A book about a woman coming of age in a matriarchical Muslim city? That was just at the edge of my comfort zone, but I decided to give Under the Full and Crescent Moon a try. I’m glad that I did.
I wanted to read this book because I am very unfamiliar with Islam and it seemed like a good way to learn while being entertained. I did learn a lot – while understanding that this is fiction. The city of Medina’tul-Agham has never existed, except in the author’s imagination and now in this book. But Islam is real and the author, Aamir Hussain, has taken great pains to illustrate life in an Islamic society, albeit an idealized one.
Khadija is the daughter of Fazlur, a renowned mufti (a religious scholar, to over-simplify), in a city administered by the Circle (of women). The story follows Khadija’s emergence from behind her father’s long shadow and her growth into a strong and capable woman.
The characters are generally believable and engaging, and the story comes to a satisfying conclusion. I really enjoyed the look into Islamic practice – not so much the religious ceremonies, but the day-to-day life as an Muslim.
My only real criticism is that the author took a long time to get to the conflict / inciting event. Be patient. It’s worth it.
Thanks to River Street Writing for providing this advanced reader copy (ARC). The book will be released in late September 2025. You can pre-order at Dundurn Press.