Shadows and Snowfall

In the frozen caliphate of Demenhur, Zafira bint Iskandar hunts in the deadly Arz forest, disguised as a man to feed her people. The land is cursed—magic has vanished, and each caliphate suffers a unique blight. Zafira's skill and courage are legendary, but her true identity must remain hidden in a society that blames women for the loss of magic. The Arz, a living shadow, is both her adversary and her strange companion, whispering to her as she braves its depths. Her life is a delicate balance of survival, secrecy, and the ever-present threat of being unmasked.

The Hunter's Secret

Zafira's double life is a constant strain. Only a few trusted friends know her secret, including Deen and Yasmine, her closest companions. The village depends on the mysterious "Hunter" for food, but Zafira's success is a silent rebellion against the misogyny of her world. The burden of her secret grows heavier as she is targeted by mysterious forces—first by soldiers, then by a silver-cloaked witch who knows her true name. The witch's appearance signals a turning point: Zafira is chosen for a quest that could restore magic to Arawiya, but at a cost she cannot yet imagine.

Prince of Death

In the desert caliphate of Sarasin, Nasir, the sultan's son, is known as the Prince of Death. Trained as a hashashin, he is both weapon and warden, carrying out his father's brutal will. Haunted by the loss of his mother and the cruelty of his father, Nasir is numb to the world, his only solace found in rare moments of kindness. He is sent to kill traitors and rebels, but each death chips away at his soul. When the sultan orders him to retrieve the same magical artifact Zafira seeks—and to kill anyone who finds it—Nasir's path is set on a collision course with hers.

The Silver Witch's Invitation

The Silver Witch, a figure of myth and menace, delivers a letter to Zafira: she is to travel to the island of Sharr and retrieve the Jawarat, a book said to restore magic to the world. The witch's motives are unclear, but the promise of ending the Arz's curse and saving her people is too great to ignore. Zafira's decision is complicated by her relationships—her love for her family, her loyalty to her friends, and her fear of what she might become. The witch's words echo: "You are the key."

Masks and Motives

As Zafira prepares for her journey, she is forced to confront the limitations placed on her by her society and her own fears. Deen, her steadfast friend, proposes marriage, hoping to anchor her to safety, but she cannot accept. Meanwhile, Nasir receives his own orders: he must retrieve the Jawarat and kill the Hunter. Both are manipulated by forces greater than themselves—the sultan, the witch, and the shadows of their own pasts. Their paths, though separate, are bound by fate and the growing darkness.

The Sultani's Orders

The sultan, Ghameq, is a tyrant whose power is bolstered by forbidden blood magic and the enigmatic Silver Witch. He commands Nasir with threats and cruelty, using pain and the lives of innocents as leverage. The sultan's ambitions are vast: he seeks to control all the caliphates, using the chaos of the lost magic to his advantage. Nasir's loyalty is tested as he is forced to choose between obedience and his own conscience. The sultan's machinations set the stage for war, betrayal, and the unraveling of old alliances.

The Wedding and the World

Amidst the cold and hunger, Zafira attends the wedding of her friend Yasmine, a rare moment of joy. Yet even this celebration is shadowed by the realities of their world—oppression, superstition, and the ever-encroaching Arz. The wedding becomes a farewell, as Zafira prepares to leave everything she knows behind. Her relationships are tested: with Deen, who loves her; with Lana, her vulnerable sister; and with her mother, whose grief and madness are a constant reminder of what is at stake.

The Call to Sharr

Zafira, Nasir, and a cast of unlikely companions—Kifah, a Pelusian warrior; Benyamin, a safin scholar; and Altair, the sultan's enigmatic general—are drawn to Sharr, each for their own reasons. The island is a place of myth, once a prison for monsters and now the heart of the world's curse. As they cross the Baransea, they face ancient dangers, monstrous creatures, and the growing realization that the quest is more than a simple retrieval. The island itself is alive, testing their resolve and their hearts.

Lost in the Dark

On Sharr, the group—now a zumra, a found family—faces deadly trials. Illusions and ifrits prey on their fears and desires. Deen is killed in a tragic misunderstanding, shattering Zafira's heart and sense of purpose. Nasir, too, is forced to confront his own darkness, his growing feelings for Zafira, and the truth about his family. The island's magic twists reality, and the line between friend and foe blurs. Each must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

The Zumra Forms

The survivors—Zafira, Nasir, Kifah, Benyamin, and Altair—form a reluctant alliance. Each brings unique strengths and secrets: Kifah's cunning, Benyamin's knowledge, Altair's wit, Nasir's deadly skill, and Zafira's unerring sense of direction. Together, they face the island's challenges, battling monsters, illusions, and their own inner demons. Trust is hard-won, and betrayal is always a possibility. The zumra becomes a family, bound by shared pain and hope.

