59 pages • 1 hour read
Tomi AdeyemiA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Zélie awakes and confronts Tzain about giving Amari his cloak to sleep under. Tzain’s intentions to keep Amari safe conflict with Zélie’s distrust of the princess and her family. Zélie learns that most of their money was lost in the fire, so the three plan what to trade for food at the next settlement of Sokoto. Zélie and Amari fight over selling Amari’s dress for more money, but Amari eventually agrees. While Amari changes clothes, Tzain asks Zélie to be kinder and consider Amari’s perspective. Zélie accidentally sees Amari’s exposed back and sees that she is covered in scars, and her shocked reaction draws Tzain to see them as well. Amari gives an excuse for her scars and the trio continues their journey in uncomfortable silence. At the settlement of Sokoto, the girls bond as they search for a place to trade Amari’s dress. Amari’s evident grief over Binta and regret for the events of the past makes Zélie let go of her anger. Zélie tells Amari about her mother and Amari shares the origin of her scars. Her father forced her and Inan to spar with swords to prevent them from being weak like his first family, who were all killed by maji.
By Tomi Adeyemi