The Rose and the Dagger

This got pretty intense, with a few real big surprises that really threw me for a loop.

Let me admit: when I first read this, I don't think I knew? That it was a retelling? So I reread The Wrath and the Dawn yesterday, which made it a lot easier to read The Rose and the Dagger, and I have some Different Opinions.

Shahrzad is a very headstrong character, but she's well-developed and I quite liked her character thoughout both books. Khalid is a good fit for her, too. And he's a fascinating character, who gives you a lot to think about. I'm really, really not a fan of straight romance, but this was a more interesting romance than most. It's not just Stockholm Syndrome and it's built on emotional connection rather than sex, which is, um, show more what I've seen MOST scenarios play out. *cough*SJM*cough* There's less romance in this than the first book, which I quite like, because it was more fun reading about them trying to find a way to be together than you know, being together.

I loved the writing style, too. It was poetic and lovely.

And how about that ending. Girls put a stop to a war, which made me really happy. Girls who are allowed to want to have a family but also allowed to escape from prisons and stop a war. A woman installed as the Sultana. And the ending really shocked me, but I felt like that was more for shock factor than anything else.

This is probably one of my favorite fantasy romances ever. show less

Following on from "The Wrath and the Dawn," this book concluded an enjoyable series. Full of magic, intrigue, betrayal and heartbreak, I found "The Rose and the Dagger" to be a page-turner. I don't think it was quite as outstanding as the first book, but it was still beautifully written with strong characters and numerous plot twists. I also liked how Irsa, Shazhrzad's younger sister, was given a prominent role in this book, and the introduction of the magic carpet and Artan, were worthwhile additions. While "The Wrath and the Dawn" was an epic romance, "The Rose and the Dagger" was a wonderful adventure with a delightful epilogue.

"Destiny was for fools. Shahrzad would not wait for her life to happen. She would make it happen."

The Rose and the Dagger offers a rather incomplete resolution to the story begun in The Wrath and the Dawn, as a few characters with great potential remain underdeveloped and unexplored magic offers a tidy solution to a messy problem. However, fearless, silver-tongued lady heroes are my bread and butter and Shahrzad, again, does not disappoint. As the city and palace is ravaged by a deadly and powerful storm, Shahrzad is secreted away to the desert rebel camp where she rejoins her family and childhood sweetheart, Tariq. However, her loyalties are tested as those she love plot against Khalid, her husband and king. War is imminent, a dark show more force is rising, and Shahrzad turns to her burgeoning magic for hope in breaking the curse upon Khalid and saving her kingdom. show less

"It does not take courage to kill. It takes courage to live."

An amazing finale. A story that brought all the strings together - a bunch of things we didn't know were finally revealed and a few things we wondered were confirmed.

I'm so glad that I don't feel any stories are left untold - although I may not like the ending for each character like Rahim and Irsa. I do love the last chapter - just what we needed. And the final few before - even if one made me almost throw the book across the room if Khalid had really died.....

All in all, I loved these characters and this world. And this wonderful conclusion pulled it all together. I will definitely read more of this author.

“For it was easy to be good and kind in times of plenty. The trying times were the moments that defined a man.”

This is a fitting conclusion to the amazing duology. It is every bit as beautifully written and captivating as the first one. There is definitely less romance and flirtation in this one, because the time for those has passed. It’s all about working together to break the curse, protect the loved ones and rebuild the city. There is a lot of growth in the characters of Khalid and Shazi. Shazi truly embodies the calipha of Khorasan even when she is not among her people or allies. Khalid becomes more trusting of his love. The conflict between Khalid and Tariq is thrilling and I was praying that one wouldn’t hurt the other. show more Shazi’s sister Irsa is introduced who is initially quite fearful but comes into her own at a very crucial moment. There is betrayal, heartbreak and conspiracy here, along with flying carpets, magical serpents and murderous books. The author shocks us with plenty of jaw dropping moments right till the end and I devoured all of them. And the ending is amazing – all characters showing what they are truly made of. Thank you my favorite booktuber @ Thoughts on Tomes for finally making me read this series which was lying on my TBR pile forever. Can’t believe I missed it till now. Better late than never!!!!

“True strength isn’t about sovereignty. It’s about knowing when you need help and having the courage to accept it.” show less

I loved the first book in this series but sometimes that means Book 2 is a let down. This was absolutely not the case for The Rose and the Dagger. I loved the second book as much as the first book. The characters were just as engaging and the twists and turns kept me reading right to the end.

I also liked the fact that the book actually ends. I crave closure (which was why The Hunger Games made me so happy - when it ended it was over). I was more than satisfied with the ending of The Rose and Dagger.

I highly recommend this book and its prequel to all readers. This is a different interpretation of the Arabian Nights and it's one that will resonate with any young adult reader who loves magic and action.

This one was better than the first! I found it to have a slightly slow beginning but once it picked up, it kept my attention to the very end. It was an enjoyable read and I found myself enjoying Shazi and Khalid’s relationship much more. I adore the abundance of strong female characters that are all strong in different ways and have a deep appreciation for Irsa who had a much quieter strength that I personally find more relatable than Shazi’s brash fierceness. That being said, while it was a good book, I wouldn’t say it was amazing (hence the three star review). For me three stars are for books I like but probably won’t ever read again. While there was nothing wrong with it per se, I honestly didn’t feel that much for the show more characters or get completely engaged with it. It was a fine story that was an easy to read writing style, there was just nothing about it that truly stuck out to me. show less