The Island's Trials

Sharr tests the zumra with physical and psychological trials. They face ifrits, kaftar, and the manipulations of the island's master—the Lion of the Night, a legendary villain thought long dead. The Lion's power is immense, and his interest in Zafira and Nasir is personal. The group uncovers the truth about the Jawarat: it is not just a book, but a vessel of memory and magic, tied to the hearts of the lost Sisters. To restore magic, they must free the hearts—and risk unleashing the Lion.

Ifrit and Illusions

The zumra is beset by illusions and betrayals. Altair's true heritage is revealed: he is Nasir's half-brother, son of the sultana and the Lion. Benyamin's past with the Lion comes to light, and the cost of magic—blood, sacrifice, and pain—is laid bare. Zafira's own magic, her affinity as a da'ira (a compass), is both a gift and a curse. The group is fractured by loss, guilt, and the manipulations of the Lion and the Silver Witch, who is revealed to be the immortal sultana herself.

The Lion's Lair

The zumra faces the Lion in his lair, a place of shadows and pain. Zafira and Nasir are captured and tortured, forced to confront their deepest fears and desires. The Lion's power is overwhelming, and his connection to the sultana and the magic of Arawiya is revealed. Sacrifices are made—Benyamin gives his life to save Nasir, and the group is forever changed. The Lion's goal is clear: to claim the Jawarat and the hearts of the Sisters, and to rule Arawiya with unchallenged power.

Chains and Choices

In the aftermath of battle, the zumra must make impossible choices. Zafira and Nasir's relationship deepens, forged in pain and trust. Altair's loyalty is tested as he is captured by the Lion, his true parentage revealed. The sultana's secrets come to light, and the cost of her choices is felt by all. The zumra is fractured, but their purpose is clear: to restore magic, defeat the Lion, and save Arawiya from destruction.

The Price of Magic

The group succeeds in freeing the hearts of the Sisters, breaking the curse of Sharr and restoring magic to the world. But victory comes at a cost: Benyamin's death, Altair's capture, and the unleashing of the Lion upon Arawiya. The zumra escapes the island, forever changed by what they have seen and done. The Jawarat is now bound to Zafira, and the fate of the world rests in her hands.

The Truth of Blood

As the zumra sails home, they grapple with the truths uncovered on Sharr: the Lion's survival, the sultana's immortality, Altair's heritage, and the true nature of magic. The world they return to is not the one they left—war, suffering, and the Lion's shadow loom over Arawiya. Each must decide what they are willing to fight for, and what they are willing to lose.

Sacrifice and Betrayal

In the aftermath, the zumra mourns their losses and prepares for the battles ahead. Yasmine, grieving for Deen and her home, vows vengeance. Altair, now a prisoner of the Lion, faces an uncertain future. Zafira and Nasir, bound by love and pain, must lead the fight to save their world. The story ends with hope and heartbreak, as the true war for Arawiya begins.

The Heart of Sharr

The curse is broken, but the Lion is free. The zumra, scarred but united, must rally the caliphates and restore balance to Arawiya. The Jawarat's secrets remain, and the true battle—against darkness, tyranny, and the shadows within—has only just begun.

Characters

Zafira bint Iskandar

Zafira is a young woman forced to disguise herself as a man to hunt in the cursed Arz and feed her people. She is defined by her courage, compassion, and the heavy burden of secrecy. Her journey is one of self-discovery: from a girl hiding her identity to a leader who claims her power and her name. Zafira's relationships—with Deen, Yasmine, Lana, and eventually Nasir—shape her, but her greatest struggle is internal: to accept her worth, her magic, and her right to exist as herself. Her affinity as a da'ira (compass) makes her the key to restoring magic, but also a target for manipulation. Zafira's arc is one of transformation, as she learns that love, vulnerability, and strength are not mutually exclusive.

Nasir Ghameq

Nasir is the sultan's son, trained as a hashashin and known as the Prince of Death. His life is marked by trauma: the loss of his mother, the cruelty of his father, and the endless blood on his hands. Nasir is emotionally numb, using stoicism as armor, but beneath lies a desperate longing for love and redemption. His relationship with Zafira awakens feelings he thought long dead, and his loyalty to Altair and the zumra challenges his obedience to the sultan. Nasir's arc is a struggle between duty and desire, darkness and hope. His affinity for shadows mirrors his internal conflict, and his ultimate choice is whether to remain a weapon or become a savior.

Altair al-Badawi

Altair is the sultan's general, known for his humor, intelligence, and hidden depths. He is revealed to be Nasir's half-brother, the son of the sultana and the Lion. Altair's loyalty is complex: he serves the sultan, but his true allegiance is to Arawiya and the greater good. He is a master manipulator, weaving webs of information and alliances. Altair's lightness masks pain and a deep sense of responsibility. His relationship with Nasir is fraught with rivalry, affection, and the shared trauma of their upbringing. Altair's arc is one of revelation and sacrifice, as he risks everything for his found family.

