After helping her sister Lalana escape with her true love, Zadie must face the consequences. The new sultan of Astaran was promised a beautiful and obedient wife, so Zadie must fill those shoes. But she's the polar opposite of her sister. She wants to be a part of making Astaran a better place, but she quickly learns that the sultan, Kassim, is very old fashioned. He believes that sultanans should rule gracefully and silently at the sultan's side.

When Zadie goes to Astaran, her freedom is limited and she feels like the walls are closing in. Kassim won't let Zadie in on what's going on in the city or allow her to come to the council meetings. Instead, she has to rely on overhearing their whispers. By doing this, Zadie learns that thieves are stealing from the castle. She wants to help find the culprit, so she must do what she does best: sneak around.

No matter what she discovers, Kassim won't hear a word. He thinks she is simply dreaming and brushes her findings off like it's nothing. But Zadie discovers a secret that's her own to keep and it has something to do with a ring and a djinni named Tarak.

I love how fast-paced this story is, but I wish it wouldn't have ended so soon! It definitely leaves you wanting more, which isn't a bad thing. I love how feisty Zadie is and that she won't let anyone back her into a corner, not even her future husband Kassim. I really wanted to like Kassim, but he's so old fashioned that instead, I wanted to slap him. I can't wait for the future books and hopefully see how he grows to accept Zadie as his wife and an equal. This book takes the old classic and twists it up for fans new and old to enjoy.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of fairytales, Aladdin, politics, strong female leads, action, and adventure. Zadie is a character that any girl can look up to and admire for her strength.