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Equal of the Sun

by Anita Amirrezvani (Goodreads Author)

3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 · rating details · 570 ratings · 201 reviews

Legendary women—from Anne Boleyn to Queen Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots—changed the course of history in the royal courts of sixteenth-century England. They are celebrated in history books and novels, but few people know of the powerful women in the Muslim world, who formed alliances, served as key advisers to rulers, lobbied for power on behalf of their sons, and ru...more

Hardcover, 431 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Scribner

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Jun 05, 2012 Lyndz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, first-reads, reviewed

If you are like me and love your historical novels but are sick to death of reading about the same historical eras over and over, this is the novel for you. I had no clue about how much I DIDN’T know about Iranian royal politics until I started reading Equal of the Sun.

This is one of those books that when you are not reading it, you are thinking about it. And when you are reading it you are fully submerged in the atmosphere. Anita Amirrezvani does an excellent job of fording a believable and re...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Richard rated it 2 of 5 stars

Pearl Ruled: EQUAL OF THE SUN by ANITA AMIRREZVANI

Rating: 2* of five (p68)

The Book Description: Legendary women—from Anne Boleyn to Queen Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots—changed the course of history in the royal courts of sixteenth-century England. They are celebrated in history books and novels, but few people know of the powerful women in the Muslim world, who formed alliances, served as key advisers to rulers, lobbied for power on behalf of their sons, and ruled in their own right. In Eq...more Pearl Ruled: EQUAL OF THE SUN by ANITA AMIRREZVANI

Rating: 2* of five (p68)

The Book Description: Legendary women—from Anne Boleyn to Queen Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots—changed the course of history in the royal courts of sixteenth-century England. They are celebrated in history books and novels, but few people know of the powerful women in the Muslim world, who formed alliances, served as key advisers to rulers, lobbied for power on behalf of their sons, and ruled in their own right. In Equal of the Sun,Anita Amirrezvani’s gorgeously crafted tale of power, loyalty, and love in the royal court of Iran, she brings one such woman to life, Princess Pari Khan Khanoom Safavi. Iran in 1576 is a place of 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 protégée, 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 closest adviser, Javaher, 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 the unlikely bond 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.

My Review: This is not at all a poorly written book, and it's not at all an uninteresting one. It's so overwritten that I would swear an oath on my mother's grave it was written by David Mitchell in a burka.

There is a difference between lush, ripe word-seduction, the kind that leaves you juuusssst on the edge and doesn't leave icky sticky puddles on your person, and the splattery overripe sloppy seconds kind of writing this book is.

Give me Sexing the Cherry over this any darn day.(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: heroine-amazing, heroine-unusually-attractive, historical-figure-fictionalized, historicals, mood-evocative, place-iran, place-middle-east, sex-sex-and-more-sex

Set in 16th century Iran, this rich and detailed historical novel follows Javaher, a eunuch who becomes confidante, spy, and vizier for the Shah's brilliant, passionate, and greatly underutilized daughter, Princess Pari Khan Khanoom. As the novel opens, Javaher has just joined Pari's household, and as the Shah's favorite daughter, both Pari and Javaher have enormous access to the Shah's household staff, the courtiers, and the other nobles. For Pari, this allows her to better understand the facti...more

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Jun 05, 2012 JulieLaLa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating historical novel based in Iran during the late 1500s. The drama surrounding a woman, Princess Pari, who should be the ruler but can't because she is a woman, and her eunuch, Javaher, is intense. The author is able to convey so much through her words. Everything about this story is sensory. We can hear the lilting cadence of the dialogue, we can feel the soft carpets under our feet, we can easily visualize the bright colours of the clothing and jewels, we wish we could smell and taste...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Jennifer D. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, books-i-own

hmmm...so, overall i have been left feeling like a lot of potential was wasted with this story. it wasn't bad but it could have been great. i struggled with the early part of the story feeling like the staccato rhythm of the writing was taking away from the tale. by the mid-way point, i was more invested in the book and the characters and by the end, i didn't want to put it down, to see how the story played out. but all along, i was not super-impressed by the writing style. the use of poetry thr...more

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May 18, 2013 Robin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a richly woven tale of royal politics, loyalty, vision, warring tribes, family fueds, murders, love, friendship, and the beauty and culture of pre Modern Iran. The story focuses on the real person of Pari Khan Khanoom and the daring life she lived and the power struggles she faced. Through the voice of her closest servant, Javaher, we move through her world, with all the period details: rich and beautiful fashions, luxurious carpets, lovely art, amazing architecture, unmatched poetry, delic...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Dorien rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Perzië, een prinses, een harem, eunuchen, intriges, verraad en moord… Klinkt veelbelovend hè?

