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Desert Nights #3
Princess of Smoke
An assassin in the palace.
A princess back from the dead.
The kingdom’s greatest enemy yet...
It’s the week before Zadie and Kassim’s wedding and the streets of Kisrabah are brimming with stalls, spirits, and storytellers.
But when a ghost from her past comes back to haunt her, Zadie’s many lies threaten her dreams of ruling by Kassim’s side.
And when she’s brazenly attacked on the streets, Zadie doesn’t just have to defend her secrets – she has to find out who wants her dead, before they find her first...
With powerful enemies of Astaran hell-bent on sabotaging the alliance, Zadie and Kassim are caught in a race against time if they want the wedding to go ahead at all.
In her darkest hour, Zadie is faced with sacrificing everything for her kingdom.
And to save Astaran, she might just have to.
A princess back from the dead.
The kingdom’s greatest enemy yet...
It’s the week before Zadie and Kassim’s wedding and the streets of Kisrabah are brimming with stalls, spirits, and storytellers.
But when a ghost from her past comes back to haunt her, Zadie’s many lies threaten her dreams of ruling by Kassim’s side.
And when she’s brazenly attacked on the streets, Zadie doesn’t just have to defend her secrets – she has to find out who wants her dead, before they find her first...
With powerful enemies of Astaran hell-bent on sabotaging the alliance, Zadie and Kassim are caught in a race against time if they want the wedding to go ahead at all.
In her darkest hour, Zadie is faced with sacrificing everything for her kingdom.
And to save Astaran, she might just have to.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 5, 2020
Zadie is finally getting married but someone unexpected has shown up. She tries to prevent the Sultan from discovering her secret while also trying to ferret out the Vizier's. They discover that the Vizier is not who they thought she was and that she has been working for the Phonetians all this while.
When they try to speed up the wedding so they can have the alliance between Zadie and Kassim's nations the ceremony is disrupted, the lamps are stolen and Zadie is taken.
She is held by Sultan Iram of the Phonetians and he tries to tell his side of the story. Years ago, Kassim's ancestors had magic and they waged war on the Phonetians, they used the powers of Dijinnis and other sorceries to win. The Phonetians have been in the mountain ever since then. The mountain is not an ideal place to live as they are often run down by huge beast that fly and swim up livestock and sometimes people. They also had a plague that wiped out half their population, when they needed the antidote which is a plant that is grown in Kassim's kingdom, his ancestors refused.
I don't know what the author was trying to do but I was more sympathetic to Iram than I was to Kassim and Zadie. It was unfair to his people, they had to fight against sorcerers and then when they needed help they didn't get any. They tried to make trade agreements too but those were squashed. Kassim, on the other hand had no thoughts for himself and only wanted those lamps because the Vizier told him to get them. Zadie did not care that she was using the Dijinni Tareck as long as she got her wishes and could prove she was great at finding things so she could be Sultanah, when her sister freed him she was upset because now she would have no more wishes. Am I suppose to connect to someone that was using Tareck as a slave or Iram whose country has been treated unfairly for possibly centuries and he wanted revenge on the people who did it.
The author tried to make it more justifiable for Zadie when she was using, I don't know how she expected that to work when Zadie was using it for selfish reasons. All she ever wanted was to be Sultanah and everything she wished for was geared towards that. Iram also enslaved Tareck , took the lamps that housed the other dijinni's and wanted them to grant him wishes too so he can defeat Kassim's country.
Unfortunately his people couldn't figure out how to get wishes, who was the idiotic person that told him how it worked? Zadie, she decided to tell him how he would be able to control the spirits and bend them to his will. Why should would think that was a good idea in the first place, I don't know.
I decided to continue reading this series because I was already far gone and I wanted to see how it all ends.
When they try to speed up the wedding so they can have the alliance between Zadie and Kassim's nations the ceremony is disrupted, the lamps are stolen and Zadie is taken.
She is held by Sultan Iram of the Phonetians and he tries to tell his side of the story. Years ago, Kassim's ancestors had magic and they waged war on the Phonetians, they used the powers of Dijinnis and other sorceries to win. The Phonetians have been in the mountain ever since then. The mountain is not an ideal place to live as they are often run down by huge beast that fly and swim up livestock and sometimes people. They also had a plague that wiped out half their population, when they needed the antidote which is a plant that is grown in Kassim's kingdom, his ancestors refused.
