Yeah! You updated again

Since you've read The Arabian Nights, you may already know that my penname comes from on of the stories. And if you know that, then you know how much I adore Arabian Nights. Knowing all that, it will be clear how much it means when I say that I absolutely adore this story. ADORE IT.

The thing I'm most amazed by: the fact that your "stories-within-a-story" actually sound like something straight out of the Nights. In fact, some of them are actually even better than some of the stories in the Nights. This is something I once thought of as an impossible task, given that those stories are over a thousand years old, and though adapted throughout the ages, have never been improved upon. Whatever it is that you've got, work with it. The mini-stories are almost more exciting than the main plot. Almost, but not quite, because the main plot's friggin awesome.

Your interpretation of the actual circumstances surrounding the telling of the Tales is interesting and definitely draws me in. The idea that Scheherazade actually caused the death of the first malika was mind blowing at first, but gradually I accepted it and it made sense. Rather than keeping the characters as flat and static as they are in the book, you brought them to life-I can see Dunyazad's face, their father's eyes, everything. Shahryar is no longer a raging, unforgiving madman-instead he's someone who was once deeply in love who has been hurt to his core.

The historical details are wonderful. I don't know anything about when the story of Scheherazade is actually set, but I like that you put it in the, if I remember correctly, Sassanid Empire. The threats from the barbarian invaders and the tension going on at that time over the extent and control of Islamic territories really add a lot to the story, providing another layer of conflict besides Scheherazade's situation (because we know that eventually, that turns out well). On that note, even though I know that in the book Scheherazade is pardoned, you keep the reader guessing, and I'm sure it won't be as easy as that. For example, her competition with Little Red. I kinda want to hate her, just like Scheherazade, but in staying true to the time period, I know that concubines are really just a part of palace life, and no queen would expect her husband to not have them. I would guess that very few kings were ever completely faithful to their wives, even if they did love them, because kings were expected to sleep with concubines.

The last thing I want to compliment you on is the description. You describe how the palace looks, the clothing they wear, the food they eat, the cool baths and the relaxing courtyards all so that it feels as though I'm actually there. And a visit to a sumptuous Middle Eastern palace is always something I'm up for :)

I can't wait till your next update. On with the rest of the nights!

I love it how you mix history, language, personal drama and the Arabian Nights together. It gets me curious how much of the original tale you've included, because I haven't actually read it as a book (which is one of the reasons I picked this up, originally).

I felt it was a bit strange in chapter 15 that the story just commented in passing that Zainab was walking in the bazaar, "her breasts bound". It's the first indication in a list that she's dressed up as a boy, but it's a rather indirect way of saying it. (If you're not used to the pattern of behaviour you might even think it's a way of saying "wearing an old-times bra", maybe? ;))

I was also wondering if the parrot was calling 'Omar 'Umar deliberately or by typo.

It's always nice to come back to this story. :) Thanks for this!

hello, i came across your story and i am glad i did. it drew me in right from the begining. it seems like you really did your research about the time period and culture which shows in your writing. one thing though if you dont mind me correcting is that the friday sermon is actually called khutbah. and another thing i thought hannahs father was yosef, he has another name? can you clarify that please. thank you

Just finished the fifteen chapters -and I must say your tales woven into the story are extremely interesting, it's quite the adventure. As if I actually eagerly listening to the tales myself! Same goes for Shaherazade's own story. Can't wait to read more of this!

Welcome back from your exotic trip!

Recognizable crimson hair? Apparently not so recognizable to me. Really. I have no clue who that hair could belong to. Is it from a character you introduced before already? Because I went back to each chapter and carefully read the description of each person. Read the Malika's appearance. Adn then Little Red's hair. hmm. I long to know who it belongs toooooo. Actually I want to know how she got that parcel. Was it in the larger parcel under her pillow? The parcel which I assumed just had her travelling clothes? I guess I wasn't reading carefully enough.

Also I really really like the speed you're taking their relationship. If you were like BAM the Malik falls in love and Shaherazade actually responds with lust to Malik, rather than fear and tension, I would never have believed his story really. Meaning kinda of that I think this story is going at the speed that a real reluctant kind of love would be going...if that makes sense. Oh well. All you need to understand is how much I love you writing. I cannot stop complimenting you. You write a damn good story.

And the extra stories are brilliant. Do you draw inspirations from the 1001 nights? Or all these mini tales all 100% your creations? Because they are as magically and intriguer as the main plot you are weaving right now.

Also. I would love to see a photo or image of what you picture Qasim bin Qais, the troupe leader. I would love to see what a guy with silver-gold eyes looks like. That is a freaky color combo in an iris.

Hope you had a wonderful trip in Morocco...I think that was the place. Whatever warm and exotic place you visited. Hope to see more writing from you soon.

I love it, as always! I also like how Shaherazade is growing and starting to really put herself out there instead of only focusing on her stories. In the previous chapters, it seemed almost as if she lived confined in her own little world, restricting herself to dwell on only her stories and her family, barely acknowledging or having any real contact with any others. But now her world is starting to broaden, both literally and figuratively, and her confrontation with Little Red really showed her progress.

Awesome job!

OMG I can't believe that I forgot to check up on this story for so long, I come back and am greeted with a whole bunch of new chapters to read. Hurray! XD I am still absolutely in love with your writing style, the richness of the details (and especially your metaphors and similes) blow my mind away.

I'll be returning to read the other chapters soon, since I need to catch some z's now, as it is almost 3AM.

Yay you updated. Do I smell an upcoming romance between Dunya and the wandering emir? I hope Shahryar will open up to her in this trip

:O Your 15 chapter isn't opening!

I have caught up with you! It was a nice touch how the story of Malika distances her from the actual happening. I pondered how active choice it was, though, that the story of 'Omar spoke a lot about who one should take advice from just after our narrator had had a related disagreement with her audience - I'm under the impression she had rehearsed the stories a lot, rather than improvising. Did she choose to have this argument because of the story that was coming, or did she change the story to fit the argument? X-) The future interactions with Little Red promise to be interesting too, I'm looking forward to that - multiple women battling in court is something that goes on a lot in Pharaoh by thesarius too; it's a story I picked up in the same time as this one.

Thanks for this!

I had missed this story! Now I re-found it in my 'updated' to-read section and was happy to catch up - and there's more awaiting in the meanwhile!

The shift between past and present tense was not by itself very vertigo-inducing, but sometimes the past tense seems to be mixed in - in this chapter, "devoured" (unless that was intentional).

Typo: "something political ia" - is.

In the previous chapter, it seems that the parts in italics are missing spaces between words for some reason. I thought it could be very intense thinking at first, but "Seehataloyalmanheis" doesn't seem very intense. X-)

Thanks for this!

Hope you are having a wonderful time in Morocco! :D Great chapter. I love seeing Shaherazade exercise her powers when she dismissed Little Red and gave advice to Shahryar. Nice touch of having Sabine, the governor's wife in the sweeper story, say 'Listen to the boy, Mansur. He may be a servant, but he speaks with wisdom. Only a fool disregards wisdom based on his biases.' A little dig to Shahryar when he dismissed Shaherazade's advice. Another excellent chapter. Hope to see an update soon!

I didn't expect that!He kissed her on the cheek! Havefun in Morocco!

Wow he's cheating!