Sultan Muhteşem of the Ottoman Empire wanted to construct a unique building resembling a leaf on the stem that would serve as a university to spread education and the idea of world peace. Arsalan the Magnificent, the magical architect, accepted the challenge. But the beautiful building collapsed on the opening day. Enraged, the sultan forbade Arsalan's participation in other projects in his kingdom until he found the reason for the collapse. Arsalan became a pariah. His wife, Teodora, a noblewoman from Brzeg, left him and returned to her homeland. His sons, Omer and Asker, abandoned him. Arsalan's beloved daughter, Defne, disappeared without a trace because of the cruel suitor for her hand, Prince Ergin. Devastated, Arsalan sold his palace at a low price and left the empire for the Balkan mountains, hoping to find Defne there. A distant mountain village sheltered him and his cat, Kizil. Suddenly, a Bavarian princess asked for his help and assistance. Will Arsalan find the reason for the alleged magic depletion in his and other magical buildings? Arsalan the Magnificent by J. E. Tolbert is for young adult fans of fantasy and magical realism.

In Arsalan the Magnificent, J. E. Tolbert offers an intriguing blend of architecture and magic. The author's concept of magic is interesting and thought-provoking. I liked how Arsalan renovated his humble house in the Balkan mountains. The description of his magical work is precise and vivid. Tolbert explores the inner transformation of his aging main character in that Arsalan must learn his life lessons the hard way. Otherwise, there will be no progress, neither in his work nor in his personal life. Tolbert creates realistic and lively characters, like the iron-willed Teodora or the kind and a bit naive Princess Berthilde, who carries an enormous responsibility on her young shoulders. Arsalan the Magnificent touches on the meaningful topics of relationships and conflicts between parents and their children and between teachers and their students. Tolbert contrasts humility with vanity and speaks about the inner freedom of making the right choices. This is a powerful story with many fascinating twists and turns. I highly recommend this profound and compelling read.

Arsalan is one of the greatest magical architects, if not the greatest, commissioned by Sultan Muhtesem to build what he saw in his dream: a single stem with a single leaf that's sufficient for a huge percentage of the world's population to occupy, serving as a university of peace. Unexpectedly, the World's Leaf falls into ruins on the same day of its groundbreaking, causing Arsalan to lose his great reputation. His life of luxury and his family fall apart. In his journey to find a new home, he is forced to adopt a stray cat he named Kizil. After years of hiding in the Balkans, Bayram, a comrade, finds him and tells him how other edifices built by magical architecture also fell after the World’s Leaf. He then discovers there is a Bavarian princess who specifically requested Arsalan to repair her favorite buildings. Arsalan returns to his practice in Bavaria and things start going well for him. But there are still many questions in his life left unanswered. With this second chance, can he remain humble, or will he go back to being blinded by his fame?

In J.E. Tolbert's Arsalan the Magnificent, words flow with artistic flair, and reading this book is like experiencing poetry. The world-building is astonishing and sets a magical background for the story. The details are impeccable, with every element full of vivid imagery that further helps readers appreciate the ethereal setting and tone. The author's references to architecture are factual. Arsalan the Magnificent starts at a fast pace that gradually slows down and the author handles every transition well. There is a good balance between drama and adventure, satisfying the audience through sad and happy moments. The story highlights the joy of hard work and friendships—something money can't buy. It is a wonderful journey with many layers. This book could be divided into a trilogy as it has arcs within arcs. Fans of magical fantasy will truly enjoy this book.