#arin of nizahl

[nightsnacker99]

the jasad heir: a tale of a man and his vest

[ao3serketlurks]

At The Shrine of Your Lies

by Serket8lues Fandom: The Scorched Throne

Tags: the victor's ball, dancing, songfic, song: Take Me To Church (Hozier), angst, lies, fluff, Sylvia x Arin

Not Rated | No Archive Warnings Apply -

Arin offered his hand. “I believe we have an agreement.”

“Have you learned your steps?”

Arin swept me in a turn, hooking me under his arm and spinning me out...He reeled me in with a grin that I wanted to pocket. “At the age of nine.”

“Liar.” I shook my head with mock outrage. The music swelled as I took his hand, my white gloves in his black ones - mine worn to hide and deceive, his worn for protection from the outside world. We were opposites. We were imperfect pieces. We understood each other.

The musicians began playing a slower song, and the woman at the front sang:

My lover’s got humor, She’s the giggle at a funeral,

My eyes were locked on Arin’s, intense, and what I used to see only as expressionless but now understood to be focused. The corner of his lips twitched when I said “Are you sure you don’t want to hear my joke about the Heir and the Champion?”

Knows everybody’s disapproval, I should’ve worshipped her sooner.

“Don’t tell me,” he whispered, “show me.”

If the heavens ever did speak She’s the last true mouth piece.

“But showing you is no joke,” I bit my lip. I mouthed “I love you, Arin.”

I was Jasadi. He was Heir of Nizahl, Lord Commander of the charge against the magic in my veins. But we were both made of flesh, of bone, of soul.

Every Sunday’s getting more bleak a fresh poison each week We were born sick You heard them say it

Magic was madness, they said. It drove the best people to no good. Humans brought war, I thought, for the army of the magic-less nation had torn the children of Usr Jasad into blood. And yet, Arin of Nizahl gazed into my eyes. And yet, I gazed into his.

My church offers no absolutes, she tells me, ‘Worship in the bedroom’ The only Heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you

Our steps lead us from beside the musicians to the center of the ballroom. The faces of the royals, the guards, and even Supreme Rawain faded from my view. The short space between Arin’s chest and mine while we danced was somewhere else, somewhere private, and the warmth radiated through me.

I was born sick, but I love it Command me to be well A-, amen Amen, amen

When the orchestra picked up, I twirled him, and laughter colored his cheeks. His eyes were bright, sparkling, and he gasped “I love you, Sylvia.”

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

An ache trembled in my chest. Sylvia, my chosen name, what I told him I preferred to be called when I told him I was Mervat, a different Jasadi noble. He still didn’t know the threat I was, didn’t know that the Jasadi of his forbidden affections was not only Jasadi, but Essiya, the Jasadi Heir.

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

My eyes flickered down to the spot where I'd held my knife to his throat, the day that he told me that knife threat would be my last. It felt like a lifetime ago. His hair had shaken loose into a curtain of silver, and hidden from the eyes of the ballroom, my lips ghosted over the spot. Arin made a happy sound, so quiet I felt it more than I heard it, and I pressed my mouth to his skin.

If I'm a pagan of the good times, my lover's the sunlight To keep the goddess on my side, she demands a sacrifice Drain the whole sea, get something shiny

Sultana Vaida was glittering across the room, the avatar of Lukub's opulence. Felix and his attendant had been lifted into laughter at something one of the other royals said, and the mirth in the room was decadent. I could almost see why our fathers and their fathers had chosen selfishness and corruption in the face of such splendor. They forgot that every life was sacred, and every person born was worth love. That was why my grandparents had locked my mother away in her tower, and her love was why she wailed there for the rest of her life. They couldn't bear to see such truth. To my mother, her husband shone more light than the Awals and Awalas themselves. No jewel in the world could compare to Arin's eyes as we danced.

Something meaty for the main course, that's a fine looking high horse What you got in the stable? We've a lot of starving faithful

The cord of a necklace peaked out from Arin's collar, just for a second. He was wearing the date necklace I'd given him. I smiled as I remembered the underground kitchen, and how this man, this literal prince was content eating gruel til my complaining became annoying enough. But then, maybe it wasn't just annoyance. I remembered how Wes and Jeru bantered, and how they'd marveled that Arin had instructed one of his best guards to spend a day surveying the markets by Mahair, to discover what sort of menu Omalians were accustomed to. Arin was so careful and thorough in everything he did. So steady.

