Kadomi reviewed Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
Review of 'Alif the Unseen' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This book is a bit difficult to classify. Its setting is an unnamed city on the Arabian peninsula, and our protagonist is Alif, a grey hat hacker for hire who dreams of rebellion and shaking off the yoke of the government. Everything changes for him when he falls in love with Intisar but cannot be with her because her family arranged a marriage for her. Still obsessed with her, she sends him a mysterious book that changes everything...
This is a strange mix of 1001 Nights, Arabian myths and technology, with a dab of muslim influence. It treats Islamism very respectfully and positively. There's also djinn, marids, cats who turn into mysterious women and a likeable spoilt brat prince.
Despite all its creativity, the plot never fully grabbed me, and I never built any connection to the often whiny Alif and his friends and associates. I liked it alright, but …
This book is a bit difficult to classify. Its setting is an unnamed city on the Arabian peninsula, and our protagonist is Alif, a grey hat hacker for hire who dreams of rebellion and shaking off the yoke of the government. Everything changes for him when he falls in love with Intisar but cannot be with her because her family arranged a marriage for her. Still obsessed with her, she sends him a mysterious book that changes everything...
This is a strange mix of 1001 Nights, Arabian myths and technology, with a dab of muslim influence. It treats Islamism very respectfully and positively. There's also djinn, marids, cats who turn into mysterious women and a likeable spoilt brat prince.
Despite all its creativity, the plot never fully grabbed me, and I never built any connection to the often whiny Alif and his friends and associates. I liked it alright, but it was not a fully satisfying read for me.