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.
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Overview
Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar telling stories to the passersby he can tempt to pay. When Najda, a poor girl, offers him a packet of spice for a story, Abu Nuwas launches into a tale about a girl named Setara and her genie. As did Scheherazade, he leaves the girl hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back for more. While relating the fantastical accounts, Abu Nuwas learns more of the spice girl's life, then finds a way to save her from a forced marriage and find a better life.The teller of tales relates the adventures of a girl and her genie as they encounter the creatures of legend and folklore: a lonely cave demon seeking a home; a ...