أبابيل

أبابيل (Ababeel) is the opening novel in a four-part Arabic fantasy series by Saudi author Ahmed Al Hamdan, first published in 2020. The story is set in the village of Al-Jassasa, inside the fictional kingdom of Ababeel, a world populated by both humans and jinn.

At its center is a forbidden love story between Jumana, daughter of the jinn king, and Bahr, a human young man tied to a mysterious organization known as Al-Jathoom. Their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue, supernatural conflict, and a struggle between good and evil that draws in both the human and jinn worlds.

The novel is widely regarded as one of the more popular original Arabic-language fantasy series of its period, known for its atmospheric world-building and its blending of jinn mythology with epic-fantasy structure. It has drawn a mix of reader reactions, with praise for its imaginative setting alongside criticism of some plotting and character choices — typical of a first installment carrying the weight of establishing an entire fantasy world.