Nura and the Immortal Palace

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Author Guy Bass introduces SCRAP, about one robot who tried to protect the humans on his planet against an army of robots. Now the humans need his... This is a stunning, colourful story, vividly created for the reader. The world of the jinn feels frantic, frenzied and dangerous to be part of. There are grotesque characters with uncontrollable emotions and no morals who keep children - human and jinn alike - to do all their bidding. Nura is a fabulous heroine; a determined young girl who undergoes her own transformation as she realizes the true priorities in life are not what you have but who you have in your life. Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan, Hardcover Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan, Hardcover

Sparkling with magic, Nura whisks you from the mica mines of Pakistan to the dreamy and dangerous realm of the Jinn. A twisty, atmospheric tale with a fierce protagonist, whose voice lingered in my mind long after I'd finished reading. -- Jennifer Bell * author of Wonderscape * Aru Shah and the End of Time meets Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away in this mesmerizing portal fantasy that takes readers into the little-known world of Jinn. Having read this book I can vouch that the Spirited Away comparison is so apt! Nura and the Immortal Palace is a middle grade fantasy about 12 year old Nura, who works in the mica mines to support her family but when the mine collapses and her friends disappear, she finds herself whisked away into a secret world ruled by the jinn. What follows next is Nura’s race to get herself out of the jinn hotel before it’s too late.One of the best things about Nura and the Immortal Palace is how vividly the setting has been described. My South Asian heart absolutely adores the Islam religion and Pakistani culture influences in the book, be it about festivals, the mouth watering food, the dances, the faith or the sense of family among the characters. I love how unapologetically Muslim it is and how the culture blends with the magical elements. Beginning with immediate action, Nura and the Immortal Palace is sure to sweep readers off their feet. It balances adventures and riddles to be solved with real conversations about child labor and about poverty. Of not wanting to fall into another trap of servitude which preys on children, their naivety, their hope, and their love. At the same time, Nura and the Immortal Palace examines generalizations. How we can believe we know everything there is about people and really know nothing at all.

Hannah Belyea’s review of Nura and the Immortal Palace

My Thoughts Before Reading: When I first heard about this book I was excited! But I at the time had no intention to read it. I knew it was going to be dealing with a heavy subject matter and I wasn’t sure that I was prepared to read that. Nura longs to wear a beautiful red dupatta or to bite into a sweet gulab. But with her mom hard at work in a run-down sweatshop and three younger siblings to feed, Nura must spend her days earning money by mica mining. But it’s not just the extra rupees Nura is after. Local rumor says there’s buried treasure in the mine, and Nura knows that finding it could change the course of her family’s life forever. History repeats itself. Once again, we fall to chaos. But we’ll rise again. And again. And once more.” This line from the book really encapsulates the most central message of Nura and the Immortal Palace. It’s one that I take dearly to heart.

Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Review: It was amazing to read a book featuring Pakistani characters. I’ve said this before, and I will say it again, I am soo grateful to be living in an era where diversity is finally being given the importance it deserves. Growing up, we did not have the luxury to read about characters who we could relate to in terms of tradition and culture. So, I am lapping it all in now 🤣

Nura and the Immortal Palace - Common Sense Media Nura and the Immortal Palace - Common Sense Media

The emphasis on the cycle of exploitation and how the wealthy pit the powerless against each other so they won't realize the effectivity of banding together and rising up against their oppressors Nura and the Immortal Palace is about Nura who is after a fabled treasure buried in the mine to help support her family experiencing financial troubles. Her plan ends up going haywire when the mine collapses on four kids and her best friend, Faisal, turns out to be dead. Nura doesn’t believe this and shovels through the dirt to find him. While digging, she ends up in the world of the Jinn and is invited to their luxury hotel. But this world hides more than meets the eye and hides much darker forces at stake.Nura and the Immortal Palace was said to have shades of the Studio Ghibli movie Spirited Away. (Which, of course, meant that I scrambled to get an ARC as soon as I could.) And let me tell you, it absolutely delivered on this promise. We see what happens when the veneer of beauty and magic is peeled away, revealing the darkness within. This was a theme that was very much present in Spirited Away. Nura and the Immortal Palace, I’m happy to report, does it justice. The world building was superb! I loved reading about the imagery and magic of the Sijj palace. The dijjn’s and their powers were so cool to read about. But when a terrible accident traps her best friend Faisal underground, she determines to save him - and crosses over into the magical and treacherous realm of the jinn.