Willow Smith’s New Book Sparks Controversy Over Portrayal of Muslims and Amazighs

"Black Shield Maiden" is the title of Willow Smith’s new book co-written with Jess Hendel, and scheduled for release on October 4. To give her fans a preview of the book’s content, she posted an excerpt that has been criticized. Many Internet users found the excerpts offensive as they refer to Islam in an "exclusive excerpt".

But this is not the only criticism made by fans. In the excerpt titled "Amazigh", the authors state that "the Amazighs are dangerous on their best day. They have little respect for anyone who does not worship the Muslim god - and even their own tribes are always at war with each other." For Internet users, Willow Smith and Jess Hendel have used unacceptable themes. "Why are we once again described as savages?" wonders a Twitter user.

In her first fantasy novel, the 21-year-old woman, daughter of American actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, tells the story of "Yafeu, a young warrior stolen from her home in the Ghanaian empire. She is plunged into the strange and enchanting new world of the Vikings where she meets a Viking princess, Freydis, who is somehow a kindred spirit. Aided by Freydis, Yafeu sets out to change the course of history and become a warrior, something unheard of for an African."