#jalal al-khoury

[fish-champ16]

idc what y’all say i blame Tariq for Rahim’s death 100%

bro wants to act on his own impulse? fine, go ahead, but don’t risk others while you go pull that stupid shit. 

[vesperascorpio]

“I will personally beat senseless the first person to speak ill of you.”

Despina arched a dubious brow.

“Don’t sneer at me. I may be small, but, when pushed, I can strike out with a surprising amount of force.” Shahrzad sniffed. “If you don’t believe me, ask Jalal.”

“You struck Jalal?” Despina frowned.

Shahrzad shook her head, a smile playing at the edges of her lips. “Khalid.”

“What?” Despina gasped. “You . . . struck the caliph?”

“Across the face.”

Despina’s hand shot to her mouth, and a bubble of laughter burst from her lips.

[babyfairybaekhyun]

He wagged his eyebrows, appreciating the challenge, as he pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it to the string. When he drew it back, the edges of the unyielding longbow barely shifted. Jalal was an excellent archer.

[elliepassmore]

The Wrath and the Dawn Review

5/5 stars Recommended for people who like: fantasy, Arabic folklore, magic, 1001 Arabian Nights, enemies to lovers, POC characters, revenge, fairytale retellings, strong female characters I waited a while to read Wrath for the first time. I'd heard a lot of good things about it, but I was hesitant to pick it up, believing a lot of the hype to be false. Boy was I wrong. This has turned into on of my favorite series. Based on 1,001 Nights, the premise is that the Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid, is marrying girls and then killing them at dawn with no explanation. There have been 72 girls before Shahrzad. Including her best friend. Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid, determined to use the one night she has left to kill him. She lures him in by telling stories that don't end at dawn, determined to live long enough to find his weaknesses and exploit them. Shahrzad 'Shazi' has such a strong voice, resolute and unique. The book is told mostly from her 3rd POV, so we get to see her thought process as she navigates the palace and the people Khalid has tasked with watching her. As determined as she is, she's also very much aware of the fact that she could die at any dawn. She's also not completely consumed by her mission. She allows herself to care about the people around her--Jalal, Despina, even the Rajput--showing an interesting depth to her character. This provides an ironic foil by one of the other narrators, Shazi's childhood love Tariq, who cannot find the capacity to care for anyone under Khalid's roof other than Shazi. On the flip, Khalid also provides an interesting voice in his chapters. There is a burden he's carrying that Ahdieh cleverly talks around during his narrations. There's obviously something wrong, but we only get bits and pieces of what it is. Despite mostly seeing him from Shazi's point of view, it's hard to hate him even when she does. We never actually see him kill anybody until later in the book, when it's in defense of someone else, and we don't see him being cruel either--not to Shazi and not to anyone else in the palace. Ahdieh has written him as the 'villian' in such a way that he has done bad things without creating a problematic character/relationship. It can be a tricky balance (hello, Grisha Trilogy). Tariq is another narrator, though we only get a few chapters from his point of view. I can honestly say that I liked him at first, but the more we got to see inside his head as the story progressed, knowing what I did from Khalid and Shazi, the less I liked him. He's so desperate to get Shahrzad out of the palace, away from Khalid, that he is willing to go to war for it. When he does get in contact with Shazi, he doesn't listen to what she's saying, just continues on in his blind arrogance that he's doing what's right. The final narrators, who barely have any chapters at all, are Shazi's father, Jahandar, and her sister, Irsa. Jahandar is ashamed he let her marry the caliph for revenge when she could so easily die, and a lot of his narrative is about doing anything in her power to gain her back. Irsa only has one chapter, I believe, though she plays a larger narrative part in the Rose, which gives background for her and Jahandar escaping the city after Shazi marries Khalid. As it is based on 1001 Nights, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Shazi and Khalid fall in love. At first, it feels like the relationship is going too fast, but Ahdieh is quick to remedy that, including time jumps of weeks that turn into months, ensuring that, while it is, at first, the typical "we've known each other two days and are so in love" to, "we've known each other several months now and are in love." It's still quick, but it's a better timeline than a lot of YA fiction I saw published around the same time or earlier. The plot largely centers around Shazi trying to kill Khalid, then around the big reveal we get in the last third. The second plot is Tariq's as he gathers allies to make a move against Khalid. The Big Reveal plot and Tariq's plot carry into the next book as two of the main plots. There are also drops of subplots that Ahdieh gives in Wrath that, if you're paying attention, you can pick up and start figuring out how they'll come into play in Rose. The plots blend together well, coming off as appropriate for the story and timeline, each relating to the other in some way. Further, the plots are transferable into the next book so we don't have to worry about being introduced to some new, random threat. A fabulous book overall, strong characters, strong plot. It's especially a good book to read if you like retellings or Arabic folklore.

