A review by elaichipod
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

adventurous emotional tense 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

4.0

You know, all I can really say is that I want my own Kamran. Homie was obsessed before he even saw Alizeh. Although I'm not too big of a insta-love fan, I think the characters and writing style made up for it. The plot was set up well and the worldbuilding was great. However, the first 50ish% of the book is rather slow, and not in a slow burn way. It just took forever for the stars to align so that Alizeh and Kamran could meet, and when they finally did, it seemed like their relationship was doomed before it even began. In the last couple chapters, the twists felt a tad bit predictable but I was okay with it. For a portion of the book I was also confused about whether Alizeh knew she was the lost queen, but midway it became more clear. After the last chapter it was obvious that there will be some pining, l2e2l, and a love triangle in future books. Not sure who I'm rooting for though because there's just something about Cyrus...

She was finely designed, loveliness rendered in its truest sense.

This living, breathing world was hers to admire for this single moment in time, and she wanted to breathe it in; to luxuriate in the beating heart of civilization.

"Will you not give me hope?” he whispered. "Tell me I will see you again. Ask me to wait for you."

"I begin to fear you've done me irreparable damage. I should like to know who to blame."

“Alizeh,” he said, moving toward her. She saw the anguish in his eyes, a flash of panic. "Please, don't just disappear. Not now, not when I've only just found you."

She stared at him, her heart beating in her throat. "Surely you must see," she said. "There exists no bridge between our lives; no path that connects our worlds.”

"How can that matter? Is this not one day to be my empire, to rule as I see fit? I will build a bridge. I can clear a path. Or do you not think me capable?”

"Don't say things now that you cannot mean. We are neither of us in our right minds—“

"I grow tired,” he said, trying to breathe, “of being in my right mind. I much prefer this kind of madness."