The Bruising of Qilwa

De: Naseem Jamnia

Narrado por: Fajer Al-Kaisi

In this intricate debut fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease that causes political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family. Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.

Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.

But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for both their blood and found family.

©2022 Naseem Jamnia (P)2022 Tantor

Loved this book!

Beautifully written, rich world building, lush cultural tapestry, interesting concept and story with a twist at the end! Highly recommended.

Beautifully written and narrated

I am not a fantasy reader, but I loved this beautifully written book, with vivid and colorful descriptions of a world in which there are no issues of gender, gender identity, or sexuality. Yet, the main characters of the story struggle with most other social problems that we deal with today. The writing reads like poetry. The beginning of the story is a tad bit slow, but after the first fifteen to thirty minutes, it picks up very quickly and becomes a truly gratifying experience. The main character is a medical healer who has immigrated to a new land, where their people are not welcomed. The biomedical information that is explained through fiction and fantasy is fascinating. A wonderful bonus is the narrator of this book, who does a fabulous job. His sexy voice and wonderful pronunciations of the Persian language words --which are woven throughout the story -- make you reluctant to stop listening. The writer's afterward is particularly illuminating and makes the conclusion of the story so much more meaningful. This is a very enjoyable listen, a wonderful story from a promising writer. I am looking forward to reading more books from Naseem Jamnia.