From #1 New York Times bestselling author Hafsah Faizal comes the untold origin story of Agrabah's future royal vizier Jafar and his brother Rohan.
Before Jafar became Agrabah's grand vizier, there were two brothers wishing for a different life.
Living in the shadow of their mother's death and their father's cruel whims, Jafar only longs to protect one person—his soft-hearted younger brother, Rohan. But Jafar knows he is destined for more, and if he has his way, he'll soon be an apprentice at Maghriz's elite House of Wisdom, studying alchemy.
Then a fire destroys the remains of their shattered life, and Jafar has no choice but to resort to ruses and trickery, including convincing Rohan that the House of Wisdom is their only chance at rebuilding their lives. But Maghriz holds more danger and intrigue than either brother can imagine. Its powerful Sultana is plotting a grand deception that could shape the nation's future, and she believes the brothers are the missing piece of her scheme.
For the first time, Jafar can envision a future where he puts his own desires before Rohan's—and Rohan feels ready to escape his brother's shadow. As the brothers contend with their darkest impulses, they must decide: is their ambition worth their brotherhood?
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
January 7, 2025 -
Formats
-
Kindle Book
-
OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781368115117
-
EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781368115117
- File size: 2553 KB
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
Kirkus
November 15, 2024
An exploration of the origins of Jafar, the iconic villain from Disney'sAladdin, that offers readers a backstory of tragedy and moral conflict. The story unfolds through alternating chapters from the third-person perspectives of Jafar and his younger brother, Rohan. Growing up in poverty, Jafar takes on the burden of providing for his family, often turning to theft. Despite his efforts, he bears the brunt of his father's disdain, which only worsens after the boys' mother's death. Although Baba's business eventually grows, and he and his boys enjoy a rich abundance, his abuse of Jafar continues. Jafar has an escape plan: He hopes to win a scholarship to study at the prestigious House of Wisdom in the kingdom of Maghriz. Baba's parrot, Iago, reveals to Jafar that his father had sabotaged this ambition, leading Jafar to make a fateful decision that sets him on a dark path. As the brothers journey to Maghriz, a devastating rift develops between them. The novel's strength lies in its portrayal of Arab culture, which avoids cliches, but it falters due to inconsistent character development and a disjointed tone that oscillates in maturity level. While the fresh perspective on Jafar's descent into darkness is intriguing, the examination of what makes a villain remains shallow, never fully delving into the complexities of the issues of familial duty and the nature of evil that the story raises. A tale with cultural depth that ultimately falls short in characterization.(Fantasy. 12-18)COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
-
Formats
- Kindle Book
- OverDrive Read
- EPUB ebook
Languages
- English
Loading
Why is availability limited?
×Availability can change throughout the month based on the library's budget. You can still place a hold on the title, and your hold will be automatically filled as soon as the title is available again.
The Kindle Book format for this title is not supported on:
×Read-along ebook
×The OverDrive Read format of this ebook has professional narration that plays while you read in your browser. Learn more here.