You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely an unconventional book, combining the ancient Arabic culture with the YA genre we're used to reading. I liked that each character had depth which we don't often see in YA literature, especially when the story is more or less centered around a romantic plot line. They all existed outside the main protagonist's story which pleased me quite a lot. Additionally, I enjoyed the foreshadowing, although I admit I was definitely surprised by some plot twists.
I had a love-hate relationship with the Arabic words used throughout the book. I found the author's glossary which helped somewhat and some words I knew already, but it was still a bit frustrating at times. I had trouble imagining the scenes correctly because I didn't remember all the words. Nevertheless, I really liked that each word was initially introduced in such a way that made it obvious what it means.
I am not giving 5 stars because I think that, while the idea is quite interesting and charming, it could have been developed a bit better. Some plot twists felt a bit forced (the Silver Witch, for one). Maybe some more context would have been nice throughout the book. Additionally, I felt like there were some plot holes. The story relied a lot on the romantic suspense to keep the reader interested instead of providing a solid reasoning for the way this fictional world functions. I believe this part could have been divided in two books with more buildup and explanations. I wished there had been more time with Deen and Yasmine before Yasmine got married, for example. Also, a of personal growth could have been demonstrated in Zafira and Deen's relations as well.
Overall, I think I might read the second book, too. Not really because of the story, but mostly because I liked the writing style and the vibe of this book. The plot itself seems to follow the classic ending of "we made it but there is this problem which will force us to go on a new adventure now" which is okay, but kind of clichéd at this point. For this reason, I could take or leave second part, plot-wise.
I had a love-hate relationship with the Arabic words used throughout the book. I found the author's glossary which helped somewhat and some words I knew already, but it was still a bit frustrating at times. I had trouble imagining the scenes correctly because I didn't remember all the words. Nevertheless, I really liked that each word was initially introduced in such a way that made it obvious what it means.
I am not giving 5 stars because I think that, while the idea is quite interesting and charming, it could have been developed a bit better. Some plot twists felt a bit forced (the Silver Witch, for one). Maybe some more context would have been nice throughout the book. Additionally, I felt like there were some plot holes. The story relied a lot on the romantic suspense to keep the reader interested instead of providing a solid reasoning for the way this fictional world functions. I believe this part could have been divided in two books with more buildup and explanations. I wished there had been more time with Deen and Yasmine before Yasmine got married, for example. Also, a of personal growth could have been demonstrated in Zafira and Deen's relations as well.
Overall, I think I might read the second book, too. Not really because of the story, but mostly because I liked the writing style and the vibe of this book. The plot itself seems to follow the classic ending of "we made it but there is this problem which will force us to go on a new adventure now" which is okay, but kind of clichéd at this point. For this reason, I could take or leave second part, plot-wise.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I loved this. The world was immersive, the plot was entertaining, and I enjoyed the characters. I love the super slow burn romance brewing. Zafira is an amazing FMC and I love a sad Prince for a MMC. The side characters really round out the cast. I can’t wait to jump into the second book