Set against a vividly drawn desert backdrop, this spellbinding novel about love, self-sacrifice and the power of stories shimmers as vibrantly as a queen’s finely threaded robes. When cruel king Lo-Melkhiin arrives in her village, the eloquent narrator of this expertly woven novel knows that he will take her beloved, beautiful sister to be his next wife. And so she makes the ultimate sacrifice and submits herself, in the knowledge that Lo-Melkhiin has murdered over three hundred wives. But the king knows what she’s done and is fascinated by his new wife’s fearlessness, and she survives her first night in his opulent court. Over time, a curious connection develops between them, and the young queen realises that her dreams and stories seem able to take on lives on their own, and possess a power that’s perhaps even strong enough to cast out a monster… Exploring the story behind the tales of The Arabian Nights and the woman who told them, legendary Arabic queen, Scheherazade, this unique novel will haunt readers long after the final page has been turned. ~ Joanne Owen
Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to my village, looking for a wife. When Lo-Melkhiin - a formidable king - arrives at her desert home, she knows that he will take her beautiful sister for a wife. Desperate to save her sister from certain death, she makes the ultimate sacrifice - leaving home and family behind to live with a fearful man. But it seems that a strange magic flows between her and Lo-Melkhiin, and night after night, she survives. Finding power in storytelling, the words she speaks are given strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. But she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king ...if only she can stop her heart from falling for a monster.
Set against a harsh desert backdrop, A Thousand Nights by E K Johnston is an evocative tale of love, mystery and magic that would not feel out of place if Scheherazade herself were telling it.
Emily Kate Johnston is a forensic archaeologist. She has lived on four continents, including summers spent in Jordan experiencing the desert first-hand. Her inspirations come from her work, travels and her university studies in Biblical Hebrew and Arabic. She loves telling stories, and has been doing so across different mediums for over ten years.
