The Jinn Daughter by  Rania Hanna

The Jinn Daughter

Rania Hanna

In a tale of jinns, middle-eastern mythology and the underworld, this vibrant story resonates with imagination, magic and compelling fairy-tale vibes. A moving portrait of a mother’s love and her desperation to outmanoeuvre death is presented with fascinating characters and an evocative writing style. Storytelling is at the heart of this ambitious Arabian tale in a unique exploration of the concepts of grief and the will to live.

Extract

   Death leaves the door open behind her, and a cold gust of air ruffles my hair and dress. I don’t bother following after her; if she doesn’t want to talk, then she will not talk.  

  The room feels too still and silent. I gather up the used cups, rattling them only for the noise as I settle them in a basin for washing later.

   I drop to my chair, my bones feeling tired and old. But my heart is beating strong and fast, and all I can think is, Death wants my baby.

Parallels
  • The Hakawati by Rabin Alameddine
  • The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
  • A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark