Equal of the Sun

Summary (from the publisher): From the author of the internationally bestselling The Blood of Flowers comes a compulsively readable and gorgeously crafted tale of power, loyalty, intrigue, and love in the royal court of sixteenth-century Iran.

Iran in 1576 is a place of peace, wealth, and dazzling beauty. But when the Shah dies without having named an heir, the court is thrown into tumult. Princess Pari, the Shah’s daughter and closest advisor, knows more about the inner workings of the state than almost anyone, but the princess’s maneuvers to instill order after her father’s sudden death incite resentment and dissent. Pari and her trusted servant, a eunuch able to navigate the harem as well as the world beyond the palace walls, are in possession of an incredible tapestry of secrets and information that reveals a power struggle of epic proportions.
Based loosely on the life of Princess Pari Khan Khanoom, Equal of the Sun is a riveting story of political intrigue and a moving portrait of an unlikely friendship between a princess and a eunuch. Anita Amirrezvani is a master storyteller and in her lustrous prose this rich and labyrinthine world comes to vivid life with a stunning cast of characters, passionate and brave men and women who defy or embrace their destiny in a Machiavellian game played by those who lust for power and will do anything to attain it.

Review: I won this novel as a giveaway on Goodreads.

I was excited to see that Amirrezvani has written another novel because I read her first novel, The Blood of Flowers, and really enjoyed it. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this one even more. Unlike her first novel, which dealt with an impoverished girl working her way to independence, Equal of the Sun is set at the palace and the very heart of the ruling class of Iran. The year is 1576 and across the world, Queen Elizabeth I is 20 years into her reign. But Iran is a very different place. Unlike Elizabeth, Princess Pari is unable to succeed her father, even though she is his favored child and is the most competent to rule. Because of this, the court is thrown into chaos and many lose their lives.

Although the book description only mentions him, this book is narrated by, and largely about, Javahar, an unusual eunuch and loyal servant of Princess Pari. Unlike most eunuchs who become so as children, Javahar chooses to become unsexed at the age of 17 to try to win back a place at court after his father's mysterious and disgraceful execution. Because of his late transformation, he still resembles a man and still desires women. His goals are to serve his princess, find out the truth behind his father's death, and bring his much younger sister to court to secure her future.

I love historical fiction, but much of it deals with European sagas. Amirrezvani's novel was a breath of fresh air and an interesting look into a story inspired by true events and people. The court of Iran is heavily based on protocol and flowery language and I loved learning more about the culture of the time and place. Furthermore, having an eunuch as a narrator was quite unusual, yet entertaining. Javahar is easy to like and I was rooting for him the whole story. Although, I really wonder what Freud would think of a female writing a story about a man who is constantly troubled by the loss of his manhood.

A very entertaining novel that will hopefully inspire other writers of the historical fiction genre to branch out and explore other countries and historical figures.

Stars: 4.5