Fairly Queer Books | The Bruising of Qilwa

The Bruising of Qilwa

Naseem Jamnia

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“I loved this gorgeous book about blood magic, chosen family and refugees in a hostile city. Naseem Jamnia has created a rich, complex world.”―Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky.

[STARRED REVIEW] “A delight to read. Highly recommended.”―Library Journal.

In this intricate debut fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease that causes political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family.

**Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.”

Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.

But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.

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Posts about this title from Fairly Queer Books

Fairly Queer Books\ \ Fareeha\ \ • Jun 20 2024

Each of these recommendations have either made me feel seen personally or has inspired me as an artist and writer. I added some short blurbs next to each one briefly describing when I read the comic/book and why it's made it to this list. Longer reviews live over on storygraph. If any of these are your favs (or you totally hate one) let me know in the comments!\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ You can click on any of these books tagged on the post below and check out my bookshop.org page to support me and grab a copy of any of these titles. <3\ \ Special thank you to my new subscribers here on Bindery. I have tons of posts & videos planned for this space. I hope you enjoyed this post, I'll catch you on the next one!

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Posts about this book from across Bindery

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 1

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/NkTU5NJlaS7gKSPGTfYY/)

June 2026 Newsletter! New Perks & Reminders!

open for important updates!

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Apr 6

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10 books for International Asexuality Day

10 books with Ace and Acespec MCs & SCs for International Ace Day #booktok #ace #acespec #bookrecommendations #acerepresentation

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 7

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Anti Brain Rot Reading Challenge: Announcing the 2026 Boundless Book Club Picks 📚📖

watch for the full list of picks for 2026!

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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 20 2025

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as was highly requested: (some!) adult fantasy book recs by trans authors!

(i couldn’t include everything i’ve read; please don’t be too grumpy with me in the comments)

(young adult fantasy coming next!)

📚 books mentioned: - Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde - The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson - Fate’s Bane by C.L. Clark - The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia - The Deep by Rivers Solomon

👗💄: - dress is from Free People, rented from Nuuly - corset is from Scarlet Darkness - eyeshadow is In A Trance palette from Colourpop - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Tordotcom for the gifted copy!

#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #adultfantasy #transauthors #transbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #TorPartner @riverheadbooks @torbooks @tordotcompub @tachyonpub @sagapressbooks @nuuly @freepeople @scarletdarkness_brand @colourpopcosmetics

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Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Mar 27 2025

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A mini family day trip (and a few giveaway reminders!)

For a chance to win what ELSE I picked up from those bookshops, be sure to subscribe to my Bindery… 😘

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Mar 11 2025

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3 recs for Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week!

3 recs for Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week! #booktok #aromantic #aromanticbookrecs #arobooks #aro

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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 9 2025

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30+ trans & nonbinary book recs | trans rights readathon 2025 prep!

feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

☆ featured links ☆ official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/ PLEASE sign up here to be included in the data: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/2025-trans-rights-readathon 💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/

☆ everything I mentioned (in order) ↓ - Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi - The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi - Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi - The Deep by Rivers Solomon - Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon - An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon - Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White - Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros - Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros - Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros - Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas - The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas - Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas - Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison - Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager - The Seep by Chana Porter - The Devourers by Indra Das - The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson - The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia - Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo - Station Six by S.J. Klapecki - Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley - Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

↓ find me in more places ↓ 🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph 📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph 🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social 📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph 📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph 💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com more: https://beacons.ai/starrysteph

☆ resources ☆ 🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/ 🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/ 🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/

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Fairly Queer Books\ \ Fareeha\ \ • Jun 20 2024

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