The Bird King

I have not yet read G. Willow Wilson's first novel, Alif the Unseen, but I really want to now, because this one was beautiful. I really enjoyed this story, watching Fatima mature through her travels and change from the sheltered Sultan's concubine/possession to become - well - what she becomes.

The Bird King is the story of Fatima, concubine, and Hassan, mapmaker, on the run from the Inquisition. They were both members of the house of the last Sultan in Iberia. When the Spanish (and the Inquisition) came to negotiate his surrender, one of their conditions was they wanted Hassan, because of the magic he used in his maps. Hassan has been Fatima's only real friend; he's the only man that wanted nothing from her, because he's gay and unmoved by her beauty. His sexuality has been largely ignored by the court; his maps were too important to the war effort, so it was tolerated and just not spoken of. When Fatima discovers the Sultan intends to turn Hassan over, she runs away with him. She has some unexpected help in her journey, which, along with Hassan's mapmaking, makes this a kind of magical realist historical fantasy novel. It's not really alternate history, because nobody's actions change how history plays out on a large scale.

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G. Willow Wilson is really a master at culture weaving. How many fantasy novels set in 1491 at the during the annexation of Muslim Granada into Catholic Spain featuring an Eastern European protagonists in a platonically romantic relationship with a gay Muslim protagonist and also a Djinn do you know? History and fantasy are woven together in a truly inspiring tale about self-worth, freedom, and love. If you enjoyed Alif the Unseen, there is a very important crossover character, but otherwise this contains the same emotional tones in an entirely different setting. I was lucky enough to see Wilson's book launch at the Boulder Book Store, and would also add she is a charming and fascinating human.

This is a fantasy adventure set in Spain in 1491 as the Treaty of Granada was being negotiated and signed. Fatima, a concubine, and Hassan, a mapmaker, escape from the household of the sultan before they are able to be handed over to a delegation from Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Hassan has the ability to make magical maps that alter real buildings and landscapes, and they are helped on their way by a jinn whom they had previously thought was just the palace dog.

The 12th century Persian tale “The Conference of the Birds” is a strong theme in this story, where the main characters feel leaderless, lost, and hopeless, and they go searching for a safe place and someone to guide them. Fatima had seen a partial copy of the tale in the sultan's palace, and since she could not find out how the original story ended, she and Hassan entertain each other by making up different endings, or telling new stories about the different birds that might have appeared in the tale. When they have to escape from the palace, Fatima decides that they should find the island where the King of the Birds is supposed to live.

Fatima is a plucky heroine, and Hassan is her brave sidekick and best friend with a mysterious power and a major vulnerability. Their adventures are sometimes quite scary and a little bit gruesome. There isn't much explanation of how the supernatural parts of the story work–you have to accept them and move on, in spite of any questions you might have, because the narrative doesn't linger. There is a small amount of romance (and not necessarily between the characters you might expect), but it is not a major feature of the story. I really enjoyed it, although I would have liked more explanation of what certain creatures were and where they came from/why they were significant. This is really a 3.5 star review.

2.5 stars
This story is set in 1491 Grenada at the time of the Spanish Inquisition.
Fatima is the last concubine. Her friend Hassan is a mapmaker. Not a normal mapmaker, as his maps lead to Other places.
When Fatima learns that an Inquisitor has figured out Hassan's abilities, she knows they must flee or he will die.
This book was very slow. I liked Fatima and Hassan as characters, otherwise the rating would have been lower. This just wasn't for me.

I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pros: interesting characters, great melding of history and myth

Cons:

Fatima is one of the sultan's concubine's in Alhambra, 1491AD. Amid the siege and her anger at her lack of freedom, her only comfort is Hassan, a gay scribe who can create maps to places that don't exist. When a delegation from the Spanish monarchs arrives, Hassan's life is put in danger and Fatima flees with him, hoping to escape the inquisitorial eye and find a better life.

I loved the blending of history and myth and the clash of beliefs that form the foundation of this novel.

The author has a solid grasp on the events and world of 1491, including a lot of minor details that bring the world to life.

I loved her depiction of jinn, which was different from any I've read before and made them fascinating. The island being a part of both Islamic and Christian myth was a nice touch, showing that some things are universal.

Beyond the jinn, there's the magic associated with Hassan's maps. It's subtle and beautiful and while the plot hangs on it, it's sparingly used.

The characters questioned their actions at every point in the book, which made them feel real. They blamed each other for bad decisions. They forgave each other for outbursts they regretted. Fatima is so full of anger and so unaware of the world outside the palace that her growth arc was huge. She's very passionate and her reactions run the gamut. Luz was absolutely terrifying and I loved that the author played on a modern understanding of what the inquisition was to avoid graphic descriptions. There's a little information but mostly the book relies on hints of what happens to those put to the question.

The book is fairly fast paced, with the characters constantly running into trouble.

If you like history with a hint of magic, this is a great read.

Fatima is a slave girl born and raised in the harem of the Sultan of Grenada. Hassan, the palace mapmaker with a miraculous gift, is her only true friend. When a Catholic envoy comes to claim Grenada in the name of the Spanish monarchs and discovers Hassan's “blasphemous” talent, Fatima convinces him to escape with her. Aided by supernatural friends, Fatima and Hassan must make their way to safety while being hounded by the Catholics, and in particular a cunning and ruthless woman named Luz who is determined to fulfill her religious calling at all costs.

A story of friendship, love, strength, faith, and perseverance, above all The Bird King is a message of tolerance. Strip away differences such as language and wealth, and at the core we are all human, and faith is not about the trappings of organized religion but about belief and love. This beautifully written journey of self-discovery connects you to each character and through the wondering eyes of Fatima, who has never been outside the palace, makes you appreciate the world anew. Somewhat of a cross between The Alchemist and a fairy tale, The Bird King is perfect for fans of magical realism.

this is a GORGEOUS book, very atmospheric and character-driven. It took me a little while to get into this world, but once I was in, I was IN. I struggled a bit with the...not exactly magical realism but the light fantasy, I guess? Sometimes it was hard for me to tell what was actually meant to be happening? Maybe it all was? Maybe it doesn't matter, since I was all in for the characters regardless of what they might or might not actually be doing. I especially loved seeing the acknowledgment of queer characters in historical fiction and the varying levels of acceptance that could be found for them among different cultures.