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The Queen of Forty Thieves
A devious djinni, a princess in disguise, and a band of street rats with an enigmatic queen...
Zadie needs to warn her sister about the armies closing in on her distant desert town. And she’s used to sneaking out of the palace at home – so she’s quick to find a way to slip out under the nose of the sultan and his vizier.
But out on the streets of Kisrabah, Zadie quickly finds herself out of her depth and drawn into the dark dealings of a ragtag band of thieves led by a fierce tattooed queen.
She’s soon swept up in a whirlwind of rooftop chases, riddling spirits, and a magical heist for a rare treasure.
A treasure that might help her wishes come true inside the palace, too...
The Queen of Forty Thieves is episode 2 in the romantic fantasy serial Desert Nights, a fairytale retelling inspired by Aladdin and Arabian Nights.
New instalments in this series of novellas release every 18 days. It’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Rae Carson.
Scroll up and one click now to start reading the Desert Nights series today! FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
Zadie needs to warn her sister about the armies closing in on her distant desert town. And she’s used to sneaking out of the palace at home – so she’s quick to find a way to slip out under the nose of the sultan and his vizier.
But out on the streets of Kisrabah, Zadie quickly finds herself out of her depth and drawn into the dark dealings of a ragtag band of thieves led by a fierce tattooed queen.
She’s soon swept up in a whirlwind of rooftop chases, riddling spirits, and a magical heist for a rare treasure.
A treasure that might help her wishes come true inside the palace, too...
The Queen of Forty Thieves is episode 2 in the romantic fantasy serial Desert Nights, a fairytale retelling inspired by Aladdin and Arabian Nights.
New instalments in this series of novellas release every 18 days. It’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Rae Carson.
Scroll up and one click now to start reading the Desert Nights series today! FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
- GenresFantasy
103 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2019
5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 9, 2019
We continue to follow Princess Zadie and her attempts to get the respect and attention from her husband-to-be Sultan Kassim in Book 2 of the Desert Nights series.
Princess Zadie has grown on me in this story. I felt she was a bit ditsy and naive in the first book but I think she’s coming more in her own in this one. Which is great!
She is still stuck in the palace grounds “as a good princess should” according to the Kassim. He's still ignoring and disrespecting her in many ways while she is spending her time painting and doing 'princes things' with the sultans sister. But Princess Zadie doesn't take well to being confined and is not about to give up her freedom because Kassim wants it that way! She finds a way to get outside the palace grounds to do her own thing like the independent woman she really is.
Of course she runs in to trouble when she finally gets outside. She unexpectedly runs into the Queen of Thieves (the same one we encountered in book 1) But her quick thinking and ability to read get her out of a pickle. Only to run into the next bit of trouble.
I really like how we get to see more of Aliyah the Queen of Thieves in this book. We get to meet her family and get an inside look on how she operates. She might be the Queen of Thieves, yet Aliyah turns out to be a tough but very likeable woman. I'm looking forward to see how she & her story develop throughout the series.
What I really enjoy about the development of princess Zadie is her loyalty and her sense of wrong and right. When she’s faced with a difficult choice and has to choose where her loyalty lies I can only commend her for the decision she made. It might not have been what you expect a princes to do but for me that’s what I appreciate about her.
Overall this is another great book in the Desert Night series and I think it’s better than the first!
Note: I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Princess Zadie has grown on me in this story. I felt she was a bit ditsy and naive in the first book but I think she’s coming more in her own in this one. Which is great!
She is still stuck in the palace grounds “as a good princess should” according to the Kassim. He's still ignoring and disrespecting her in many ways while she is spending her time painting and doing 'princes things' with the sultans sister. But Princess Zadie doesn't take well to being confined and is not about to give up her freedom because Kassim wants it that way! She finds a way to get outside the palace grounds to do her own thing like the independent woman she really is.
Of course she runs in to trouble when she finally gets outside. She unexpectedly runs into the Queen of Thieves (the same one we encountered in book 1) But her quick thinking and ability to read get her out of a pickle. Only to run into the next bit of trouble.
I really like how we get to see more of Aliyah the Queen of Thieves in this book. We get to meet her family and get an inside look on how she operates. She might be the Queen of Thieves, yet Aliyah turns out to be a tough but very likeable woman. I'm looking forward to see how she & her story develop throughout the series.
What I really enjoy about the development of princess Zadie is her loyalty and her sense of wrong and right. When she’s faced with a difficult choice and has to choose where her loyalty lies I can only commend her for the decision she made. It might not have been what you expect a princes to do but for me that’s what I appreciate about her.
Overall this is another great book in the Desert Night series and I think it’s better than the first!
Note: I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
June 10, 2019
I blinked and this book was over and of course I need more! Zadie is back and this book picks up where the last one left off. This book is all about getting introduced more to the Queen of Thieves and her band of “street rats.” Zadie is determined to get a letter to her sister but she has eyes on her every minute of the day, whether it be her lady maids or someone the king has spying on her. She stuck in the castle with only the sultan’s sister for company and while she’s sweet, she’s not someone Zadie can confide in.
