DAUGHTERS OF THE LAMP, by Nedda Lewers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Feb. 20, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl becomes the guardian of Ali Baba’s legendary treasure in Daughters of the Lamp, the first book in a new fantasy series by Nedda Lewers.
Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan. Except her dad just whisked her away to her uncle’s wedding in Egypt, upending every single plan she had for the summer.
In Cairo, Sahara’s days are filled with family—and mystery. First, Sahara’s cousins claim the pretentious bride-to-be is actually a witch. Then her late mother’s necklace starts glowing—and disappears.
Sahara’s attempts to recover the necklace lead her to the greatest mystery yet. Deep in an underground chamber lies Ali Baba’s magical treasure. Hidden from a line of sorcerers who threatened to use its powers for evil, the treasure was given to Sahara’s ancestor Morgana for safekeeping and passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Now only Sahara stands in the sorcerers’ way.
Can the girl who’s never believed in magic trust the unknown and claim her legacy as the treasure’s keeper? —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Daughters of the Lamp is told in alternating timelines — present-day Sahara and 985 CE Morgana (Ali Baba’s servant). By jumping through time, author Nedda Lewers is able to provide readers with the lamp’s history and explain how Sahara’s family became its guardian. It also adds some much-needed action to the beginning of the novel, which is much slower paced on Sahara’s end.
The book does offer magic, adventure and mystery, but there’s much more to it than that. At its heart, Daughters of the Lamp is a story of family, identity and belonging. In traveling to Egypt, Sahara comes to know her mother’s family, their faith and her mother’s history. She’s suddenly walking the very streets her mom once walked. It puts everything into perspective.
Lewers does an excellent job setting scenes, taking readers past the iconic symbols of Egypt and onto the streets where the people live. Lewers’ writing is warm and feels seasoned despite Daughters of the Lamp being her debut. It’s a fun fantasy with a sequel expected summer 2024.
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