Aimee Reviews~ Nura and The Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan

This is the magical and moving tale of Nura and her search for the legendary secret treasure known as The Demon’s Tongue. Full of action, magic, and mystery inspired by South Asian culture - this book is both cosy and thrilling, and magical and relatable.

Nura’s family have lived in poverty and struggled for years in a quiet, rural town in Pakistan. Nura decides to help by finding The Demon’s Tongue treasure. While digging, Nura accidentally triggers a collapse in the mines. Many children, including her best friend Faisal, are declared dead. However, Nura is determined to rescue her friends. In doing so, she finds herself going through a portal to the magical world of the jinn– but this world is inhabited by the trickster creatures Nura’s mother warned her about. Is all as it seems? Can Nura escape and save her friend before it is too late?

I loved how this own-voices story is heavily inspired by Islamic mythology and Pakistani culture. The day to day life Nua lives feels so lively and real: from the excitement and build-up for Eid, to the jinn stories told by Nura’s mother, and mentioning the Quran and praying Ayat al-Kursi for protection. And that’s before she even enters the portal to the immersive and vibrant realm of the jinn!

Incredibly important themes are discussed subtly throughout. M. T. Khan shows the prevalence of child labour and stresses how important education is such a powerful way, making the reader think about how many children in the world don’t have access to education. The author’s note at the end is a powerful discussion on these human rights issues that is well worth reading.

If you want an adventure full of magic and mystery, that is Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away meets Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and that shimmers with beautiful Muslim culture and mythology… this is the book for you!

Purchase a copy here.