#the daevabad trilogy prompts

[stardustprompts]

the empire of gold   (  the daevabad trilogy book 3 )  part 2  -   s. a. chakraborty change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying  /  part one found  here. tw ;  death , war ,  violence

‘you are an exceedingly frustrating person to talk to.’

‘she scared me, and I am not a woman who frightens easily.’

‘it’s supposed to be the mark of a wise leader, right? the willingness to make sacrifices for a greater good? but nobody ever asks those ‘sacrifices’ if they’re willing— they get no say in whether or not their kids die for some supposed greater good.’

‘we die, and we bleed, and it’s a debt that the powerful never repay. I don’t want to be part of that.’

‘I have made my loyalty clear.’

‘I find I can get a more accurate measure of a man when he’s not aware he’s being appraised.’

‘you have a very long way to go to earn my trust.’

‘i’m not tossing away (name’s) legacy. i’m completing it.’

‘it feels like you’re keeping all these secrets, like you still don’t trust me.’

‘oh, (name). what have you done?’

‘you court death with far too much persistence.’

‘I do not wish to leave. I am very content here with you.’

‘I want you dead and I want your city destroyed.’

‘the ___ do not deserve your loyalty. no one in the world does.’

‘they are poisoned. they are infected. and you are the disease.’

‘I need to go. there is no other way.’

‘I won’t lose you. not again.’

‘you and I are not the worst of our ancestors. they don’t own us. they don’t own our heritage.’

‘it’s a shame you hate politics. you’d be a very good queen.’

‘do you want me to stop?’

‘it’s like you’re in a competition with yourself over picking the worst time to say something.’

‘look me in the eye and tell me the truth. you promised no more lies.’

‘if saving ___ had meant likely killing me, would you have done it?’

‘so you plan to mock me as I bleed to death? that sounds like terrible bedside manner.’

‘don’t be stupid or reckless or proud. give her what she wants and come back to me.’

‘promise me. promise me you’ll come back.’

‘i’m not here to stop you. everything in my blood screams at me to, but I know I can’t.’

‘there is nothing I wouldn’t give for you.’

‘I am so sorry for the words I spoke before, but I won’t burden you with my regrets or my grief.’

‘I was starting to believe in you, in all these things you’ve been saying about a new ___ and equality for my people.’

‘you made me think it might be possible. that if I ever went home, it’d be as some kind of hero, and maybe all the other things I’ve done wouldn’t matter.’

‘i’m helping you. the right fucking thing to do and all that.’

‘there’s no helping me. i’m not getting out of this. all you’ll do is get yourself killed.’

‘I didn’t ask your permission. and I’m not doing this for you.’

‘(name) said you were coming in peace. the face you are making does not indicate peace.’

‘do you not understand? you have lost. save yourself and what is left of your people before their blood is on your hands.’

‘you’ve gone too far, and I’m trying to bring you back!’

‘you keep doing that. making that face like I’m an enemy you have to guard yourself against. i’m not.’

‘you’re not the only one whose had to pretend to be different. whose had to smile politely when people with power insult the parts of you that you never get to wear openly.’

‘I wish you had trusted me. but more than that, I wish I had behaved in a way that would have encouraged you to trust me.’

‘do you have to do that? sound all reasonable and kind?’

‘I have a lot of experience in loving frustrating people.’

‘if you make me cry, I’m going to stab you.’

‘we need to be able to trust each other if we’re going to fight back.’

‘it was the worst thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I didn’t blink an eye.’

‘I know how hard it is to think clearly when someone you love is in danger.’

‘I feared even thinking about the things that would make me happy would destroy them. and it does.’

‘we do not interfere. we seek to avert the greatest harm, to listen to the warnings of the heavens when it’s laws are about to be broken.’

‘you said your people had a proposal for me. so why don’t you state it? clearly, if that’s even possible for you.’

‘let’s not pretend you care about justice when it comes to the internecine squabbles of my people.’

‘please understand. i’ve lost everyone I’ve dared to love. I can’t lose you. not you.’

‘you’re not alone anymore. you don’t have to do this all by yourself!’

‘we can do this together. I don’t need you to save me!’

‘I am not a good man. I am a weapon.’

‘was any of it ever real between us?’

‘I hate you. I hate that I ever had feelings for you.’

‘I offered you mercy once, and you threw it in my face. don’t make that mistake again.’

‘i’m not looking for your mercy. i’m here to save our people.’

‘do you hear yourself? do you have any idea how naïve you sound?’

‘you think I had a choice? I had no one and nothing!’

‘I did not want this violence. it will haunt me to the end of my days, but I will be damned if it was for nothing.’

‘surrender. you cannot defeat her. it will be easier.’

‘oh, (name). you always did underestimate me.’

‘i’m sorry you and I didn’t grow up in a time of peace, where we could have lived happily together.’

‘I mourn, truly, the kind of relationship we could have had.’

(name) didn’t break me. you won’t either.’

(name) didn’t break me. you won’t either. I will never surrender to you.’

‘you have your mother’s/father’s spirit. it got her/him killed too.’

‘i’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.’

‘you have hurt me. you left me.’

‘my entire life is a lie.’

‘you were all I wanted. I dreamed of seeing you again every night.’

‘I do not believe you. because I know you. and you are a liar. a thief.’

‘talk to me. tell me how to fix you.’

‘if you are looking for absolution, you won’t find it from me.’

‘I genuinely believe she wanted better for her people and her city. she just got very, very lost.’

‘I wish I had more time with her. I had so much I wanted to say.’

‘you may have to battle with words and with your very beliefs. but it it worth it. your life is worth it.’

‘your life is worth it. don’t let it be made into fodder for those who will never be in the trenches.’

‘you rip me apart. I was ready to kill you. and then you had to go and do the right thing.’

‘if I could go back … it breaks my heart to think of the different path we might have taken.’

‘you have earned your happy ending. let me do the same.’

‘you don’t get to make me laugh while you’re breaking my heart.’

‘find your happiness. steal it and do not ever let it go.’

‘I am sorry to be such a disappointment.’

‘you say you trust me. so trust me.’

[readingbooksinisrael]

Winnie-the-Pooh Reads

(explanatory post) The first prompt was, of course, a spell-out of Winnie-the-Pooh.

We Are the Ants/Shaun David Hutchinson-This was a reread while I was sick and a wonderful reread it was. One of my favorite books ever and also the book that introduced me to just really weird fiction.

I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691/Lisa Rowe Fraustino-I picked this up because I was looking for a quick read, but I enjoyed it more than I expected. It was surprisingly insightful at how people join such craziness as happened during the Salem Witch Trials.

Novelets of Science Fiction/ed. Ivan Howard-Loved two stories, was ambivalent to detesting the rest.

The New Mistress at the Chalet School/Elinor M. Brent Dyer-Another reread (this will be a theme). Part of the Chalet School series and probably my favorite one (along with Shocks for the Chalet School). It’s the only one to follow a teacher and not a student and, boy, was it weird to reread this and suddenly be older than the main character.

In Other Lands/Sarah Brennan Rees-Extremely unpopular opinion, but possibly the book I most disliked this year and still read it all through.

The Empire of Gold/S.A. Chakraborty-In stark contrast, one of my favorite books all year. It is the conclusion to the Daevabad trilogy and it takes all of the threads that were woven throughout the books (including the ones that I had by this point forgotten about) and pulls them all together while still adding new things and not just rehashing.

The Tale of Desperaux/Kate DiCamillo-And a drop to the bottom again. I enjoyed this book as a kid but upon rereading it as an adult I was disappointed to see how it treated ‘ugly’ people.

Harbor Me/Jacqueline Woodson-I honestly forgot about this book but that’s not because the book wasn’t good but because it wasn’t the timing that would have it make a deep impact on me. There are definitely kids, though, that this will make an impact one.

Eliza and Her Monsters/Francesca Zappia-I put down this one a few years ago because the timing wasn’t right and I’m so glad I picked it back up. While i don’t think it is a book I’ll reread it was an enjoyable experience that left me with things to think about.

Passport to Russia/Sukey S. Gross-Another reread. I read this first in 1st grade and adored it. Reading it again now I still enjoyed some parts but other parts I can see are messed-up. I won’t be continuing with the series I now know exists.

One Crazy Summer/Rita Williams-Garcia-I enjoyed this one, enough to read the sequel almost right away, not something I usually do. (I dnf’d the sequel but that’s the sequel.)

