The Bruising of Qilwa

Last updated
The Bruising of Qilwa
The Bruising of Qilwa.jpg
AuthorNaseem Jamnia
LanguageEnglish
GenreSpeculative fiction, fantasy
Published9 Aug 2022
PublisherTachyon
Publication placeUnited States
Pages176
Website https://www.naseemwrites.com/the-bruising-of-qilwa

The Bruising of Qilwa is a 2022 fantasy novella by Naseem Jamnia, the author's debut work. The plot centers on a non-binary refugee healer who practices blood magic and discovers a mysterious illness in their new city. The work was a finalist for the 2023 Locus Award for Best First Novel.

Contents

Plot

Firuz-e Jafari is a blood magic adept of Sassanian ethnicity. Sassanians, and blood magic users in particular, face genocide in the mainland nation of Dilmun. Firuz and their family flee to the island city-state of Qilwa.

A plague sweeps through the city. Firuz gets a job as a healer's assistant working under a man named Kofi, hiding their true magical affinity. As the plague ravages the city, they find several examples of corpses with bone marrow disease and suspect them to be the result of an untrained blood magic user.

Firuz heals a sick girl named Afsoneh and recognizes her as having an affinity for blood magic. They begin to train her and she becomes part of their family. Firuz's brother Parviz needs an alignment spell to make his body reflect his male gender identity. Firuz worries about the safety of such a spell, driving a rift between the siblings.

Firuz's patients begin experiencing a mysterious ailment characterized by non-healing bruises and fatigue, eventually leading to death in some cases. They suspect this is related to the diseased corpses. When a teenager named Ahmed contracts the blood bruising, Firuz uses their blood magic to attempt a healing spell. This backfires and Ahmed dies. Firuz is accused of murder by Ahmed's parents.

Kofi diffuses the situation and leads Firuz to a laboratory under the clinic. Despite having no training in blood magic, Kofi reveals that he was performing experiments in order to find a cure for plague victims. The blood bruising disease was the unintended result. Kofi believes that the Sassanian prohibition on experiments with blood magic is holding back scientific progress, and that further experiments will result in increased healthcare access for refugees. Firuz refuses to help Kofi with his experiments. Kofi infects Firuz with the blood bruising. Afsoneh and Firuz kill Kofi, use his laboratory to concoct a cure, and then burn down the clinic to hide the evidence.

The next year, Parviz's alignment spell has been successful. Afsoneh continues her training with blood magic. Firuz is saving money to open a clinic, intending to help refugees and honor Kofi's legacy.

Reception

Gary Wolfe, reviewing from Locus, praised the book as "considerably bigger on the inside than it first appears, and it’s a rewarding addition to that growing body of fantastic fiction addressing themes of colonialism, bigotry, gender, and cultural identity", but also commented that "many readers might hope for a more thorough introduction to this world", noting several details of the world as lacking. Still, the review concluded that "the world of the book is one we’d like to know more about, and Jamnia is a writer worth paying attention to." [1]

Writing for Tor.com , Martin Cahill called the book "a masterful debut" and "a reminder of what you can truly do with the fantasy genre". Cahill praised Jamnia's narrative confidence, writing that it feels like a fourth or fifth novel rather than a debut work. This review applauded Jamnia's exploration of immigration, refugee status, and queerness. [2]

Writing for Grimdark Magazine, Carrie Chi Lough called the setting "a wondrous new world" with "some of the most memorable voices I’ve read in fantasy". She also wrote that the novella might have been better served as a full-length novel to explore more of the medical mystery. [3] Publishers Weekly called the story "a short, propulsive tale that admirably centers a strong queer protagonist and offers thought-provoking commentary on the struggles of refugees". The same review noted that some of the storytelling elements felt rushed. [4]

Writing for the New York Journal of Books, fantasy author Marie Brennan wrote that the novella "feels like a novel packed into a too-small sack", but that this is a better mistake to make than having a novella with too little content. She praised the novella's Persian-inspired setting and conceptualization of gender roles, while noting that the plot lines "feel packed in too tightly to breathe". [5]

The Bruising of Qilwa was a finalist for the 2023 Locus Award for Best First Novel. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Wolfe</span> American SF and fantasy writer (1931–2019)

Gene Rodman Wolfe was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He was noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith. He was a prolific short story writer and novelist, and won many literary awards. Wolfe has been called "the Melville of science fiction", and was honored as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Strahan</span> Northern Irish-born Australian editor and publisher

Jonathan Strahan is an editor and publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His family moved to Perth, Western Australia in 1968, and he graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Wells</span> American speculative fiction writer (born 1964)

Martha Wells is an American writer of speculative fiction. She has published a number of fantasy novels, young adult novels, media tie-ins, short stories, and nonfiction essays on fantasy and science fiction subjects. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages. Wells has won four Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards and three Locus Awards for her science fiction series The Murderbot Diaries. She is also known for her fantasy series Ile-Rien and The Books of the Raksura. Wells is praised for the complex, realistically detailed societies she creates; this is often credited to her academic background in anthropology.

This is a list of the published works of Aliette de Bodard.

"Magic for Beginners" is a fantasy novella by American writer Kelly Link. It was first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in September 2005. It was subsequently published in Link's collection of the same name, as well as in her collection Pretty Monsters, in the 2007 Nebula Award Showcase, and in the John Joseph Adams-edited anthology Other Worlds Than These.

