The book begins by introducing the main character, Hela, helping her slave trader father with his sales. This first chapter was uncomfortable reading for two reasons. It was disheartening to see people bought and sold and viewed as chattel. In addition, Hela's nonchalant attitude toward the slaves was gut-wrenching. Fortunately, this setting ended as the next chapter brought the reader a character learning her healing trade from her mother. The rest of the novel is about Hela plying her trade.
The publisher's summary:
The Cup was an enjoyable read once the discomfort of the first chapter passed. I have some questions for the author about why the story was written with an initial focus on slavery. There are the scenes with Hela interacting with her father's slaves. One of them gives her the cup but no information is given in the story as to why this particular female slave gave Hela her cup. There are no other scenes with this slave. While I was reading I thought that this slave would be mentioned later in the story. She wasn't. Neither was Hela's slave-trading father's business. The theme of the story is obviously slavery as Hela later gives up having her own life to staying with and making another woman feel safe. However, there is no connection between the opening and the rest of the plot. With that said, the book was splendid reading. It's just that as I was reading, I was expecting the people in the first chapter to be somehow connected to the rest of the story."Hela has powers too strong for a child - both to feel the pain of those around her and to heal them. But when she is given a mysterious cup by a slave woman, its powers overtake her life, forcing her into a vow she cannot hope to keep. Trapped by her vow, Hela loses one chance after another to love and be loved. Meanwhile, in her household a child is growing into a woman who will become famous throughout the Muslim world."
4 out of 5 stars.
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