On the Far Side of the Mountain/Jean Craighead George-Penultimate book on this list and penultimate reread. While I’d never want to live the way the main character in this book does and I don’t particularly like the woods reading this always makes me daydream about the woodland.

Henry Huggins/Beverly Cleary-Not a book I had ever planned to reread, but I am reading all of Beverly Cleary’s books in publication order. Fun, but I was waiting for the girls.

[anndiscworld-phile]

for prompts, idk if you write for the daevabad trilogy but ali & nahri bickering ab books/being happy (can be just friendship if that's your preference :) )

my dude, i am always down for the daevabad trilogy, and ali and nahri specifically. thank you so much for submitting this!!

(light spoilers ahead for empire of gold)

here goes-

--

“Pass me the fruits Zaydi,” Zaynab said, and he did, not looking up from his book. His left hand, resting on the arm of his seat, reached forward, located the bowl and held it out for her. He felt her take it gently. “Thank you.”

He hummed in response, and turned a page. 

“One of these days, I’m going to ask you to pass your coin purse, and you’ll be so into reading your words, you’ll do it,” Muntadhir said. 

“I would have to be much more than engrossed in reading to do that brother,” Alizayd murmured, and his siblings laughed. Ali wished he could lean into the sound and capture it between his palms, to hold it to his ears later and hear their warmth.

It was another good day. Zaynab had sent word ahead that she was returning from her travels, and her brothers dutifully prepared for her arrival. Muntadhir prepared a feast to welcome her home, invited all her friends, hired her favorite musicians, and organized several outings for all of them to partake in.

“You,” Muntadhir had said, when Ali had asked if he needed help with anything. “Worry about making sure you have time to spend with our sister.”

That hadn’t stopped them Ali from arguing, but Muntadhir had a point. Daevabad didn’t have a king anymore, but Ali still found himself with a suspicious amount of the work, only with much less power. Still, he would be lying to say he preferred it any other way. He had a lot of hope in their new government, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel better looking over accounts and dealings himself. 

“I’m not such an optimist, I don’t believe our honored representatives won’t use this time of transition to slide as many transactions under the table that they can,” Ali had told Nahri. 

“Good, because they are, and I’m one of them,” she said. And with a smile, she spoke about the tax she had already started working on, to expand the hospital’s structure and resources. 

Ali threw himself into work, trying to do as much ahead of time, as fast as possible. There had been a few weeks where Ali caught more sleep accidentally dozing at a desk, than he did on any kind of flat surface. Nonetheless, he’d managed to clear several days to spend with his sister, and while he would be resuming his duties soon, the next two weeks had more free time than Ali had seen in years. 

They’d shared breakfast today, and moved their conversations into one of Muntadhir’s smaller rooms. Ali had pulled out a collected set of plays and begun reading.

 A shafit delegate had gifted the set to him months ago, but he had only opened it recently. For all that the language had a different rhythm, Ali was immediately absorbed and found himself ripping through several of the stories. Of course, the engrossing quality of the writing wasn’t the only reason Ali was going through them so quickly. 

His family’s conversation flowed over him like a cool and gentle wave, their amusement and bickering, shots of brightness that made him smile. 

Ali was relaxed, so at ease than even when Nahri appeared behind him, mouth near his ear, he didn’t react. “Lear dies and Edgar will become king,” she said softly. 

He jerked away, but it was too late. “Nahri!”

“Ali,” she said back cheerily. “Zaynab, Muntadhir, how are you?” 

“Fine,” Zaynab said, fighting a smile and glancing at Muntadhir, who was rolling his eyes. 

“They’re ruining each other’s books,” he explained. “By telling each other what happens at the end.” 

“I am not ruining anyone’s reading,” Ali argued. “Nahri’s ruining mine!”

“You ruined mine first,” Nahri said. 

“I didn’t know you hadn’t gotten to Richard III! Besides that’s a historical play, I thought you already knew about it anyways.”

She sniffed and plucked a berry from the bowl. “Clearly not.”

“It was only once! This is the second time you’ve ruined an ending for me.”

“I thought you both said that if a story is good, knowing what’ll happen can’t take away from enjoying it,” Muntadhir said.

“That’s not the point,” they both said, at the same time. 

With a sigh, Ali marked his page carefully for later and set his book aside. Zaynab arched an eyebrow. “I suppose I should thank you Nahri, for finally getting my brother to set his reading aside for a moment.”

Ali made a noise in the back of his throat that made Nahri and Muntadhir grin. “I only had it out for an hour!” 

“Mmmm,” Zaynab said, then turned to Nahri. “How goes your work? Subha said you had a most interesting patient yesterday.” 

That made Nahri roll her eyes, and she launched into an explanation about a man so obnoxious, Ali was surprised they hadn’t turned him right back out of the hospital. He was still irritated, but it was hard not to fall into Nahri’s storytelling. Her voice was smooth and dipped and rose with perfect timing. 

Ali leaned back, pressing into Zaynab’s warmth, and smiled. 

—

It had been petty, and foolish, Ali could admit. His actions turned what was likely a few playful instances of mischief to a war. But Ali had still been annoyed and when Nahri and him met for tea, he’d waited until a lull in their conversation and said, “They both die at the end, Romeo drinks poison and Juliet stabs herself.” 

Nahri threw her pastry at him, furious. 

He brushed the crumbs off calmly. “You knew it was a tragedy. It’s in the first few lines.” 

“That’s not the point!”

And so, it continued. They were pretty evenly matched, thus far. Nahri had read more novels than Ali, but Ali currently had more free time than she did, and he used it to tear through as many works as possible. 

They didn’t stop seeing each other, but every meeting was an occasion to reveal an ending or a twist. It didn’t always happen, but that just put Ali more on his guard. Especially since it didn’t just happen when they were together either. It became a battle between Nahri’s sneakiness and Ali’s honed sense of situational awareness. 

“The Jia clan falls into disfavor with the emperor,” Muntadhir said, over a meal. 

Ali almost dropped his tea. “Dhiru!” 

“She paid me,” he said, and looked vaguely apologetic.

“You’re the son of a king!”

“Former royalty can fall onto hard times too. Besides, I didn’t say she paid me with coin.”

Ali groaned. “Just stop. Let me wallow in my betrayal peacefully.”

His brother laughed, and when Ali scowled at him, he laughed harder.

—

It had gotten to the point that neither of them wanted to read a new novel. How enjoyable could it be, with the threat of a cruelly revealed story point hanging over them? 

“This is getting ridiculous!” Zaynab complained. “Just call a truce, and go back to reading. You’d think someone had stolen into your homes and taken all your nice jewelry, the way you’re carrying on.” 

Nahri looked at him, obstinate. You first, her eyes said. It was hardly fair, considering she started it, but he had been gifted with another book recently. Splendidly bound, and by a famous human author no less. Ali sighed. 

“I’d liked to read The Count of Monte Cristo,” he said. “Some time soon hopefully.”

Nahri stayed quiet, and then said, almost mulishly, “I heard that was a good one.”

Zaynab clapped her hands. “Wonderful! Now stop ruining his reading Nahri, and stop reacting to her, Ali.”  

They stared at her skeptically. They both knew half the reason Nahri did anything in their relationship, was from the pure joy she got from Ali’s reactions. 

“Just read this one together, and then go back to normal,” Zaynab said. 

Read it together? They looked at each other, considering. They had never done that. Recommended books to each other, yes. Discussed treatises and works, yes. But they had never actually read a story at the same time. Still, Ali liked reading, and he liked Nahri, even when she ruined his reading. So it couldn’t be too bad, reading with her. 

“I’m free tomorrow evening,” he offered after a few moments. 

“I’ll see about leaving the hospital a little early,” she said, then gave him a frown. “Don’t get started without me if I’m late.”

 “He won’t,” Zaynab promised. “Now get out of my house, both of you.” 

— 

It had been a little awkward, finding out how to read together. It shouldn’t have been, considering how many embraces, surgeries, and kissing they’d done at this point. But he supposed neither of them were accustomed to sharing their books or their reading time. 

Finally, they settled with Ali pressed along the cushions, and Nahri tucked into his side. He held the book, and she turned the pages. It was odd at first, reading with someone so close to you, but they fell into the story anyway. Ali read a little faster than Nahri, but not too much faster. When he finished a page, he’d lean his head against her’s, and she’d pressed back, just for a moment.

