A Thousand Nights by L.K.Johnston-ADVISABLE

Johnston, L.K., A Thousand Nights. Pgs. 325. Disney Hyperion, 2015. $18.99. 

Language: G, Mature Content: PG-13, Violence: PG-13

After a fateful hunting trip, Lo-Melkhiin’s gone on a killing spree. Sometimes they survive a month, other times only a day or two, but all the girls he marry suffer the same fate. In order to save her sister from being taken by the killer ruler, a nameless heroine tricks Lo-Melkhiim into picking her instead. Expecting to die the next day, she accepts her fate. When she spends the night with Lo-Melkhiim, however, she is surprised to find that she has a secret weapon. As she tells about her family, her life, and things about her village, she begins to feel a form of power that protects her from the king. As she spends more and more time in this dangerous place, nothing is as it seems. Some say the ruler is possessed. Could they be right? Will the heroine survive?

Inspired by Scheherezade’s 1001 tales from Arabian Nights, readers are pulled into this engaging story from page one. The characters are well developed, the plot is complex and engaging. The author does a great job of transitioning between internal and external dialogue. This is a must-read for readers who enjoy retold fairy tales, action, mystery, and adventure books 

MS, HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.