Equal of the Sun

The mystery and intrigue of sixteenth-century Iran is told in vivid detail by Simon Vance, whose deft narration masters a wide range of male and female characters. A male narrator may seem an unlikely choice for historical fiction that centers on a female protagonist. But Vance manages to make the most of supporting characters, including the eunuch from whose point of view events are told. Vance's measured tone and pace keep the listener involved in a complex tale. However, at times his precision is so rhythmic as to feel predictable if listened to for long periods. For the listener who is familiar with this part of the world, some of Vance's intonations--intended to give the flavor of foreign accents--can be heavy on the ear. Even so, on balance, this heartfelt reading captures the vividness of life in the Shah's court and imagines the world of a real-life princess. M.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

July 16, 2012
Filled with political intrigue, heartbreak, and passion, Amirrezvani's second novel (after The Blood of Flowers) is an intense ride through the fickle regimes of Iranian shahs in the 1500s. Javaher made the unprecedented choice to become a eunuch at age 17 in order to gain access to the harem and uncover the truth behind his father's murder. His plan seems to be working when he becomes a servant of the most powerful woman at court, Princess Pari Khan Khanoom Safavi (an historical character upon whose life the story is roughly based), but all goes awry when Pari's father, the shah, dies, and her brother Ismaâil assumes the throne. Pari tries to temper Ismaâil Shah's despotic rule, but as a result, her former allies turn against her. Desperate to restore order, the ambitious and reckless princess devises a treasonous plot, and Javaher must decide whether to jeopardize everything to help the woman he's come to admire or to step back as the fabric of his world unravels at the hands of a deranged shah. Saturated with color and emotion, Amirrezvani's newest is a provocative and thrilling historical.