The Storyteller’s Daughter

This book recounts the tale of Shaharazad, the daughter of the vizier and the exotic storyteller Maju. The vizier met and married Maju on his travels and brought her home with him. Shaharazad grew up isolated in the court and when her mother died, Shaharazad took on Maju’s abilities as a storyteller as well as her blindness.

After the King’s wife betrayed him, he choose to turn his heart to stone. To protect himself from further betrayal he decreed that he will only take a bride for a single night but that the bride must come willingly. As the deadline of the full moon approaches and no maidens come forward Shaharazad realizes that it is she who must marry the King. She has a plan to stay alive, by telling the King a story which will keep him interested in her she hopes to see another day. As the nights string together Shaharazad tries not only to save herself but also the King, his heart and the kingdom. This book also incorporates traditional Arabic and Indian tales as Shaharazad’s stories to the King.

This story was a very engaging read that pulls you in from the very beginning. Dokey was able to balance the attention between the stories of Shaharazad and the King, the kingdom in turmoil and the individual tales that are told. I felt that my unfamiliarity with the story of Shaharazad was also a benefit as I did not have any expectations.

Age range: 12-14
Ranking: Quality – 4/5 Popularity – 4/5