I don't know what the author was trying to do but I was more sympathetic to Iram than I was to Kassim and Zadie. It was unfair to his people, they had to fight against sorcerers and then when they needed help they didn't get any. They tried to make trade agreements too but those were squashed. Kassim, on the other hand had no thoughts for himself and only wanted those lamps because the Vizier told him to get them. Zadie did not care that she was using the Dijinni Tareck as long as she got her wishes and could prove she was great at finding things so she could be Sultanah, when her sister freed him she was upset because now she would have no more wishes. Am I suppose to connect to someone that was using Tareck as a slave or Iram whose country has been treated unfairly for possibly centuries and he wanted revenge on the people who did it.
The author tried to make it more justifiable for Zadie when she was using, I don't know how she expected that to work when Zadie was using it for selfish reasons. All she ever wanted was to be Sultanah and everything she wished for was geared towards that. Iram also enslaved Tareck , took the lamps that housed the other dijinni's and wanted them to grant him wishes too so he can defeat Kassim's country.
Unfortunately his people couldn't figure out how to get wishes, who was the idiotic person that told him how it worked? Zadie, she decided to tell him how he would be able to control the spirits and bend them to his will. Why should would think that was a good idea in the first place, I don't know.
I decided to continue reading this series because I was already far gone and I wanted to see how it all ends.
July 6, 2024
I knew there was problems with this series from book one. Despite that I still fairly enjoyed the first book. Since then the problems are becoming more of an issue and by halfway I didn't even want to finish this book.
Zadie is extremely immature and Kassim isn't much better. I dread to think of them ruling a kingdom. The development of the relationship between the two was so weird. Kassim just kind of gets better without a natural explanation of that happening, or a good progress of that change. Zadie spends more of the series away from Kassim than with him which makes it hard to really feel the budding romance is legit.
Lalana seemed a bit bland. Honestly I feel like having her come back into the story with her husband who we never meet being dead was weird. Like, that makes Zadie's choice to help her sister out and all the trouble she got in afterwards seem like it was for nothing. Lalana is apparently this famous rebel hero that we NEVER hear about until Lalana says yeah I'm this person. Also the sisters are SO much alike an assassin can't tell them apart. Kassim and Ali are like wow you two look so similar. EVERY other person since we heard about Lalana from the start is like mhmm, so Lalana is Miss Universe and Zadie is just meh. Which is it? Are they both so beautiful that they should be scraping their jaws off the ground for Zadie too? Or are they different? Because basically no one but Kassim maybe has said Zadie is even decent looking while Lalana doesn't even need a personality.
Tarak was also unbearable. Lalana's husband who she loved enough to elope with is dead but Lalana has no emotion about it. And this djinni is like I'm going to keep touching you and making calf eyes over you.
So many plot holes. Bahari is just what.... no longer out for revenge against Zadie? Tarak whispers something to Lalana in a room with just them and Zadie, something Zadie can't hear but apparently SOMEONE somewhere who HAPPENS of course to be a spy hears it. Ali and her thieves are just no longer hating the royals and the spymaster. And no one has an issue with them being thieves.
The evil kingdom(which hardly gets brought up at all in the first book but hey we need content so let's shoe in some random stuff) apparently has some pretty good complaints. Like okay they have some problems but it seems like maybe if both sides weren't so stubborn at this point they could come to an agreement without a war.
Zadie is extremely immature and Kassim isn't much better. I dread to think of them ruling a kingdom. The development of the relationship between the two was so weird. Kassim just kind of gets better without a natural explanation of that happening, or a good progress of that change. Zadie spends more of the series away from Kassim than with him which makes it hard to really feel the budding romance is legit.
Lalana seemed a bit bland. Honestly I feel like having her come back into the story with her husband who we never meet being dead was weird. Like, that makes Zadie's choice to help her sister out and all the trouble she got in afterwards seem like it was for nothing. Lalana is apparently this famous rebel hero that we NEVER hear about until Lalana says yeah I'm this person. Also the sisters are SO much alike an assassin can't tell them apart. Kassim and Ali are like wow you two look so similar. EVERY other person since we heard about Lalana from the start is like mhmm, so Lalana is Miss Universe and Zadie is just meh. Which is it? Are they both so beautiful that they should be scraping their jaws off the ground for Zadie too? Or are they different? Because basically no one but Kassim maybe has said Zadie is even decent looking while Lalana doesn't even need a personality.
Tarak was also unbearable. Lalana's husband who she loved enough to elope with is dead but Lalana has no emotion about it. And this djinni is like I'm going to keep touching you and making calf eyes over you.
So many plot holes. Bahari is just what.... no longer out for revenge against Zadie? Tarak whispers something to Lalana in a room with just them and Zadie, something Zadie can't hear but apparently SOMEONE somewhere who HAPPENS of course to be a spy hears it. Ali and her thieves are just no longer hating the royals and the spymaster. And no one has an issue with them being thieves.