They had planned on stopping after a few chapters, but then read a little longer. Then they found they couldn’t stop after Dantès was arrested. He could feel Nahri smiling into his arm, as Dantès formed his plans. 

“Bloodthirsty,” he murmured in her hair. 

“Of course,” she said, and they fell back into the story. 

He didn’t know how long they read, but Ali did know that he could have spent a hundred years rereading this book, with Nahri at his side.

-----

(actual image of me, delighted by this request)

i hope you liked it! i’ve had nahri and ali on my mind for ages, especially since i finished empire of gold, so i’m happy i got to write about them 

thanks again for requesting this! feel free to drop a line about them, or the daevabad trilogy. i’m still down for prompts, so feel free to request those too 

[musogato]

Hey Daevabadis!🧞‍♂️ Starting in June, we're hosting a daily photo challenge and giveaway on Instagram to celebrate the release of The Empire Of Gold novel! 🙌

Each prompt you post (can be photos/art) is an entry to win one of these three amazing prizes! (w/ international shipping!!)

🏆The “Welcome to Daevabad Bookish Box” from thetsundokuchroniclesetsy

🏆UK hardcover of “The Empire of Gold” (or ebook)

🏆 A Painted UK paperback of “The City of Brass." by thetsundokuchroniclesetsy

Please check out any of these hosts on Instagram for the full instructions on how to enter! 😊

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thetsundokuchronicles

_lostinfantasy_

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[chthonic-cassandra]

Recent books, SFF -

- Holly Black, Folk of the Air trilogy (reread of Cruel Prince and Wicked King; first time read of The Queen of Nothing) - This series is about the human Jude who, raised as a changeling in the harsh world of Faerie, gets herself embroiled in court politics and finds her way to grasping for power. It’s a deliciously candy-like example of YA, filled with tropes and plot twists and double-crosses; there’s a great deal I enjoyed about it, and also some places where it all could have be refined and shaped a little better. 

The central romance, while fun and persuasive, relies on the enemies-to-lovers trope too heavily, past the point where the characters’ continued animosity becomes hard to believe. Similarly, I enjoyed Jude’s unrepentant ambition (I like the trend of somewhat machiavellian YA heroines, which I am at this time thanking Kiersten White for), but sometimes her choices weren’t clearly motivated enough (and sometimes they were really stupid for plot reasons). The most interesting dynamic in the book is that between Jude and her adoptive father, the brutal faerie general Madoc; the ending that relationship gets in the final book is very satisfying, but I wanted more of the beats along the way.

These didn’t entirely hold up at reread, but I still enjoyed them a lot; the reread prompted a conversation with my partner about how much of a debt present YA owes to Megan Whalen Turner, and how these current twisty plots are so much drawn from Attolia. I also hadn’t remembered from my first read how much Jude’s childhood torment by the folk feels CSA-coded, and I wish that had been addressed or handled a little differently.

- Kat Howard, An Unkindness of Magicians - the most truthful thing I can say about this book is also the most scathing: it reads like a minor plot line on the television show The Magicians. I can just imagine groaning whenever the plot cuts back to it, complaining to my partner, “Why do have to watch the competition among the magical Wall Street people?” The characters are realistic Wall Street people, with Wall Street-type arguments about whether people of color should also have access to the opportunity to exploit others capitalistically, but I did not care.

- Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy, Once & Future - the intention and idea here, which is queer girl King Arthur in space, is sweet, and the fact that it was written by a couple made me inclined towards generosity towards it, but unfortunately, it was quite simply not a good novel. It’s messily plotted, moves way, way too quickly, and has incoherent character development and world-building. Not recommended.

- S. A. Chakraborty, The Daevabad Trilogy (reread of City of Brass and Kingdom of Copper; first-time read of Empire of Gold) - I loved it! I remember having some more lukewarm feelings the first time I read the first two books, but they really deepened and expanded for me on reread, and ultimately I was just so deeply invested in the characters and the world, and they made me so tremendously happy. I cried at the ending of the third book.

I could write a longer post, and perhaps I someday will, but for now will say in brief that this trilogy is a lovingly written ode to the author’s own study of the medieval Islamic world, and it is doing a lot of different beautiful things.

- Kage Barker, The House of the Stag and The Bird of the River - these are Barker’s two follow-ups to The Anvil of the World, which I read a few months ago, though neither are direct sequels, and Bird in particular has only the most tenuous of connections to Anvil. I enjoyed both, but it’s a very, very peculiar little trilogy, and I’m not entirely sure what Barker was trying to get at.

The House of the Stag is the semi-humorous story of a half-demon who ends up accidentally becoming an evil sorcerer, and it’s tonally incredibly bizarre. At times I found it hilariously funny in its engagement with traditional fantasy tropes, but midway through there’s a very bizarrely engaged with sexual violence plot line which plays out as a sort of humorous Hades and Persephone rewrite, and I am still, quite a while after finishing it, pretty perplexed about what on earth to do with it.

The Bird of the River is a much more straightforward bildungsroman, gently and beautifully written, about an orphaned girl who finds her way to a sustainable life and community for herself. I liked it a lot, even though the mystery plot  which run throughs it felt largely unnecessary and also predictable.

[mediaeval-muse]

Book Review

The Empire of Gold. By S. A. Chakraborty. New York: Harper Voyager, 2020.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Genre: fantasy

Part of a Series? Yes, Daevabad Trilogy #3

Summary: Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people. But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara’s dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies. Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad’s deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother’s homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith. As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt.

***Full review under the cut.***

Content Warnings: violence, blood, graphic description of heart surgery, genocide

Overview: As a whole, the Daevabad Trilogy has been one of my most engaging, delightful reads of the past year - and I would venture to say the past ten years. It’s full of magic and political intrigue, presenting readers with messy, complicated characters who keep getting swept up in a world of violence. The Empire of Gold is perhaps a fitting end to the series, upping the ante from Kingdom of Copper, yet providing emotional closure to the journey started in The City of Brass. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience, and I highly recommend this trilogy to fantasy lovers.

Writing: Chakraborty’s prose is not densely packed with figurative language, but it flows effortlessly and evokes some stunning imagery. Sentences are simple and easy to read, and readers aren’t bogged down by extensive descriptions or lore. I also thought Chakraborty had a good sense of pace - not only did she know how to structure a scene, but she also alternated between action sequences and emotional moments in ways that felt appropriate, moving the plot along without neglecting the inner lives of her characters. At no point did I feel like the plot was dragging or that things were moving too fast - all seemed appropriate, which made me feel engaged the entire time I was reading.

Plot: Empire of Gold builds upon the stakes that were set up in Kingdom of Copper: Nahri and Ali have to contend with Suleiman’s ring and plan a way to get back to Daevabad, while Dara shows readers the inner workings of Manizheh’s tyrannical rule. I really liked how the marid plot became more involved, and how Ali and Nahri worked together to not only travel to Ali’s mother’s land, but to figure out the complexities of Ali bearing the ring and the general loss of magic. Dara’s plot was somewhat detached at first, mainly serving as a way to show readers how politics fail under Manizheh’s rule, but then became more emotionally devastating toward the end. Overall, I thought the plot was finely structured, and balanced the different threads (Ali’s marid abilities, Dara’s guilt, and Nahri’s question of her heritage) exceedingly well.

Characters: There aren’t many new characters that get introduced in this book, so I’ll primarily be commenting on developments I liked regarding the main players. Nahri’s fiery demeanor and desire to help others medically makes a return, and her impulse to keep people at arm’s length is at once a source of frustration (in a productive way) and a personal “flaw” that finally starts to break down. I enjoyed the way she outsmarted her foes and found ways to make connections with others, putting down roots when her instinct has always been to run.

Ali is likewise as charming and frustrating as ever, his idealism giving him an air of admirable heroism while his adherence to propriety makes him a bit of a boy scout. I loved how he took pains to connect with people, rejecting the mantle of a zealous overlord and instead let his conscience guide his actions. I also really liked how he had to contend with his ancestry - without giving anything away, I will say that wrestling with his legacy was an interesting part of his plot and his character development, and I enjoyed the topics it prompted, such as whether one is responsible for the actions of one’s ancestors, etc.

Dara’s development was quite unexpected, as he begins to reflect on his past (and present) and begins something of a redemption plot. I really liked that he wasn’t reduced to a brooding bad boy, and that he acknowledged his violent past and actively sought out ways to atone for his crimes. It gets complicated, of course, but I found that complexity intriguing, especially given his connection to the Nahids.

