At the beginning of the novel, Ella is presented as meek in her professional and personal life but then undergoes a change. Whose life in Sweet Blasphemy does Ella’s closest resemble and why? If Aziz is like Shams, who is Ella’s foil?

From the moment he is first introduced, Aladdin seems to be a character who stirs up trouble between members of Rumi’s family. What is the primary reason that Aladdin seems to not get along with Shams and how does that relate to his relationship with his brother?

The transformation Desert Rose undergoes takes her from the brothel to a new, devout life. In what ways does Desert Rose reclaim her past and autonomy by the end of the novel?