Gorgeous and complex, this is a wish granted to fans of fantasy, romance, or just good storytelling."
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Lyrically written."
—School Library Journal
"Playful chemistry and Khoury’s assured storytelling should make it easy for readers to lose themselves in this rich and complex story of allegiances and betrayal."
—Publishers Weekly
"Though the dynamic ending fully concludes their story, readers will likely long for more stories—say, 1,000 of them. Dripping in magic, strong women, and forbidden love."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Deliciously sensual yet understated . . . rich and compelling. The competing allegiances and ambivalent outcomes test Zahra’s long-held assumptions about self and other, her beliefs about love and freedom. Teens will appreciate Zahra's tough choices as ones they face for themselves."
—Voice of Youth Advocates
"The well-loved tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp is dusted off and given a twist."
—School Library Connection
"Lush, romantic, and exquisitely written—The Forbidden Wish is a rare, glittering jewel of a novel. I was captivated from the very first sentence and never wanted it to end! Absolutely stellar—and utterly unforgettable."
—Sarah J. Maas, author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series
"The Forbidden Wish reminded me of all that I love about the story of Aladdin, now told through the eyes of a narrator who is as human and flawed as she is powerful and cunning. Add to that a compelling new romance and I found myself adoring this tale immensely, from beginning to end."
—Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of Cinder and The Lunar Chronicles
"The Forbidden Wish has everything you’d hope for in a retelling of the Aladdin story—hanging-by-your-fingertips danger, palace intrigue, a dark villain, forbidden love, a swashbuckling hero, and a feisty, dagger-eyed princess, and yet each richly written chapter in this thrilling adventure story is full of unexpected surprises. I was utterly absorbed from the first page!"
—Colleen Houck, author of the New York Times bestselling Tiger's Curse series
"This is Aladdin like you've never imagined. Filled with unexpected twists and turns reminiscent of a magic carpet ride, Jessica Khoury's The Forbidden Wish is a must-read for anyone who loves a fantastic story."
—Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn
From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY
"Lush, romantic, and exquisitely written—The Forbidden Wish is a rare, glittering jewel of a novel." —Sarah J. Maas, author of Queen of Shadows
School Library Journal
02/01/2016
Gr 7 Up—Lyrically written, this work is a twist on the familiar tale of Aladdin. Seventeen-year-old Aladdin finds the lamp in a cave, and the story is told from the point of view of the Jinni of Ambadya, a girl named Zahra. She must shift shape in order to remain discreet among the humans. Eventually she is given a deal: she is to free the jinn prince before the moon cycles. If she fails, the human race in the city will perish. If she succeeds, then she will return to Ambadya as a free jinni and no longer be a slave to the lamp. Aladdin and Zahra become allies. As she works to free herself, she falls in love with him only to find that if she is to claim her freedom, then she must betray him. Readers, knowing that she can't have it both ways, will want to know what she will do to solve her problem. Other characters involved in the story add to the drama, making it even harder for Aladdin and Zahra. Khoury's writing is evenly paced and well done, making this a good selection. VERDICT A solid choice for anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings and light romance with magic and hope.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI
Kirkus Reviews
2015-12-08
A Middle East-inspired fantasy version of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp." Jinni Zahra, long imprisoned in her lamp, has languished for hundreds of years in a dead city as punishment for a mysterious transgression against her kind, one that also resulted in the betrayal of the warrior queen who last held the lamp, whom Zahra still mourns with the term of endearment "Habiba." A young thief guided by a magic ring finds the city and lamp, freeing her. Other jinn quickly offer her a bargain from their ruler: he will free her from the lamp if she rescues his son, imprisoned in Aladdin's home city—a deal with a strict time limit. Zahra uses Aladdin's desire for vengeance against the drug-addled king's brother—the sadistic power behind the throne—for his revolutionary parents' deaths and the ill treatment of the peasantry. Aladdin's audacious and bold but unable to kill, so Zahra offers an alternative revenge: he will seduce and marry the crown princess, become king, and expel his enemies—bringing them to the palace and supporting her mission. But iron-willed Caspida is no typical princess, and Zahra's feelings for Aladdin steadily grow—despite the taboo against jinni-human love that destroyed her Habiba. Khoury allows Zahra to narrate in the first person, placing her in a distinct fantasy world that draws on Middle Eastern tropes but is no cognate of real-world geography. Though the dynamic ending fully concludes their story, readers will likely long for more stories—say, 1,000 of them. Dripping in magic, strong women, and forbidden love. (Fantasy. 12 & up)
