Review By Veronica
The Black Crescent is the perfect book for those readers looking to read a different kind of historical fiction.
Favourite Quote:
‘You have the luck. You have the baraka,’ Taba Tot said, ‘ It makes you strong, it makes you a good person. Honour your mother and your father, for she is a fine woman, and he is a brave man, and they and the dijnns made you as you are.’
Goodreads Synopsis:
A captivating historical novel set in post-war Casablanca about a young man marked by djinns who must decide where his loyalties lie as the fight for Moroccan independence erupts.
Hamou Badi is born in a village in the Anti-Atlas Mountains with the markings of the zouhry on his hands. In Morocco, the zouhry is a figure of legend, a child of both humans and djinns, capable of finding treasure, lost objects, and even water in the worst of droughts. But when young Hamou finds the body of a murdered woman, his life is forever changed.
Haunted by this unsolved murder and driven by the desire to do good in the world, Hamou leaves his village for Casablanca to become an officer of the law under the French Protectorate.
But Casablanca is not the shining beacon of modernity he was expecting. The forcible exile of Morocco’s sultan by the French sparks a nationalist uprising led by violent dissident groups, none so fearsome as the Black Crescent. Torn between his heritage and his employers, Hamou will be caught in the crossfire.
The lines between right and wrong, past and future, the old world and the new, are not as clear as the magical lines on his palms. And as the danger grows, Hamou is forced to choose between all he knows and all he loves.
I was completely captivated by the story and its characters. The Black Crescent is perfect for bookworms looking to read historical fiction that is different from what is usually published (which is books set during World War II). Jane takes her readers to Morocco during the end of the French occupation. This was a turbulent time for the country. The French occupiers were often hostile and cruel to the Moroccans. The country was very divided during this time. I loved this story; it was interesting, heart-wrenching, and sometimes kind of funny. The Black Crescent is rich in detail; you can tell Jane has done her research and put a lot of thought into this book. I have to admit I know very little about this country and its history, which made its story more fascinating. You really become immersed in Moroccan culture when you read this book. The city of Casablanca just comes to life on the pages of this book. I loved that Jane wove magic throughout the story. I wouldn’t classify this book as a fantasy novel, but this story has a bit of magic. Its presence isn’t front and centre. Instead, it weaves itself into the plot in such a way that gives this story an extra layer of richness. It was just so wonderfully done.
Hamou was an interesting character. I enjoyed spending time with him, and you can really feel his struggles throughout this book. He is a good, kind man who values honour. Hamou is torn. He moved to Casablanca to become a policeman and worked for the French Surete. But he doesn’t feel comfortable working for the French and witnessing the horrors that are taking place in this city. There is this real internal struggle going on in Hamou’s head around being complicit in the horrible action of the French Surete. He is loyal to his fellow countrymen but also doesn’t want to go against the French. It was an interesting battle going on in his head, and it really showed how complicated it was for those who lived in Morocco during the occupation.
The Black Crescent is a breathtaking and fascinating novel set in Morocco during the French occupation.
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
