SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When young Marjan goes to the palace to help her auntie Chava set up shop, she tells a story to nearby children. Suddenly she is whisked away where she is inquired about the stories she knows. Marjan reveals a new story that could help save the queen's life. But she doesn't know the whole thing. Now living in the palace, she has to risk the wrath of the sultans mother and sneak out—all the find an old storyteller she originally heard the story from.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Marjan is a teenage muslim girl. After her mother died, her stepfather no longer wanted her, so he hired her out to Jewish family. Because of her crippled leg she is used to being judged and believes she will never marry.
The khatun is the mother of the sultan. She has spies all over the harem and threatens Marjan, wanting to know if Shahrazad has a secret lover. It is eventually revealed that one of her sons was poisoned and killed. Because of this she is constantly trying to find fault with Shahrazad. She want's a wife for her son that she can control.
Shahrazad is the wife of the sultan. She has given him three sons and has continuously told him stories for as long as they have been married.
Dunyazad is Shahrazad younger sister. She would do anything for her sister. She is quite adventurous and bold, but also naive about life outside of the harem.
Zaynab works in the harem taking care of the pigeons. She becomes a friend of Marjan's and saves her from the khatun.
Soraya follows around the khatun. The khatun wants her to be queen.
Ayaz is a boy who helps lead Marjan to the storyteller.
PACING
The story is well paced. It goes back and forth after going to live in the palace. There are scenes within the harem which are not boring but rather eventful as Marjan makes an ally and an enemy. Then it switches to her journey outside the harem in her search for the storyteller.
MARJAN'S MOTHER-SPOILERS
Throughout the story we learn about Marjan's history. First that she was hired out to a Jewish family because her stepfather did not want her when her mother passed away. And then it's revealed that her crippled foot was not an accident.
Eventually we learn about how Marjan feels about her late mother and this applies to Shahrazad. A theme of forgiveness is implied near the climax.
NAIVE GIRLS
Marjan eventually realizes that both Shahrazad and her sister have lived in the harem for so long that they are naive about the real world. This puts her in a position of leadership where she gets to be the one who makes the decisions. Especially when Dunyazad comes with Marjan on one of her trips. This helps with her outer development.
THE RIGHT STORIES?
Marjan worries about the stories she collects, as there are selfish and immoral woman in them. She thinks that they will just make the Sultan more suspicious of woman. But Shahrazad points out that if she told stories that only painted woman in a good light, then he would sense she was trying to manipulate him. She wants to tell stories about all kinds of woman, good and bad.
I found it interesting because Marjan is correct about how stories can influence people. We often believe that they reflect reality and are not aware when we are being manipulated.
STUNNING REVELATIONS
There are two revelations in the story, one about Marjan's past and one about Shahrazad's feelings. Both end up challenging Marjan as she has to learn how to accept these truths. One causes her pain and the other confusion. Eventually she must decide how to live her life by her reactions to this events.
CHAPTER HEADINGS
At the top of each chapter is an extra paragraph, usually about storytelling but sometimes an extra insight into Marjan's life and character. There is a hint about her mother.
But I really liked the ones about storytelling. There is one where she mentions that there are private stories that you only tell yourself while another she says that people take different things from the same story.
SIDE CHARACTERS-SPOILERS
Soraya eventually develops and realizes the Khatun would trust no one, not even a puppet Queen. She eventually comes to Marjan's aid. I admired how even a side character developed.
Ayaz is the only male side character. He does play a use, helping Marjan and Dunyazad sneak back into the place. But I wish he had been more than that, and perhaps developed a friendship with Marjan (especially since she thinks no man would ever want to marry her).
It is hinted that the storyteller may have had feelings for Zaynab. But this doesn't really go anywhere and it's only hinted at near the end.
EVIL OR MENTALLY ILL?
One criticism I have for the story is the depiction of the sultan. He may have been betrayed by a woman in the past but his reaction isn't someone lashing out in pain. It's someone who is evil or mentally deranged.
If the story had been altered to be that the Sultan would never marry because he knew he could never trust anyone, and would execute anyone who deceived him...then Shahrazad would seem as very brave for wanting to marry him and taking on this challenge.Or perhaps it could have been revealed that he was being manipulated by his mother and was just very weak-willed. He does stand up to her near the end, but their relationship isn't really examined before then.
Marjan never interacts with him until the climax (which makes sense, as she is servant of Shahrazad's not his). So she only gains information from Shahrazad.
THE STORYTELLER-SPOILERS
It turns out that the storyteller is more than meets the eye. When his identity was revealed I think it was supposed to be important. I understand it was to make his stories seem more relevant to the sultan (he originally snuck young woman out of the city so the Sultan could not marry and kill them). Also, Marjan says she thought he was blind, but he is not. I don't think this was ever explained.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
Marjan is freed in secret and given money, but she ends up losing it when she is chased. She goes to live with someone she knows but realizes they are going to turn her out. With no money she decides to return to the palace. It sounds brave or maybe just foolish.
She still worries about Shahrazad I suppose, not just herself. I admire her boldness but when she tells the Sultan a story (which is just Shahrazad's story as well as his) I kept thinking, would he really let her go on and tell it? I kept thinking that he was nuts or evil and probably didn't want to be healed.
CONCLUSION
Fletcher creates a well paced story with likable characters and a heroine that develops throughout. Neither Marjan's inner story nor her outer story were neglected. She develops boldness, bravery and leadership while she searches for the lost storyteller and is abused by the Khatun. She also forgives a loved one for a past sin and heals, moving forward. My only criticism is the climax, which seemed a little farfetched to me. As well as the portrayal of the sultan. I give “Shadow Spinner” three and half stars.
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