Audiobook review: Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui

Narrator: Sarah Slimani

Vibes: 🔥⚔️🩸

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. This book is an incredible, important debut.

Aicha is a powerful, brutal story of colonial resistance. Set during the Portugese occupation of Morocco, the story is told as a countdown to a siege planned by the rebels. Aicha is the impulsive and somewhat reckless younger daughter of the rebel leader, trained to fight from a young age but rarely given much responsibility within the rebellion. She is, at turns, kind, brave and selfless, but a darkness lurks within her that threatens to explode out as she witnesses the manifold injustices around her.

I was not familiar with the Moroccan folklore this story is inspired by (namely the mythological figure of Aicha Kandicha who may have been inspired by a real life freedom fighter), but I thought the way the story played out was both incredibly ambitious and well done. There are some difficult pacing choices at times as the author takes her time not only establishing the character of Aicha, but also the oppressive regime the Maghrebi people are living under and the loyalty and cooperation within the community. It is extremely violent in places, bordering on horror, but other points brought me near to tears with sweetness.

Sarah Slimani does a wonderful job with the narration and I thought her voice was perfect for the character of Aicha. I will say that I'm a fairly steadfast 1x speed listener but I did increase the speed on this one to 1.25x so that the (very) measured narration was a little more to my liking. It sped up beautifully without any distortion and I really enjoyed the audiobook with that setting!

While this is a historical fantasy based on a mythological figure, the events that occur have many parallels with real, violent colonial occupations that are currently underway. That thought makes it even more of a harrowing read, something the author explicitly acknowledges.This one will haunt my dreams for some time.

Pub date: 24 March 2026

Audiobook review: Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

Narrator: Adjoa Andoh (that's Lady Danbury to the Bridgerton fans!)

Vibes: 👑❤️🐍

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Audio for the ALC.

Oh my goodness, this book. This is the only thing I've read by Saara El-Arifi and that is going to change because the prose was breathtaking and the story absolutely enthralling. I'm so grateful I got to experience it.

I think the first thing I need to talk about is the audiobook narration because it was utterly perfect. Adjoa Andoh and Saara El-Arifi work together to bring Cleopatra to life so vividly that I'll never think of her the same way again. Andoh has the most amazing voice and her performance is mesmerising. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is a must.

The story itself is heart achingly beautiful, powerful, tragic. Most of us know at least the rough story of Cleopatra, the last Pharoah of Egypt, so the heaviest beats may not be a surprise but that doesn't diminish the feelings this book evokes in the least. This is a deeply feminist and beautifully nuanced retelling of Cleopatra's life - her battles, her mistakes, her victories, her loves. The narrative is wholly character-driven and she feels deeply, achingly human. I was moved to tears by her lifelong relationship with her handmaiden Charmion and the fierce love she had for her children.

There is a very minor fantasy element to the story that, if I'm honest, barely feels like fantasy for most of the story because it's so in line with the beliefs that were held about the royal family at the time. It is really just a vector to justify the narrative choice, so even if you generally prefer your historical fiction without fantasy, I wouldn't let it put you off.

What a story!

Pub date: 26 Feb 2026