In the City, it is widely known that free will does not exist. Instead, there is the Compound: a mysterious place where the Writers dictate the lives, loves and losses of everyone in the City. Little is known about them, except that they never enter or leave the Compound, and that they have been there for longer than living memory can recall.
Penelope Ingeld was destined from birth to be a side character, living in the shadow of designated protagonist (and her best friend) Lillian.
What she didn't bargain for is Lillian dying before their story had even begun.
Whether at the hands of a rogue Writer, a twist in the plot or - the simplest, yet most groundbreaking explanation - a demonstration that the Writers cannot control everything, the fact remains that Lillian is dead. And now Penelope must step into her shoes, unsure whether her actions are truly her own even as she attempts to discover the truth behind the Writers and the City. However, the discoveries she makes about herself and her world are something she never could have imagined...
Noor, a dancer in the Royal Court of the Al-Yauzhan Empire wants nothing more than to pay off her debts and lead a nice, simple life-but a chance encounter with the crown prince and his brother brings her into the dangerous world of court politics. As Noor and the princes investigate their uncle and cousin's possible treason, she grows closer to the crown prince, but in order to save the kingdom and the person she loves, Noor will have to risk everything...
A romantic adventure set in an imagined Arabic kingdom, THE DANCING GIRL is a story of court intrigues, romantic entanglements, and secret meetings as Noor and her best friend Amir try to help the princes they're falling for expose corrupt court officials with plans to seize the throne. Noor and Amir are close to having everything they've ever dreamed of...now all they need to do is survive.