#alizayd al qahtani

Next backlog papercraft! The brass entry into the @illumicrate mug series inspired by City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty!

I was super enthralled with this book when I read it to prepare for this papercraft! It has such rich and sweeping world building, and love the character development. It’s not so high fantasy, as you almost forget that there are magical elements as your reading because it’s so character driven, and the magic is just part of their norm - it was really refreshing for some reason?? I don’t know how to explain it. ✨

*** Some minor spoilers for City of Brass below! ***

I remember while reading, that Illumicrate wanted to feature the three main characters on the mug. So while I was reading, I was waiting for a heartfelt, fun, or emotional moment between the three. Like a nice picnic, or maybe some stargazing.

I found out… they didn’t get along at ALL.

So I put them in their timeout corners on the mug.

One theme that I latched onto was what inspired the title, ‘What is Lost’. A reference to losing control of the mind, body and soul.

Mind: Ali - a free thinker that is under the thumb of his father, and duty to his role as prince

Body: Nahri - born with a body charged with power that she has little knowledge of its origins or little control over its autonomous healing. Likewise, she is used as a token in a marriage arrangement to unite a people she has little cultural connection to.

Soul: Dara - a soul enslaved, then freed, yet still lost to wander the world without a vessel

Overall I had a SUPER fun time with the fashion design in this one - especially Nahri! Her hijab was probably the most intricately layered piece of clothing I’ve designed so far for papercraft and it was really fun to watch Youtube tutorials on different ways to style hijab scarves (they’re so creative!)

Alizayd al Qahtani vs. a lake

and a repost of pre-lake Ali