The Guardians of Erum and the Calamitous Child of Socotra
Pursued by a powerful jinn master and a mysterious sect of occultists, Fada sets out across the lush and unforgiving ancient Arabian Peninsula on a quest to rescue his son.
Legend has it that the sacrifice of a calamitous child, a child born under the Serpent-Neck star, can bring about the end of the world. Born under the Serpent-Neck star himself, jinn master Behas has sought out and killed many calamitous children to avert the destruction they portend. His next target is a boy named Dileel, the newborn son of a date farmer outside the great city of Erum. However, his plans are foisted when an occultist apprentice interferes to save the boy, and in the resulting confusion, Dileel is abducted by an unknown force.
Determined to rescue his son, the humble date farmer Fada must leave behind everything he knows, enlisting powerful allies and risking his life on an unforgettable journey.
An epic historical fantasy inspired by the folklore and ancient history of Arabia.
Reviewed by Piaras on August 16, 2020 for Emerald Book Reviews
The Guardians of Erum and the Calamitous Child of Socotra by A. Ali Hasan Ali is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaves an enchanting and suspenseful tale that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. Skillfully constructed, this epic historical fantasy, inspired by the folklore and ancient history of Arabia, will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
This was a captivating read that had me mesmerized from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. What makes this story even more extraordinary is that A. Ali Hasan Ali began writing as a hobby during his youth to help him learn English. This is his debut novel.
There were plenty of intriguing moments that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.
It’s one of those stories that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.
