The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."
I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.
I will use one of Ahdieh's own phrases to describe how much I enjoyed this book: "From the stars to the stars."
What an ending! Once again, Ahdieh gave me a beautifully written tale, which bought me through a myriad of emotions. Ahdieh gave us more and more of Shazi and Khalid's epic love story. She also lets all the people important to Shazi see why she loves this boy-king. I really liked that more of Khalid's tender side is put on display. Ahdieh also explored other relationships in this book: between the sisters, between the friends, between the "family". This let me get a little more attached to some of the other characters, but ultimately, ended up breaking my heart too. Oh, Ahdieh, you gave me so much joy, but you also brought the pain. As a reader who needs this, I would like to thank the author for a very gratifying epilogue. I need to see a little bit of the future so I can sleep at night, and Ahdieh gave me enough to sate my desire. I am a little sad that this is only a duology, but I do look forward to more of Renee Ahdieh's work. Bravo!
