The forty thieves Marjana's tale

After humble Ali Baba discovers how to access the secret lair of Baghdad's notorious Forty Thieves, his greedy cousin Cassim demands entry and, upon attempting to loot the cave, is butchered. Ali Baba enlists slave girl Marjana's help with recovering her former master's quartered body, but when the thieves track them down, it's up to her to stop them from killing Ali Baba, too. This version of the Arabic folktale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is retold rather straightforwardly ­from Marjana's perspective, and it doesn't add much substance or commentary relevant to contemporary audiences. Even linguistically, it employs the tone and style of an older work, which allows Lenzi's beautiful language to shine, though the action may seem rushed or overly minimalistic to modern sensibilities. Most of the original's violence is maintained as well. Characters are beaten, cut, and gruesomely murdered, though again the style demands that the gore be, happily, minimally detailed. Offer this one to hardened fans of the Brothers Grimm in search of a different, more lyrical flavor.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2010 Booklist