<i>The Goblin Emperor</i> 2014 novel by Katherine Addison

The Goblin Emperor is a 2014 fantasy novel written by the American author Sarah Monette under the pseudonym Katherine Addison. The novel received the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel and was nominated for the Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. It was well-received by critics, who noted the strength of the protagonist's characterization and, unusual for fantasy, the work's warm and understated tone.

<i>Nebula Awards Showcase 2006</i> 2006 anthology edited by Gardner Dozois

Nebula Awards Showcase 2006 is an anthology of award-winning science fiction short works edited by Gardner Dozois. It was first published in trade paperback by Roc/New American Library in March 2006, which also issued an ebook edition in July 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Gailey</span> American author

Sarah Gailey is an American author of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery novels, short stories, and comics.

<i>Wonders of the Invisible World</i> (McKillip collection) 2012 collection of fantasy short stories by Patricia A. McKillip

Wonders of the Invisible World is a collection of fantasy short stories by Patricia A. McKillip. It was first published in trade paperback and ebook by Tachyon Publications in October 2012. The title of both the collection and the first story in it derive from the 1693 book of the same title by Cotton Mather.

<i>Fireheart Tiger</i> Novella by Aliette de Bodard

Fireheart Tiger is a 2021 fantasy novella by Aliette de Bodard.

<i>The Four Profound Weaves</i> 2020 fantasy novella by R.B. Lemberg

The Four Profound Weaves is an acclaimed 2020 LGBT+ fantasy novella by R.B. Lemberg. In 2021, it has been nominated in the best novella category for the Ignyte, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Locus awards.

<i>A Master of Djinn</i> 2021 novel by P. Djèlí Clark

A Master of Djinn is a 2021 fantasy steampunk novel by American writer P. Djèlí Clark, published by Tor.com. The book is part of Clark's the Dead Djinn Universe and follows the events of the novelette "A Dead Djinn in Cairo", and the novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015.

<i>The Unbroken</i> 2021 epic fantasy novel by C.L. Clark

The Unbroken is a 2021 epic fantasy novel, the debut novel by C.L. Clark. It is the first book in a planned trilogy entitled Magic of the Lost; it was followed by a sequel entitled The Faithless in 2023. It received critical acclaim for its exploration of colonialism in the setting of an epic fantasy novel. It was nominated for the 2021 Nebula Award for Best Novel and 2022 Ignyte Award for Best Novel.

<i>The Past Is Red</i> 2021 fantasy novella by Catherynne M. Valente

The Past is Red is a 2021 fantasy novella by Catherynne M. Valente. It includes two parts; Part I, The Future is Blue, was previously published as a novelette, winning the Theodore Sturgeon Award in 2017. Part II is an original work entitled The Past is Red. The entire work was nominated for the 2022 Hugo Award for Best Novella, 2022 Locus Award for Best Novella, and inaugural Ursula K. Le Guin Prize.

<i>The Black Gods Drums</i> 2018 speculative fiction novella by P. Djèlí Clark

The Black God's Drums is a 2018 fantasy novella by P. Djèlí Clark. It is set in an alternate history New Orleans in which the Confederate States of America won the American Civil War and New Orleans is an independent territory. The novella received critical acclaim, being nominated for the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novella, 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novella, 2019 Locus Award for Best Novella, and 2019 World Fantasy Award for Best Novella. It was awarded a 2019 Alex Award.

<i>Fractured Fables</i> Series of fantasy novellas by Alix E. Harrow

Fractured Fables is a series of fantasy novellas written by Alix E. Harrow. The series currently comprises two novellas: A Spindle Splintered (2021) and A Mirror Mended (2022). The series explores fairy tales from a modernist and feminist perspective. Both novellas have received critical acclaim.

<i>Nettle & Bone</i> 2022 fantasy novel by T. Kingfisher

Nettle & Bone is a 2022 fantasy novel by Ursula Vernon, writing as T. Kingfisher. The novel has been described as a dark fairy tale. It won the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel and was nominated for the 2023 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and the Nebula Award for Best Novel of 2022.

<i>Thornhedge</i> 2023 novella by T. Kingfisher

Thornhedge is a 2023 novella by Ursula Vernon, writing under the pen name T. Kingfisher. The novella is a reimagining of the story of Sleeping Beauty. It won the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

Anna Smith Spark is a British fantasy fiction writer and civil servant from Bishop's Stortford. She wrote a trilogy titled Empires of Dust as well as several other standalone works, and has been styled the "Queen of Grimdark".

<i>The Faithless</i> (Clark novel) 2023 novel by C.L. Clark

The Faithless is a 2023 epic fantasy novel by C. L. Clark. It is the second book in the planned Magic of the Lost trilogy, following Clark's 2021 novel The Unbroken. The novels follows the characters in the aftermath of a rebellion from the first novel, as they grapple with independence and their new political realities.

References

  1. ↑ Wolfe, Gary (2022-08-30). "Gary K. Wolfe Reviews The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia". Locus Online. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  2. ↑ Martin Cahill (24 Oct 2022). "Beautiful & Bittersweet: The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia". Tor.com. Retrieved 27 Jun 2023.
  3. ↑ Carrie Chi Lough (26 Dec 2022). "REVIEW: THE BRUISING OF QILWA BY NASEEM JAMNIA". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 27 Jun 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Bruising of Qilwa". Publishers Weekly. 17 Mar 2022. Retrieved 27 Jun 2023.
  5. ↑ Marie Brennan. "The Bruising of Qilwa". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved 27 Jun 2023.
  6. ↑ "2023 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists". Locus. 28 Apr 2023. Retrieved 2 Jul 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.