Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The story was a little slow, but it was saved by the authors beautiful writing style. The way the author weaves the history with the mythology was magical, and I will definitely be checking out their other works.

This was such a lyrical and beautifully told tale. We follow Fatima, a concubine in the Sultan's harem during the final days of the Muslim court in Granada and her childhood friend, Hassan who has the ability to draw maps of places he has never seen and bring them into reality. When the Spanish Inquisition arrive, Hassan and Fatima flee to try and find the island home of the fabled Bird King. I loved the friendship between Fatima and Hassan and the way in which they looked out for one another. There was so much discussion around the power of religion and how it can be used to oppress others or how it can provide daily support for those oppressed. The lush landscape was gorgeously drawn and the characters had depth and authenticity that I really appreciated. Overall, this was a fascinating and compelling read and I would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In the 12th century poem The Conference of the Birds, the Persian poet Farid ud-Din Al Attar writes about a group of birds, left without a ruler, who set off on a long journey across the Dark Sea to the land of Qaf in search of their lost king. This legend forms the basis of G Willow Wilson’s The Bird King, an unusual novel which combines history, fantasy, myth and magical realism.

The novel is set in Al-Andalus in 1491, when Muslim-ruled Granada is besieged by the Christian forces of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Our heroine, Fatima, is a Circassian slave in the harem of the Alhambra palace, where she serves as concubine to the Sultan and maid to his mother, Lady Aisha. Fatima’s only real friend in the palace is Hassan, the Sultan’s mapmaker, who possesses a very special skill: he is able to draw maps of places he has never visited and to change reality by adding doors and passages where none existed before.

When representatives of the Spanish Inquisition arrive in Granada on behalf of Queen Isabella, Hassan’s secret ability is revealed and he falls under suspicion as a sorcerer. With the help of Hassan’s magical maps and guided by Vikram, a shape-shifting jinn, Hassan and Fatima flee across Al-Andalus. Knowing that there is no longer a place for them in the world they have left behind, they dream of finding the fabled island of Qaf and the King of the Birds, whose story is starting to feel more and more relevant.

The Bird King is a novel which encompasses lots of fascinating ideas. I’m not sure whether I fully understood everything it was trying to say – the last few chapters feel particularly allegorical – but the central messages of friendship and faith, of tolerance and living together in harmony are clear. The author delivers these messages in a way that seems to arise naturally from the plot and the characters and doesn’t become too heavy-handed. I also loved the concept that the mysterious Qaf could be seen as another version of Avalon in Arthurian legend, or Antillia, the phantom island of Iberian myth, or Shambhala, the mythical kingdom in Tibetan Buddhism: different names, but with similar meanings to people of different cultures.

G. Willow Wilson’s writing is beautiful in places and the settings are vividly described, especially the Alhambra in the opening chapters, but something stopped me from enjoying this book as much as I’d hoped to – and I’m not really sure what it was. Perhaps it was because I found the balance between the fantasy and the historical aspects of the book too uneven; it starts off as an interesting depiction of the fall of Granada and the Inquisition, with only a small amount of magical realism, but by the end of the book the fantasy elements have become so strong that I felt I was reading a different book to the one I was reading at the beginning. Then, although I liked Fatima, I thought the other characters seemed slightly underdeveloped; Hassan’s special gift had the potential to be explored further and I also wanted to know more about Vikram the jinn and his role in the human world.

Still, this is an intriguing and entertaining novel and I would probably read more by G. Willow Wilson. Her previous novel, Alif the Unseen, doesn’t appeal to me but I will look out for any others she writes in the future.

This was an amazingly stunning book. The cover already had me from the get go, and knowing the author meant that my expectations were already high enough to start. But this book proved and expanded on these expectations. From the lush setting in Morocco, to the shores of the isle of Avalon, this was an enthralling fairy tale. The characters as well were well developed and so diverse, different sexualities, mythical creatures, refugees, royalty, which added an extra layer of lovely to this amazing story.

