More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Tahereh Mafi
Read between
August 16 - August 17, 2025
From birth he’d been a frustrated child: he’d cried easily, screamed freely, and though he knew himself capable of speech, he’d been uninterested in the performance.
it's giving autism
He’d locked away his gold and jewels, cut off his hair, and whittled down his wardrobe to simple black garb.
How Miss Huda had procured the citrus, or why she’d thought to tuck away an orange in the midst of so much mayhem, he’d never know, for he’d no intention of—
A wash of starlight illuminated her artless movements, her eyes glassy as she stared at him with ill-concealed admiration.
these two are the reason i'm here
Oh—can I have some?” came Omid’s eager Feshtoon. “I’m so hungry.” The boy had recently decided to communicate exclusively in Feshtoon while the others responded in Ardanz.
this reluctant found family vibe is sooo good
She was loud and indelicate and childish, and being in her orbit made him feel restless, as if his clothes were two sizes too small.
When had she allowed Cyrus to take up so many rooms inside her?
He’d slaughtered Ardunia’s Diviners,
he did wot ;0
That’s not true,” Cyrus said, determined. “I’ve already completed most of the tasks. I have four more months—”
ohhhhhhh
His voice, when he spoke, was all the more lethal for its softness. “Your throat,” he said. “Your cheek— You are injured—”
“What happened?” he demanded. “What has that bastard done to you?”
He was terrified she’d go and do something brutal, like smile at him.
He wanted to stab the arrow back through his leg.
“When Zaal was born the Diviners knew how the prophecy would end—they agreed it had to be done, and they set the terms—”
“You are overreacting—” Kamran tried again.
big thumbs down for kamran
Just like you did before.” She stifled a yawn, her eyes closing. “Do I get one, too?” Cyrus frowned. “Would that . . . please you?” “Yes, I think so.” “All right.” He blinked slowly. “You can have a dragon.”
Kamran was threatening from afar to disembowel him; the three goons were in various states of hysteria; and Hazan looked as if he was contemplating a running leap off the cliff and onto the dragon. Terrible idea, that.
god this book is SO MUCH BETTER! like the characters feel like whole people this time and it's so easy to sink into the world
He felt delirious. He was staring at her with the awe of an idiot perceiving the sun for the first time.
GOOD GOD,” DEEN BREATHED.
Speaking of which: Has anyone else noticed that he seems to be rather frighteningly magical? How do you think he’s able to cast spells so easily?”
former diviner!
she’d foiled his plans. To make matters worse, she’d now complicated things horribly: she was injured and missing, and would require a second rescue.
ok he's starting to pmo
Her wishes?” Kamran all but exploded. “And what of mine? What of my dead grandfather, my dead Diviners, my broken empire, my disfigured face—” “Oh, it’s really not that bad, sire,” Deen assured him. “Truly, I’ve seen quite a number of disfigurations, and yours—” “—doesn’t diminish your beauty at all,” finished Miss Huda, nodding eagerly. “In fact, I think it suits you nicely—” “Well I think he looks ugly,” Omid countered. “And I don’t think it’s good to lie to him—”
“If I challenged you now—you’d be willing to die for him?” “For her,” Hazan corrected. “Without hesitation. Though you flatter yourself if you think you could best me in a fight. You’ve never truly known me, Kamran, and I’d hate for you to make my acquaintance only as you draw your final breath.”
Kamran almost choked. As if Alizeh’s otherworldly beauty could ever be threatened by Huda, who continued to resemble an egg swaddled in the implausible scramble of its own yolk. He made a great effort to suppress a laugh,
i feel like he's one of those guys who gets broken up with and then becomes an incel
Considering her options? That she would even consider marriage to the man who killed my grandfather—who nearly killed me—who murdered our Diviners—”
SHE. DOESN'T. KNOW. YOU.
She’s not magical or anything,” Omid said, confused. “We just like her a lot.”
He’d kissed that freckle a thousand times,
He’d fallen for a mirage of a girl.
i mean yea
Softly, Omid screamed.
he turned, with pleasure, to face the idiot.
Kamran tried again to lunge at him and, once more, Hazan grappled with the prince, wrenching him back.
the girls are fighting
“This is outrageous,” cried Hazan. “Kamran, you cannot consider it— It’s nothing more than a scheme, and he’d doubtless force her to consummate the marriage—” “I would never,” Cyrus cut in viciously. “Think what you will of me in all other aspects, but even I am not so unworthy as that. She is entirely safe from me.”
“Yes,” Alizeh said softly. “Yes, of course we’re friends.”
I feel like making her a little lonelier/weirder as a character due to her isolation would have been a cool addition. Like this would hit harder knowing she hast really had a friend before
“Perhaps you should sit down.” “I’d really rather not.” “Yes, well, perhaps I should sit down, then,”
“Now it’s my turn to dress you!” Alizeh felt the light fade from her eyes.
He took a shallow breath and said, “I want to marry you.”
he JUST got rejected too
“Hells,” he said quietly. “You’re refusing me.”
fucking duh
And she would marry him, would become his wife in front of the world, and he would never have her. Never touch her. He would watch in silence as another man put his hands on her, the two of them counting the days until they could kill him.
cyrus nooooo :,(
Nestled between two towering trees in a private corner of the palace grounds, the stone edifice was all but buried under overgrown moonflower vines, whose circular white blooms released a soft, sweet smell that beckoned as they approached. Warm light shone in the warped windows, a curl of smoke escaping from the chimney stack.
gorg imagery
Sleepy boy,” she said. “This is not a dream. I’m really here. And I promise I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ll be here,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere.” Then, softer, her lips grazing the curve of his ear: “You can’t lie to me forever, Cyrus. I’m going to find out the truth about you, and when I do, I promise you this: I’ll ruin him. I’ll make the devil regret the day he was born.”