Anita Amirrezvani’s eerste boek, Dochter van Isfahan, was een bloemrijk en mooi geschreven roman over een arm meisje in het 17de eeuwse Perzië (Iran). Haar tweede boek, Prinses van Perzië, verhaalt over de crisis aan het hof van Perzië, een eeuw eerder.

Nadat sjah Tahmasp I sterft zonder een opvolger te hebben aangewezen, raakt iedereen aan het hof en in het land in verwarring en paniek. Zijn dochter, pri...more Perzië, een prinses, een harem, eunuchen, intriges, verraad en moord… Klinkt veelbelovend hè?

Anita Amirrezvani’s eerste boek, Dochter van Isfahan, was een bloemrijk en mooi geschreven roman over een arm meisje in het 17de eeuwse Perzië (Iran). Haar tweede boek, Prinses van Perzië, verhaalt over de crisis aan het hof van Perzië, een eeuw eerder.

Nadat sjah Tahmasp I sterft zonder een opvolger te hebben aangewezen, raakt iedereen aan het hof en in het land in verwarring en paniek. Zijn dochter, prinses Pari, heeft haar vader jarenlang als raadgeefster terzijde gestaan, maar omdat zij een vrouw is, mag ze hem niet opvolgen. Er ontstaat een politieke chaos, en uiteindelijk bestijgt een van de vele zonen, Ismail, de troon.

Eunuch Jahaver die voor prinses Pari werkt, is de ik-verteller. Zijn vader werkte ooit aan het hof en is vermoord door een andere hoveling. Tijdens Jahavers zoektocht naar de moordenaar van zijn vader, raakt hij verstrikt in de intriges rondom het overlijden van de sjah. Prinses Pari zet haar dienaar en vertrouweling namelijk in in het politieke spel, want hij heeft toegang tot bijna alle vertrekken, ook die van de haremvrouwen. Deze vrouwen spelen achter de schermen een grote rol bij het aanwijzen van de troonopvolger.
Als na zijn troonsbestijging blijkt dat Ismail een tiran is, zet Pari Jahaver weer in, maar nu om een moordcomplot te beramen tegen haar broer.

Macht, liefde, verraad en loyaliteit zijn de steekwoorden in deze roman. Amirrezvani is wel volledig doorgeschoten in haar ijver een weer mooi boek te schrijven. Prinses van Perziëbarst uit zijn voegen van de wollige dialogen, overbodige details en vele namen. Ze beschrijft uitentreuren de pracht en praal van het paleis, de geuren en kleuren van de tuinen, de juwelen, kleding en mensen:
Ook andere kizilbasj werden geëerd: de Rumlu, de Shamlu, De Qajar en de Ashfar, gevolgd door de Georgiërs, de Koerden en de Circassiers. […] Daarna werden er begroetingen voorgelezen door afgevaardigden van Sultan Murad III der Ottomanen, Akbar de Grote van de Mughals, Zhu Yijun van de Ming en Abdullah Khan van de Oezbeken, de meest verheven en machtige heersers op aarde, en enkele gezanten van de leiders van de minder belangrijke christelijke koninkrijken van het westen, zoals Filips II van Spanje en Elizabeth I van Engeland, die elkaar in die periode probeerden te veslaan.