Kifah Darwish

Kifah is a Pelusian warrior-scholar, one of the Nine Elite, marked by her strength, intelligence, and dry wit. She is haunted by the loss of her brother and driven by a desire for vengeance and justice. Kifah's affinity as a miragi (illusionist) makes her a formidable ally. Her friendship with Zafira is a source of mutual respect and support, and her pragmatism grounds the zumra. Kifah's arc is about reclaiming agency and finding purpose beyond pain.

Benyamin Haadi

Benyamin is a safin from Alderamin, centuries old and burdened by knowledge and regret. He is a dreamwalker, able to share memories and guide others through the past. Benyamin's history with the Lion and the sultana is fraught with betrayal and loss. He is a mentor to the zumra, offering wisdom and guidance, but his secrets and guilt ultimately lead to his sacrifice. Benyamin's arc is one of atonement, as he gives his life to save others and correct the mistakes of the past.

The Silver Witch / Sultana

The Silver Witch is revealed to be the immortal sultana, mother to Nasir and Altair, and one of the original Sisters. Her motives are enigmatic: she manipulates events to guide Zafira and Nasir, but her actions are driven by guilt, love, and the burden of immortality. She is both protector and architect of the quest, her choices shaping the fate of Arawiya. Her relationship with her sons is fraught with pain and longing, and her ultimate goal is redemption—for herself and her world.

The Lion of the Night

The Lion is a legendary figure, half-ifrit, half-safin, whose ambition and cunning nearly destroyed Arawiya. He is the true master of Sharr, the architect of the world's curse, and the father of Altair. The Lion's power is immense, his cruelty matched only by his charisma. He seeks the Jawarat and the hearts of the Sisters to rule unchallenged. His relationship with the sultana is twisted by love, betrayal, and centuries of enmity. The Lion embodies the seductive nature of darkness and the dangers of unchecked ambition.

Deen Ra'ad

Deen is Zafira's childhood friend and confidant, deeply loyal and quietly in love with her. His proposal is a plea for safety, but Zafira cannot accept a life of hiding. Deen's death on Sharr is a turning point, shattering Zafira's innocence and forcing her to confront the cost of her choices. His memory haunts her, a symbol of what is lost in the pursuit of hope.

Yasmine Ra'ad

Yasmine is Zafira's best friend, a source of strength and warmth. Her marriage is a bittersweet reminder of what is at stake. After Deen's death and the destruction of their village, Yasmine's grief turns to resolve—she vows vengeance and survival, embodying the resilience of those left behind.

Lana bint Iskandar

Lana is Zafira's younger sister, wise beyond her years and gifted in healing. She is a symbol of hope and vulnerability, the reason Zafira fights. Lana's presence grounds Zafira, reminding her of what is at stake and what must be protected.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonists and Alternating POV

The novel alternates between Zafira and Nasir's perspectives, allowing readers to experience the world through two very different lenses. This structure highlights their parallel struggles with identity, duty, and desire, and sets up their eventual convergence. The dual POV deepens the emotional resonance and underscores the theme of unity in diversity.

The Quest Structure

The central plot is a quest to retrieve the Jawarat and restore magic, but the journey is as much internal as external. Each character is tested—by monsters, magic, and their own fears. The quest structure provides momentum, but the true stakes are personal: redemption, acceptance, and the right to exist.

Masks, Secrets, and Identity

Disguise and deception are central: Zafira's male persona, Nasir's emotional armor, Altair's secret heritage, the sultana's hidden identity. The revelation of these secrets is both a source of conflict and a catalyst for growth. The novel explores the cost of hiding and the liberation of truth.

Magic as Metaphor

Magic is both literal and symbolic—a force that shapes the world and the characters' lives. Its absence is a metaphor for oppression, trauma, and the loss of agency. The quest to restore magic is a quest to reclaim hope, identity, and the possibility of change.

Found Family (Zumra)

The zumra—Zafira, Nasir, Altair, Kifah, Benyamin—are a found family, united by circumstance and choice. Their relationships are fraught with tension, but ultimately, they choose each other. The zumra embodies the novel's central message: that unity, trust, and love can overcome even the darkest of curses.

The Lion and the Silver Witch

The Lion and the Silver Witch are more than villains—they are embodiments of the world's wounds and the consequences of love, ambition, and betrayal. Their history is intertwined with the fate of Arawiya, and their choices echo through the lives of the protagonists. The personal is political, and the battle for magic is a battle for the soul of the world.

Last updated: May 11, 2025