That looks tasty, that looks plenty, this is hungry work

We turned to let past two servants carrying large trays of drinks, and Arin's cheek pressed against mine for a beat. My magic slipped, much to my surprise, and I saw a brief glimpse into his mind, an image of what could have been if we'd stayed in my bed. In his mind's eye, I was exposed, lying supine on my the bed, eyes closed and whimpering his name. My thighs were clenched around his head, and the heightening sensations of pain and pleasure welled up in him while he kissed my most private place. The glimpse lasted only seconds, but I could see he was blushing, and I swallowed hard, trying not to squirm.

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

"Why do you keep saving me?" Arin had asked days ago, before I understood that I had fallen in love with my enemy. "Why do you keep needing to be saved?" I'd shouted back. Now at present, in the ballroom, all I wanted to do was stay in the safety of his embrace forever.

No masters or kings when the ritual begins There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene Only then, I am human Only then, I am clean

I wanted to kiss him. I couldn't. My magic would pain him. My escape plan would be ruined.

Oh, oh, amen Amen, amen Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

Arin's own self-control battled behind his icey eyes. His pupils were blown wide with lust, and his hand was firmer now on my waist, his breaths a little heavier in a way that had nothing to do with physical exertion. The music hushed to a hum before the final chorus, and in the beat of near-silence, I wasn't sure if the pounding in my ears was my heartbeat or his. Just as the singer began again, Arin twirled me.

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog

"I love you," he whispered in my ear when our steps brought us back together. "Sylvia. Suraira. Jasadi. You."

at the shrine of your lies I'll tell you my sins,

"I love you," I said desperately, coming up empty for words to explain in kind. "Arin...Lord Commander of Nizahl... Your Highness... I love you with my whole being."

and you can sharpen your knife

It was like the dangerous words were as freeing as being invisible on a walk at night. It was the truth, it was painful, and yet it was as comfortable as my favorite ways to hide.

Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God,

The song ended, and the musicians transitioned into a livelier beat, one with less chance for closeness, but appropriate for a celebration.

let me give you my life.

We danced.

[betterbooksandthings]

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem is a beautifully textured Egyptian-inspired high fantasy book that rips your heart apart and puts it back together again. As an orphaned apothecary’s assistant in a small town, no one expects Sylvia to hide powerful magic and an even more powerful lineage. When the kingdom of Jasad fell to the kingdom of Nizahl a decade ago, everyone believed all members of the royal family fell with it, but the magically adept Jasad heir escaped, and she has been on the run ever since. Her magic has been dampened for years so typically there is little threat it will be detected, but one day Arin, the Nizahl heir, discovers her power anyway. He cannot imagine she is lost royalty, but Arin knows her magic is powerful and can tell her strength will serve his political goals. With knowledge of Sylvia’s powers and Jasadi background, he blackmails her into becoming his champion for the Alcalah, a deadly series of trials where each kingdom has one chance at selecting a future victor that will bring pride to their country. Now she must keep her identity as the lost Jasad heir a secret from the strict and inscrutable heir, even as they grow inextricably close. If she wins, Sylvia will have enough money and status as the Alcalah victor to hide for the rest of her life, but as Jasadi rebels and her own conscience demand she takes up her throne, she has to decide if she is willing to live a life of peace at the cost of her people. The book is filled with magic, political intrigue, friendship, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a magical competition to tie it all together. I could not recommend this book more.

I must say, Hashem’s debut is an impressive feat of the genre. The magic system and world-building are top-tier for those looking for fantasy with multi-kingdom political intrigue and well-developed characters. Everyone and everything introduced to the book is there for a reason and they all have well-developed backstories and interior lives. I believe the book follows an iceberg approach to fantasy where we see a fraction of the worldbuilding that goes into crafting such an intricate system where everything feels real. Small details from clothing, food, and value differences between kingdoms give life to the people and the places they inhabit.

Sylvia is a wonderful character. She is a believable traumatized 20-year-old. The book is a good recommendation for fans of New Adult-aged protagonists, but it is firmly adult fantasy. She is comfortable with murdering for survival and capable of doing so. Even without consistent access to her powers, she is clever and calculating and knows how to wield a bevy of weapons. It doesn’t stop her from caring about a select group of people including her two best friends Sefa and Marek who follow her throughout the book. They have their own story that I will not spoil but rest assured they are wonderful and Sefa is on the ace spectrum for anyone who wants to know.