The evil kingdom(which hardly gets brought up at all in the first book but hey we need content so let's shoe in some random stuff) apparently has some pretty good complaints. Like okay they have some problems but it seems like maybe if both sides weren't so stubborn at this point they could come to an agreement without a war.
January 3, 2022
This book wasn’t as predictable as I thought it would be, and I am very satisfied with how things are progressing
June 18, 2020
This series just keeps getting better! I can't wait for the final installment! ♡
August 4, 2020
I'm getting annoyed
I get so annoyed when a bad guy in a story keeps getting away with bad things over and over again. Zadie has the trust of Kassim but still doesn't tell him her suspicions about Hepzibah.
The other annoying thing is Lalana. I can't stand her and I think she might be a bad guy. I might be wrong but she seems sketchy and Zadie always gives up everything for her. It's sickening.
How long can they stretch this story out for and how many more twists and turns can there be before the good guys get a break?
I'm going to read the last book and hope the good guys get a little smarter.
I get so annoyed when a bad guy in a story keeps getting away with bad things over and over again. Zadie has the trust of Kassim but still doesn't tell him her suspicions about Hepzibah.
The other annoying thing is Lalana. I can't stand her and I think she might be a bad guy. I might be wrong but she seems sketchy and Zadie always gives up everything for her. It's sickening.
How long can they stretch this story out for and how many more twists and turns can there be before the good guys get a break?
I'm going to read the last book and hope the good guys get a little smarter.
July 29, 2020
It was perfect but for one thing
I hated the situation with Tarak but I loved everything else and I cannot wait to read the next book.
I hated the situation with Tarak but I loved everything else and I cannot wait to read the next book.
July 28, 2020
I think this has been my favourite book so far in this series, as we see Zadie welcoming back a ghost from the past, having all her lies barred before her sultan, and fearing for her life many a time before a wedding day which was looming ever closer, but which she feared might not come to pass for a variety of reasons. Zadie had grown to love her Kassim, so that what had started out as an arranged marriage, had become a marriage of love, but now that Kassim was faced with all her bare faced lies she feared he might change his mind, as well as he might do upon facing the ghost from their past, who turned up on their doorstep, and this amidst all the preparations for all spirits day, the day of their wedding. Guests were arriving from all over the twelve kingdoms for this auspicious event, but someone who had not been invited turned up as well, and all hell was unleashed in the palace. Zadie ends up kidnapped, and playing a game of political chess, hoping to stay one step ahead of her adversaries, lying through her teeth about everything she truly loved and wanted in life. Will her gamble save her and Astaran, or will she doom them all? Our reckless and headstrong heroine can never keep herself out of trouble or forego a challenge. I love this series so much, its middle eastern ambience is really described beautifully and the evil characters are ruthless, whilst Zadie's friends are courageous and loyal and I just cannot wait to read book 4, the finale to this amazing romantic desert adventure which has made my heart stop a few times upon reading this book fearing for Zadie's life and happiness.
May 12, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! Just when you think things are settling down, more excitement and adventure occurs. Zadie is surprised to see her sister show up in Astaran, the first part of the book deals with her trying to find a way to help her sister find a safe place to be. During this, Zadie finally uncovers proof that the vizier is not on their side, by almost being murdered of course. Hephzibah is actually a Phoenitian and working with the sultan Iman of Phoenitia Then when Kassim discovers the truth that his original betrothed is alive, you wonder if their wedding will go through... But love triumphs and we read of the wedding preparations and then.... Zadie is taken by the phoenitians just before saying her vows with the help of her released djinni Tarak who had already stolen all the lamps they found in the cave of secrets and is taken to Iman's palace above the mountains. And the adventures continue...
I love this fiesty heroine and all the ways she works to help those she loves. I'm so excited for the final book. Will Kassim and Zadie find the book of names before Iman? Read this book, you will love it!
I love this fiesty heroine and all the ways she works to help those she loves. I'm so excited for the final book. Will Kassim and Zadie find the book of names before Iman? Read this book, you will love it!
May 25, 2020
Just when Zadie thought that everything would be alright, life throws her a curve ball! Her sister who she thought was living happily with her husband in Yadina shows up in Astaran, recently widowed. Reeling and trying to find a way to keep her close, she's embroiled in new adventures. Assassins are after her sister, or is it her? And what will happen when Kassim finds out that Lalana is alive? Will he marry Zadie or will he go back to the original deal with Lalana as his bride? And as if that wasn't enough, when Kassim decides that he'll marry Zadie and speeds up the wedding, she's abducted by the Phoenitian sultan, with the help of Hepzibah and Tarak! What will become of her? Will she manage to break free? Will Kassim come to her rescue? And what will happen with the spirits bound to the lamps they discovered in the Cave of Wonders?