[emjenenla]

Holy shit, I just started the Moth and the Flame (Renee Ahdieh’s novella about Despina and Jalal) and AVA’S STILL ALIVE. I knew this novella was set before the books but I didn’t realize it was that far before the books. I also didn’t realize that living!Ava was something I wanted until this moment. All in all, I’m happy.

[nate-macauley]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT THE DESPINA PLOT TWOST IN THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER FUCKED ME UP BADLY

[themarvelousbunch]

The Warth and the Dawn - My Dream Cast

I've heard rumors of that fabulous book being adapted to a movie so here's my fan cast

Younes Bendjima as Khalid İbn al-Rashid

Imaan Hammam as Shahrzad al Khayzuran

Rami Malek as Jalal al-Khoury

Sophie Turner as Despina

Assaad Bouad as Tariq al-Ziyad

Mayan el Sayed as Shiva bin-Latief

Yasmine Sabry as Yasmine al-Sharif

Essam Ferris as Khalid's uncle Salim Al-Sharif

[vesperascorpio]

It was a bedraggled band of souls that trudged through the sands toward the Caliph of Khorasan’s encampment.

 Three young women—all dressed in torn finery, two of them smelling of sewage—made their way before the guards tasked with keeping watch over the camp’s entrance at night. When a hulking warrior with skin of burnished copper came into view, the soldiers drew their swords. Two came to stand before him.

The smallest of the three girls spoke first.

 “I’d like to speak to the caliph.” She tucked a poorly shorn wave of hair behind an ear, smudging even more dirt across her face in the process.  At that, the leader of the night guard began laughing. “And I’d like a harem and a flagon of wine, while we’re at it.”  The girl’s eyes flashed through a myriad of colors before settling on green. “Don’t be a fool.”  “Don’t presume to lecture me, you filthy little—”  The brute of a warrior moved to strike. But was stayed by the smallest girl before he could proceed.  “Watch your words, soldier,” the plump girl with the disheveled crown of curls said in an imperious tone. “That’s the Calipha of Khorasan.”  The soldier’s sense of humor began to fade. “And I’m the Shahrban of Rey.”  “I’m afraid you’re not,” the imperious girl replied. “He’s older. And not nearly as stupid.”  The other soldiers could not help but laugh at her rejoinder.  “Enough!” The last girl—the most striking one—finally stepped forward. “My name is Yasmine el-Sharif, and I demand to speak with—”  “And I demand a moment alone with you.” The soldier in charge grinned before reaching to pull her in for a kiss.  Before the hulking warrior could stop her, the tiny girl with the badly shorn hair leapt onto him with the fury of a crazed monkey. She began pummeling him in the head and neck with both fists.  His soldiers laughed uproariously.  “It was just a kiss!” the soldier protested. When he failed to pull her off immediately, several other soldiers came to his aid.  In a blur of movement, the barrel-chested man accompanying them disarmed the soldiers. He blew onto one of their swords, setting it aflame. Then he held the burning weapon before their leader’s face.  “Wait . . .” One of the soldiers staggered back.  Another tripped onto the sand in his haste to flee. “That—that’s the Rajput!”  “Get the captain of the guard,” the wielder of fire said. “Now.”

[kingmakings]

The Wrath and the Dawn, Renée Ahdieh

[thewrathintheashes]

I know love is fragile. And loving someone like you is near impossible. Like holding something shattered through a raging sandstorm. If you want her to love you, shelter her from that storm...And make certain that storm isn't you.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

[cinerotika]

It was a vain attempt at indifference, on both their parts. 

For Shahrzad bore silent witness to the truth. It was only for an instant, and they never glanced at each other. Yet, she wondered how anyone could miss it—the subtle shift in Jalal’s shoulders, and the telltale tilt to Despina’s head. 

Shahrzad smiled knowingly.

[nate-macauley]

its because i spent the entire book thinking 'aw i wish we had some of despina x jalal story included' and then boom. its like a slap in the face

HOLY FUCKING SHIT THE DESPINA PLOT TWOST IN THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER FUCKED ME UP BADLY

[vesperascorpio]

“By all that is holy, Khalid-jan—she is a vision.” Though Salim looked at her, he addressed Khalid, treating Shahrzad as little more than a tapestry hanging on his nephew’s wall. It rankled her. Shahrzad held firm to her smile. 

“A vision with eyes and ears, my lord.” Khalid continued staring ahead, but the ice set around his features thawed at her retort. Salim’s eyes widened, and something flared for an instant in their pools of contrived warmth. He laughed, and the sound was just as charming as his voice. Just as overdone. 

“Stunning and silver-tongued. What an interesting combination! I can see I will have quite a time getting to know you, my lady Shahrzad.” 

