  | Bloodstone thief Author: Khan, Sabina | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Laila Habib is having the worst birthday ever, as she's just discovered that her family's two-year stay in Houston, Texas, is going to be extended ... indefinitely. But her day only gets worse from there. Opening up what she thinks is a hidden birthday present, Laila unleashes an evil jinn from a magical amulet. Trapped there long ago by Laila's father, the jinn is eager for revenge, and drags Laila's father back to the magical world of Qaf.
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 06/16/2025 Frustrated and homesick for Mumbai after discovering that her family’s stay in Houston has been extended indefinitely to accommodate her mother’s job, 12-year-old Laila Habib accidentally releases Bilquis, a malevolent jinn, from a pendant she finds in her parents’ closet. Bilquis promptly kidnaps her father-whom Laila learns is a jinn king-and vanishes to Qaf, a magical world parallel to her own. With help from an enchanted, and snarky, flying carpet, Laila journeys to Qaf, where she meets her abrasive cousin Amira. The two become reluctant allies in their quest to retrieve the Bloodstone, a mythical artifact capable of defeating Bilquis and saving Laila’s father. As she travels across Qaf solving riddles and facing creatures Laila once only knew as stories, she hones her newfound magical abilities and comes to terms with her family’s complicated legacy. In this high-octane fantasy adventure, Khan (What a Desi Girl Wants) draws upon Islamic myth and legend to craft an energetic tale of power, peril, and persistence. While Laila’s primary goal is to rescue her father and return home, she also grapples with issues of prejudice relating to her human heritage as she navigates Qaf society. Ages 9-12. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025
