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The Forbidden Wish

The Forbidden Wish

by Jessica Khoury

"Lush, romantic, and exquisitely written . . . a rare, glittering jewel of a novel."—Sarah J. Maas, author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series

"This is Aladdin like you've never imagined."—Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world. . . .
 
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 


 
But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
 
As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of the Aladdin story from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

**A Goodreads Best Book of February**

"An exciting tale of deception, forbidden love, and dangerous magic, starring a cheeky thief and powerful but vulnerable jinni. Fans of fairytale retellings set in faraway lands full of romance, daring-do and pulse-pounding action will fall for this swoon-worthy tale."
Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"Lush and magical . . . anyone who ever loved Aladdin or One Thousand and One Nights is going to be hooked."
Bustle

"Gorgeous and complex, this is a wish granted to fans of fantasy, romance, or just good storytelling."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Lyrically written."
School Library Journal

"Playful chemistry and Khoury’s assured storytelling should make it easy for readers to lose themselves in this rich and complex story of allegiances and betrayal."
Publishers Weekly

"Though the dynamic ending fully concludes their story, readers will likely long for more stories—say, 1,000 of them. Dripping in magic, strong women, and forbidden love." 
Kirkus Reviews

"Deliciously sensual yet understated . . . rich and compelling. The competing allegiances and ambivalent outcomes test Zahra’s long-held assumptions about self and other, her beliefs about love and freedom. Teens will appreciate Zahra's tough choices as ones they face for themselves."
Voice of Youth Advocates

"The well-loved tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp is dusted off and given a twist."
School Library Connection

"Lush, romantic, and exquisitely written—The Forbidden Wish is a rare, glittering jewel of a novel. I was captivated from the very first sentence and never wanted it to end! Absolutely stellar—and utterly unforgettable."
—Sarah J. Maas, author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series
 
"The Forbidden Wish reminded me of all that I love about the story of Aladdin, now told through the eyes of a narrator who is as human and flawed as she is powerful and cunning. Add to that a compelling new romance and I found myself adoring this tale immensely, from beginning to end." 
Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of Cinder and The Lunar Chronicles

"The Forbidden Wish has everything you’d hope for in a retelling of the Aladdin story—hanging-by-your-fingertips danger, palace intrigue, a dark villain, forbidden love, a swashbuckling hero, and a feisty, dagger-eyed princess, and yet each richly written chapter in this thrilling adventure story is full of unexpected surprises. I was utterly absorbed from the first page!"
—Colleen Houck, author of the New York Times bestselling Tiger's Curse series

"This is Aladdin like you've never imagined. Filled with unexpected twists and turns reminiscent of a magic carpet ride, Jessica Khoury's The Forbidden Wish is a must-read for anyone who loves a fantastic story."
—Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn

 

  • Pages: 352 Pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
  • Imprint: Razorbill
  • ISBN: 9781595147677
Penguin Teen