Every Rising Sun: A Retelling of The One Thousand and One Nights
Iran

Every Rising Sun: A Retelling of The One Thousand and One Nights

by Jamila Ahmed

Freedom & Resistance Historical Fiction Fantasy Fiction Retellings 2023

Summary

Before Shaherazade became the legendary storyteller who captivated a king for a thousand and one nights, she was a young woman whose words set an empire ablaze. In twelfth-century Persia, Shaherazade discovers a dangerous secret about the king’s wife, Fataneh. When she reveals the truth, the king’s fury unleashes a wave of executions, as he begins marrying and beheading a new bride each night. Haunted by the consequences of her actions, Shaherazade volunteers to become his next wife, determined to stop the bloodshed. Armed with her intelligence, political instincts, and extraordinary gift for storytelling, she begins weaving tales that keep the king listening until dawn. But survival demands more than captivating stories: as courtly intrigues intensify and the Crusades threaten the region, Shaherazade must navigate a world of shifting alliances, dangerous desires, and ruthless power. Reimagining one of literature’s most enduring legends, Every Rising Sun celebrates the power of storytelling, the resilience of women, and the courage to challenge a fate that seems inevitable.

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Country
Iran
Asia
About the author
Jamila Ahmed
Jamila Ahmed

Jamila Ahmed is an American novelist and writer whose work explores history, culture, and the enduring power of storytelling. The daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she studied medieval Islamic history at Barnard College before earning her law degree from Harvard Law School. Her academic background informs her interest in the medieval Muslim world, particularly its literature, intellectual traditions, and complex political histories. Before publishing her debut novel, Ahmed contributed writing to publications including Slate, The Normal School, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Briar Cliff Review, and Colorlines. Her debut, Every Rising Sun (2023), reimagines the story of Shaherazade from One Thousand and One Nights, placing its legendary heroine at the centre of a richly researched historical narrative. Written over fourteen years, the novel blends historical events, folklore, and political intrigue while giving Shaherazade greater agency over her own destiny. Ahmed’s work brings fresh perspectives to the literary heritage of the medieval Islamic world and explores how stories can become instruments of survival, resistance, and transformation.

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Details
Published
2023
Author
Jamila Ahmed