Posted in Book Reviews
The backdrop of Shadow Spinner, by Susan Fletcher, is based upon a true legend. A Sultan, betrayed by his former wife, marries a new woman every night and then kills her in the morning. Until Shahrazad comes along. Shahrazad cleverly stays alive by beginning a story every night and then leaving it unfinished until the next evening. If the Sultan wants to hear the end of the story, he must let her live. Not only is Shahrazad preserving her own life with her stories, she is also saving the lives of many other women of the country. As long as the Sultan is married to Shahrazad, he kills no more women.
Enter Marjan, the main character. While visiting the Sultan’s harem one day with her aunt to sell jewelry, she entertains some young children by telling them a story. Shahrazad’s sister overhears her and takes her to Shahrazad. For Shahrazad is running out of stories to tell to the Sultan, and without a new one, the Sultan’s bloodbath may start all over again. Marjan supplies her with a new story for the night and returns home. But soon Shahrazad has further need of Marjan’s assistance. Apparently the story has a second part, and the Sultan wishes to hear it. Marjan must find the blind storyteller from whom she first heard the story so that she can find out the second part. But with the Sultan’s mother opposing her, this is a dangerous task.
I don’t think that Fletcher could have ruined this story even if she tried. All right, so maybe that’s not true. But I found the story of Shahrazad so fascinating in itself, that it would have been hard for me not to be interested in this book. As it is, Fletcher does an excellent job of recounting Shahrazad’s story from the perspective of Marjan.
I’m always pleased when authors weave in deeper themes along with an entertaining plot. Fletcher had several going in Shadow Spinner, but I most enjoyed how she illustrated the power of a story. Throughout the story, she portrayed Shahrazad as not only having the purpose of keeping alive with her stories, but of changing the Sultan’s views of woman. Shahrazad hoped to show the Sultan that not all women are good, but not all are bad either, and that he couldn’t execute all women on account of one. By weaving that truth into her story, she wanted to get him to accept it.
I won’t spoil the ending, but it sure turned out to be a wild ride. I would recommend Shadow Spinner to anyone who is interested in a fast-paced, fanciful tale.
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