“Quite a time,” Shahrzad agreed. “I look forward to it, my lord.” Though his smile wavered for less than an instant, there was no mistaking it; she was irritating him.

“As do I,” he replied. Each word was like a spear soaked in sweet water.

. . . 

“Have  you  no  appetite,  nephew?”  Salim  raised  an  eyebrow  at  Khalid. “Perhaps it has mysteriously disappeared. That can happen when one is—troubled.” Khalid ignored Salim’s attempt to bait him, choosing instead to take a sip of wine.“Or . . . is it possible you are concerned your food seeks to lash out at you in response to some inexplicable offense?” Salim laughed at his own joke, winking at Shahrzad.

Hateful man.

Shahrzad reached over and snared an olive from Khalid’s plate. Holding Salim’s gaze, she popped the olive in her mouth and ate it. “His food seems fine to me, my lord. I’m not certain which inexplicable offense you might be referencing, but rest assured, his food is quite safe,” Shahrzad replied with a wink of her own. 

“Would you like me to taste your food as well, Uncle?” At that, Jalal began barking with laughter, and even the shahrban was forced to lower his grizzled chin. The suggestion of a smile tugged at Khalid’s lips. Across  the  way,  a  cup  was  set  down  on  the  table  with  unwarranted vehemence. Please, Tariq. Don’t make a scene. Don’t do anything. Salim grinned at Shahrzad. 

“Truly silver-tongued, my lady Shahrzad. I’d ask where you found her, Khalid-jan, but . . .” Khalid’s right hand clenched, and Shahrzad held back the desire to stab Salim in the eye with a utensil.

“Why would you be curious as to where he found me, my lord? Are you in the market?” Shahrzad asked in a nonchalant manner. 

Salim’s  brown  eyes  glittered.  “Perhaps  I  should  be.  Have  you  any relatives, my lady? Maybe a sister?” 

He knows I have a sister. Is he . . . threatening my family? 

Shahrzad tilted her head to one side, tamping down a flare of concern. “I do have a sister, my lord.” Salim  propped  his  elbows  onto  the  table,  studying  Shahrzad  with  an amused yet predatory gleam. Khalid’s full attention was fixed on the Sultan of Parthia, and a taut band of muscle flexed in his forearm. His hand shifted in Shahrzad’s direction. Conversation around them had all but ceased in recognition of the growing tension in the air.

“Am I not dangerous enough, Shahrzad?” Salim asked in a chillingly thoughtful  tone. “Perhaps  too forgiving  of  the  women  in  my  past? Too willing to let them live?” 

Several gasps emanated from around them, rippling across the hall like a rumor being passed through a square. Jalal released a pent-up breath followed by a low oath that garnered a look of warning from his father. 

Shahrzad swallowed her fury and then smiled with the brightness of the sun.“No, Uncle Salim. You are simply too old.”

The room was as silent as a tomb. And then the huge man with the collection of rings on his fingers began to laugh, his oiled mustache twitching all the while. Followed by the nobleman who had arrived on the black-and-white-striped steed. Soon, others started to join in until a chorus of amusement echoed throughout the space.

[vesperascorpio]

“Is this seat available?” Jalal grinned down at Shahrzad.

She looked up, blinking hard. “That depends. Is it for you?” He sat down next to her. “I did not give you per—”

“Good evening, sayyidi,” Jalal said in a loud tone.

Shahrzad wrinkled her nose at Jalal.

“Don’t do that, my lady. You ruin your face when you do that,” he teased.

“Good evening, Jalal. And I disagree,” Khalid retorted under his breath. Jalal laughed heartily. 

“My apologies, then. If you would permit me this indulgence in its place, sayyidi: I do believe every man here is currently reassessing his notion of beauty.” Despina was right. He is such a consummate flirt.

“Stop it.” Shahrzad flushed, glaring at Jalal’s arrogant mien.

“Now, that . . . ruins nothing,” Jalal said.

“At last, we agree on something.” Khalid spoke to Jalal, though his eyes lingered on Shahrzad. And Jalal leaned back into the cushions with a satisfied smile, his hands laced across his stomach.

[vesperascorpio]

“She could have told Khalid everything,” Shahrzad repeated, though with decidedly less vehemence. “He would have believed her in time. After all, you believed her.”

“He would not have believed her in time.” His words boomed through the semidarkness. “And he would never have trusted her. Even I took some . . . convincing.” Vikram glanced over his shoulder. “And I swore if I caught her lying, I would slit her throat.”

“I still may,” Shahrzad retorted under her breath before nearly slamming into his broad back.

“Then I offer you that chance.” With that, he threw open the ancient, creaking door before him, leading into a passage of sewers. The warm stench clogged Shahrzad’s nostrils, curling in her throat and causing her to gag.

As did the sight of Despina waiting in the shadows.

Again, Shahrzad was possessed by the sudden urge to attack her.

