Plot: 1677. In Europe, the Enlightenment is dawning after a century of wars. On the seas and in coastal villages, pirates and corsairs are the scourge of the waves. And in Morocco, Sultan Moulay Ismail is concentrating his power, building an elaborate palace complex with captive labor.
Alys Swann is also a captive, but hers is a different lot: convert to Islam, marry the sultan and give him sons. Or die. Nus-Nus, the sultan’s scribe and keeper of the royal couching book, is charged with convincing Alys to accept her fate. Or they both die. Two powerless prisoners in a world of brutal intrigue, each discovers that they can take strength in the other, to endure that which must be endured in the hope of a better tomorrow.
Rich in detail with compelling characters and an ambitious scope, The Sultan’s Wife is a remarkable tale of adventure, romance, history, and friendship.
Publisher: Head of Zeus | Date: 2021 | Genre: Historical Fiction
I received The Sultan’s Wife from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Sultan’s Wife Review
The Sultan’s Wife is an engaging and beautiful story about a forbidden love. This wasn’t a gushy romance with some awkwardly placed sex-scenes to give it a ‘hot’ rating. It was a story of a eunuch slave and a concubine, finding a connection under the harshest of circumstances; finding each other when they need it the most; and finding themselves along the way.
Nus-Nus is a slave to the sultan after being taken from his tribe as a young man. His literacy skills grant him a position, but every day could be the last. The fiery temper of his master often results in a decapitation or two, especially if he has dressed in yellow that day.
Survival is hard, with enemies both in and out of the palace. But while danger lurks, so does the hope of friendship and love. Some nobles are prepared to watch out for Nus-Nus, offering advice and a friend when he needs it the most. But others are out to destroy him, in ways that suit only their only lusts.
Alys is an Englishwoman forced into slavery after being captured by pirates. But when she catches the sultan’s eye, she sees her chance for the one thing she’s always dreamt of: motherhood. It comes with a price though: making an enemy out of the sultan’s chief wife. With mystical powers and a hard reputation, this is not a woman to be crossed and both Alys’ and her child’s life are in danger.
When a friendship blossoms into something more between Alys and Nus-Nus, daring and opportunities present themselves. Nus-Nus must decide how far he is willing to go to protect Alys, while she must decide if she has the strength to see it through.
Despite events happening at a slow pace, I was gripped throughout. Nus-Nus is the primary narrator, with much of the book following his story. He’s a strong and likeable protagonist, with a good heart and bravery overlooked by nearly all of those around him. You want him to win free of everything that’s holding him back. Alys is just as strong, although her sections felt more to cover gaps in the narration than truly following her story.
The Sultan’s Wife is a slow-paced, in-depth novel. It spans several years as the characters face both hardships and joys. It is a book driven by its characters, not the plot. So saying, the plot itself is full of depth and meaning. I am not familiar with this time in history, but it reads as if a great deal of research has gone into the era, the culture, and the reality of the situation back then.
The writing is full of depth and beauty. The descriptions of the environment transport you back to the hot and stifling markets, or the palaces overwhelming with opulence. I felt I saw Nus-Nus’ world.
If you’re a historical fiction fan, I’d recommend this book. It was a moving and heartfelt tale that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Does this sound like your kind of read? Have you already read it? Let me know!
You may also like:
- Book review: Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore
- Book review: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
A Rambling Reviewer 
Great review! I’m not familiar with this time period in history but this sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s not a time I know either, but that just made it more intriguing for me to read because I couldn’t try and compare if it was accurate etc, but just got swept up in the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person