Manizheh, our primary antagonist, was well-written in that she wasn’t a mustache-twirling type of villain. She genuinely seemed to want to make things better for her people (at least, at first), and her attachments to others (Dara, Jamshid, Kaveh) made her feel more like a person, rather than an archetype.

Supporting characters were plentiful, and I think all of them were inserted in a way that enriched the main plot. I particularly liked Jamshid’s arc and how he becomes a brother to Nahri, as well as that of Dara’s protege, Irtemitz. Sobek, the marid who inhabits the Nile River, is a new addition, and I liked the mix of mystery and horror that surrounded him. I do think some of the secondary antagonists were a little chatty - some of the ifrit and more sinister marids had a tendency to talk a lot when they should have been acting, but other than that, I think most characters were written well.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in fantasy (especially fantasy not based on the European Middle Ages), political plots, elemental spirits, quests to restore magic, family secrets, and redemption plots.

[lornaslibrary]

Diversity [edited]

Here are all the books you recommended for last week’s prompt, diversity!!

Bold = the books I’ve read * = the books I personally would recommend + = want to read/on my TBR

LGBTQIA+

Rivers of London (Peter Grant #1), by Ben Aaronovitch

Borderline (The Arcadia Project #1), by Mishell Baker

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo *

Wake of Vultures (The Shadow #1), by Lila Bowen

Our Bloody Pearl (These Traitorous Tides #1), by D. N. Bryn *

Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1), by Rachel Caine *

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1), by S. A. Chakraborty +

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1), by Alyssa Cole

Dreadnought (Nemesis #1), by April Daniels

Into the Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant *

Let’s Talk About Love, by Claire Kann +

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2), by Mackenzi Lee *

Ash, by Malinda Lo

Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston +

Radio Silence, by Alice Oseman *

To Night Owl From Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid *

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan

Barbary Station (Shieldrunner Pirates #1), by R.E. Stearns

POC

Rivers of London (Peter Grant #1), by Ben Aaronovitch

Yassmin’s Story by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1), by Tomi Adeyemi +

Borderline (The Arcadia Project #1), by Mishell Baker

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo *

Wake of Vultures (The Shadow #1), by Lila Bowen

Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1), by Rachel Caine *

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1), by S. A. Chakraborty +

Death by Dumpling (A Noodle Shop Mystery #1), by Vivien Chien

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1), by Alyssa Cole

Dreadnought (Nemesis #1), by April Daniels

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do

Into the Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant *

Let’s Talk About Love, by Claire Kann +

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2), by Mackenzi Lee *

Ash, by Malinda Lo

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel *

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, by Sarah Ockler *

Radio Silence, by Alice Oseman *

In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey To Freedom by Yeonmi Park

To Night Owl From Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid *

Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1), by Scott Reintgen *

The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson

Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening, by Manal al-Sharif

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Equal Justice: My Journey as a Woman, a Soldier and a Muslim by Rabia Siddique

Barbary Station (Shieldrunner Pirates #1), by R.E. Stearns

The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni #1), by Helene Wecker

Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson

Disability/Mental Illness

Borderline (The Arcadia Project #1), by Mishell Baker

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo *

Our Bloody Pearl (These Traitorous Tides #1), by D. N. Bryn *

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1), by S. A. Chakraborty +

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1), by Alyssa Cole

Into the Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant *

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2), by Mackenzi Lee *

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, by Sarah Ockler *

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens, by Marieke Nijkamp +

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan

To Night Owl From Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer

Religion

Rivers of London (Peter Grant #1), by Ben Aaronovitch

Yassmin’s Story by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1), by Rachel Caine *

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1), by S. A. Chakraborty +

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2), by Mackenzi Lee *

Equal Justice: My Journey as a Woman, a Soldier and a Muslim by Rabia Siddique

To Night Owl From Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer

The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni #1), by Helene Wecker   

[sixth-light]

Yuletide Letter 2019

Dear Yuletide Author,

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this! Yuletide is one of my fannish highlights of the year and I’m really looking forward to whatever you write for me. If you’re interested in personalizing things a bit more, read on. If you find it easier to work with just the fandom/characters/DNWs, or have an idea that’s grabbed you already, don’t feel bound to any of the prompts here – they’re just intended as suggestions for people who like to use them.

General preferences:

Stuff I really like in fic includes: people being kind to each other, science (and SCIENCE!), mystery plots/casefic, found family, loyalty, women bonding and female friendship, queer communities, humour, happy endings, the exploration of worldbuilding and its implications (including via AUs), expansion on/use of minor canon details, and cracky premises/tropes treated with some seriousness.

Stuff I would really prefer not to see in a Yuletide fic includes: dark interpretations of characters (or darker than canon, where relevant), brooding, angst, endings that feel hopeless, infidelity, noncon/dubcon, incest, child abuse, explicit or detailed violence, people being humiliated, embarrassment humour, and canon being changed or rewritten Just Because. That said, in general adult elements of all sorts (sex, violence, swearing, discussion of mortgage tax) are fine, especially if in line with the tone of the canon.

Canon notes:

Rivers of London (Beverley Brook, Cecilia Tyburn Thames)

I love the Thames daughters and their family relationships, and how they love each other despite their differences in generation/personality/life choices. I don’t mind if a fic focuses more on one of these characters as long as it involves both of them. Some prompts to get you started:

Bev and Science (and her choice of university study)

Ty looking after young Beverley (the same way Bev looks after Nicky)

Silly family traditions

Ty babysits Baby Grant-Thames (happily, grudgingly, happily but pretending it’s grudgingly)

Ship-wise, I am a fan of Peter/Beverley (and Beverley/Peter/Nightingale) and would LOVE a story that fleshes out Ty’s relationship with her husband a bit, but I’m more looking for gen focusing on Beverley and Ty than anything centering the men in their lives.

DNW: anything more than a brief mention of Nightingale (I love him! Some stories do not need to be about him!), breakups, horror/grimdark interpretations of the Rivers and how their magic works, a deeply flawed/bad relationship between Bev and Ty.

Sins of the Cities – K.J.Charles (Sukey)

I really enjoyed the middle/lower-class focus of this series, the Eat the Rich undertones, and Sukey, who isn’t going to let anything stop her. I have read Any Old Diamonds and Gilded Cage and am very comfortable with you incorporating what we find out about her future into this fic, but no worries if you haven’t read them.

Some prompts to get you started:

How Sukey views her adoption by Justin

Why Sukey is so attached to Emma

Sukey and her extended adoptive and very queer family

Sukey Solves A Mystery Without Anybody’s Help (as a child, teenager, or adult private detective)

Ship-wise: I like all the canon ships in this series, please no break-ups. If you’ve read AOD/GC, I really enjoyed Sukey’s romances (present and past) and would be happy for either of her canon love interests to show up.

DNW: Any focus on child abuse, particularly sexual abuse; Justin being a dick (…more than he is in canon); Sukey looking down on Emma.

The Daevabad Trilogy – S.A.Chakraborty (Zaynab al-Qahtani, Ali al-Qahtani)

I love this series for the worldbuilding, for the plot twists, and for all the characters, who need to learn to stop stabbing each other for like TWO SECONDS, guys. Possibly my favourite scene in Kingdom of Copper was the one where all the al-Qahtani siblings yell at each other about treason in a broom closet. I just want them to be HAPPY (except Manizeh and Ghassan, who Know What They Did, and Dara, who needs a Time Out To Think About His Life Choices first).

I really enjoyed Zaynab’s bigger role in KoC and her sibling relationship with Ali. Some prompts to get you going:

How Zaynab actually feels about potentially being married off to the ends of the earth

Zaynab’s relationship with religion and her views on her brother’s

Ali and Zaynab have childhood adventures

Ali and Zaynab have an adult adventure involving water and their Weird Water Powers (and Ali’s Weirder Water Powers)

Ships: Not looking for a ship-focused story, but happy for Ali/Nahri or discussion thereof to be background, as well as canon Muntadhir/Jamshid and Muntadhir/Nahri. No Nahri/Dara please.

DNW: Heavy angst, extended focus on Zaynab and Ali distrusting each other, unhappy endings, background Nahri/Dara.

Gideon the Ninth (Gideon Nav, Harrow Nonagesimus)

This was my favourite book of 2019 and honestly I’ll read anything related to it. I especially loved the Kiwi slang/sense of humour/in-jokes and this post on the characters’ appearances. The ending killed me and I am HERE for fix-it fic.

