I am so very angry at whoever wrote the blurb for this book. They made it sound like every night Shazi ensnared the king in a story and the only reason she still lives is that she must be a master story teller. That's how I understood it, anyway. Preposterous, right? 
 And so frustrating because it is so much more than that! 
 Because of this I have disregarded this book for ages, but yesterday I was looking for a hate turns to love scenario and I couldn't really find anything else so I decided to start this book - after getting to 5% of several other books before discarding them. 
 And you know what? This book had me from the very first page. The prologue is gripping, enticing and already convinced me that I was in for a rare treat. And the writing? Beautiful. 
 So the blurb is very misleading with the story telling part. So here is my summary: 
 In the kingdom of Khorasan the eighteen year old king has, in the last few months, taken to marrying a girl almost every evening and executing her every morning. When Shahrzad's best friend falls victim her grief turns to rage and she (very unwisely and impulsively) decides it's time to act. She volunteers to be his next bride. The first volunteer. 
 When he comes to her rooms the night of the wedding he presses her to find out why she volunteered, as she knows her fate for it. She agrees to tell him if he will listen to a story. which she doesn't finish because time runs out and so he allows her to live another day. But it is more than the childish whim of a king to hear the end of a story. The story telling plays a minor role, and doesn't last very long. He is intrigued by her, and for good reason. 
 Shahrzad is everything I adore in a main character. She is smart, calculating, driven by emotions, vivacious and oh my word is she ballsy. She is definitely one of my new favourite characters. 
 "A true plague of a girl. And yet a queen in every sense of the word." 
 I am going to make it clear that this story has a 
 heavy 
 dose of romance. And boy, was it good. 
 "No. I want someone who sees beneath the surface-someone who completes the balance. An equal." 
 "And how will you know when you've found this elusive someone?" Shahrzad retorted. 
 "I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe." 
 "What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?" he whispered. 
 "If I'm a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed." The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest. 
 "No." His hands dropped to her waist. "Destroy me." 
 I loved all the reasons that Khalid fell for Shazi. How he admired her for her tenacity. 
 "You are not weak. You are not indecisive. You are strong. Fierce. Capable beyond measure." 
 But I would like to emphasize that while the romance was, in my opinion, amazingly delicious, the story goes beyond it. We have multiple POV's with Jahander, Shazi's father, who is succumbing to darkness and the lure of power because he was unable to protect his daughter and refuses to be meek any longer. Tariq, Shazi's first love, is hell bent on saving her and sparking a revolution that will attempt to end the monster's rule. There are things happening in this book beyond the romance, and I think it was a strong set up for an action packed sequel. 
 "Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky." 
 When I started reading this I was still wary because the plot sounded odd, but from the beginning I knew it would be really good just because of the writing. Ahdieh weaves a magical spell with her words that just caught me and pulled me under. 
 "And he smiled a smile to shame the sun." 
 And then, because I adored it, the sweetest love note of all time. 
 (view spoiler)["Shazi, 
 I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night-- 
 For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you. 
 Khalid." 
 (hide spoiler)] 
 I am dying for the second book!