Reviews
'With gorgeous, atmospheric writing, M.T. Khan tells a bold tale that challenges greed and inequality as the tough and clever Nura fights the odds from the mica mines of rural Pakistan to a realm of jinn and magic.' Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Widow and Zachary Ying series
'Sparkling with magic, Nura whisks you from the mica mines of Pakistan to the dreamy and dangerous realm of the Jinn. A twisty, atmospheric tale with a fierce protagonist, whose voice lingered in my mind long after I'd finished reading.' author of Wonderscape
'It was a delight to adventure with Nura into the magical and luminous world of the jinn.' author of Asha and the Spirit Bird
'Both startling and beautiful. Nura will win your heart in the first pages of this magical adventure with surprises at every turn.' J.C. Cervantes
'M.T. Khan weaves a magical tale brimming with themes of friendship, family, and hope - interspersed with delicious foods and enthralling lore. Readers will root for brave Nura from the gripping beginning to the breathtaking conclusion. Action-packed, heartfelt, timeless!' Katie Zhao
'Beautifully imaginative and full of humor, heart, and characters to root for. A grand adventure of a book.' Christina Li
'Nura and the Immortal Palace is a debut that glimmers as captivatingly and intensely as the mica its protagonist mines. Every word is a thoughtfully selected gem, every scene gripping and intensely wrought. The result is an adventure that is dangerously beautiful and will make sure readers are both enchanted and excited for every page turn. M.T. Khan is a wordsmith to watch, and name to remember.' Karuna Riazi
'A stunning debut. Khan weaves a uniquely magical tale taking the tropes of jinn and presenting them as tragic, selfish, and all together untrustworthy. Nura, despite her humble origin, rises up to take on all the illusions and deceits of the immortal mischief-makers, and through her trials Khan presents a powerful view of the world we live in, where injustice and subjugation of the poor and powerless is as cruel and destructive as anything a djinni could conjure up. A uniquely powerful tale.' Sarwat Chadda
'M. T. Khan has woven a magical, transporting tale with Nura and the Immortal Palace. Guiding us into a mysterious and glitzy world of jinn, serving us sweet bites of gulab jamun, all while shedding light on the chilling reality of child labor in our world, Khan's debut is one that will linger with me long after turning the last page.' Graci Kim
'Feautred in 'What We're Reading'' The i
'Khan’s magical middle grade debut is full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery, making it an easy book to get lost in.' Culturefly
'This action-packed story set in a Muslim community moves at a fast pace, with evocative writing that brings the fantasy world to life and lyrical imagery to describe emotions. An enthralling fantasy debut exploring exploitation by those in power.' Kirkus
'Featured in ‘5 books that take place in strange worlds’' The Week Junior
'Set in a rich evocative magical world rooted in Muslim tradition this is a fast-paced and exciting adventure.' WRD
'An exhilarating ride from start to finish. The quick-moving plot serves as a vehicle for both suspense and wonder, as Khan expertly weaves together traditional Pakistani folklore with the raw injustice of child exploitation and labor. This high-stakes, immersive fantasy will be sure to stay with readers long after they finish it.' Booklist
'I definitely recommend you join Nura and Faisal in a breath-taking adventure between dimensions and find friendship excitement and magic in the pages.' Books Up North
'The author has given us a fantastic story based on the mythologies found in Islam and which emphasize the conflicts between good and evil… This is a story that is full of action and adventure and which features a really strong and feisty female lead; it is also a story about friendship, family and finding that working together is the way to make things happen' Books For Keeps
'[…] I am recommending this book to everyone I know!!' NetGalley
'I wish I had this book growing up, because this is exactly the kind of magical read that fuels imaginations. If you love Spirited Away, or any of the Studio Ghibli films, this is a MUST read. I want to give a copy of this book to every child who thought they’d never see a character who looks like them in a book.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! GO PREORDER THIS BOOK NOW!' NetGalley
'The most gloriously, richly illustrated cover of this book opens and takes the reader into a darkly intriguing and imaginative fantasy adventure that blends perfectly with a very real, central theme of child labour and the culture of exploitation of the poor by the wealthy. [...] This is a stunning, colourful story, vividly created for the reader. The world of the jinn feels frantic, frenzied and dangerous to be part of. There are grotesque characters with uncontrollable emotions and no morals who keep children - human and jinn alike - to do all their bidding. Nura is a fabulous heroine; a determined young girl who undergoes her own transformation as she realizes the true priorities in life are not what you have but who you have in your life.
This is magical fantasy with a heart bursting with fury at injustice and with a unrelenting mission to restore hope and champion a better moral code to those who enter the story' ReadingZone
'Nura and the Immortal Palace" is a book I wish had existed when I was younger.' NetGalley
'The narrative is fast paced and full of action, and with a wealth of lyrical imagery, this superb fantasy shines like the mica glistening in the sunlight that Nura mentions as the story starts. The cover illustration by Hazem Asif is fabulous too. I can’t wait to see what this debut author writes next.' Red Reading Hub
'Author MT Khan takes us on a magical journey through the contrasting worlds of a mica miner to the bountiful world of the jinn palace. Her main character clearly wants what she can't have and her journey to claim it is fraught with problems for her to overcome, until ultimately, she discovers that what she needs is not what she thought that she wanted.
Incredibly rich writing packed full of sensuous descriptions brings this fantastical world to life. Curriculum Links: poverty and wealth, family, desire, greed, education, love, compassion, teamwork, determination and perseverance.' ReadingZone
'Nura and the Immortal Palace is a sparkling story rooted in Muslim culture and tradition. […] I think this must be one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen published!' The Reader Teacher
'This is a story that is full of action and adventure and which features a really strong and feisty
female lead; it is also a story about friendship, family and finding that working together is the way to make things happen.' Books For Keeps
'Such a fantastic world with an amazing story line full of action, adventure, magic and culture. Everybody who I speak to has loved to one and I would definitely recommend it. Not only a fantastic story, but a beautiful book! The front cover illustrations and colours are gorgeous.' Toppsta.com
'[…] Vivid description, an engaging lead character and a smattering of humour lead the reader through the story, whilst bringing into focus, albeit with a light touch, the victims of the modern world's demand for minerals that bring such hardship to the poorest communities. It also highlights the immense transformative power of access to education, which so many of the world's children are still denied. A very entertaining book with an important message.' Toppsta.com
'Vivid Imagery with a deep message embedded with in.' Toppsta.com
'Beautifully written, making it a joy to read aloud. Highly recommended for key stage 2 children.' Toppsta.com
'The Muslim rep in this made my heart soft. It was unapologetically Muslim, the kind of book I wish there was when I was growing up. I’ll be getting it for my brother, so he can see the suffering of children in many parts of the world while also experiencing a great adventure where kids like him are heroes. This is a vivid, picturesque and magical debut. It’s not often I see my religion or culture celebrated in a such a beautiful way so I recommend this to everyone.'
'With expert pacing, Khan dishes out tidbits of Pakistani culture while readers remain absorbed in the high-action fantasy world.' School Library Review
'A dynamic portal fantasy. Very highly recommended.' The School Librarian
'Based in Pakistan today, using the traditional Muslim tales of jinn that are timeless, Khan creates a fantasy adventure that can also help today’s child appreciate the inequalities and the dangers of modern life for those less fortunate than themselves.' LoveReading4Kids
'Featured in Pen & Inc Autumn/Winter 2022 listings, highlighting the best in diversity and inclusion in children's books.' Pen & Inc