Bird King (Wilson) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
G. Willow Wilson whips up a head-spinning blend of realism, fantasy and history…. And indeed, life in the palace is evocatively sketched. But the chase grows tiresome, stretching on for so long that the reader may begin to wonder why Fatima and Hassan are so important to bag. The novel comes perilously close to reading like an action film, complete with the perfect villain, Luz, with a strange, terrifying splotch on her eye…. Fatima and Hassan’s arduous, sometimes cartoonishly violent journey makes this an uneven book, though a deeply imaginative ending—set on an island that may have sprung from Hassan’s mind—redeems the travel-worn story.
Priyanka Kuman - Washington Post


[A] swashbuckling… novel amid an epic clash between cultures on the Iberian peninsula during the Spanish Inquisition.… Though marketed as literary fiction, this book is pure fantasy, and teen readers especially will relish suspending their disbelief.
Publishers Weekly


With… The Bird King, [Wilson] has cemented her place as one of the brightest lights of fantasy…. Wilson’s tale unfolds with all the grace and swiftness of a classic magical adventure, with strange encounters and new lands waiting with each turn of the page.
BookPage


★ A fun, immersive adventure that moves at a brisk pace through lush settings, across dangerous terrain, and eventually out to the open sea.
Booklist
 

★ A lovely fable…. The worldbuilding is well-constructed but is primarily a support for Wilson's chief focus on character…. Wilson also delicately explores the nature of a love outside the physical…. A thoughtful and beautiful balance between the real and the fantastic.
Kirkus Reviews


A breathtaking historical fantasy…. To say Wilson is a talented storyteller does not adequately capture the magnificent dimensions of her work…. The Bird King [is] a more-than-worthy follow-up to Alif the Unseen. It’s not necessary to read one before the other, but only a fool would miss them both.
Shelf Awareness