A fresh, unique take on Fantasy
The first thing that caught my eye was the dust jacket design. It hinted at being a fantasy genre but not set in typical Medieval Europe. In the first chapter, we met Zafira, the Hunter and seemingly only one brave enough to enter the Arz. She dresses as a man giving me the impression that the world in which she lives is strongly patriarchal or positions are very gender-specific with severe consequences for breaking the rules. She doesn't seem to fear much, including the Arz, but I think she fears failure and loss. In the second chapter, we met Nasir, the Prince and assassin for the sultan, his father. The sultan sends him to kill others, an act that he executes with efficiency but seems to disdain. He's contradictory in his thoughts, willing the people of Sarasin to rise up against the sultan when he himself still follows the sultan's will. Zafira had no qualms in defying the sultan's summons. I think they both have a lot to teach and learn from each other and I'm looking forward to reading this story if only to learn who will succeed.