Some prompts to get you going:

Gideon and Harrow try to seduce each other (badly) and/or passively-aggressively try to seduce other people to annoy the other into dating them (even more badly)

Modern/Regency/really any AU (necromancy optional) so long as EVERYBODY LIVES

Specifically, an academia AU (same life-or-death approach! The lowest real-world stakes possible!)

Moments when Gideon and Harrow liked each other for one micro-second, growing up, before regretting all their life choices and swearing eternal enmity again

\If you can write me a modern AU of some description actually set in New Zealand (NOTA BENE: I want this but also am incapable of not being picky about it) I will love you FOREVER

Ships: Gideon/Harrow, duh, but otherwise go wild, except for Magnus and Abigail, they were adorable Old Marrieds and should stay that way.

DNW: High levels of gore (canon was borderline for me), Gideon and Harrow *genuinely* hating each other for the entire story, a depressing ending (see: canon)

[bropunzeling]

dear yuletide author (2021)

hello, and thank you for doing this!

General Items For the Good of the Order:

Must-haves: My preference is for a happy (for a given value of happy) ending. I enjoy exploration of trickier themes/emotions, but I’d really prefer not to have a downer ending.

Do Not Want: infidelity; poly (for characters selected); watersports/scat play/etc.; character death; unhappy endings

General things I like: Future fic; domesticity; epistolary fic; casefic for applicable fandoms; “missing scenes”; alternative universes and/or canon divergence. I am happy with all ratings from G to E.

Specific to fandoms:

Knives Out (Marta, Benoit, Ransom)

The two relationships I came out of this movie really enjoying were Marta and Benoit's platonic crime-solving partnership and Marta and Ransom's less platonic.... thing. I would really enjoy fic that takes on either or both of those dynamics. Does Marta accompany Benoit on other cases? Does Ransom continue to be a fucking weirdo about Marta? What happens if they're all in a "closed" location - cruise ship; small town; etc.? Something that really leans into some Agatha Christie-esque vibes would be a cherry on top.

Old Kingdom (Sabriel, Touchstone)

I would love something exploring Sabriel and Touchstone's relationship as it grows and deepens between the first and second books. How do they learn to love each other? When are they sure that this is "it" for them? How do they help each other carry the burdens of leadership/being the One Good Necromancer?

Daevabad Trilogy (Nahri, Ali)

I really love these two characters and their relationship throughout the series, especially as it goes from working at an impasse to working together to ~save the world~ (and maybe kiss a little). I would love either a missing moment from during the series featuring these two, or something looking at how they get together post-series once they don't have to save the world all the time and instead are just upending daeva society.

Emma (Emma, Knightley)

This is one of my favorite Austen relationships (she says, who loves every Austen relationship except the ones in Mansfield Park). I really like how Knightley is just kind of always in love with Emma, even though it is occasionally deeply painful for him, and would love some Knightley!POV that gets into that dynamic. I would also love a post-book fic - perhaps they go on a trip to London or the seaside? What is that like for Emma, who is so used to being at home? How do they combine their lives once they decide that is what they want? A third prompt would be for a magic AU a la the Shades of Milk and Honey books - I'm sure Emma would thrive in a magic system based on illusion.

Alex Stern (Alex, Darlington, worldbuilding)

I would love to see either a worldbuilding-heavy fic or an Alex & Darlington-heavy fic, but don't necessarily need to have both in one fic. On the worldbuilding side, I would love something that dives into exactly what is going on with these Yale magical societies - why is Manuscript so full of horny energy? Who is the type of student who ends up at one of these societies? What happens if or when you try to get out? On the more character-driven side, I am very into Alex/Darlington, especially with the presumption that they rescue Darlington from wherever he is, and what that changes about their relationship. Or, alternatively, if they just went with Manuscript's horny energy.

[talesofanavidreader]

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻: What characters would you love to hang out with? ⁣ ⁣ So today’s prompt for the SJM September photo challenge is “character you’d party with.” Now I am not at all a partier so the first character that popped into my head was Ali from the Daevabad trilogy. 😂 He is a major bookworm and such a nerd. He’d rather read than do almost anything else — so I know we’d be friends and I’d love to hang out with him. Plus then I could hang with Nahri too!! ⁣ ⁣ I know . . . I am such a nerdy dork 😂 but I have no regrets with this choice! ⁣ ⁣ #SJMSeptember2020 - Bryce Quinlan: character you’d party with ⁣ #BlueLovesBookishSept20 - cover love ⁣ ⁣ #daevabad #thecityofbrass #favoritebooks #coverlove #booksofig #nerdalert #imadork #readingforpleasure #bookdragon #bookrecommendations #reader #bookloversofinstagram #booksaremagic #unitedbookstagram #photochallenge #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblog #bookreviewer #booknerd #booklover #bookworm #instareads https://www.instagram.com/p/CFe3amDA4ER/?igshid=1by26sf68zv5x

[stardustprompts]

the kingdom of copper  (  the daevabad trilogy book 2 )  -   s. a. chakraborty change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying     tw ;  death ,  violence ,  religion mention 

‘keep your sense of humor. you’re going to need it.’

‘you look like you’re about to be sick.’

‘you don’t look fine. you’re trembling.’

‘are you afraid of me?’

‘quite frankly, you terrify me and I wouldn’t mind staying on your good side.’

‘you’d be amazed by the things a person can do to survive.’

‘if I’ve not said it lately, I think I hate you.’

‘I find the idiotic rumors enjoyable.’

‘the ( ____ ) do not need a reason to be violent. it is their nature.’

‘you have the look of someone freshly scolded.’

‘I wish you would talk to me.’

‘I feel like I have no idea what goes on in your head.’

‘you have more walls up than a maze.’

‘I can always count on you to honestly insult me.’

‘nothing’s going to happen to you, I swear. I won’t let it, and I’m obnoxiously honorable about these things.’

‘affection is a weakness for people like us, a thing to be concealed from those who would harm us.’

‘a threat to a loved one is a more effective method of control than weeks of torture.’

‘your affections are yours. but do not let them be a weakness. in any way.’

‘I don’t trust you. I don’t trust myself with you.’

‘that’s not a weakness i intent to let drag me down.’

‘you should be proud. not many people can outwit me, but you? you had me believing you were my friend until the very end.’

‘is this enough for you, then? you’ve intruded upon my privacy to dredge up the worst night of my life. is there anything else?’

‘liar. oh, do you not like being called a liar?’

‘I want to go home.’

‘you don’t need to be a weapon to be an asset.’

‘I know you don’t trust me. I know we have our differences. but this? this goes beyond all that. I need you to tell me the truth.’

‘I reward loyalty—- I don’t terrorize people into it.’

‘i’ll not forget what you did tonight.’

‘whether or not I need to know more was not your decision to make.’

‘I need at least one person I can trust, one person who will tell me the truth no matter what.’

‘it breaks my heart when I remember the man you used to be.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that. I only meant that I wouldn’t have blamed you for wanting me dead.’

‘wanting you dead and actually killing you are very different things. and I’m no murderer.’

‘i’m no murderer.’

‘glad to know you’re just as brutal when you’re being honest as you are when lying.’

‘I couldn’t take that risk. you’re not the only one with a duty.’

‘surely you can lie better than that.’

‘why are you looking at me like that? it is alarming.’

‘you owe me a debt. I don’t intend to let it go unpaid.’

‘a partnership founded in deceit is no partnership at all.’

‘I would not wish to lie and bring you into danger unwarned.’

‘saving a life and taking one are very different matters.’

‘I don’t think (name) will ever look at me the same way again. I don’t think anyone will.’

‘I wish I could tell you that it becomes easier.’

‘I suppose our reputations are small prices to pay if it means our people will be safe.’

‘grief clouds the mind, makes people say terrible things.’

‘does it get easier?’

‘you will make us monsters.’

‘you will make us monsters. that is what we are if you let this happen… and that’s not a reputation you’ll ever lose.’

‘then we will be monsters.’

‘then we will be monsters. I will pay that price to end this war.’

‘you do know that most people sleep at night, yes?’

‘you know nothing about me.’

‘it’s such a monumentally absurd story—- even for you—- to concoct that I’m assuming there’s a chance it’s the truth.’

‘there are always people to save. and always cunning men and women around who find a way to take advantage of that duty and harness it into power.’