Action-packed, full of political intrigue, suspense, betrayal, romance and unexpected plot-twists, the book is a page turner that grabs the reader's attention and holds it until the last page. I can't wait for the final book in the series!!!
Action-packed, full of political intrigue, suspense, betrayal, romance and unexpected plot-twists, the book is a page turner that grabs the reader's attention and holds it until the last page. I can't wait for the final book in the series!!!
July 12, 2020
Another great book in this series! I was questioning its status as a fantasy romance, but I feel like the relationship between Kassim and Zadie was finally validated in this one! After two books of struggling and doubt, their wedding is finally here and they've never been closer. Unfortunately, their rivals are eager to exploit the wedding as a distraction.
I think that the conflicts are a little weak, like especially towards the end it moved a little quickly. I'm not super mad about it, it's still a fun and action-packed read. I just feel as though some of the political concepts could have been explored a little deeper. I also don't know how I feel about the introduction of her sister, since it feels like she was introduced solely as a new female "rival" for Zadie. We'll see how it all pans out in the finale, but I'm hoping for a little more balance! Would still 100% recommend this series!
This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot....
May 18, 2020
*All of my reviews are voluntarily written*
Here I thought things couldn't get more crazy than the last book, but then the authors throw that monkey wrench into the plans! The whirlwind picks up and doesn't let go!
Poor Zadie has been through the wringer since book 1 and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. The first big reveal in this book really throws her and she fears for her own future and starts to doubt herself and what she's found with Kissam.
I can't read these books fast enough and I can't get enough of the characters that have really grown on me! I am so excited to see where everything goes in book 4!
Here I thought things couldn't get more crazy than the last book, but then the authors throw that monkey wrench into the plans! The whirlwind picks up and doesn't let go!
Poor Zadie has been through the wringer since book 1 and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. The first big reveal in this book really throws her and she fears for her own future and starts to doubt herself and what she's found with Kissam.
I can't read these books fast enough and I can't get enough of the characters that have really grown on me! I am so excited to see where everything goes in book 4!
May 12, 2020
I absolutely just loved this book! I truly didn't think this series could get any better, but it did. So much excitement and action in this one. I hate to know the next book is the last one, but I can't wait to see how it all turns out. This is one series I will definitely read again, and I don't reread many. If you like fantasy romance with some fairy tale twistups, give this series a try. You will fall in love with Zadie and the gang! I recommend you starting from the first book though, as it would be confusing otherwise I think. Happy reading!
December 25, 2021
This book had a slightly different feel from the others. It struggled to hold my attention as well as the first two books. Still there were some interesting moments and the romance continues to develop: nice slow burn romance although the characters spend a great deal of the book apart. I would have liked to see the sultan play a bigger role. The content is also getting a little darker as the series progresses. I still don’t understand some of the decisions Zadie makes, but she is trying to grow and learn and I like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2020
This book is by far the best in the series so far. With only one book left I'm so excited to see how this ends.
With just days until Zadie and Kassim's you would think nothing would go wrong but things definitely do. Zadie's sister Lana who is known to be dead shows up and from that point on things just keep on getting worse.
It's such as fun story with things where things keep on going ways you don't expect and every page leaves you guessing what going to happen next. This one was by far my favourite because everything that happened left me not wanting to put the book done and leaving me wondering what was going to happen next.
With just days until Zadie and Kassim's you would think nothing would go wrong but things definitely do. Zadie's sister Lana who is known to be dead shows up and from that point on things just keep on getting worse.
It's such as fun story with things where things keep on going ways you don't expect and every page leaves you guessing what going to happen next. This one was by far my favourite because everything that happened left me not wanting to put the book done and leaving me wondering what was going to happen next.
June 10, 2020
Originally, I was given the novellas to read and got all the way to where Zadie was kidnapped. Then the ladies sent the edited versions and the story continued. I have read every one of these and could not put them down. From the novellas to the actual new versions. Thank you, Elm and Helena, for this journey with Zadie and Kassim. So glad Hepzibah got the shard!!! Waiting on the last installment. Maybe Tarak gets a girl!!!
