If you love A Thousand and One Nights, Middle Eastern culture and YA Fantasy, add to that, some words in Urdu, the must for me, then this book is for you^^
The story is captivating and so beautiful :)
When Sharhrzad volunteers to be the next wife of the Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid.Â
« At the very end of the immense space stood Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, the Caliph of Khorasan.
The King of Kings.
The monster from my nightmares. »
I just loved Sharhrzad (Shazi)Â from the beginning
« My king.â
I will live to see tomorrowâs sunset. Make no mistake. I swear I will live to see as many sunsets as it takes.
And I will kill you.
With my own hands. »
Shazi and the beautiful monster Khalid won me overÂ
« The caliph swiveled to face the shahrban. âYouâre right, General. You do not understand. And you may never understand. Regardless, Iâd like to introduce you to the Mountain of Adamant . . .â
The caliph glanced back at Shahrzad, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips.
âMy queen. »
« I could never love such a man . . . such a monster. » well he already stole my heart girl
And I feel goosebumps and butterflies in every Khalidâs scene, word...Â
« Khalid stayed silent for a moment.
âYou have a beautiful laugh. Like the promise of tomorrow.â  »
« When he caught her staring at his mouth, Khalid exhaled slowly. âShaziââ
âBe with me tonight,â she breathed. âIn all ways. Be mine.â
His eyes turned to fire. âIâve always been yours.â He cupped her chin in his palm. âAs youâve always been mine. »
Shazi was a refreshing main character. Did I mentioned I loved her ?
« She nodded. âI canât say Iâm surprised. As for me? I believe Iâll leave this set of goods on the rack, as well. I have no interest in . . . tiny cucumbers.â
At this, Khalidâs head twisted to hers, his eyes registering shock. And the edge of his lips twitching.
The silence around them was deafening for a painful beat.
Then a wild chorus of amusement filled the air. »
My royal couple, they are sexy and consuming <3
« Me? This is not my fault! This is your fault!â
âMine?â
âYou and your temper, Khalid!â
âNo. You and your mouth, Shazi.â
âWrong, you wretched lout!â
âSee? That mouth.â He reached up and grazed his thumb across her lips. âThatâmagnificent mouth. »
Theyâre just perfect for each other and smoking hottttt
« What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?â he whispered.
âIf Iâm a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.â The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.
âNo.â His hands dropped to her waist. âDestroy me. »
« When she wound her fingers in his hair to draw her body against his, he stilled for breath, and she knew, as he knew, that they were lost. Lost forever.
In this kiss.
This kiss that would change everything. »
I ship Khalid and Shazi so hard
« A true plague of a girl. And yet a queen in every sense of the word.
His queen. »
« In her ear, he whispered, âDo better than this, Shazi. My queen is without limitations. Boundless in all that she does. Show them. »
« For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.
Khalid »
When she finally asked THE question
« Tell me,â she gasped, her fingers gripping his shoulders.
âAnything.â
Her heart soared, and the guilt clutched at it. âWhy did they have to die?â
He stilled in her arms for an interminable beat.
Then Khalid lifted himself from her and stared down at Shahrzad, his face frozen in horror. »
Favorite Jalalâs and Omarâs lines :Â
« Tonight is a night to turn heads. Make them remember you. Make sure they never forget. You are the Calipha of Khorasan, and you have the ear of a king.â
âMore important, you have his heart.â  »
« Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky. »
« I am not yours to do with as you will.â
Khalidâs features smoothed knowingly. âHow right you are. You are not mine.â He dropped his palm from the door. âI am yours. »
« And how will you know when youâve found this elusive someone?â
âI suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe. »
« This dangerous girl. This captivating beauty.
This destroyer of worlds and creator of wonder. »
« She wound her fingers into his hair. âThere is no one I would rather see the sunrise with than you. »
« His eyes gleamed gold. âMy queen.â He bowed with a hand to his brow before shifting it over his heart.
Respect. And affection. »
« So I write it to the skyâ
I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.
Khalid»
I also loved the secondary characters, Tariq, Jalal, Despina, RahimÂ
One of my favorite line from Despina
âWe women are a sad lot, aren't we?"
"What do you mean?"
"Strong enough to take on the world with our bare hands, yet we permit ridiculous boys to make fools of us."
"I am not a fool."
"No, you're not. Not yet.â
The perfect start to a series
With the perfect amount of romanceÂ
And thereâs a Cliffhanger, when i read the ending I was like THIS ISN'T HAPPENING...
Renee Ahdieh's writing was gorgeous :)