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The Lady or the Lion

The Lady or the Lion

By Aamna Qureshi
Categories: Young Adult Fiction, Asia, Historical
Series: The Marghazar Trials
Imprint: CamCat Books
Audiobook : 9780744303940, July 2021
Ebook (EPUB) : 9780744303377, 350 pages, July 2021
Hardcover : 9780744303445, 400 pages, July 2021
Paperback : 9780744303421, 400 pages, July 2021
Paperback (Large print edition) : 9780744303889, 576 pages, July 2021

Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and The Wrath and the Dawn, this scintillating debut retells “The Lady or the Tiger?” against a Pakistan-inspired world of forbidden love and court intrigues.

Description

“He sunk his teeth into her heart and she let him. ”

As crown princess of Marghazar, Durkhanai Miangul will do anything to protect her people and her land. When her grandfather, the Badshah, is blamed for a deadly assault on the summit of neighboring leaders, the tribes call for his head. To assuage cries for war, the Badshah opens Marghazar's gates to foreigners for the first time in centuries, in a sign of good faith. His family has three months to prove their innocence, or they will all have war.

As Durkhanai races to solve who really orchestrated the attack, ambassadors from the neighboring tribal districts arrive at court, each with their own intentions for negotiations, each with their own plans for advantage. When a mysterious illness spreads through the villages and the imperialists push hard on her borders, Durkhanai must dig deep to become more than just a beloved princess—she must become a queen.

To distract Durkhanai from it all is Asfandyar Afridi, the wry ambassador who tells her outright he is a spy, yet acts as though he is her friend—or maybe even something more.

Reviews

“Unreservedly recommended for middle school, high school, and community library YA Fiction collections . . . ” Midwest Book Review

“Qureshi sets up a world in which readers can easily lose themselves . . .  this is a notable debut with an original point of view and a riveting plot. ” —Kirkus Reviews

“Aamna Qureshi writes of a world steeped in rich culture and tumultuous politics with an expert hand. The Lady or The Lion is a gorgeous read. ” —Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

“Debut author Qureshi nails spinning new life into an old tale with a meticulous world grounded in vivid scenery and beautifully [enhanced] with Urdu, Punjabi, and Islamic words. VERDICT A clever twist on a classic tale, this is one to purchase for library shelves as readers will be eager to know what happens next. ” School Library Journal