June 30, 2020
This series is so good! It’s Throne of Glass meets Aladdin romantic fantasy. The adventure includes love, betrayal and obsession. Zadie is a princess who never thought she would be in a position to take the throne. Kassam is a sultan who is determined to get what he wants. Neither expect to fall in love or change their ways.
Princesses, Sultans, Djinn, Thieves, Spirits. So many fun characters. I can’t wait for the next in series.
Princesses, Sultans, Djinn, Thieves, Spirits. So many fun characters. I can’t wait for the next in series.
July 25, 2020
This series grabbed me by the throat and hasn’t let go. I am dying inside with a week to wait for the last book to come out. Then I am going to hope they do spin-off series about the supporting characters. This world is intriguing. The characters are realistic and the pace quick. I love the characters being of several different ethnicities.
August 1, 2020
Loved book 3!! Soooo good. Lots of things happening. You think after the first two books Zadie would be settling down and preparing to marry but there’s more adventure in her yet. Zadie and Kassim are just so cute - you want them to end up together. Unfortunately there’s lots of twists and turns. Love the thieves and how they keep getting mixed in.
Couldn’t put it down!!!
Couldn’t put it down!!!
September 11, 2020
Raced through this book just like the first two
I can’t wait to read book four and finally find out how the story ends! I’ve enjoyed this series greatly so far. I love the mix of storybook magic and romance with the more modern concepts of a kick-butt heroine and social equality. This is what Tamora Pierce trained me for.
I can’t wait to read book four and finally find out how the story ends! I’ve enjoyed this series greatly so far. I love the mix of storybook magic and romance with the more modern concepts of a kick-butt heroine and social equality. This is what Tamora Pierce trained me for.
September 23, 2020
Great book!
4.5 Stars
This was a great continuation of this series! I love Zadie and Kassim and I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in the series soon!
Content:
Mild swearing
Romance: clean romance, some hints from a woman that she prefers other women (the reason I took off a half star from my rating)
4.5 Stars
This was a great continuation of this series! I love Zadie and Kassim and I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in the series soon!
Content:
Mild swearing
Romance: clean romance, some hints from a woman that she prefers other women (the reason I took off a half star from my rating)
July 23, 2021
I was a little annoyed in this book by all of the secrets Zadie was keeping from Kassim, especially with her sister showing up. Ya just gotta talk to him at some point. And a little annoyed that Kassim was just like "okay, I love you, no worries" once she told him her secrets. And Lalana . . . I can't decide if she's who she says she is, or if she's hiding things. BUT, I enjoyed the continuation of the story, especially Kassim's growth and softening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2020
And the adventure continues at a pace that keeps you reading late into the night to find out what happens next....
A fantastic story for young and old if you love strong heroine’s, magic and djinn.
A fantastic story for young and old if you love strong heroine’s, magic and djinn.
July 17, 2020
Truly Amazing!
OMG this is indeed action packed and spell binding! It’s a combination of The Arabian Nights and a whole lot more. I can’t wait for the final conclusion. Glad Hepzibah is out of the way!
OMG this is indeed action packed and spell binding! It’s a combination of The Arabian Nights and a whole lot more. I can’t wait for the final conclusion. Glad Hepzibah is out of the way!
August 8, 2020
Love this series!!!
This series has been so good!!! From the first book you fall in love with the characters and the story is brought to life . I can't wait to read the last book but I'm also sad that will mean the end of the series.
This series has been so good!!! From the first book you fall in love with the characters and the story is brought to life . I can't wait to read the last book but I'm also sad that will mean the end of the series.
May 31, 2020
Review
Great book. . . . . . .
I read it in a few hours. . . . . .
Great book. . . . . . .
I read it in a few hours. . . . . .
August 5, 2020
Awesome
Awesome read with twists and turns as a wedding is prevented a kidnapping follows while magic is used to release a kingdom.
Awesome read with twists and turns as a wedding is prevented a kidnapping follows while magic is used to release a kingdom.
August 26, 2020
This book was another amazing one in the series. It has so many twists and turns. Its a really fast read.
December 20, 2020
I’m not sure I’ll keep reading this series. This book was decent enough but that’s how I felt about the previous two.
July 11, 2021
Absolutely LOVE this series!!
I’m obsessed with this series, another fantastic book to add to it. This plot line is very unique and I love the Arabian theme of it all!
I’m obsessed with this series, another fantastic book to add to it. This plot line is very unique and I love the Arabian theme of it all!
October 24, 2021
Epic
The story continues and just as you think things are finally working out for everyone the bad guy's swoop in and alter the course of events
The story continues and just as you think things are finally working out for everyone the bad guy's swoop in and alter the course of events
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews