“Nerdection Must Read”
If you’re a goner for folklore retellings in fantasy, you will be amazed by this book. Featuring loveable characters, a captivating plot, and a grumpy Jinn who will win you over, Daughter of Light and Dark is a tale imbued with friendships, magic, and a strange girl who will very well end up saving the world.
Intrigued? Let’s dive right into it!
Spoiler-Free Plot of Daughter of Light and Dark
When the veil between the mortal realm and the immortal one threatens to crumble, one girl must do whatever it takes to save the world.
Twelve kings of Jinn have long held the veil, separating the human world from the other world. Now betrayed by their kin, only one king stands. The veil has thinned, allowing seers to mercilessly bind the Jinn through rings. However, if the veil collapses completely, chaos will ensue.
Mina hates Jinn being treated this way. A street urchin and a thief, she is used to being called the crazy girl, courtesy of her mysterious powers, allowing her to see and communicate with all Jinn without binding them. Five years ago, Mina lost control of her powers, resulting in raging flames that burned down the whole city of Diodlium.
Now, aided by the powerful yet secretive Jinn, Lord of Chains, she embarks on a mission to collect the rings and set all Jinn free.
But when she discovers a dangerous cult against seers and bodies of servants dumped in the river with their livers gone – she knows it’s time to face her destiny. However, the stakes heighten when old enemies get entangled with the people she loves.
In this new Middle Eastern fantasy, Daughter of Light and Dark, Mina must collect the rings, unearth the culprit behind the killings, and face her enemies even if it means betraying all the people she loves.
My Thoughts on Daughter of Light and Dark:
The book is lyrical enough to be a fairy tale – filled with fascinating, wild magic.
There were so many things that I loved in Daughter of Light and Dark. From the Middle Eastern Arabian fantasy setting to the adorable found family trope, I went with high hopes and I was glad it didn’t disappoint!
It felt refreshing to have a magic system that was quite different from the many fantasy books I have read. Plus, the world-building is intricate but thankfully not overtly complex to daunt the reader. The plot is character-driven, and the pacing, though not as fast as I preferred, still managed to hook me in.
The protagonists are relatable, and you come to love them easily. As I mentioned before, Daughter of Light and Dark features a lovely found family trope. Mina laughing with Aziza and her son, Saif, is a healthy bit of family-of-choice literature you’d love to read about!
I loved how Mina isn’t your average savior, with perfect deeds and an unblemished heart. Instead, we get a girl haunted by her dark past, desperately trying to balance duty and survival. There is also the easy-going Prince Zyed and the sweet muffin Saif, Mina’s childhood friend. The romance is sweet enough to give you cavities, but it’s only a subplot and added naturally in the backdrop. There are hints of a love triangle but it resolves by the end of the book.
Finally, my favorite character in the book was none other than the grumpy Lord of Chains, Ashrush. Admittedly, not the most charming Jinn you can hope to meet in an alley. He still managed to secure a neat spot in my heart. That’s because he was always there for Mina, trying to protect her. I admired Mina and Ashrush’s bond and the way they understood each other.
Ashrush laughed a low, rippling laugh. ‘The girl is under my protection: there is nothing that could hurt her. No one would dare hurt her.’
Besides, Daughter of Light and Dark features secret cults and a rampaging sorcerer pitted against our protagonists. The stakes are high and will keep you on your toes, especially by the end of the book, where you will be left yearning for more.
Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy and Middle-Eastern fantasy settings, Daughter of Light and Dark is The Shepeherd King meets The City of Brass, with enthralling action and mythology.
Trigger Warnings:
- One scene shows graphic violence in the form of torture
- minor swearing
- death of a parent (in the past)
- abduction
About The Author Of Daughter of Light and Dark
Ahlam Faris is a self-published Indie Author who has a passion for anime, manga, Books, Video games, and all things fantasy. She has been writing for years, but only recently found the courage to submit her work to the world.
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