THE JINN DAUGHTER | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

Nadine is a jinn tasked with one job: telling the stories of the dead. She rises every morning to gather pomegranate seeds--the souls of the dead--that have fallen during the night. With her daughter Layala at her side, she eats the seeds and tells their stories. Only then can the departed pass through the final gate of death.

But when the seeds stop falling, Nadine knows something is terribly wrong. All her worst fears are confirmed when she is visited by Kamuna, Death herself and ruler of the underworld, who reveals her desire for someone to replace her: it is Layala she wants.

Nadine will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe, but Kamuna has little patience and a ruthless drive to get what she has come for. Layala's fate, meanwhile, hangs in the balance.

Rooted in Middle Eastern mythology, Rania Hanna deftly weaves subtle, yet breathtaking, magic through this vivid and compelling story that has at its heart the universal human desire to, somehow, outmaneuver death.

Rania Hanna is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside musician Sevde Guzel to share more about Middle Eastern mythology and the themes of humanity, injustice, and resilience weaved into this story. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Hanna will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 5:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of THE JINN DAUGHTER will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Rania Hanna is a Syrian-American writer and researcher, with a background in neuroscience. The Jinn Daughter is her first novel.

Sevde Guzel graduated with a degree in English literature and music, and went on to pursue graduate studies in musicology where she earned a certificate in Women & Gender Studies. In addition to literature and music, her interests span into health and wellness, as well as. She enjoys reading stories as much as she does weightlifting, yoga, and learning about nutrition. Her work involves product development in the organic beverage industry. Having grown up as a child of immigrants she also enjoys discourse on culture and finding our way in the “in between.”

Host or Publisher Busboys and Poets