Hello everyone! Will be compiling the reviews for all the books in the THIS WOVEN KINGDOM series which has been expanded into five books, if I’m not wrong! For now, we have two–This Woven Kingdom and These Infinite Threads.
Navigate through this post with the titles below:
🥀 #1: This Woven Kingdom | 🗡️ #2: These Infinite Threads
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This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Series: This Woven Kingdom #1
Published on February 1, 2022 by HarperCollins
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Rep: Persian
Rating:
Synopsis:
To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.
The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.
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The Shatter Me series restarted my reading journey when I first joined the online bookish community so I always have a fondness for Tahereh Mafi’s books. When she announced This Woven Kingdom trilogy, I knew it would be an epic tale because it’s inspired by Persian mythology and because Tahereh Mafi is great with romance developments. This Woven Kingdom has an engaging plot, likable characters with interesting backgrounds, and a forbidden romance that I wish is not.
“Though if you mean to take me captive, you need only ask.
I would come willingly.”
Kamran, the heir to the throne, isn’t arrogant or pampered. He’s well-versed in the current state of his kingdom and is knowledgeable in politics. While his council sat ministers that are now sluggish after years of peace, Kamran is aware that they should always be on high alert, or at least have a Plan B if war were to arise once again. Because of his general princely status and his royal upbringing, Kamran is removed from the reality of the normal working class. When he was tasked to understand more about Alizeh, he realized that the workers aren’t treated with basic decency nor do they have proper daily amenities.
Alizeh the long-lost queen of the Jinn realm has no throne to sit upon. Although life is tough for Alizeh, she went through every day with patience and kindness. Her compassion knows no bounds, even when some wished her harm. Everyone thinks that she’s just a lowly servant despite her poise and manner of speaking of nobility. As much as she refused to listen, Alizeh is plagued by prophecies whispered into her mind. Due to a misstep by Kamran, Alizhe’s life is in danger.
Even if there’s an attraction, neither Kamran nor Alizeh can act upon their feelings. Clay and Jinn have long-standing bad blood. They can never be together, especially since Alizeh is the prophesized Jinn that will bring down Kamran’s grandfather, the King. Tahereh Mafi knows how to write forbidden love stories. Each interaction between Kamran and Alizeh builds up their chemistry and their yearning.
“The people look to your disposition as a bellwether of all to come; the temperature of your heart will define the tenor of your rule, which will in turn affect every aspect of their lives.”
The ending of This Woven Kingdom promised more exploration past the empire of Ardunia as the lands become wrought with trouble and war. More than ever, Tahereh Mafi’s writing brought this magical world to life. Characters spent time in different settings, with various walks of life, and understanding more of the world they live in. Even though this was over 500 pages, This Woven Kingdom was extremely readable.
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Navigate through this post with the titles below:
🥀 #1: This Woven Kingdom | 🗡️ #2: These Infinite Threads
🗡️🗡️🗡️
These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi
Series: This Woven Kingdom #2
Published on February 7, 2023 by HarperCollins
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Rep: Persian
Rating:
Synopsis:
With the heat of a kiss, the walls between Alizeh, the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom, and Kamran, the crown prince of the Ardunian empire, have crumbled. And so have both of their lives.
Alizeh, the heir to the Jinn throne, is destined to free her people from the half-lives they’ve been forced to live under human rule. When Kamran, the heir to the human throne, falls in love with her, he’s forced to question everything he’s been taught about Jinn.
Kamran’s grandfather lays dead at the hand of Cyrus, ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Tulan. Cyrus has stolen Alizeh away to his homeland and plans to marry her there, giving her everything she needs to become the Jinn queen—and when she assumes the throne he will have fulfilled his own bargain with the devil.
Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus’s deal or the devil. But without a way to escape Tulan, and with the fulfillment of her own destiny tantalizingly close, she’ll have to decide whether she can set aside her emotions to become the queen her people need.
Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces in Ardunia. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she hasn’t yet become the queen of Tulan.
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Tahereh Mafi’s These Infinite Threads delves deeper into the world she created, with Alizeh being forced to leave the kingdom, the ruler’s death causing chaos, and a complicated love triangle emerging. Personally, I’m not a fan of love triangles, so I’m just waiting for the inevitable fallout between Cyrus, Kamran, and Alizeh. With all the chaos unfolding, it’s hard to imagine a peaceful resolution.
Following his grandfather’s death, Kamran finds himself inheriting a kingdom in disarray. Without any political support and facing a kingdom in turmoil, he struggles to navigate his new role as king, especially with the woman he loves gone. Friendless and powerless, Kamran feels the weight of his new responsibilities bearing down on him.
Meanwhile, Alizeh never expected to be whisked away by Cyrus on a dragon and forced into marriage in the kingdom of Tulan while she’s trying to reclaim her throne. Despite Cyrus’s actions, he doesn’t seem as bad as people make him out to be, and Alizeh finds herself conflicted about her feelings towards her kidnapper.
She saw an intensity in his stunning irises, something desperate straining against his control, and she swore in that moment she could almost feel his soul pressing against hers.
As for the love triangle, Cyrus surprisingly turns out to be quite likable despite his actions. His story and personality make it difficult to dislike him, which may explain why Alizeh finds herself drawn to him. However, I’m not a fan of love triangles in general.
In terms of the plot, These Infinite Threads feels somewhat like a filler book, exhibiting mild symptoms of second-book syndrome. The focus is mainly on Kamran’s struggles with his newfound kingship and the internal conflicts within Ardunia, while Alizeh is forced to interact with King Cyrus, her kidnapper, among her jinn people.
Overall, while there are some character developments and hints at a broader plot, I was hoping for more from the story. However, with Tahereh Mafi expanding the trilogy into a five-book series, it looks like we’ll be getting more of the story in the future!
“The ice marks me as heir to the lost Jinn empire. The brutal cold is meant to prove my mettle. Those who cannot survive the ravages of the frost in the body are not expected to survive the ravages of the throne.”
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