The Jasad Heir

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What are your overall thoughts on The Jasad Heir? Which elements of the text stood out to you most?

2. Describe your favorite and your least favorite elements of the novel.

3. What did you think of the enemies-to-lovers trope Hashem uses to create the relationship between Arin and Sylvia? In your opinion, does it work? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Hashem weaves Egyptian culture throughout the world-building of The Jasad Heir. If you were to write a romantasy novel based on your own cultural background, what pieces of your heritage would you include in the novel? Why are they significant to you?

2. Sylvia has a bisected identity and lives under a false name before reclaiming her Jasadi self at the end of the novel. Reflect on a time when you couldn’t be your most authentic self and describe how that situation affected you emotionally.

3. Sylvia struggles with trust, even in her friendships with Rory, Sefa, and Marek. She eventually builds trust with them when she lets herself be vulnerable with them. Consider a time when you struggled to trust someone. What made you distrustful? Did you end up building trust with them? What did that scenario teach you?

4. Sacrifice for the greater good of Jasad plays an important role in Sylvia’s character arc, as she struggles with the idea of giving up her life or freedom for her kingdom. When have you had to sacrifice something for the greater good? Was it worth it? Why or why not?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The other four kingdoms (Lukub, Nizahl, Omal, and Orban) express racial prejudice against the people of Jasad, leading to the widespread oppression of Jasadis. How does the racism that Hashem depicts in the novel relate to systemic racism present in the real world?

2. How do the political interactions of the five kingdoms (Jasad, Lukub, Nizahl, Omal, and Orban) mirror real-world political conflicts, including those of the Egyptian Revolution and the “Arab Spring” of 2011?

3. Connect the magical and mysterious elements of the text to Egyptian/Middle Eastern folklore. What comparisons can you draw between Hashem’s invented magic and creatures and historical mythology?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Sylvia narrates the entirety of The Jasad Heir, except for three brief chapters from Arin’s perspective. How does her unreliable memory impact this narration? How might the novel be different in third-person narration?

2. Erasure and assimilation are crucial ideas that inform that thematic development of the novel. How do these concepts impact the events of the novel, and how does Sylvia wrestle with these notions throughout her journey in the Alcalah? What political commentary does the novel make about erasure and assimilation?

3. Sylvia and Arin have an antagonistic relationship throughout much of the text, but their romantic relationship briefly begins immediately before the revelation of Sylvia’s identity. How does their relationship influence their individual character arcs, and where you foresee their relationship going during the events of The Jasad Crown?

4. Explore the importance of Essam Woods as both a symbol and a physical setting in the novel’s narrative.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were adapting The Jasad Heir into a big-budget film for theatrical release, who would you choose to direct, and who would you cast in the primary roles? Describe your aesthetic vision for the film.

2. Create a playlist of music by Egyptian artists that captures the energy of the novel.