Book cover of The Bruising of Qilwa

Book description

“I loved this gorgeous book about blood magic, chosen family and refugees in a hostile city. Naseem Jamnia has created a rich, complex world.”
―Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

[STARRED REVIEW] “A delight to read. Highly recommended.”
―Library Journal

In this intricate debut fantasy…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Bruising of Qilwa as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I listened to this audiobook on my drive to and from work—and often found myself taking the long route home! Narrator Fajer Al-Kaisi brought an incredible story to the next level. This was an exhilarating five hours of blood magic, deeply nuanced explorations of axes of oppression, and queer normative, Persian-inspired worldbuilding.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the relationship between trans siblings Firuz and Parviz as they navigate trying to get Parviz access to gender-affirming healthcare. I appreciated being able to sit with this very real challenge outside of the context of the transphobia I see…

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A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

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