The Wrath and the Dawn

Before reading the sequel: um...
This book was....surprisingly very good ? ... !I think I was hesitant because I found “Flame in the Mist” to be well written but (imo) the sequel was slightly disappointing....I think the author did a better job of character and story development in this one. I really liked Khalid - the Caliph was fascinatingly complicated...and I liked that he was accepting of his faults without seeking to justify his mistakes. It takes a certain strength/courage, and discipline to be able to face yourself, face your mistakes, and still have hope that you can be better. I'm not sure if it's me or the fact that I read the book in one sitting (and was reading kinda slow lol) but at times I found the suspense to be unnecessarily extended? Simultaneously, I liked the build-up to the revelation of the letters . Hm...also, I have a soft spot for these kinda stories: historic-fiction setting
retellings / myths (so, different lore) haters -> lovers lol