‘are you asking questions now? I thought all you did was obey.’

‘you would make for a better companion if you were clever.’

‘i’m sick and tired of acting like the only way to save our people is to cut down all who might oppose us, as if our enemies won’t return the favor the instant power shifts.’

‘I suppose I’ve forgotten there are situations for which kindness is the most powerful weapon.’

‘i’m so tired of this. all this plotting and scheming just to keep breathing. it feels like I’m treading water … and, god, do I want to rest.’

‘I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.’

‘you’ll always owe me. I have a talent for extending the debts of powerful people indefinitely.’

‘you can’t fight him. he is capable of things you can’t imagine. he’ll destroy you.’

‘go and steal some happiness for yourself. trust me when I say the chance doesn’t always come back.’

‘oh, do you not enjoy being embarrassed? that’s odd, as you don’t seem to mind doing it to me.’

‘what do you know about grief? who have you lost, (name)?’

‘who have you lost? whose died in your arms? who have you begged to come back, to look at you one last time?’

‘I almost believed it, you know? your act.’

‘don’t you fucking die, (name).’

‘are you going to stick a dagger in my back and run off the moment I tell you?’

‘can we try being on the same side for one night?’

‘can we fight about this later?’

‘I should have been here. this is all my fault.’

‘I promise you—- you’re safe now.’

‘I know what it’s like to have ambitions, to be the cleverest in the room— and have those ambitions crushed.’

‘I know what it’s like to have men who are less than you bully and threaten you into a place you know you don’t belong.’

‘the things I could teach you; you’d be a goddess. you’d never have to lower your head again.’

[booknotesbyathina]

Hello everyone!! Today is day 3 of the @fairyloot photo challenge and the prompt is Enamel pin & Foiled bookmarks. *** The enamel pin is inspired by The Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty and is designed by @_iceydesogns. The three foiled bookmarks are inspired by The Poppy War, Blood Heir and An ember in the ashes and they are designed by @talia.nobel . *** Mug topper by Whimsy Mug Topsies aka@canxdancexreads . Use my code BOOKNOTES10 to save *** #fairyphoto49 #fairyloot #instabooks #bookobsessed #bookstagrammademedoit #booklovers #booksofig #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammer #bookshelf #bookloversofinstagram #bookishaesthetic #bookcommunity #readersofinsta #bookpics #greekbookstagram #instavivlio #vivlio #diavazo #eucitesc #mybookfeatures #bdstars  #booknotes_athina (at Káto Zákros, Lasithi, Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoKd7DL63O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[stardustprompts]

the empire of gold   (  the daevabad trilogy book 3 ) part 1  -   s. a. chakraborty change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying     tw ; death , war , violence

‘please tell me I’m seeing things. please tell me this isn’t what it looks like.’

‘you don’t get to die. understand? I didn’t save your life a dozen times so you could leave me here.’

‘I suppose war is often more violent than expected.’

‘I had the impression that you and normal did not quite fit.’

‘why do something that would make sense?’

‘it wasn’t you. I didn’t trust anyone. I was afraid to.’

‘it always felt like I was one mistake away from losing everything.’

‘you don’t always have to do everything on your own.’

‘if you rule by violence, you should expect to be removed by violence.’

‘if you could do it all over again, would you not have done anything to save her?’

‘when you left I thought it might’ve been because you hated me.’

‘I don’t blame you for anything that happened that night. and I could never hate you.’

‘I could never hate you. not in a thousand years.’

‘I actually thought you’d be happier if I stayed gone.’

‘you shouldn’t have to keep saving me like this.’

‘I thought I made very clear to you I never intended to let you out of my debt.’

‘I don’t think I can do this.’

‘I’ve always liked choosing my own path.’

‘I’ve got a lot of experience finding slivers of light to cherish when life gets more miserable than usual.’

‘every time I think there’s no lower our world can sink, we all plunge deeper.’

‘don’t. don’t do that. there’s no way (name) blamed you, and he wouldn’t want you killing yourself thinking that.’

‘you are not the only one who’s seen your world broken. nor the only one who grieves for their dead.’

‘you are impossible, do you know that?’

‘I could kill you. it would be nothing.’

‘you are brave, you are strong, and you will survive this day, I swear.’

‘I love you. I always will.’

‘I’m tired of resting. and of having nightmares as well.’

‘it’s been easier to keep busy. if I’m doing things it keeps my mind from everything else, though that’s probably a cowardly thing to admit.’

‘not wanting to be destroyed by despair doesn’t make you a coward, (name). it makes you a survivor.’

‘you chose a very inconvenient time to develop a conscience.’

‘you’ve changed for the better, whether or not you want to admit it.’

‘I don’t know what you’re running from. I don’t know what you’re planning next. but you could have a life here. a good one.’

‘you could have a life here. a good one.’

‘we can’t stay here. we can’t—- I’m sorry I wish we could.’

‘you know it. I know it. it’s only a matter of time.’

‘we will never be safe here and neither will anyone around us.’

‘I don’t want to be safe. not if my people aren’t.’

‘I am nothing like him. I would take a blade to my throat before I’d do the things he’s done.’

‘you and I, we tried, okay? we tried more than most.’

‘(place) is a death trap. it corrupts and ruins everyone who tries to fix it. and we could be free of it. both of us.’

‘I’m going to say something no one has a right to tell you, but it needs to be said and there’s no one else.’

‘we have a duty to go back, no matter the consequences.’

‘you and I don’t get to look away from that, no matter how tempting.’

‘forget it. I’m not going to waste my breath trying to save you from yourself again.’

‘you want to go die out there? fine. but you’ll be doing it alone.’

‘we need to be careful. no reckless plans of self-sacrifice and spouting off things that will get us killed.’

‘thank you. I don’t think I could get through all this without you.’

‘I just don’t understand why you had to be so mean.’

‘this is going to end with us in prison, isn’t it?’

‘not everything has to be a transaction, (name).’

‘your expression is not bolstering my confidence.’

‘you’ve really got to find a way not to look like a startled pigeon every time you lie.’

‘people are often afraid of what they don’t understand.’

‘there is honor in being a weapon.’

‘I envy you sometimes. I wish I had your faith in people’s goodness.’

‘who are you to decide who is a monster?’

‘I used to believe it all. I had too.’

‘because it had to be true. If the ___ were people, innocent mothers and fathers and children, and I did to them the things I did … then I am damned. I am a monster.’

‘I worshipped them, I trusted them, and they lied.’

‘what is any of this supposed to mean if it makes room for such an atrocity.’

‘my best and mind are telling me that I followed the wrong people.’

‘what do I do with that kind of burden?’

‘you are the bravest man I know, and you run.’

‘sit with this burden. you may find doing so is easier than holding it over your head and waiting for it to crush you.’

‘you have been blessed; you have been granted the power, the privilege, the time to fix things.’

‘i’m so tired. everything I build gets broken.’

‘it’s all for nothing. nothing’

‘it’s not for nothing. we can still put things right.’

‘don’t look at me like that. I don’t need your pity. I don’t need anything.’

‘there’s no one else here, my friend. you don’t need to keep up this front.’

‘I thought you were dead. I thought I was dead. I thought I’d failed everyone, and I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even fight back.’

‘you’re a good friend. probably the best one I’ve ever had. but if you tell anyone I cried, I’ll kill you.’

‘have you an actual plan or just wild fantasies that will end with our deaths?’

‘why do you look like you’re considering something very reckless?’

‘if i have found a glimmer of pleasure in all this, it is the assurance that you will destroy yourselves just as spectacularly.’

‘it is those we are closest to who have an opportunity to observe our weaknesses best.’

‘maybe they were afraid. maybe they were right to be.’

‘I wish you had told me. there weren’t supposed to be any more secrets between us.’

‘I feel like we just fell into a trap.’

‘I thought— I thought maybe there was a chance.’

'sometimes it’s wisest to let people show you who they are.’

‘you did not survive in (place) by sticking your head in the sand.’

‘I have never— for even a moment— forgotten how people view me.’

‘I left my home and a peaceful life to come here in the hopes of fixing things.’

‘I won’t be threatened.’ 

‘in my experience, parents are capable of doing a great deal of hurt to their children.’

[stardustprompts]

the city of brass  (  the daevabad trilogy book 1  )  -   s. a. chakraborty change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying     tw ;  death ,  violence ,  religion mention 

‘you do realize you just committed a crime, yes?’