The former handmaiden—now princess—stood wrapped in a dark cloak, with a crooked smile aimed Shahrzad’s way. “You look awful.” She leaned in close. “And you smell even worse.”

“And you can go straight to hell.”

Her smile widened. “As long as you’ll be there, I think I might like it.”

Shahrzad resisted the urge to scream. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Despina el-Sharif. First you are one thing, then you are another. At this point, my neck hurts from spinning about so fast. Just tell me this: Why have you been lying to me this entire time?”

Despina shrugged. “I was born to lie, Shahrzad. I ask you, how does one recover from such an inclination?”

“The same way one chooses to serve such a despicable father,” Shahrzad replied sardonically.

“I suppose you would want to know about that.” Despina cast her a thin smile. “Would you mind walking as we talk?”

Shahrzad crossed her arms and remained still.

I will go nowhere with her. Not until she convinces me otherwise.

“I can see these few weeks apart have not weathered your obstinance. Pity.” Despina smirked. “Very well, then. I knew this had to happen eventually.”

. . .

With an exasperated huff, Despina moved closer. She hesitated only an instant before reaching for Shahrzad’s hand. “The only family I know is the one I have in Rey. The friends I have. The love I have.” Her voice grew soft. “They are without equal.”

How well Shahrzad knew this. How well she had seen it. The wild look in Jalal’s eyes the night of the storm. The warmth in Despina’s now.

“Then why did you come back at all?”

“To preserve our family.” Despina squeezed her hand. “No matter the cost.”

Though a part of Shahrzad wanted to throw off Despina’s touch—to deny the touch of a girl tied in any way to Salim Ali el-Sharif—Shahrzad did not.

For it was the touch of a friend. Beneath it lay the strength of family.

“You deliberately provoked me at dinner, did you not?” Shahrzad asked quietly.

Despina tilted her head in rueful fashion. “Well, I did have to get you down into the palace prison somehow.”

“Somehow.” Shahrzad sniffed.

“I knew you had a wretched temper and a deeply loyal disposition. The rest was only a matter of time.”

Shahrzad paused in contemplation. “What you did was dangerous.”

“Trust that I put the fear of the gods into the soldiers when it came to your husband.” Despina snickered. “It’s true not all of them believed it, but that did not stop me. Oh, the stories I told . . .”

“I meant for you.”

Despina blinked. Her features softened. “Of course you did.”

“What of Salim?” Shahrzad asked in an even quieter tone. “He will know what you have done.”

“He will not realize it for a few days at least. He sent both Yasmine and me from Amardha earlier this afternoon in anticipation of what might occur.”

“What do you mean?”

Despina smiled broadly. “Ah, I nearly forgot! The Caliph of Khorasan has brought quite an army to the city gates.”

Shahrzad gripped Despina’s hand tight. “Khalid is here?”

“That’s what I’ve been wanting to tell you from the beginning.” She rolled her eyes. “I planned on taking you to him, Brat Calipha. That is if you’ll permit me. Finally.”

Another grunt from Vikram. One Shahrzad knew was meant to indicate agreement.

“Fine.” Shahrzad pushed off Despina’s hand. “What is your plan?”

[vesperascorpio]

“This moment could not be any more perfect,” Jalal muttered, glancing to his left.

Still Shahrzad did not turn around. She clenched the scimitar tight in both hands, and the Rajput stepped even closer, his talwar glinting with a silent warning.

“By Zeus, Shahrzad!” Despina cried. “Is this what happens when I leave you alone? You get into a sword fight with the captain of the guard?”

At that, Shahrzad twisted her head to the right. Despina stood by Khalid with a look of worry and dismay on her pretty face. Khalid was as inscrutable as ever. As cold as always. 

(insert shahrzad’s description of wanting to stab khalid to get some reaction out of him)

“Well?” Despina said. Khalid’s eyes flicked to the handmaiden.“I apologize, sayyidi. I did not mean to address the queen so informally.” Despina bowed in haste, her hand to her brow.

“You don’t have to apologize, Despina. I did not get into a fight with Jalal. We’re merely trading a few . . . lessons. Apparently, I am not that gifted with a sword. There are, in fact, limitations to my greatness,” Shahrzad jested.

“Thank the gods,” Despina mumbled.

“Limitations plague us all, Shahrzad.”  Jalal  grinned, seizing  upon  this opportunity for levity. “Don’t take it to heart.” She wrinkled her nose at him, plunking the scimitar to the ground.

“What limitations?” Khalid asked quietly.The sound of his voice slid down her back, bringing to mind cool water and sun-warmed honey. She gritted her teeth.

 “For one, I can’t seem to wield a sword. And that seems to be a basic premise of swordsmanship.”

Khalid watched her as she spoke. “Pick it up,” he directed.