His power and rank in the court change with the political power structures within the palace.

The truths in the political world of the Shah's palace are exposed by the main character of the book, a eunuch and servant to the Shah's favorite daughter and most-trusted advisor, Princess Pari. His performance goes a long way to set the exotic atmosphere of the story. Simon Vance handles the accents and varied voices with his usual expertise. Clearly it was as dangerous to be female in the Iranian royal family as it was to be a female relation of 16th century English monarchs. I liked the major characters and I was saddened by the tragic events of the story. I was drawn into the conspiracy and the trauma of the story. The descriptions were very rich and the action was well plotted. As a novel, this book was enjoyable reading. So, I can’t speak to how much this fiction conforms to fact. This was an interesting look at historical events and a culture that are completely unknown to me.

After her father’s murder, her influence within the court decreases drastically. While her father lives, Pari is in an unusual position of power and influence. Javaher is uniquely positioned to navigate the treacherous political pathways of Iran’s 16th century court intrigue. The story is told by the eunuch, Javaher, closest advisor to the Princess Pari. Anita Amirrezvani is a master storyteller, and in her lustrous prose this rich and labyrinthine world comes to vivid life with a stunning cast of characters, passionate and brave men and women who defy or embrace their destiny in a Machiavellian game played by those who lust for power and will do anything to attain it. Pari and her trusted servant, a eunuch able to navigate the harem as well as the world beyond the palace walls, are in possession of an incredible tapestry of secrets and information that reveals a power struggle of epic proportions.īased loosely on the life of Princess Pari Khan Khanoom, Equal of the Sun is a riveting story of political intrigue and a moving portrait of an unlikely friendship between a princess and a eunuch. Princess Pari, the Shah's daughter and closest adviser, knows more about the inner workings of the state than almost anyone, but the princess's maneuvers to instill order after her father's sudden death incite resentment and dissent. But when the Shah dies without having named an heir, the court is thrown into tumult. Iran in 1576 is a place of peace, wealth, and dazzling beauty.

Equal of the sun by anita amirrezvani