The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

The novel is a historical fantasy set during the reign of the last sultanate in the Iberian Peninsula. It follows the story of Fatima, a concubine in the royal court, and her friend Hassan, a mapmaker with the mystical ability to draw maps of places he's never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the Spanish Inquisition arrive to negotiate the sultan's surrender, they target Hassan for his abilities, seeing them as sorcery. Fearing for Hassan's life, Fatima helps him escape the palace. Together, they embark on a perilous journey in search of the mythical island of The Bird King, a place believed to be an earthly paradise. Along the way, they navigate the complexities of power, faith, and freedom while being pursued by forces determined to crush the last remnants of the Moorish empire.

The 11265th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 3

Since this book was first published in 2019, there is a penalty of 72.0%. The age adjusted score is 0.84.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.