Bijzonder is dat ieder hoofdstuk ingeleid wordt door een deel uit het 11de eeuwse gedicht De Sjahnama (Boek der koningen). Dit is een fraai epos in dichtvorm, en de parallellen met het verhaal van prinses Pari spreken voor zich.(less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second novel I've read by this author. The first was The Blood of Flowers. This novel is also set in Iran, but earlier, in the late 1570s. The story revolves around a real Iranian princess, a daughter of the Safavi dynasty, who lived from 1548 to 1578. Pari Khan Khanoom was one of the chief advisers to her father Tahmasb Shah, and groomed to take this role. When her father died suddenly, a suspected poisoning, she worked behind the scenes to keep the government functioning and prepar...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Bdalton rated it 3 of 5 stars

I choose this book because of the line in the description "few people know of the powerful women in the Muslim world, who formed alliances, served as key advisers t rulers, lobbied for power on behalf of their sons, and ruled in their own right." Eager to read more about powerful Muslim women from the same era as Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots, I reached out for the novel that Anita Amirrezvani created around the life of the Iranian Princess Pari Khan Kanoom Safavi.

The story is...more I choose this book because of the line in the description "few people know of the powerful women in the Muslim world, who formed alliances, served as key advisers t rulers, lobbied for power on behalf of their sons, and ruled in their own right." Eager to read more about powerful Muslim women from the same era as Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots, I reached out for the novel that Anita Amirrezvani created around the life of the Iranian Princess Pari Khan Kanoom Safavi.

The story is narrated by Javaher, a man who chooses to become a eunuch, in order to restore his family’s name after his father was murdered in a court intrigue. Javaher also goes to court to uncover his father's murderer and avenge his death. Javaher astrological chart is read, and when it is revealed that he will help usher in the greatest Safavi leader ever, he is assigned to work for the Princess Pari.

Princess Pari's father dies leaving no clear successor. Princess Pari, the most skilled diplomat and leader, attempts to establish order and provide smooth turnover to her brother's rule. Quickly the men and women around her jockey for power and she is stymied by her gender. Javaher and Pari develop a deep respect and friendship, unusual in a servant/master relationship.

There are several themes that run throughout the storyline. One is of the importance of gender. How much of our life is decided by gender? How is our world separated by gender? By choosing a "third" gender, Javaher is able to navigate between the separate gender worlds of his time. If we were able to navigate these worlds more fluidly, how would our life be altered? Another major theme is the importance of justice and just rulers. Do people have a moral obligation to overturn tyranny? What are the limits to the actions that they should take and what are the impacts on both society and the individual when they take matters into their own hands? How does this resonant with our current political climate especially Arab Spring?

What I most enjoyed about this story was learning more about Iranian history and culture. It is a good choice for historical fiction buffs that enjoy books where a well-developed setting is important. Even though the book is told from a man's point of view, this book will primarily appeal to women with a feminist orientation towards history and life.
(less)

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Aug 07, 2012 Claar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Opvallende en mooi in de roman Prinses van Perzië zijn de exotische en in Oosterse sferen gehulde beschrijvingen van Anita Amirrezvani over de geschiedenis van Pari. Zij is de Prinses van Perzië.
De pracht en praal, de geuren en kleuren aan het hof van het Perzische rijk in de zestiende eeuw worden gedetailleerd beschreven met het benoemen van juwelen, geborduurde kleding, decoratie, specerijen, weelderige bloemenpracht, de tuinen en de inrichting van de vele vertrekken in de paleizen.

Bijzonder...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Teeuhh rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars. I gave it 4 stars because I liked it better than her previous work, but didn't want to knock my rating of the other one down to 3 stars.

The two main characters were a great pair; I enjoyed them both, and their relationship's progress was excellently written. Princess Pari is clever, beautiful, flawed, etc. It was refreshing, after I wasn't too keen on the protagonist from the author's first book, Blood of Flowers. Javaher's narrative also kept a good pace. He was quite easy to like.

Th...more

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Jun 04, 2012 pip rated it 5 of 5 stars

absolutely stunning piece of historical fiction here...unlike another reviewer on this title, i had never heard of her and was just lucky enough to stumble on the ARC system and requested it to read so i could give an advance review...

had to really rip through it to be done ahead of publication as promised, but it was not a hardship because i couldn't put it down...

the world (re)creation in this is sumptuous and the story is interesting, gripping in places, even and who amongst us historical fic...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was on my radar because I completely enjoyed her first novel, the Blood of Flowers. Even now, years after reading her lyrical descriptions of the main square in Isfahan I can still picture the scene. If I was unfamiliar with this author I probably would’ve completely missed this incredible read, because the plot descriptions didn’t interest me. The publisher sent me an electronic galley to read so I decided to give it a try. The beginning of the novel is full of so many strange names a...more

