I love this one and the unique setting.

Content: three *ahem* scenes (two were so little that they went over my head, the other was off-page), death

5 Stars

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When any character other than Snape says “always” it doesn’t mean much.


For a mature audience ( )

I got quickly caught up in this romantic, descriptive book. I was gripped to the very end and am very eager for the sequel which is not out until May. The writing is rich, the main character fierce and the evil lurking over everything mysterious. ( )

I really enjoyed this, but I really wish this was a stand alone. :/ ( )

4.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this story and I am so glad there's more to come. At first I thought this might be a stand alone book and if that were the case I would not be happy about that ending at all but seeing as this is the first in a series I really enjoyed every minute of it. I loved Shahzad's character, even though I have no clue how to pronounce her name. I loved her witty, sarcastic comments with the other characters, especially Despina. I'm not a huge fan of romance novels but I did enjoy this one. At first I didn't get why Shahzad was falling in love with the king, just because he's not as horrible as she first thought and yeah he had a tragic past so you feel sorry for him but that doesn't mean you have to fall in love with him, especially since as she pointed out in one part of the book, she hardly knows him. He keeps her at a distance and won't open up to her. However, as we get closer and closer towards the end we find out more about the king and he finally starts opening up so we see a different side to him and I do like him and Shazi together. I think they fit well and would actually make a really good team. Definitely can't wait to see where the next book takes us. ( )

I picked this book up on a whim from my local library and I am so thankful that I did. I read this in two sittings (it would have been one, but unfortunately I had things planned). I will be picking up the second one soon.

This novel was inspired by One Thousand and One Nights which is a collection of folktales set in the Middle East. The frame story is about a king who has an unfaithful wife and decides that all women are unfaithful. So he begins taking a new wife each day and then killing them until one begins to tell him stories that mesmerize him. This novel was similar, but instead of the king being cruel and choosing to do this, there is a darker reason behind his actions. This story begins after Shazi chooses to marry the king so that she can kill him to avenge her best friend's death.

Things I loved: Shazi, Khalid, the setting and descriptions

Things I didn't love: Tariq

Going into this novel, I was expecting a decently quick read that I would like, but I absolutely loved this. ( )