Authors Interviewing Characters: Rania Hanna

April 16, 2024 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

THE JINN DAUGHTER

A stunning debut novel and an impressive feat of storytelling that pulls together mythology, magic, and ancient legend in the gripping story of a mother’s struggle to save her only daughter

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 interviews her characters

RH: Rania Hanna

SH: Sheikh Hamadi

N: Nadine

L: Layala

I: Illyas

RH: I think having a family therapy session will be cathart—

SH: No. No. [Shakes head violently] there’s no need for—

I: [sighs] baba, we haven’t spoken in a while. Maybe we can use this time to—

SH: [points finger angrily at Nadine] it’s this one’s fault we don’t talk! If she hadn’t gotten her jinn claws into you, then you wouldn’t have—

N: [gets up and walks to the door, then spins on heel and returns to her chair] let’s move on. For Layala’s sake. [glances at her daughter, Layala, who is sitting wide-eyed and looking at everyone’s faces]

SH: [looks at Nadine] The only good thing to have ever come from you is her [Layala]

N: I would beg to differ—

RH: [interrupts] So Nadine fell pregnant with Layala at a young age. Tell me, how did it work out for you to be jinn and Illyas, human? Did you have concerns about whether Layala would have magic?

N: Of course. I saw what [glances side-eyed at SH] humans did to my people and I worried the same would happen to her. I wanted – I still want her – to be safe.

I: I had similar worries but not as much as Nado. [chuckles] I call Nadine ‘Nado’ as a nickname – anyway – but I also knew things were getting worse in the Jinn Wars and I didn’t want my family caught up in that.

RH: I can imagine. Tell me, then, when Layala was born, what did you do to keep your family safe, especially that jinns were being targeted?

N: When Layl was born, my people were still somewhat safe. The Jinn Wars were happening in other parts of the land, but we knew of entire tribes wiped out by humans. [side-eyes SH again, who glares at her]. But I had a notebook, and Illyas, well he—

I: It was my fault. I left her notebook out where [clears throat as face blushes] my father found it, and because of that, he and other elders of the town targeted jinns more. It was happening before, but it got worse after.

SH: I did what was best for my family!

I: Baba, killing jinns isn’t what’s best for anyone but you.

SH: [mutters under breath]

RH: Sorry, could you repeat that, Sheikh?

SH: I said, jinns are a scourge on this earth and –

N: [pulls Layala closed to her] your granddaughter is half-jinn.

SH: [says nothing]

RH: Layala, you’ve been quiet. What’s going through your head?

L: [shrugs] I wish –I wish we could be normal and be a real family.

N + I: [hug her]

I: We are a real family, kushtbani {thimble} your mother and I love you, and our grandfather loves you so much.

L: [shrugs again]

SH: Don’t let anyone get into your head, we are a family, you, me, and my son.

N: [glares at him but says nothing]

L: Mama, too

SH: [corner of lip curls up in a sneer]

RH: Is there anything anyone else has to say today?

SH: The only good jinn is a dead jinn.

N: [jumps to feet and walks to the door] Okay, that’s enough. Layala, we’re leaving.

SH: I will see you tonight, Layl, for dinner. I’m making your favorite. [smiles at his granddaughter]

L: [weakly returns smile]

I: See you, Nado, bye Layl. [turns to his father] Baba, we have a lot to talk about.

SH: [grunts]

I: Starting with how you treat Nadine…

BUY THE JINN DAUGHTER HERE

—

Rania Hanna is a Syrian-American writer and researcher. She is a neuroscience doctoral student at George Mason University. The Jinn Daughter is her debut novel. She lives in Northern Virginia.