Princess is a biographical memoir that exposes severe oppression of women within the Saudi royal family. The narrative introduces Princess Sultana; a real Saudi royal trapped in a strict patriarchal society. Despite her immense wealth, beautiful palaces, and private jets, she has zero personal freedom. The story traces her path from a rebellious childhood to an arranged marriage, highlighting her personal struggles and the terrible treatment of those around her. It is an eye-opening read that boldly uncovers deep-rooted oppression, while showing the incredible strength of women living under absolute control.

This unfair system is driven by the male family members who control Sultana’s life. Her father completely ignores his ten daughters, while her cruel brother, Ali, is spoilt with privileges and mistreats women without consequences. Even her husband, Kareem, who genuinely loved her, was still part of this patriarchal structure. He proved this when he followed traditional customs and threatened to take a second wife. Older women also became part of this system, often enforcing the same strict rules on the younger generation Furthermore, this cruelty extends far beyond royalty, highlighting the terrible exploitation endured by helpless foreign maids who are treated like actual prisoners.

During our discussion of Princess, we expressed anger over the harsh treatment of women depicted in the book. We felt it was heavy and emotionally exhausting, as the endless cycle of cruelty, forced marriages, and abuse that Sultana describes can easily feel overwhelming. The story forces the reader to face a painful reality: no number of diamonds or palaces can make up for a lack of basic human freedom. However, we agreed that oppression stems from religion being misused and mixed with cultural traditions simply to maintain power over women. Despite these dark and heavy themes, we felt there was a genuine glimpse of hope for the future of Saudi women.

The group rated the book 6.5/10

Review written by Ambareen Qasim