Daughter of the Salt King

November 16, 2020
Thornton debuts with a tale as old as time that struggles to break new ground. Emel comes of age under the oppressive palm of her father, the Salt King, whose command extends far across the desert. As one of the Salt King’s many daughters, Emel is expected to bed multiple suitors to secure alliances with neighboring kingdoms—but when she discovers her father’s best-kept secret, the jinni Saalim, she thinks that she may have a ticket to freedom. Saalim’s magic is complex, however, and his and Emel’s freedom will come at a cost. As they plot to break free of the Salt King’s tyranny, Emel develops feelings for Saalim leading to a slow-burning romantic subplot. Thornton’s fantasy draws heavily on Middle Eastern stereotypes; the desert kingdom, the Salt King’s extensive harem, and the exoticized atmosphere combine into a broadly rendered world that calls to mind Disney’s Aladdin. Where Thornton succeeds, however, is in creating a headstrong heroine whose struggle to come into her own will resonate with readers. This will most appeal to fans of romantic fantasy who don’t mind sacrificing worldbuilding for character.

January 8, 2021
Emel is one of the mythical ahiran, a daughter of the Salt King's wives. Their duty is to bed suitors who visit the Salt King, with the intent of marrying one and binding them diplomatically to their father. Emel despises her fate more than her sisters do, chafing at their restrictions. She routinely steals salt from her father to bribe the ahiran's guards, sneaking out to the village disguised as a servant. Still, she meets a suitor she could be happy with--but he is slain defending her father on the night of their engagement. In the aftermath, she meets Saalim, a jinni, and realizes they are both slaves to her father's cruel urges. She learns that every wish has quirks depending both on her heart's desires and the goddess Masira's whim. As she finds her inner strength, she sets herself on the path to a sacrifice that will benefit the entire desert. This riveting debut novel will leave readers eagerly awaiting Thornton's future works.

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