Name: Mafi Fantasy Novel #1
Rating: 4.170454545454546 (88 reviews)
ISBN: 9780062972446

Tahereh Mafi

Mafi Fantasy Novel #1

Jayla Poindexter 

Mafi Fantasy Novel #1 has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Maya 

3.75 stars 

Honestly this just felt like most YA books I’ve read but it was fun and great to pull me out of a reading slump! I will say though, that ending makes me want to continue the series.

Ellie M.

** spoiler alert **
           “I haven’t the slightest idea what we’re doing,” he said. “Though if you mean to take me captive, you need only ask. I would come willingly.” 

🚨THIS REVIEW IS ABSOLUTE CHAOS. 

This was absolute perfection from start to finish. Such an exquisite tale of forbidden love between two sole heirs to rival empires, intriguing court politics, unexpected plot twists, morally-grey characters, and betrayal. When I heard about this book, I immediately recognized it was from the author of the infamous YA dystopian series, Shatter Me. And I’ve heard other people say this was totally different, and they’re not wrong this book was GODDAMN amazing. The writing was eloquent and fucking flawless. Tahereh KNEW what she was fucking doing to me and I have no complaints because everything about this book was intricately woven *wink wink*. The writing was so consistent, especially with the characters (the development!!!) never faltering from flow of the plot that will keep you seriously hooked. I honestly ran out of tabs for annotating and I wasn’t even done yet with the book 😭😭😭 because FEELS EVERYWHERE. I felt like I was reading a classic! The world-building and magic system was slightly complicated, and I wish we did get a map for reference 😅 but the romance was Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton LEVEL *coughs in Mr. Darcy and Anthony Bridgerton being absolute cuties* because Kamran’s out there spewing such poetic romantic shit about honor and being rendered speechless like HELL THIS MAN IS WHIPPED FOR HER 🦋✨ and that was after she put a blade to his throat like he LOVED her 😭❤️‍🔥 AND the plot??? Kept me fucking guessing for what’s next because everything was happening ALL at ONCE yet I still couldn’t grasp where it was heading off to (IN THE BEST WAY OMFG 😩) there is so much more to explore (literally so many plotholes left untouched and theories for what’s next!!) because what the fuck was that cliffhanger?? take my money and give me the next book NOW 😭

This was my second buddy read of the year and my first with claudia, @thestarlitbooks from Insta!! Had so much fun losing braincells with you for a week, bestie!! 🤣🤣🤣

kaitlynn

this book was so much better than i ever could’ve expected. i have re-entered my fantasy loving era, alizeh and kamran *chefs kiss,* and it was just absolutely amazing all around with the characters/world building/plot.

Geraldine Alatriste López

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS BOOK???? Honestly I bought it because I thought it looked like a nice fantasy standalone, and now you are telling me it is the first book of a series. I have been totally bamboozled by this book istg. Also like it started and I was like I was oh this is quite slow quite boring, and for the first half I was like this is going to be boring or maybe i'm not going to love it as much as I thought but then out of nowhere, the book starts picking up and I ate this shit up in two days, There is crack in this book, it is addictive as fuck. 
But not the addictive wattpad type, more like addictive elegant, were you are so sucked and invested. 
The characters are fucking amazing, I mean, Alizeh is such a strong fmc, and Kamran is good on his own but once he gets with alizeh he turns into this charming ass dude, I loved the banter, their relationship, and the plot twists in this bitch???? insane. 

I will proceed to order the second book because my girl Tahereh left me on a cliffhanger. 
(lowkey this book gives cinderella vibes, but the characters are much more lovable, not only the main ones, but also the background characters)

Claudia Ganea

"Even in her most desperate moments, Alizeh had found the courage to move forward by searching the depths of herself; she’d found hope in the sharpness of her mind, in the capacity of her own capable hands, in the endurance of her unrelenting spirit.
She would be broken by nothing.
She refused."

This was my very first book by Tahereh Mafi - and no surprise there, but I was blown away!! Beautifully written, with a lush atmosphere and compelling characters, I enjoyed every second with this, and FLEW through it in spite of it being on the longer side!!

(view spoiler)[Now, this very much felt like the first book in a series - which is to say that there is a lot of exposition, world-building, establishing our characters' personalities and motivations and so on. However, every single thing is intentional; not overly-explained, giving the reader just enough to immerse them completely into this new world but also keeping them curious every step of the way, making them wish for more. I am wishing for SO much more!!! And I'm so glad, because I feel like this is exactly what a new series is supposed to do, make you want to get your hands on the sequel immediately and see where we go from here. Needless to say, I will be anticipating it very eagerly!

I loved, loved, LOVED Alizeh as a protagonist. I'm rarely left unimpressed by persistence and strength in a character (maybe because that's exactly what I lack), but in her I found even more of a fighter than I expected. She is intelligent, she never gives up on herself, and she always, always knows her worth, regardless of her perceived status in the world. In one of my favorite quotes, she talks about Kamran and his self-assuredness, how he seems to know himself so well, and wishes that she had a bit of that herself - it's evident that she already does, her circumstances are just preventing her from bringing that spark to life.

The budding romance between her and Kamran was SO good, too!!! I could feel the tension through the pages, it was so well-built. At first it struck me as insta-lovey, but I quickly realized that I literally do not care!! Their chemistry, banter and connection is off the charts and I just? Need more?? Immediately, thank you. I love them SO much!!

I also really loved the friendships that we see with our side characters, specifically Kamran and Hazan (!!!!), Alizeh and miss Huda, and the (unbeknownst to them) trio between Alizeh, Omid and Kamran! I truly feel like every character has been constructed in such a way as to be utterly entrancing, and I need more of all of their stories, especially Hazan, since Kamran still doesn't know that his closest friend is a Jinn, and we know next to nothing about the forces that he's building on Alizeh's behalf.

In short, and to sum up this entire review: BOOK TWO NOW, thank you!!! (hide spoiler)]

cheyenne 

the last 100 pages were surely a lot huh 🤔

2.75

this bored me to tears for the most part that i was almost tempted to dnf it, but it started picking up at around 77% or so, and you guys. THE ENDING. the ending convinced me i should maybe rate this higher and look forward to the next book.

OMG OMG OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! Alizeh was such an awesome person to read about and i love her so much. Kamran is now a new book boyfriend of mine and he literally has my heart. THE PLOT TWIST AT THE END OMG!
GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW

Livie Isbill

tahereh never ceases to amaze me with her words <3

Mafi Fantasy Novel #1

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