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May 17, 2013 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(review copy provided by author/publisher) (thank you)

Equal of the Sun takes the reader into the world of Iran beginning in 1576, where the Palace Eunuch Javaher literally gives up his manhood to serve the royal family, and the shah to prove his loyalty and avenge his Father's honor. He is offered the chance to serve under the Shah's favored daughter Princess Pari who has served as her Father's protege and advisor since the age of fourteen. From the moment of their very first meeting Javaher rea...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, iran, middle-east, 3-stars-and-a-half, historical-women

I picked up this book after enjoying Amirrezvani’s first novel, The Blood of Flowers. This one turns from the lives of regular people to those of royalty, which tend to interest me less (weird, I know), but still proves to be a compelling read.

This is the story of Princess Pari Khan Khanoom Safavi, told through the eyes of Javaher, a eunuch in her service. Pari has long been an adviser to her father, the Shah, and when he dies, she’s neck-deep in intrigue: trying to put the brother she prefers o...more I picked up this book after enjoying Amirrezvani’s first novel, The Blood of Flowers. This one turns from the lives of regular people to those of royalty, which tend to interest me less (weird, I know), but still proves to be a compelling read.

This is the story of Princess Pari Khan Khanoom Safavi, told through the eyes of Javaher, a eunuch in her service. Pari has long been an adviser to her father, the Shah, and when he dies, she’s neck-deep in intrigue: trying to put the brother she prefers on the throne, but more fundamentally, trying to rule Iran herself. Meanwhile, she and Javaher come to trust and respect one another, and Javaher searches for the man who murdered his father many years before. As a eunuch, Javaher has access to both the harem and the outside world, giving readers a full picture of the times.

I wasn’t sure about the characters at first, but Amirrezvani does a good job with the two principals. Books about female historical figures have a tendency both to whitewash them to the point of bland sainthood and to “feminize” them by focusing on their insecurities and their love lives, and I was glad to see nothing like that here. Pari is arrogant, ambitious, and focused; she seems entirely capable of running a government, but is also far from perfect. She’s a product of her culture but has learned to work around it, for instance, by holding political meetings from behind a lattice (so unrelated males won’t see her). Meanwhile, Javaher also turns out to be an interesting character; you don’t see many fictional eunuchs in lead roles, and his relationships with women are unusual and add an extra layer to the story.

It’s important to note, though, that ultimately these characters are courtiers/politicians, and that this book is as much about the politics as it is about the people. Many of the characters’ interactions are quite formal, and minor characters often remain enigmatic. This book does an excellent job with the drama of deadly court politics and with bringing its setting to life, and I’d expect those who love reading about royalty but are tired of England to gobble it up. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves the “historical” aspect of historical fiction or enjoys political intrigue. But I’m less certain about how well more literary-minded readers will like it; the characters can feel distant at times, and the writing style is adequate but falls short of elegant. Amirrezvani seems to be going for accessibility in Javaher’s voice and the dialogue, which ring a bit modern in style, but not anachronistically so.

Finally, a warning to readers: there’s a character list at the front of the book, but those sensitive to spoilers may prefer to avoid it, since it lists rulers and the dates of their reigns. All the names and affiliations can be a bit complicated at first, but I could generally follow events without reference to the list.

In the end, this is an enjoyable and interesting historical drama, covering a fascinating time period. I wish there was more historical fiction available in English about the Middle East and hope Amirrezvani continues to write books like this in the future!(less)

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Jun 12, 2012 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as part of the goodreads give away.

I enjoyed this book a lot, however, it took a while for me to really get into it.
I love that the story is unique and portrays an interesting piece of history. It is a great tale about a powerful woman from a unique point of view.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.

