This was a fascinating and quick read. Though I question how non-fictional it is (the details and situations seem too specific to be real without giving up Sultana's true identity) I enjoyed, and was simultaneously horrified, learning about the culture in Saudi Arabia, especially for women.

I was/am really fascinated by this book and have read it multiple times. The first time when I was about 12 or 13 years old (though I would not recommend this book for such a young age, considering some topics are pretty gruesome).
I think the book is very well written and even though some parts will make you sick to your stomach and may leave you crying, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the way women in Saudi Arabia are treated.

Gripping narration of Saudi Royal Society from a woman's eye. It's depressing and few events described are unbelievably horrendous.

But I would like to take the accounts with a grain of salt because of missing of 1 particular watershed event in the narration: The seize of Holy centre of worship in Mecca in 1979 and the 180 degree shift,the seemingly progressing Saudi Royalty took to please the religious authorities(fanatics), which resulted in ban on women in employment, education and various walks of life. The narration doesn't take any change post this year,that is astonishing while gulf war, 1991 is mentioned which didn't bring much change in Saudi women's life ,in significant in amount of the book.

There is one image in the book that will haunt me forever. Again and again I wish I could travel to some of these places (all of them!) and bring home as many sisters as humanly possible.

I've heard conflicting stories; that this book is true/non-fiction, and that it's totally fabricated/fiction. I'm not sure what's true, but a part of me thinks that the story itself is made up. It just seemed too convenient. I believe that there are true elements of the story, though. Certainly it's fact that there are unspeakably horrible things that happen to women in Saudia Arabia. I don't need to read a supposed memoir/true story to know that. Yeah, it was disgusting to read about it. But it doesn't change anything; nobody will ever be able to change the way things are done there.

A stark reminder of how much Saudi Arabia has improved for women just in the last 30 years, this book gives us a peek at life behind the veil for a Saudi princess from 1970 to 1990. Though a first person narrative, Sultana’s story is told from a distance, the way a friend would describe her life to a friend, rather than a novelized narrative. It worked very well and I found myself being profoundly grateful for my life and the men in my family. I also found my opinion of today’s Saudi Arabia softening, as their reforms -though paltry by western standards- are coming quickly and at great peril to the reformers.

I knew when I was getting into the book - this will be a hard book as I have lived in Muslim Countries in spaces of time due to my Dad’s work - I have been to Saudi too - Me & my mom have lived in a gated community with restrictions during our stay - there is is less freedom for women there. I have also known barbaric stories from a Kenyan boss while in Dubai of what Saudi women go through but this book really opened my eyes to atrocities that women go through in name of them just being women - according to their Quran they are meant to be treated like however men like, they are progressive countries like UAE, Kuwait & others where things are definitely different but Saudi is the worst.

This book was a small one but I had to pace it as it was hard to stomach, I went through the emotions of what Sultana went through, her helplessness & her will to fight even though it was out of her hands - she is one hell of a woman.

I can’t imagine how can they receive these spiritual messages of when things are about to head into death and birth, but they are so close minded and not forward when it comes to women’s rights and the women are so shackled to their chains because of luxury, base of living & they have nowhere to go if divorced.

I am intrigued of the next books in the series but I will think about it

This purports to be the memoirs of a Saudi princess, as written by her Western friend and confidante. It was an easy read and I devoured it within a few hours. However, I had the following issues with the book:

1. There appears to be some kind of plagiarism case surrounding this book (Google it), which makes me question whether this is in fact a true story;

2. Some of the details in the book ring false such as women being forbidden to enter the mosque and the protagonist's older sisters having undergone FGM. FGM is not widely practised in Saudi Arabia and apparently it is the intervention of a Western doctor that prevents the family from carrying on the practice;

3. I believe this book caters to what Western readers expect to hear about women's life in Saudi Arabia rather than depicting the reality there. Tragic incident is heaped upon tragic incident. All the men in the book are utterly irredeemable and have a voracious and perverted sexual appetite;

4. It's rather difficult to have a huge degree of sympathy for the eponymous princess when a lot of the narrative exposition takes place whilst she is being served tea and sweets, and having her feet rubbed by her Filipina maid. This woman gets a hell of a lot of foot rubs. I would like to see a follow up book: Maid to the Princess.

A gripping read, but rather a composite of media reportage, the author's own experience, stereotypes and anecdotal evidence, than a true story.

This is really sad. I hope everyone can read this and know the plight some women still face. It's with knowledge that we can change the world.