I was excited to read The Bruising of Qilwa, set in a Persian-esque world. Naseem Jamnia plays with themes of identity, both cultural and gender. These themes are utilized very well and place a lot on the line for our main characters. Continue reading to see my thoughts on this debut novella.
Summary
In this intricate debut fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease that causes political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family.
Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.
But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
World-Building
I enjoyed much of the cultural, political, and economic world-building. Our main character’s background provides the ethnic minority POV. This is even more complicated by their ability to perform blood magic. I do wish there would have been more of a discussion of the new disease and the blood magic. This is essentially the main problem that jeopardized the stability of the city. Jamnia created mechanisms that were able to avoid this discussion. Although it was able to explain these away it also left me disappointed.
Identity
Identity is a huge theme throughout this book, which I did appreciate. One aspect of identity being our main characters’ status as immigrants and ethnic minorities. Another aspect being Firuz and their brother’s gender identity. If this was a full-length book, I think Jamnia could have delved more into these aspects of identity. That would have also tied more into the world-building.
Overall
I loved the inclusion of a nonbinary main character and the allusions to sex changes. I love the setting in a Persian pre-Mulsim world. I loved the concept of now-feared blood magic tied in with a strange and unexplainable bruising disease. What I didn’t love: the length. Jamnia could have built upon all of these aspects further. That would have created an incredibly rich story that touches upon increasingly important themes of identity and culture.
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