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May 06, 2013 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Summary:
The Safavi dynasty ruled in Persia 1501-1722. It was the first ruling empire after the Muslim conquest. Shi'a Islam was the authorized religion. Their empire encompassed not just modern day Iran, but also Iraq, Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan.
In 1576, a young princess named Pari Khan Khanoom, wanted to be ruler after her father died and the empire was in turmoil because a will had not been written. Pari was intelligent, insightful, and knowledgeable about the responsibilities of being a ru...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story centers around the events in the life of a powerful woman in the Muslim world, Pari Khan Khanoom, a Safavi princess of the recently recognized territory of Iran by the Ottoman Empire.
After her father, the Shah, dies suddenly in 1576 without leaving an heir, she tries to keep the court running smoothly until her brother can be brought in to rule. Even though she was a key advisor to her father, this idea is met with dissent by the nobles of the court. Within Pari's story is the story...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is loosely based on the history of Princess Pari Khan Khanoom a woman of strength and intelligence but a woman and therefore ineligible to rule when her father dies suddenly without leaving an heir. In the fascinating tale woven by Ms. Amirrezvani Princess Pari is presented as woman favored by her father and taught all that is necessary to rule a great country.

This is as much the tale of the fictional eunuch Javaher as it is Pari's. Javaher's father was murdered by a high ranking cour...more

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May 30, 2012 Susanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, first-look

It took me a little while to get engrossed in Equal of the Sun. Not being familiar with Persian court politics, etiquette, and intrigues, I found some of the interrelations between various nobility, other court members, and tribes to be a bit confusing. Especially at the beginning, the novel seemed a little underdeveloped, as if some details that would lend more development and cohesiveness to the story had been edited out, and the plot felt a bit rushed in places.

The book improved, though, the...more It took me a little while to get engrossed in Equal of the Sun. Not being familiar with Persian court politics, etiquette, and intrigues, I found some of the interrelations between various nobility, other court members, and tribes to be a bit confusing. Especially at the beginning, the novel seemed a little underdeveloped, as if some details that would lend more development and cohesiveness to the story had been edited out, and the plot felt a bit rushed in places.

The book improved, though, the more I read. I enjoyed the last 2/3 or so much more than the beginning. The plot is an intriguing window into the struggles of the Safavi dynasty during the late 1570s, an era in which the court was fraught with espionage, assassinations, weak and/or possibly deranged rulers, and much political scheming. The narrator of the story, a eunuch under the employ of Princess Pari, is perfectly positioned to tell the story, as he has access to the harem, the city outside the palace, many of the rooms in which politics are conducted, and, of course, the fascinating character of Pari herself. One of the things I most liked about the novel was the nuanced depiction of Pari. Contrary to many heroines in historical novels, she generally fights against her suppressed position in a patriarchal society not through openly rebellious, gender-bending ways, but by elevating her freedom and position through the mechanisms already set in place. And at the same time that she is the strongest political force in the story, she is not perfect; her flaws are clear when her ambitions and opinions occasionally get in the way of what is perhaps best for her political and physical safety.

In some ways, I wish Equal of the Sun had ended about 100 pages sooner, when the story reached its highest point and a lot of loose ends were concluded at the end of the same chapter. Alas, history does not work the same way as novels, and so it's mostly downhill for the main characters for the rest of the book. There's closure at the very end, but only with heartbreak and tough compromises mixed in.

Disclaimer: I received my copy of this book through the First Look program in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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May 01, 2012 Lorretta rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book through GoodReads giveaway.

This book is beautiful. I was transported from the very first pages to a faraway place and time that seemed fantastical. The author wove such convincing images of people, places and situations that I often thought I could hear the music, taste the dates and tea, smell the perfumes.

We are introduced to the "princess Pari" who is the beloved daughter of the Shah. Because of her favorite status, she is allowed to behave in a manner that no other woman...more I received this book through GoodReads giveaway.

This book is beautiful. I was transported from the very first pages to a faraway place and time that seemed fantastical. The author wove such convincing images of people, places and situations that I often thought I could hear the music, taste the dates and tea, smell the perfumes.

We are introduced to the "princess Pari" who is the beloved daughter of the Shah. Because of her favorite status, she is allowed to behave in a manner that no other woman would be permitted. This has the double-edged sword of her becoming extremely intelligent and knowledgeable in the ways of the court and it's laws, but as a woman, she is not taken seriously and not wanted. Just before the Shah dies, he recommends an eunuch named Javaher to her and the story is told through him.

The Shah dies and with no named heir, Iran is thrown into chaos. Pari tries to maintain order and sends for her brother I'smail who has been in exile/prison for many years. She remembers him as being the epitome of the Prince Warrior. Other sons of the Shah tried to wrest the title of Shah and the usual political skullduggery ensues while I'smail makes his slow progress to the throne.

