compellingly written with a great setting that does justice to the personal implications of the histories of Palestine and Jordan. Felt like a few characters were developed at the expense of others and idk, the ending didn't work. It didn't pull anything together and left some weird plotholes and cliffhangers that didn't need to be there. I finished this book like, wait, that's it, you're not going to tell me?! vibes

This deliberately paced, sensuously written novel is the story of a lost woman regaining her self. It's the story of a poet finding her voice. And it's the story of a "true Jordanian" family, in the sense that this family represents many facets of Jordan, those on display as well as those buried in the past. The book starts slowly, unfolding to reveal a twist worth the wait. Jordan, circa 1995, is depicted with such love. We feel that love through Abu-Jaber's ability to immerse us in its culture and landscapes. I recommend this novel to anyone who likes their historical fiction infused with poetry, family dynamics, political machinations, romance, and the grace, intrigue, and sport of fencing.

[Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book.]

3.5 stars rounded down.
I enjoyed this novel up until the last hundred pages or so. I admit I am not very familiar with the history and politics of Palestine and Transjordan, and this novel made me interested in learning more. From the beginning, the complicated relationships in Amani's family, the mystery of the blue letter written by her grandmother Natalia, and the grandiose of mingling with Jordanian royalty, was appealing and drew me into the story. I was intrigued to find out more about Amani's family history and what secrets they were hiding, especially her father Gabe and her uncle Hafez. By the end of the novel I felt like there were a lot of plot holes and things left unanswered. Gabe was one of my favourite characters and I didn't think there was enough depth into his character. The novel never really explained why he had such a fraught relationship with his family or why he didn't want to talk to Amani about his mother. Uncle Hafez was definitely more flushed out and even though he wasn't likeable, the reader can see where his insecurities are coming from and how that fuels his actions. But, there were no consequences or follow up regarding what he had done, it just sort of tapered off with an announcement that he retired? As much as I know happy endings don't always exist, I still hoped for Hafez getting what he deserved. And Carole?! She seemed like she could have been such a strong character but not much was done with her. There were a lot of characters that had a lot of potential in the story and they fell short for me, which was a bit of a disappointment.

This book is written with care, and the voice and words all blend together really well. The author’s writing shows her talent and the attention to small details really makes the reader feel like their witnessing the events.
However, tbh, I think this genre just may not be for me (historical Jordan/monarchy) as I found myself not interested in the plot.
There was a few places I felt like could have been borderline mocking of the Prophet Muhammad in Islam and it made me uncomfortable.
Also, isn’t my niche so I won’t be reviewing on my blog!
Thanks for the ARC

Fencing with the King is a compelling and dynamic story with many threads of plot. The inter-generational conflict and family struggles bring to mind the "thicket of family." In several ways, the story is that of Amani, a young woman who is Jordanian American who lives in New York and is traveling with her family to Jordan to attend a celebration for her uncle, the king. Her father, Gabe, will be fencing with the king in order to demonstrate the skills of both men in the fencing ring although of course the king, as planned, is ultimately the victor.

The story is enriched with family characters, some of whom are dishonest and unlikable and others who are sweet and need support. The one who stands out is an ascetic who appears to have been isolated in a cave most of his life in the mountains because he struggles with disabilities and communication. A remarkable scene in the book has Amani dangerously looking for him in the desert in a sand storm. Ultimately she finds him and their friendship is cemented by their fondness for and recognition of each other.

This lovely book has everything: mystery, familial relationships and schisms, cultural depth, personal struggles, and ancestry. I haven't read other books by Abu-Jabar, but I most certainly will. The book was difficult to put down, and it skillfully wove many aspects of family strife and affection to a deeply satisfying ending.

This novel set in Jordan follows a young woman in search of her roots. I loved the description of the desert and learned something about falconry - long and meandering, just the way I like it.

I really enjoyed this book about the complexities of life in Jordan, homecoming, and family. the characters are beautifully drawn and imbued with reality, and the gentle teasing out of family history is elegant but believable. Through the use of a large cast, the author makes it possible to share information about things like gender, parenting, work, and behavior in ways that aren't condescending to readers. I'd love to read this with a group of really smart people, or teach it to a class. (Fencers considering reading this: Even most of the fencing terminology is right!)

This book had fantastic promise but faltered in execution. Fencing with the King is set in 1995 Jordan on the occasion of King Hussein’s 60th birthday. A half-Jordanian American poet fresh out of divorce accompanies her father to Jordan to fence with the King in Petra as part of the festivities. She is driven by curiosity about her heritage after she discovers a discarded poem from her late grandmother, a Palestinian refugee who lived haunted by the past. ⁣
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Unfortunately I didn’t particularly enjoy this. There were too many plot points which seemed aimless, often brought up then quietly dropped - a family inheritance in the form of a knife once touched by the Prophet, a dashing half-Arab half-Jew ex-Olympian fencing instructor, a relative abandoned to live in a cave, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, etc. Characters were written rather flatly and the villain seemed implausibly driven to the extents of murder by a desire to be a ‘true Jordanian’⁣. The main character Amani was dull and, for a poet, incredibly uninspired - I’m not sure I bought that all of Amman would be so dazzled by her!
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#FencingwiththeKing

A brilliantly written absorbing page turner.A novel of family of culture of generations.I was immediately drawn and hated to put it down.A book And author I will be recommending.#netgalley #w.w.Norton