‘you get more like the devil each day.’

‘you can’t please everyone.’

‘i’m trying to warn you.’

‘you have no experience with what happens to people like us during a war. people who are different. you should keep your head down.’

‘you sound eager to be rid of me.’

‘you’re playing with things you don’t understand.’

‘that’s very arrogant. blasphemous, even. only a fool would speak in such a way.’

‘there is power in names. it’s not something my people give out so freely.’

‘I am going to ask you some questions first. you will answer them. and honestly. you strike me as a liar.’

‘you strike me as a liar.’

‘I prefer to think of myself as a merchant of delicate tasks.’

‘that doesn’t make you any less a criminal.’

‘I do what I need to survive.’

‘earn this. save yourself. live to fight again.’

‘forget it. I don’t know why I bothered to ask.’

‘do you have any idea how dangerous that was?’

‘your company is not … entirely displeasing.’

‘i’ll cut your throat in your sleep if you’re lying.’

‘it’s not haunted.’

‘do you have to creep up on me like some sort of assassin?’

‘you betrayed us, the very people your family was meant to protect.’

‘you think it matters how you kill me? a hundred more will rise in my place.’

‘you will suffer … in this world and the next.’

‘i’m simply capable of seeing both sides of an issue. It’s a skill you should try to develop.’

‘there is something very wrong with you.’

‘you’re just going to abandon me?’

‘is that what this is all about then? you’re ashamed of me?’

‘you didn’t grow up in my world. you can’t understand.’

‘you’re so arrogant you can’t even apologize properly.’

‘I could not bear it if something happened to you. I would never forgive myself.’

‘finally. I was starting to fear you drowned.’

‘are you afraid? are you trembling?’

‘you can’t trust anything they say. all they do is deceive and manipulate. they will say anything to trick you. to break you.’

‘I take it then that the rumors do not have you worried?’

‘you’re not even a good liar, do you know that?’

‘I suspect there are some good ideas hiding behind your propensity for rash, terrible decisions.’

‘what you’re suggesting … no man could survive it.’

‘nothing interesting ever happens around here.’

‘have i actually silenced you for once?’

‘knowing how your type feel about martyrdom, let me make this clear. it will not be you alone who suffers.’

‘I shouldn’t have said that. It was rude… and it’s hardly the first time I’ve been rude to you.’

‘are you afraid of me?’

‘it is said that when a man and woman are alone in a closed room, their third companion is the devil.’

‘I can teach you … I mean, if you want me to.’

‘I am not your enemy.’

‘I suppose I’m full of surprises.’

‘I am nothing like you. I would never do the things you did.’

‘I like to keep my options open.’

‘I look forward to being outmatched.’

‘I have a surprise for you.’

‘you’ve taken very quickly to ordering people around.’

‘have you completely lost your mind?’

‘you can’t trust him. I bet every other word out of his mouth is a lie meant to turn you towards their side.’

‘whatever happened in the past is just that: past.’

‘I feel as though it’s an illusion, like I’m one mistake from having it all stripped away.’

‘sometimes magic works best when there’s a little … emotion behind it.’

‘my curiosity is winning over my common sense.’

‘you won’t be able to continue like this. one of these days, you’re going to have to make a choice.’

‘you were my idea, you know. my hope.’

‘just because I shouldn’t have done it does mean … it doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.’

‘I never had anything like this … anything like you.’

‘do you think this is easy for me? do you think I enjoy imagining your life with another?’

‘it must be nice to have a family.’

‘you could, you know? have a family, I mean. here. with us.’

‘you trust too easily. you always have.’

‘you’re not supposed to be friends. you’re supposed to lead.’

‘I’ll have to invent some salacious story to amuse myself.’

‘you’re not terrible. you’re my friend.’

‘that’s cold. that’s a coldness I didn’t know you had in you.’

‘I try to dismiss them, you know, the things people say. I always have.’

‘I would stick a blade in my heart before I raised it to you—- I swear to god.’

‘please just tell me how to fix this. I’ll do anything.’

‘do you think I want your death on my conscience?’

‘I don’t need you to save me!’

‘I’m telling you: I’ll never forgive you if something happens to him—- and I’ll never forget what you did here tonight.’

‘it’s been a dark few months. my time with you… it was a light.’

‘I didn’t mean to do that, to hurt you, I swear!’

‘tell whatever truth you want. make it good. I’m done protecting you.’

‘I believe you. I mean, I don’t particularly care, but for what it’s worth, I do believe you.’

[anndiscworld-phile]

Hi! I am absolutely in love with the ali/nahri drabble you wrote. It was so in character and fun. Would you be willing to write another of them just hanging out and getting to know each other without any rebellions going on?

hey anon!! this one took a while to finish. would you believe i actually had most of it done over a month ago? life stuff got in the way, but i was finally able to finish it 

thank you for your patience, and i hope you enjoy 

-x-

Nahri stole another cookie from his plate, and Ali watched her with interest. By his count, she had consumed about a dozen in half as many minutes. She was quite efficient. He snagged one more for himself and slid her the rest of it. She mumbled a thank you and washed it down with scalding hot tea. 

He bit into his cookie, savoring the way the crumbs burst into his mouth, spilling a soft sweetness onto his tongue. He would have to visit Nahri’s grandfather for more. Ali frowned, remembering he was also low on the man’s tea. Where had it all gone? 

As Ali tried to puzzle out when he had finished it, Nahri poured herself another cup and promptly drained it. 

“New tariffs on silk,” he murmured, finally recalling the particularly exhausting trade discussions between the Tukharistani and Agnivanshi representatives. It had been a truly heinous week, capped off by another exhausting week of corrections and squabbling.

He cast a look at Nahri, who now seemed as if she was contemplating using her tea to cushion her head for a particularly long nap. 

“How long was your shift this time?” 

He hadn’t seen Nahri in nearly a fortnight, but he could always tell when she’d spent as many nights at the hospital, as she did days. The circles under her eyes darkened, and while the sharpness of her eyes never faded, her willingness to listen to anything that wasn’t pertinent to her work, did. 

She would only ever return to her home, when she felt secure the hospital was in a good place. Narhi was always famished afterwards, similar to the scrawny boys Ali had grown up with at the citadel, he thought fondly. Tired, and hungry enough to eat a table. 

“Four days, maybe three and a half?” she said. “I’m not sure, I only know my memory of blankets and pillows feels more like a dream, than tangible things I actually own and can use.” 

“Maybe you should reacquaint yourself, now that you’ve replenished your stores,” he suggested.

She sighed. “Tempting, but I used the last of my strength serving myself that tea. I’m fairly sure if I try to stand, I’ll fall over.”

“I can carry you,” Ali offered. 

Nahri’s mouth curved into a smile, and there was a powerful fluttering in his stomach. “Oh? Carry me to bed, Alizayd.”

The warmth of her tone, the intimacy of her words, and more than that, the sincerity behind it all, made him color. As it was, Ali had visited her bed before. A few months ago, he had been in a similar state—dead tired, but stubborn about making their set meeting. Nahri had taken one look at him and pushed Ali to her bedroom. He’d been pliant with exhaustion and let her press him down onto her covers, nary a thought to his modesty. 

Her bed smelled like the flowers from her garden, he remembered, and then he firmly pushed the thought away. 

He gave her a mulish look, and she laughed. “Thank you my friend, but I actually don’t want to go to sleep yet. Subha’s making me take tomorrow off, the hypocrite, and I’d prefer to wait until it’s at least dusk, so I can get a full night in.” 

“The crash will be worse,” he said, but accepted it. “What will you do until then?”

“There’s some papers I can look over, but that won’t take long, thankfully.” She gave him a smile, a tad shy. “Do you have anything to do today?”

Always, he almost said, but recognized just in time what she was really asking. He could hear his siblings’ sighing in his ears, oh Zaydi, Allah help you when it comes to women.

“Nothing urgent,” he said, and cleared his throat. “There were some new maps I wanted to show you.” 

“Oh?” Her voice was keen with interest. 

“Yes. By a famous human cartographer.” He started digging in his bag and then made himself slow down. He didn’t want to damage anything. “An ambassador trying to curry favor with me no doubt, but—” 

“They succeeded in currying favor,” Nahri guessed.

“Just a bit.” 

Finally, he found it and gingerly pulled the map out. Nahri cleared off the table, and they unrolled it together, slowly.