Namir senses Zadie’s feeling of suffocation and he helps her by telling her a way to get out of the castle. But why does he help her?
Zadie encounters the street rats and they’re the only ones who can help her get a letter to her sister. To gain their favor, she must help them on a mission to take something from a library. It’s there that Zadie starts to realize the lines are blurred and she’s not sure the Queen of Thieves and her street rats are as bad as they’re made out to be. Zadie is lucky to escape the night but she and the Queen of Thieves gain a mutual level of respect for each other.
Zadie makes it back to the palace and learns she needs to quit trusting people’s intentions. She also makes a play that the sultan can’t deny is helpful and his vizier shows that once again, she will be of no help to Zadie.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next and how the djinni will play into this adventure!!
Namir senses Zadie’s feeling of suffocation and he helps her by telling her a way to get out of the castle. But why does he help her?
Zadie encounters the street rats and they’re the only ones who can help her get a letter to her sister. To gain their favor, she must help them on a mission to take something from a library. It’s there that Zadie starts to realize the lines are blurred and she’s not sure the Queen of Thieves and her street rats are as bad as they’re made out to be. Zadie is lucky to escape the night but she and the Queen of Thieves gain a mutual level of respect for each other.
Zadie makes it back to the palace and learns she needs to quit trusting people’s intentions. She also makes a play that the sultan can’t deny is helpful and his vizier shows that once again, she will be of no help to Zadie.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next and how the djinni will play into this adventure!!
June 10, 2019
A romantic fantasy series which is based on a re-telling of the fairy tale Aladdin and the forty thieves, and in this the 2nd book we encounter the forty thieves and their leader Aliyah, the Queen of thieves. Zadie is still trying hard to get a letter to her supposedly dead sister living in a town which has suddenly been closed off because of an invasion. She ventures out of the palace on her own through a back door and falls in with the thieves of the town. Kassim, the Sultan had forbidden her from venturing outside on her own but his spymaster for some unfathomable reason tells her of this secret exit. The thieves need her scholarly help but this leads into a dangerous escapade as only our headstrong heroine Zadie is able to embark upon. She is also dealing with a very tricky djinn, Tarak, who though supposedly obeys her as his mistress, is out to trick her out of rightfully granting her, her seven wishes. Looks like Zadie has fallen into a nest of vipers in this new Sultanate of which she hopes to one day be its Sultanah. Both the vizier, Hepzibah and Namir the spymaster seem to be into some double dealing and she wants to get to the bottom of this!! I just love this young and bold heroine who always manages to get into trouble and with the wrong kind of people, she is so much fun!!
June 8, 2019
*Mild spoiler review*
I’m am loving this series! Zadie is growing into a brave and savvy princess who will make an excellent sultana. The story is moving at a very satisfying pace, working exactly as the authors intended as an episodic narrative.
While Kassim is still proving to be an utter disappointment of a fiancé, this book has flared a couple of maybe ships for me - we’ll see how they pan out and the story goes - though there would be something highly satisfying we’re Zadie to say ‘nah stuff it, you lot are useless so imma just keep going me, myself and I’
I’m loving the introduction of the Queen of Thieves and her family, I’m looking forward to reading more about them and getting to know them further.
I’m am loving this series! Zadie is growing into a brave and savvy princess who will make an excellent sultana. The story is moving at a very satisfying pace, working exactly as the authors intended as an episodic narrative.
While Kassim is still proving to be an utter disappointment of a fiancé, this book has flared a couple of maybe ships for me - we’ll see how they pan out and the story goes - though there would be something highly satisfying we’re Zadie to say ‘nah stuff it, you lot are useless so imma just keep going me, myself and I’
I’m loving the introduction of the Queen of Thieves and her family, I’m looking forward to reading more about them and getting to know them further.
June 24, 2019
In this “episode”, Zadie tried to learn the rules of the Djinni, and accidentally got herself in a quest with forty thieves to retrieve a rare book. I wonder if Aliyah will feature heavily later on.
Love that these authors have a plan. Turns out others in the palace wanted that book...but why?
Love that these authors have a plan. Turns out others in the palace wanted that book...but why?
February 5, 2020
Can’t wait for more!
Just as fast paced as the first, I couldn’t put the book down. New and old characters came together with plenty of surprises in store. The reader is kept questioning where allegiances should lie and what’s going to happen next!
Just as fast paced as the first, I couldn’t put the book down. New and old characters came together with plenty of surprises in store. The reader is kept questioning where allegiances should lie and what’s going to happen next!
July 7, 2019
Great read
July 17, 2019
#ReviewToFollow
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*If you would like more information regarding Nerd GIrl Official's review process please email NerdGirlGeneral@gmail.com
July 24, 2019
Exciting
Zadie's adventure with the thieves was exciting and the overall series plot thickened. I look forward to reading the next book.
Zadie's adventure with the thieves was exciting and the overall series plot thickened. I look forward to reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews