Renee Ahdieh

“My soul sees its equal in you.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Believe in actions and actions alone.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Love is—a shade of what I feel.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“To me, you are magic.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“We are what we do.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“You sent Shahrzad away with a boy I would not trust with a dying snake.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“The only power any man has over you is the power you give him.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Anything is possible so long as there is a strong will behind it.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“She was not a half. She was wholly her own.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Hattori Mariko was not just any girl. She was more.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Control is an illusion. Expectations will not rule my days. Not anymore.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“True strength isn’t about sovereignty. It’s about knowing when you need help and having the courage to accept it.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“A girl willingly donning a crown of death. A small girl with immense courage. Immense hate. Why”

— Renee Ahdieh

“In this age of decadence that we live in, people's minds are twisted and only words are loved but not preactial deeds.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“And only those watching very carefully saw the Caliph of Khorasan lean back against the cushions and toy with the bangles on…

— Renee Ahdieh

“There is no way to know for certain what lurks in the shadowed corners of the mind.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Until nothing at all existed between them. But shared breaths. And unspoken promises. Lies. And unshakable truth.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“He would learn the truth. Tonight he would flout his own rules. Meet the girl alone. Ask her a single question. He…

— Renee Ahdieh

“I am strange.” She brandished her practice sword. “And you had better learn to appreciate it.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“A mere trinket? Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi. For love, people consider the unthinkable . . . and often achieve the impossible. I…

— Renee Ahdieh

“When I was a boy, my mother would tell me that one of the best things in life is the knowledge that…

— Renee Ahdieh

“And despite being seventeen - Hattori Mariko knew her place in life. She would marry Minamoto Raiden. Her parents would have the…

— Renee Ahdieh

“It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to…

— Renee Ahdieh

“You are first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person nonetheless. If I ever say you are not…

— Renee Ahdieh

“In my life, the one thing I have learned above all is that no individual can reach the height of their potential…

— Renee Ahdieh

“Jealousy is a childish, petty emotion.” The caliph switched the single shamshir to his left hand in a single, fluid motion. “I…

— Renee Ahdieh

“Do you understand, Brat Calipha?” Despina continued. Shahrzad glanced over her shoulder at her handmaiden, in stalwart silence. Despina sighed. “On pain…

— Renee Ahdieh

“Her conviction wavered further. “I told you; don’t try to own me.” “I don’t want to own you.” She swiveled her neck…

— Renee Ahdieh

“It’s late,” Khalid said. “You should sleep.” “What are you talking about? I’m not doing anything.” “Stop smiling and go to sleep.”…

— Renee Ahdieh

“In your honesty, I saw a reflection of myself. Or rather, of the man I longed to be. So I failed you.…

— Renee Ahdieh

“You are a disaster. You flinch at the slightest noise, and you nearly ripped that poor boy’s head off for dropping his…

— Renee Ahdieh

“It was easy to be good and kind in times of plenty. The trying times were the moments that defined a man.…

— Renee Ahdieh

“She laughed, the sound dancing around the room with the airy quality of chimes. “My life is forfeit. You’ve made that clear.…

— Renee Ahdieh

“I've never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I've been angry at how the world treats…

— Renee Ahdieh

“Shazi, I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment.…

— Renee Ahdieh

“The mighty Caliph of Khorasan. The King of Kings. Her beautiful monster.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“Perhaps I have a strange affinity for old books.”

— Renee Ahdieh

“For without a measure of arrogance, how can one attempt the impossible?”

— Renee Ahdieh