This was the fourth time Ali had seen it, and it still took his breath away. It truly was a beautiful piece of art. The artist had taken the time to color his figures, and the scale was fairly accurate. 

He traced a finger along the Nile, following the leagues he’d travelled with Nahri. There was still so much left to explore, he thought. What a beautiful world they had been blessed with.  

Nahri studied it, tapping Europe with a sardonic smile, but her gaze softened when it landed on Egypt. They were quiet for a moment.

“Maps, you said?”

Ali nodded and pulled out the other item. 

“A book?” Nahri asked, and then her eyes widened. “Ali is that—?”

“Yes,” he said simply. 

The Nuzhat al-mushtāq fi'khtirāq al-āfāq by Muhammad al-Idrisi. It was only a copy of the original, but even so, it was marvelous to gaze upon. The djinn who’s possession it had come into, had taken the pains to enchant the cover and all that lie between, so that it would last longer.

They shared a look, and Nahri pushed the book open. They sat in silence, taking care as they turned each page. 

Finally Nahri spoke. “You could spend a whole lifetime studying this.” 

“I used to think cartography was one of the best things a person could pursue,” Ali said.

“Really?”

He nodded. “All the best cartographers travelled as well, and al-Idrisi was the best. As a child, I used to dream of doing this. Always seeing new places, learning new things everyday. From all sorts of people, not just djinn.”

“‘Used to’,” she noted. “You said that twice now. What changed?”

He shrugged. “The Qaid serves the king. I would not be much of one, if I was always off in new lands. As I grew older, I understood that.” 

Nahri digested this and then said, “And now?”

“Hmm?” His attention had fallen back onto the pages in front of them. 

“And now?” she said again. “You’re not Qaid. You have a truly astonishing ability to traverse waters with more ease than it takes me to pick up pastries for the week.”

“And yet, new responsibilities have appeared, as if by magic.” A wry smile pulled at his lips. “But yes, I won’t lie. It would be easier to travel now, for many reasons.” 

Sometimes when he visited Sobek, they passed through places Ali had never even dreamed of. Ali was fairly sure Sobek didn’t know how to roll his eyes, but also that the god was tempted to everytime Ali made them pause so he could step out of the water and actually look at whatever new land they were speeding past.

“Where would you want to go?” 

He laughed. “Where wouldn’t I want to go? Did you know there are also pyramids on the other side of the world, in a county called México? When I was with Sobek, I caught a glimpse through the seas, of skies, lit by waves of colors. What causes those? There are so many wonders in this world! I don’t think there’s a person alive who can know them all, but it would be a life well spent trying to explore as much of it as possible.”

Belatedly, Ali realized how loud he had gotten at the end, recognized the passion in his voice, but before the embarrassment could set it, he felt a soft kiss press against his cheek.

Warmth flooded his body, and like always, it made Ali think for a moment that he could still summon fire. He looked at Nahri, and her dark eyes gleamed with affection and happiness. Because of him, Ali realized, because Ali had been talking about something that made him happy, and that made Nahri happy. 

He knew his love for Nahri has only grown since knowing her, but most of the time, it was like the sun. Steady and warm, but sometimes searing. Ali felt himself helplessly and joyfully, falling a little deeper in love. 

He kissed her back, brushing his lips against her hair, and he pressed his head against her’s. For a minute, they stayed like that. Breathing together. 

Finally he broke the silence and whispered back to her. “And you?”

Nahri’s eyes had closed. “Hmm?”

“Where would you go?”

“Everywhere,” she said, and laughed when he nudged her. “I’m serious! Medicine is practiced everywhere! And it varies, depending on the region. And the plants which can be used for treatment also vary, depending on location.”

“I wanted to travel when I was younger too,” she admitted. Ali leaned forward, interested. He’d only ever known Nahri as someone who, however much she grew to love Daevabad, loved Egypt more. 

“It’s one of the reasons I was so desperate for money. I always wanted to be a doctor, and I knew that the best doctors travel and correspond with other doctors. How else do you learn about new techniques and developments? Medical understanding on a matter can change within the year!

“There’s also the history of medicine. You know, the Europeans are working out inoculation now, but we beat them to it ages ago,” she said, excitement coloring her tone. “Subha was telling me, the earliest records of it go back to the Ming dynasty.”

Her eyes were bright with curiosity, and Ali automatically began mapping out the great, sprawling rivers of China in his head. “We could go,” he offered, and he could already see the ways they would take. 

She blinked. “For a visit?”

“Well yes,” he said. “But.” He paused, unsure exactly if he would say it correctly, but wanting Nahri to know his thoughts. “We could stay for longer too. A proper amount of time. For you to investigate medical matters, and me to investigate,” he trailed off, not able to specify any particular thing. There was just so much to learn about.

“Everything?” Nahri finished for him, teasing. He shrugged, not denying it. Humans were fascinating, and Ali could spend a lifetime travelling among them, and never tire of it. She smiled again, but he could see her enthusiasm dim. “But how could we leave Daevabad for such a long period of time?” 

How could I, he heard her say silently.

“We know the ring can pass between living people.” He rubbed his chest ruefully. “Far more easily between Nahids.”

Her eyebrow arched. “Just pass Suleiman’s seal between Jamshid and I? I’m not sure how I feel about treating such a powerful object like a favorite toy between siblings.”

“Aren’t all of Anahid’s descendants responsible for Suleiman’s seal?” he said. “You trust Jamshid in all else, why not this?” 

She stayed quiet, thinking on the matter. Finally, she said, “But to give it to him, based on such a—selfish desire? I don’t know.”

“It’s not selfish,” he argued. “You want to travel to become a better doctor. And even if it was selfish, haven’t you earned it?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Jamshid might not agree.”

“Jamshid would agree that you work harder than anyone and have sacrificed more than most,” he said. “He also owes me.” For poisoning me, he added silently.

“For poisoning you, yes,” she said dryly. He froze. “Which reminds me, the four of us are due for a conversation on that.”

“Four?”

“Muntadhir too,” she said viciously, and Ali winced thinking about it. “Honestly, the two of you. Thinking you could just hide a poisoning!”

“We can talk about that another day,” he said hastily. Next century maybe. “My point is Nahri, Jamshid isn’t his mother, or his father. I think he would handle the seal wisely.”

“He would,” she admitted, after a moment. Then she shook her head. “It’s something to think about at least.” 

He would take that, for now. “Good.” He set about making them more tea, and a floral scent soon floated about the room. 

“You know,” she said, after he poured her a new cup. “Jamshid isn’t the only one I could pass the ring to.”

“I’m not doing that again,” he said quickly. 

She rolled her eyes. “Obviously not. It would defeat the purpose of us travelling together. I meant...other Nahids could take it maybe, one day.”

Ali stopped mid pour. “But there isn’t other Nahids.” Unless Rustam and Manizheh had even more secret children—

“Obviously not,” she said again. “But, maybe one day, there will be.” 

Then she looked at him for an uncomfortable amount of time. And then, her words truly struck Ali, and he was very glad to have put the tea pot down. “Oh,” he said haltingly, “Yes. That’s another option.”

Nahri finally broke her stare and took a sip of her tea. “Yes, obviously. Not as a quick solution to this particular problem, but—”

Ali reached out and caught her hand. “But maybe in the future,” he offered. He felt the heat in his face and knew he was flushing horribly. He also knew he was smiling, foolishly probably. 

But Nahri smiled back, and said, “The future.”

Our future, he heard her say silently.

-x-

yeah this ficlet is mostly about nahri and ali dorking out over maps, but, as we all know, nahri and ali are dorks, and would totally appreciate really cool maps

remember when nahri told ali he had a good bod to his face and then to get over the awkwardness, they started talking about nearby ruins and got really into it as an actual discussion

i hope you enjoyed this anon!! it was a really sweet prompt, and I’m glad i had a chance to write this

may you, like nahri, have a good rest, and a good night (or day depending on where you’re at)

[anndiscworld-phile]

Hi i know tumblr has a habit of eating my asks, I sent in a daevabad prompt a while back (i think during fall) and i just wanted to ask if you'd gotten it something along the lines of jamshid/muntadhir+sleep i've loved seeing what you write and you always manage in be so in character!

hey!! 

i think it did! i’m so sorry. you did catch me at a good time tho! i’m getting back to writing fic this month (got a fan exchange coming up soon), and I can probably knock out your prompt in the next few weeks!

go ahead and resubmit your prompt, so that I can publish the fic with it

thanks for following up!