I was a bit blown away by the first book I read by this author, a glorious blend of Middle-Eastern mythology, politics and techno-culture, so I was keen to see if this one was as good. While it doesn't have exactly the same blend of ancient magic and modern danger it does have some similarities and, even more excitingly for me, it also has as element of historical fiction. Fatima is a favourite courtesan in the court of the last Sultan of Granada. She flees the Alhambra with her friend Hassan, whose maps can change the shape of reality, and they are closely followed by agents of the Spanish Inquisition. At this point the fantasy elements of the plot take over - although the dangers of being caught by their pursuers is always very real - with Hassan's uncanny maps and a Djinn, Vikram, who accompanies them on their journey.

The main message I took from the book was that any decent society needs to be accepting of everyone, no matter what their gender, sexuality, religion or nationality. But the real glory of it is the way it is told - full of detail, texture and colour - this book is like the Islamic mosaics of the Alhambra Palace itself: complex, engrossing and beautifully satisfying.

A fairly tale fantasy adventure which will warm your heart and redefine the genre.

Fatima is a concubine of the king. This life is all she has ever known, she has been raised in a palace, walking the floors in only slippers. However, when the Spanish seek to take over her kingdom, and directly threaten her only friend, royal map maker Hassan for 'sorcery', she is launched into an adventure that only her determination and strong will can push her through. Hassan is no ordinary map maker - what he draws becomes reality, sending the pair on an unpredictable journey of discovery.

G Willow Wilson crafts a compelling, breathless adventure, at the heart of which is a young woman, with no particular talents or skills, who is forced to find out who she really is. Despite being platonic, Fatima's love for her friend Hassan, is strong enough for her to abandon the only life she has ever known to help him escape. Fatima is not flawless, she is headstrong and makes mistakes, she is naive and knows little about the world, but she refreshingly bucks the trend of fantasy heroines who follow in the footsteps of their male predecessors, becoming swashbuckling sword fighters overnight. Instead, Fatima relies on her intuition, her will and those around her to guide her. This story is a story of selfhood, friendship, adventure and the wonder of the world.

The world Wilson creates is diverse, with characters of different religions, races and sexualities, characters who are refugees and those who are royalty. Yet none of this is tokenistic - she does so effortlessly, and the overriding moral of the book is one of kindness, and finding home where you make it, and with those you love. Wilson's writing is exquisite, with an uncanny knack of capturing everyday feelings and sensation in amongst the extraordinary fantasy world she has built.

This beautiful novel is ideal for anyone who enjoys fairy tale fantasy and wants something new and different from the genre. The Bird King is a wonderful read that will not be forgotten any time soon.

It’s so nice to see historical fantasy set in a part of the world I hadn’t read from. Set in the last Sultanate in Iberian Peninsula – Spain before Spain was Spain – in the last few days before its fall. That’s about as much history as you need though – very quickly the story takes some fantastical twists, with a mapmaker who can draw any route, any door, any place, and a concubine desperate to make her own destiny. Escaping their world threatened by the Inquisition and fleeing to a world wholly their own, helped along the way by a Jinn (the best character in the book, not going to lie). I adored the relationship in this book between Hassan and Fatima, I loved reading about a couple who support eachother through everything, who aren’t afraid to tell eachother the truth. Amazing platonic love between a man and a woman. Reason enough to pick it up. It can be a bit slow at times but I found I flew through most of it!

Thanks to Atlantic Books and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bird King follows the story of Fatima, a Circassian concubine living in the harem of the Alhambra during the time period of the Spanish Inquisition. This novel melds historical fact with fantastical elements like djinns and sorcery.

I requested this as Moorish Spain is not something I've read much about in fiction despite it being such a fascinating period of history. Also...I just really love birds. I haven't seen much buzz about this book which is a real shame because it's really rather special.

The best thing about this novel is its central heroine Fatima. She is a complete BADASS but not in a trope-y, predictable way. She is resourceful, cunning, unapologetically abrasive yet you'd definitely want her on your squad. On the surface a stunningly beautiful concubine might seem a bit blah and one dimensional but she is a multi-layered and complex character. The relationship between Fatima and Hassan was really interesting to me as I felt it really captured the ups and downs of a long-standing, platonic friendship.

