Introduction.

This document introduces the book "Jewel & the Ember," which explores love stories from the ancient Middle East. The author shares their fascination with these stories, which began when they watched a movie in Bolivia. They discuss the portrayal of love and romance in these stories, as well as cultural and religious perspectives on marriage and relationships. The book aims to provide an alternative to Western interpretations of Middle Eastern literature, featuring complex female characters and vulnerable male characters. The author hopes that the stories will encourage readers to embrace and understand those who are different and remind us of the power and beauty of love. [Extracted from the article]