"The banyan tree I used to hide in as a boy."
Despite everything, Shahrzad's interest was piqued, for he was unlike any of the soldiers who had come to torment her thus far. "Banyan tree?"
The rustling sound from beyond the darkness made Shahrzad think her strange visitor had settled in for a while. He cleared his throat. "When I made mischief as a child, I would run to the hollow of a very old banyan tree on the edge of the jungle and hide within it before my father could punish me."
"And why do I remind you of this tree?"
"Because these trees destroy everything around them over time."
Shahrzad let out an unamused chuff. "Thank you for the lovely story, old man."
He coughed a low chortle. "I meant it as a compliment."
"Forgive me for not seeing it as such."
"Where I come from, we are raised to see things in a never-ending cycle. I saw that cycle in the life of the banyan tree. It grows big and tall and wide while providing shelter to those who seek it. Over time, it can grow too big for itself, destroying everything around it. but I've also watched it slowly feed its way to new life. Provide roots for the new trees. Seeds for the new flowers. You are a banyan tree because in you I see this tory. The beginning and the end of all things. The hope for something to grow, even in shadow."
Shahrzad's pulse started to rise.
The old man's voice had begun to deepen as he spoke. Had begun to lose some of its raspiness. Had begun to roll like distant thunder.

This duology can safely be labeled a favorite. Having read both books from the library, I will probably go out and buy both hardcover editions to have at home. In a year of rereading, these two books are easy choices for revisiting.

There is an exotic and mysterious quality in the writing by Ms. Ahdieh. A difficult feat to accomplish, this book and its predecessor ([b:The Wrath & the Dawn|18798983|The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417956963s/18798983.jpg|26724902]), has some of the most poetic phrasings that still somehow stop short of being overdone. The balance of stylistic writing, phrasing, mystery, dialogue, action scenes, and characterization is very nearly perfect. I honestly couldn't ask for more in a book.

Having read several handfuls of fairytale retellings, and still enjoying them, I found this to be such a refreshing venture that I had to remind myself - even now I must - that this story came before. And yet, it didn't. More than anything, this book is a perfect balance. It's tales of old, and it's new and exciting. Poetic, mystical and straightforward, decisive.

And up here—higher than she'd ever thought she could be—the wind blew alongside her, while all else vanished in a blur.
Still, there was no fear.
For up here, Shahrzad chased the wind.
The ground did not exist. Nor did the sky.
Here, she was truly boundless.
Fear would never overtake her again.

The continuation of the story from [b:The Wrath & the Dawn|18798983|The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417956963s/18798983.jpg|26724902] makes the two books so completely whole, while the development of this new book by itself is so wonderful on its own. Another difficult task. To say I'll be on the lookout for any new books by Ms. Ahdieh, is a statement in the obvious.