Sara Hashem

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever. At ten years old, the Heir of Jasad fled a massacre that takes her entire family. At fifteen, she buried her first body. At twenty, the clock is ticking on Sylvia's third attempt at home. Nizahl's armies have laid waste to Jasad and banned magic across the four remaining kingdoms. Fortunately, Sylvia's magic is as good at playing dead as she is. When the Nizahl Heir tracks a group of Jasadis to Sylvia's village, the quiet life she's crafted unravels. Calculating and cold, Arin's tactical brilliance is surpassed only by his hatred for magic. When a mistake exposes Sylvia's magic, Arin offers her an escape: compete as Nizahl's Champion in the Alcalah tournament and win immunity from persecution. To win the deadly Alcalah, Sylvia must work with Arin to free her trapped magic, all while staying a step ahead of his efforts to uncover her identity. But as the two grow closer, Sylvia realizes winning her freedom means destroying any chance of reuniting Jasad under her banner. The scorched kingdom is rising again, and Sylvia will have to choose between the life she's earned and the one she left behind.

The Jasad Heir

You said you revolt me. You do, but not for the reasons you think 

You are a creature of pure spite. You would not react out of fear but out of fury. I think daily of chaining you to a wall and seeing which you would attack first-  me, or the wall” his voice was low , threaded with…curiosity? No, it couldn’t be that. Endeavours to unravel my identity none withstanding, Arin seemed to find me as noteworthy as a blunt axe. 

Ladies if your man doesn’t describe you like this…romance is dead 😂

She had the temperament of a deranged goose 

He’s a romantic, folks. Their banter and tension LOVE. The way I’m obsessed already 

Every interaction he’d shared with her had thoroughly convinced him he was not dealing with a stable woman 

You? Paranoid? Steady me side, I may keel from my mount. 

"Despite your most accomplished efforts." I glanced over, surprised. The Nizahl Heir joked like a wary bird stretching its wings for first flight. Miracle of miracles.

I CANT WITH HER she knows how to push his buttons. When he is cold to everyone but her and laughs at her bad jokes and only she can get under his skin yassssss

I know you are the mighty immortal man, impervious to the woes of us commoners. If it would behoove Your Highness to allow me to dress your injury why, I can't express how honored-“

 “Fine." Arin scowled. "Unless your magic includes secret physician abilities, I am not confident you won't do more damage."

 "You've injured me." I put a hand to my heart. "Somehow, I’ll find the strength to live another day. You may not, and I have little desire to be implicated for the Nizahl Heir's murder without the actual pleasure of murdering you. Remove your vest, please. I promise to protect your virtue." From his dark glare, it appeared he didn't appreciate my thoughtfulness. 

You dangle yourself over a rocky riverbed, beat down my guards, wedge your arm into a Hound's mouth. Yet you blush at a bare chest 

I way I cackled this whole book is a highlight at this point 

The other champions may not be a sensitive to insults your virtue.

This is the fourth time you’ve mentioned my virtue. Perhaps preoccupy yourself with another matter. 

He said you know him well. Clearly, he misspoke" It came out waspish. "He isn't...broken. He would love the same as any man." 

“Oh, my sweet Sylvia." Vaida's smile was all teeth. "The way most men love is so boring, It is frequent and fickle and altogether unextraordinary. Arin would love to obsession. To madness. But do you want to know the real reason he would never allow himself to love another?" Vaida stepped close, her floral scent tickling my nose. "Arin is consumed by what he loves. lf asked, he would get on his knees and let it kill him. He withholds his heart out of self-preservation."

The Jasad Heir quotes

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