Pari struggles to hold the court for I'smail and without her father's backing, learns just how little the male politicians hold her in regard. Also, Pari has not always been the most pleasant or judicious person so she has alientated people on her own merit...especially other women in the harem. This proves to be a huge hindrance to her as time goes own. She really does learn that "you reap what you sow".

As the story progesses, we learn that I'smail is NOT the hero Pari remembers and she is bitterly disappointed. She does not get the credit that she feels she deserves, is not appointed the premier court advisor and finally her true desire is revealed: she wants to be the Shah. Knowing that her gender will prevent it, she cannot help but strive for it anyways.

There is much verbal action, spying and scheming as the tale wends it ways to the end. The characters are compelling; you really like them or really detest them. Pari is not the noble heroine with a heart of gold at all. She is uppity, believes that her status allows her to be above certain laws, and expects others to obey even when she does not. On the other hand, I have to cheer her on in a society that put such constraints on a gender.

The author has such a lush way with words that you almost feel like you are fluent in another language. It's just beautiful.

I also want to praise the choice of cover. These days the majority of covers use actual people instead of an image or painting. It really ruins it for me because when I see people on the cover, it sets the tone and idea of what people look like and that takes away a lot of the mental imagery words can create. I hated when books became movies and there would be actors on the cover of the books; now there are regular people on the covers and that just irritates me. Maybe I am just old...Anyways, the cover of this book is an excellent one. It evokes the image of a distant time and place and you know you are going to be treated to a wonderful tale.

And I really want to try tea with dates in it!(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I first heard of this book when I attended a presentation at which the author spoke. I was fascinated by the woman she described: Pari Khan Khanoum was a princess of the Persian empire during the 16th Century. A contemporary of Elizabeth I, she was likewise well educated, intelligent -- and ambitious.

"Equal of the Sun" is told through the eyes of Pari Khan's fictional vizier, a eunuch called Javaher. Through his words, we learn of the politics, religion and intrigue of the Persian court under th...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Roxanne rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of stories about palace intrigue and politics

Recommended to Roxanne by: Got it from work as an advanced copy :)

Shelves: historical-fiction, books-i-got-from-work, 2012

(Maybe some slight spoilers)

I got an advanced copy of this novel through my work. :)

As soon as I read the back cover, I knew this was right up my alley. Princess, political intrigue, a historical setting: what's not to like? However, I was a bit thrown by the fact that the first person narrator is not the princess Pari, but the eunuch who serves her. In the beginning, this may throw some readers off. I was a bit taken aback by some of the things that popped up because of his point of view, but I...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have never read a book set in Iran before so this book was something new for me. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about the Muslim world in the 1500's. Amirrezvani has accomplished what I most love about historical fiction, I was transported to another place and time by a large cast of characters, a descriptive setting, and an interesting story. Court life at this time was fascinating and reading about all of the power struggles and assassinations made it hard to put th...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Kenisha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Anita Amirrezvani has captured a moment in Iran's history and brought it to life. Much of the story is invention, but it is nonetheless quite captivating. The workings of the court, the stifling layers or pomp and circumstance and the espionage and backstabbing weave together in this tale that follows Javaher, a eunuch who serves the boylike princess Pari while he struggles to make sense of the murder and disgrace of his father.

I particularly enjoyed the opulent descriptions of the food, decorat...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Theresa Leone Davidson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another beautifully written novel by Anita Amirrezvani, whose novel The Blood of Flowers was exquisite and led me to read this one, a novel of historical fiction about a princess in sixteenth century Iran named Pari, upon whom this novel is loosely based. It is narrated by her assistant, and later vizier, a eunuch named Javaher (I now know more than I ever thought I would about how a man becomes a eunuch...horrifying). When Pari's father, the Shah, dies without naming an heir, she is the most li...more

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May 14, 2013 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Note: I was sent a copy of this book by the publishing company in exchange for a review. Thanks, Simon & Schuster!