The mix of historical events with fantasy elements was done really well without being hokey. It's one of those techniques which can be quite hard to describe, I think people need to experience writing like this themselves. I'm not trying to cop out, I always find it tricky to describe writing that is heavy on metaphor and imagery. There were also lots of things that surprised me when reading this book. Assumptions I made didn't come to pass so I'm conscious of not wanting to spoil anything.

I can't really think of anything I didn't like about this book. I guess Luz could have been better developed as a character and some of the elements of the Inquisition could have been explored in more detail. We knew they were a threat but someone without any historical knowledge might not really understand why. The pacing flagged a little towards the middle of the story, but not enough to make me lose interest.

Overall this is one of these books that's tricky to review but I struggle to believe that anyone wouldn't enjoy it. A historical fantasy adventure with interesting characters and themes of enduring friendship and the triumph of love over hate? What's not to like?

Happy publication day to The Bird King! This book follows the escape from the Spanish inquisition of Fatima, concubine to the sultan and Hassan, magical map maker. They are perused by Liz whose evil intentions are hidden behind a beguiling exterior.

The novel is set in 1491 in Al-Andalus which was very richly and evocatively described. The flight of Fatima and Hassan, over land and sea, with the help of Vikram the king and Gwennec the monk, was exciting and I loved the magical element.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the fierce, platonic love between Fatima and Hassan along with the character development them both - Fatima as she gains her freedom and Hassan as he finds acceptance for his sexuality.

This is an intelligent and absorbing read which I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical novels with a fantasy element.

#booksof2019 #thebirdking #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookrecommendation #guardianbooks #readersofinstagram #historicalfantasy

A fabulous, magical story.

Fatima is a concubine to the Sultan of Grenada, just as the empire is about to be conquered by the Spaniards. Desperate to flee with her friend Hassan, the mapmaker, Fatima instructs him to draw one of his magical maps to aid their escape, where new places emerge from the drawings.

Through struggles and battles, physical and emotional, Hassan and Fatima eventually seek out the fabled island of birds to find the Bird King. A story of love, loyalty, magic and imagination. Very much recommended.

This was a interesting mix of historical and fantasy, it was slow paced but I really enjoyed it. I felt instantly connected to the characters and found them fascinating. Fatima was a great main character, she was so bold and intelligent. Even in the position she found herself in she refused to be meek and mild, she wanted more for herself even when people kept telling her how she should be grateful and happy with her lot. Hassan was just adorable, his childishness while at times annoying was also very endearing. Their friendship was wonderful and loving although I think it might have also been a bit co-dependent at times. I laughed when they first met Gwen, their reactions to each other were hilarious. My favourite character was Vikram, I have a real soft spot for otherworldly creatures who have a lot of snark in them. He acted like he was only helping them because of a debt but I think he really did care for Fatima and Hassan. I wouldn't have enjoyed the journey in this so much if it hadn't been for the interactions and relationships between the characters. While I would have loved to give this 5 stars there was a part near the end that dragged a bit and I started to lose interest, also I found the ending and the antagonist's arc was a bit rushed.

I was really looking forward to reading this but unfortunately the book was archived before the publish date and before I had a chance to read it, which I'm very disappointed about. If possible please can this book be resent to me so I can read it.

I loved G Willow Wilson's last novel, Alif the Unseen so was pleased to see The Bird King forthcoming. Set in the Muslim Empire of El Andalusia shortly before is was finally defeated by the Catholic forces of Ferdinand and Isabella, The Bird King follows Fatima, a concubine of the Sultan in the last days of the Empire. Forced to make a terrible choice in order to protect her friend, Fatima has to leave the palace where she has lived her whole life and navigate numerous dangers - from the invading Catholics, the supernatural, and her own lack of experience.

