Jones treats family and gender relations with intelligence and considerable sensitivity. The impact of painful family relationships is greatly softened when the situation involves fantasy and half-brother djinns. Abdullah, the major realistic character, is independent and does not directly conflict with a parent. The disappointment of father toward son, represented by the modest inheritance, is resolved by the parent's absence and their clear misunderstanding of Abdullah's real talents. Abdullah clashes with relatives who are only remotely his, those attached to his father by a previous marriage, and they are shown to be selfish and uncaring.

The rebellion of Flower-in-theNight against her father is direct, but his wishes for her clearly violate her rights of choice and happiness. Jones thoughtfully sets the disobedience in the context of fantasy, and uses the situation to inform her theme of women's rights. The Sultan's claim that women "do not count...