When I read Anita Amirrezvani's first novel, "The Blood of Flowers", I was absolutely enchanted. She has a way of puling you into a scene like the Pevensie children falling into that painting in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." "Equal of the Sun" is no different. I read the first page, said, "Oh God, I'm not going to be able to put this book down until I'm done with it" and I was r...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Lindsay Burnett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I was drawn to this book because I'm fascinated by various methods women utilized to maneuver in the political sphere in history despite all of the obstacles and cultural barriers they faced. I am most familiar with Great Britain's historical women, aware of the general principals that guided other Europeans, and have read somewhat on women in China. However, my knowledge of any aspect of Middle-Eastern culture and history is vague at best, and my barebones Western education hasn't left any kind...more I was drawn to this book because I'm fascinated by various methods women utilized to maneuver in the political sphere in history despite all of the obstacles and cultural barriers they faced. I am most familiar with Great Britain's historical women, aware of the general principals that guided other Europeans, and have read somewhat on women in China. However, my knowledge of any aspect of Middle-Eastern culture and history is vague at best, and my barebones Western education hasn't left any kind of nuanced impression about Arabian women, past or present- naturally I loved this book's premise, to learn about two unfamiliar subjects at once.

Scholars tend to look down on historical fiction, but I rely on it for introduction to new places. It's much easier to understand a world when you're immersed in a story, and fiction allows the brief highlighting of all categories of a location and time. Makes it much easier to move onto strictly factual texts and comprehend their context.

I delved into "Equal of the Sun" expecting a similar experience to, say, reading a fictionalized biography of Elizabeth I. To be sure, the outline of ancient Iranian political systems, their general lifestyle, and the life of the main character, Princess Pari, is much clearer in my mind. But the main impression I'm walking away with centers around two unexpected topics: the life and perspectives of eunuchs, and a fresh realization of the extent of Middle Eastern poetry and the importance wordplay and literary knowledge played (plays?) to every class level.

Pari and the other women of the harem, and also a prostitute friend of the narrator (who is a eunuch), are certainly interesting and I enjoyed glimpsing at ways they controlled situations from their various vantage points and subverted (or were destroyed by) their limitations. But the narrator is personally fascinating to me. I admit to knowing the definition of a eunuch, but not much else. Digging into what their roles represented in society, their philosophies, and their psychological struggle was fantastic. I understand the physicality of a eunuch's body better than I ever did, but the author was smart to treat those details as matter-of-fact background, and focus on their minds and relationships.

As for the poetry, I don't think the author's invented verses were that great, and I'm sure she was restricted by attempting Iranian phrasing and themes into an English rhyming pattern, but what they represented has really caught my attention. The manipulation of language and challenge of coded barbs were used as proof of wit; improvisation was highly respected, as was careful practice of literary arts and the memorization of important texts, the "Shahnameh" in particular. This glimpse into an aspect of Iranian culture I had never even heard about set my English major heart a flutter. I will definitely be following up on Iran and other Middle Eastern countries' cultural history.

I also plan on reading Ms. Amirrezvani's previous book, and all her future works. (less)

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May 10, 2013 Grkchkruns rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the most engaging book I have read in some time. Intrigue, plots, a small amount of romance described beautifully. And the ending did NOT disappoint. All the events were very well woven together to maintain my interest and turn the pages for more. Pari was a princess who was living in the wrong century. A benevolent woman, trained in ruling and it's politics by her father, she was thwarted at every turn from becoming a leader, or even an advisor to the leader. She is fiercely loyal to co...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Renae M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013, historical-fiction, middle-east, medieval, published-2012

As a genre, historical fiction is almost exclusively Euro-centric, and novels that don’t deal with European history tend to chronicle the lives of the same handful of African or Asian characters, over and over again. Equal of the Sun, a novel by Anita Amirrezvani that deals with court life in 16th century Iran, was an unexpected and much-needed discovery at my local library. I loved this opportunity to look into a less widely explored culture, and the author’s focus on gender roles added even mo...more

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About Anita Amirrezvani

Anita Amirrezvani is the author of the forthcoming novel Equal of the Sun, which was published by Scribner in June, 2012. Her first novel, The Blood of Flowers, has appeared in more than 25 languages and was long-listed for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction. She teaches at the California College of the Arts and at Sonoma State University.

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Tremors: New Fiction by Iranian American Writers

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