Fatima and her friend Hassan are wonderful characters - complex and spiky with their own faults and their own problems fitting into the new world that is coming. Fatima's concubinage marks her out as a sinner in that new world, not that she had any choice in the matter. Wilson's writing is at its best in conveying the nuances of Fatima's feelings here - there is no romanticising of the vanishing order. Fatima has been compelled, her mother was trafficked as a slave, yet the palace and the harem are all she knows and have in some respects protected her. Leaving all that behind is I think a process of growing up, of choosing what she wants and it is at times a painful one. Offers are made to her, but if she accepts them, will they bring the freedom she now releases she needs?

Hassan is gay - or would be so described in modern terms, I don't know if the term should be used for a man in the 15th/ 9th centuries - something that has been tolerated, or at least ignored, in his life so far. He also has a rare, magical talent that is at the heart of this book. Wilson uses that ability cleverly to flag early on that there will be an element of the fantastical here, but she only introduces that slowly with the central part of the story being one of pursuit, endurance and evasion which also explores the consequences of two cultures - Islamic and Christian - in contention here. Towards the beginning, Hassan comments that, following surrender by the Sultan, things will go on much the same, won't they? It's just that the key to the city will be held by someone else? A Christian envoy, Luz, replies sadly that, no, they won't and the tragic details of what is to come work out from there.

Luz is another magnificent creation in this book. I don't think I can say much about her because the exact role she will play only emerges some way in. Just keep an eye on her, that's all. Complex, contradictory and in a sense, free, she is a counterpoint to Fatima and the two seem to have an attraction for one another.

This book is, in the end, a glorious story, one where I found the pages zooming by on my Kindle and I was left at the end wanting to know much more. It is very sad in places but also shot through with hope. Definitely recommended and I'll be looking out for a paper copy to get on my shelves as soon as I can - that cover looks glorious!

Thank you to Atlantic Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover, it is absolutely beautiful and when I saw that it’s written by G. Willow Wilson I knew I had to request it!

I did really love parts of this book, the beautiful setting, not only inside the Palace but outside too. The writing is so good that it draws you into the story and makes you want to know more. I was especially intrigued by Hassan’s ability to draw maps of places he hasn’t seen and how that had actually helped the Sultan remain in power as long as he did.

Fatima was a really great character, she was curious and wanted more in her life and felt angry that because of her position she had no influence in the world aside from being respected as she may be carrying the child of the Sultan. She’s witty and speaks her mind and is a loyal friend who would risk everything to save Hassan. I especially loved the friendship between Fatima and Hassan and I hope we get to see more books with the friendship as the main relationship.

The history and mythology is wonderful too. I loved how the history of the Spanish Inquisition, a pretty terrifying time in history is woven with mythology and fantasy. There are jinns and they search for the island that they know about in the poems, where they hope to be safe. And despite it only being known in poetry and is probably fiction, Hassan is one of the few people who can make it a reality.

I think my main issue with the story was the pacing. It started off really well and I really enjoyed the beginning and learning about the world but then it started it drag in the middle and made me lose interest so the ending felt a little anticlimactic.

This is a story about what freedom truly is, not just surviving but being safe. It’s about taking your life in your own hands and making it a reality. I think there will be people who really love the story and the beautiful world that G. Willow Wilson has written.

What an absolutely beautiful book, not only is the cover stunning but the story itself is as beautiful as its exterior. From the exotic setting in Morocco to the fabled shores of the isle of Avalon the story is told in such splendid detail you can’t help being swept along throughout.

The characters are as colourful as their surroundings weaving together humans and mythical creatures alike all culminating in the quest to find the fabled Bird King.

I loved this book to the point I’m struggling to review it without spoilers and to do the story justice. It was a genuine pleasure to read and will be one that can be read and re read without loosing any of the spellbinding magic.

This is the first book i have read by G. Willow Wilson but she will be a author I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.

If you enjoyed books such as Robert Dinsdale’s The Toymakers or Katherine Arden’s The Bear and The Nightingale then you won’t want to miss this one.