Now, there is also an enemies-to-lovers subplot in the book between the two heirs, Sylvia and Arin but it is a slow burn, backburner, low-spice (but high-heat) romance. Both characters have a certain level of touch aversion one due to a magic curse, the other due to a traumatic childhood. They are also two people who don’t trust or love with any level of ease. Nonetheless, they care about each other, and the growing care leads me to believe in their chemistry. I can find no confirmation that Sylvia was written to be on the ace spectrum so please correct me if I am wrong, but I read her character as demisexual or somewhere on the ace spectrum. I am completely on board with this ship either way.

Training for the Alcalah and the Alcalah itself is so well done. Anyone who likes a good high-stakes fantasy competition will be satisfied with this storyline. The secrets and political intrigue create ongoing tension throughout the book and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in book 2.

All that is to say this book is absolutely wonderful. Thank you Orbit Books for providing me with an arc for an honest review and I would highly recommend you preorder yourself a copy because when The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem comes out on July 18, 2023, you will want to get started.

[chanelslibrary]

🌙𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰🌙

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

@shashemwrites

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sylvia is the lost heir of Jasad. A kingdom that was destroyed in a fire ten years ago that killed every member of her family, and had its magic banned. Now Sylvia must hide from the Nizahl army that wiped out her empire and is hunting her people. But when she accidentally exposes her magic and captures the attention of the Nizahl heir, Arin, Sylvia is forced to make a deadly deal with her greatest enemy. Arin must never know her true identity if she wants to live, but Sylvia learns a group of Jasadi rebels have emerged and their scorched kingdom needs a queen.

What an absolute 5 star read!! Like any first book in a fantasy series this story started a little slow with the world building, but once it got into the thick of it I was hooked! The banter, the tension, the plot—OH MY! Sara Hashem knows how to write enemies to lovers. Sylvia is the fiercest MFC ever, and my boy Arin is so stoic, and smart, but has a soft heart underneath and seems evil but it’s just a mask😩 Anyway, I loved that this story was Egyptian inspired (major Aladdin vibes), with a great deadly competition that kept the plot going. I 100% recommend this book if you’re into fantasy, and there is a sequel coming out next year!

*Also, this is my opinion (not facts!) I thought this book was Dramione coded! From Arin having white/blonde hair and daddy issues, being stoic and cold on the outside, and Sylvia being this outcasted and hunted girl fighting for her people, having to step up and use her brain and skills while being the underdog. 🫶🏽**

Read if you love:

💛Enemies to lovers

⚔️Fantasy

🕌High stakes competition

✊🏽AAPI rep

[nevinslibrary]

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday

Sylvia is the exiled Queen of Jasad. Ten years before Jasad was burned by the Nizahl, magic was outlawed, most of the royal family killed. In present day Arin, the Nizahl Heir, finds her when she uses her outlawed magic. They make a deal. She’ll compete as the Nizahl Champion in the Alcahal (a series of three trials). If she wins, she will get immunity from prosecution for her ‘crimes’. But, she soon finds out that she will also have to choose between the life that she ran away from, and the one that she wants to have.

To start with, I loved the characters. But, not just them. The world building was awesome, and, the complexity of ‘what’ this book is was fun too. There’s some romance, fantasy, quite a bit of action, adventure, and the tension throughout the book. Amazing. It was a fun read that kept me guessing and turning the pages, and it does say in some of the publicity that it’s supposed to be the first in a series, so, here’s hoping!

You may like this book If you Liked: The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi, The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, or The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

[beckysbook5]

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem - ARC Review!

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe. The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a…

[ao3serketlurks]

man for all of the things on my writer's block bingo card I did not expect "I am struggling to write the meat of this smut fic because one of the characters in canon reminds me so strongly of my ex" but here we are

[ao3serketlurks]

The horny list now includes:

- Gale

- Jaheira

- Wyll

- Karlach

- Arin of Nizahl

- Mahesh Jadu

- Kiera Knightly

- Brienne of Tarth

- Sam Winchester

This is a Gale Dekarios thirst blog but I am so down bad for Jaheira fr