Merchant Zayed’s Harem Adventures 8
In the veiled hours of Scheherazade’s tale, Merchant Zayed steps into the cold halls of his new palace—and has fateful meetings with a prince and his mermaid daughter.
👉 Walk the city at night.
Caliph Harun al-Rashid’s uncle throws him a dismissive glance. “And what’s this about Javad the Wise? Did Zayed keep some of the treasure from you?”
“I’m sure he took his fair share, Prince Malik. The task was a formidable one, after all.”
“A giant bird, a flying carpet, and two magical felines? Do they belong to us or are they still in his possession? Never mind, I can tell the answer by your face.” Malik straightens his collar in the reflection of the fountain. “He’s after your position, Emir Khalaf... Possibly after my nephew’s as well.”
“I... I can’t imagine... Arash Zayed has been nothing but loyal to us.”
“Then why does he have his own trade routes, an intimate relation with a foreign power, and recourse to magical beings?”
Lily Chen on Goodreads wrote:The adventure side SLAPPED this season too. Watching Rozhin go from aching would-be mother to commanding leader of men was one of the best glow-ups of the series so far. Of course, Tiffany still knows how to turn up the heat. Atossa bouncing on Zayed with that mix of political savvy and pure passion? 🔥🔥🔥 And the palace scenes where sensuality and sorrow collide? Pure Tiffany magic—steamy, emotional, and mythic all at once. What ties it all together is Zayed himself—his late-night walk through Qaswin, realizing charity and compassion might matter more than wealth. (more)
J. Tiffany Noore’s eighth season of Merchant Zayed, The Daughter of the Sea, deepens the saga with equal parts sorrow and wonder. This season pivots to the aching theme of fertility and legacy—can Zayed’s magical wives ever bear children? The question reverberates through every scene, making the story feel both intimate and grand. Rozhin and Naaira’s desperation for motherhood is written with painful tenderness, and Noor’s refusal to cheapen life with magic creates some of the season’s most searing confrontations. I especially admired how Noore allowed Rozhin’s anger at Noor to remain raw and unresolved for so long—it gave real weight to the fractures in the sisterhood. The political intrigue with Prince Malik sharpened the season’s stakes. His suspicion that Zayed is grasping at power, coupled with the emir’s wavering trust, sets the stage for larger conflicts ahead. (more)
