IN THE PALACE OF FLOWERS

Narrator Etta Fusi draws listeners into the thoughts and feelings of those behind palace walls in late 1800s Iran. Fusi brings a contemplative voice to Jamila, a slave, and conveys the limited choices and life of servitude ahead for her and her friend, Abimelech, who is a slave and a eunuch. The novelty of this world to contemporary listeners is much of this audiobook's charm. Jamila's questions about the morality of slavery will resonate with listeners; they also serve to illustrate the high value placed on freedom even by those living in gilded surroundings. Fusi is a capable narrator who takes us confidently through Jamila and Abimelech's awakening to life outside the palace. M.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]