Well, I'm kinda just "meh" about this one. Or more like "fine." But I didn't hate it! 
 A quick hodgepodge of thoughts... I expected a bit more Arabian Nights stories! How many did we get? Three? The choice of pacing is constantly unexpected and thereby... interesting. But, for me, the narrative actually skims too much and really glosses over some meatier opportunities. Ahdieh does create some truly enjoyable character moments, just - notably! - usually from B-players like Despina and Jalal. But I have to say, I really enjoy Ahdieh's stance on Shahrzad and Tariq's "first-love" situation, and I hope that aspect continues in lieu of a messier love triangle. (Yet I don't mean to say Tariq's character isn't pretty flat. It is.) 
 Most critically, the central romance relies much too heavily on the reader knowing more than Shahrzad, either from One Thousand and One Nights legend or from pure romance tropes/expectations. I didn't *co-experience* Shazi's anguish falling in love with a murderous tyrant, but merely waited for her to find out it was acceptable to do so. Meaning I unfortunately wasn't able to buy into the main conceit of this novel. 
 Honestly, I'm not dying to pick up the second installment. I think I will, and I am rooting for it. We have some potentially interesting groundwork laid down now, so I'm hoping book two really picks up (and dives deeper)!