The Tales of Abu Nuwas

Long, long ago in a land far away . . . .

Abu Nuwas is a weaver of words; drop a coin in his cup and he will spin you a tale of the djinns and demons, flying horses, fire-breathing dragons and talking eagles that inhabit the world of a poor little rich girl named Setara.

Najda, the spice girl (No, no, not one of "those" spice girls - this one sells spices in the marketplace) cannot afford the piece of silver that Abu Nuwas charges for a story. A poor man himself and sympathetic to her plight, he agrees to tell her a tale in exchange for a packet of spice. So begin the stories about the adventures of Setara set within the frame story of Najda and Abu Nuwas.

Fantasy stories of late have been much overpopulated with elves, dwarves, trolls and the rest of that overworked crew. It is refreshing indeed to meet a new and different cast of characters. The magical creatures that inhabit this book are drawn mostly from various middle eastern mythologies, plus a few made up entirely by the author.

Setara's progression from the bored, spoiled daughter of a rich merchant to a confidant, competent young adventuress is paralleled by the growing friendship between Abu Nuwas and Najda. The conclusions of both story threads are heartwarming and satisfying. Though the story is aimed at a middle grade audience, it's a good read for all ages.

Highly Recommended - great for readers of all ages!

Marva Dasef takes us on an exciting adventure with the included stories as well as a touching story between the teller of tales and his audience. Don't miss this exciting read!

A great read for all ages

Ms Dasef has once again written a wonderful tale. I would compare this book to the Arabian Nights where the weaver of tales grows fond of a young woman who returns to the bazaar to hear his stories of adventures and delights. I was captured by the tales and drawn back, just as the young woman, to read another wonderful tale from the weaver. Put this one on your list folks for a great all-age read. Lorrie Unites-Struiff

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