YA Fantasy Arabian-themed Book

This is very much a long shot but I’ve been trying to find a book that I read ages ago. I've posted this on the Reddit thread /whatsthatbook as well, but no luck there yet.

The facts as I can remember them:

-unsure if it was hardcover or paperback
-had a really fancy gold cover design
-written in English
-not a graphic novel
-the size of the book was definitely on the heavier side
-found it at my public library
-read it no later than 2008, though I’m not sure how old it was when I found it
-in 2008, I was approximately 14 years old, it was age appropriate (I think it was in the young readers/teen section, definitely not a children’s book)
-I'm living in Canada

I can only remember a couple things about the plot unfortunately

-definitely fiction
-it had a vague Arabian theme to it (again, not sure when it was written, I don’t know if that term is PC now), I remember imaging the female main character as Jasmine from Aladdin
-there was a romance between a male and female character, switching POVs
-I believe said romance was forbidden in some way, not in a gross way or anything, just that usual star-crossed lovers type of trope
-I think the male character’s name began with an O (I want to say Orpheus? But it definitely wasn’t a retelling of the Greek myth)
-there was magical elements
-I think the main characters went on some sort of journey, to find something or save someone that would solve a larger problem in the world/kingdom
-I think part of the journey was by a small boat, like a rowboat
-I am pretty sure there were eunuchs in it. I don’t really know why I think so, but that’s one thing I am pretty sure about. Maybe the male character was one?
-one or both of them died at the end, in a self-sacrificing way, to save either the other character or the kingdom/world as a whole

I’m sorry if this isn’t enough to go on, but it was about 15 years ago now and I honestly can’t remember any more details 😔 someone on Reddit suggested going to my library to see if they still have it/if the librarian can help me, but with so few details I'm not sure if it would help.

Just commenting to bump this to the top of the list!

The Warrior's Tale by Allan Cole?

>3 BrainFireBob: Not that one, but thank you for the suggestion!

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones?

ETA: would your library have a record of what you've borrowed?

The Rose of the Prophet series? Or Throne of the Crescent Moon?

Just adding to >5 humouress: by saying that from my reading of the book, while I don't remember any of the main characters dying, I feel as if sacrifice is a part of that story's climax. Change and grief were certainly themes at the end. However, the book is about average in the length.

"Journey by rowboat, male character’s name began with an O, forbidden romance"

makes me think of On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voight. There is an edition with gold on the cover. But not an Eastern vibe.

This could be completely off as its veering closer to children's and I don't remember the story too well and it's a series of four shorter books - unsure if they were ever published together as a larger collection, but it does have a gold themed side on it's cover design and the right arabian-like theme I believe. They were called The Claidi Journals. Good luck on your search.

>5 humouress: Not the right book, but I am adding it to my wishlist!

It's possible, but I haven't been to that library in like, 10-15 years, I definitely don't have a library card anymore (；′⌒`)

>6 Cecrow: Not those, but I've added them to my wishlist to read! ^o^

>8 MissSquish: Not the one, but I added it to my wishlist! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

>9 WhiteRaven.17: Not the one I was looking for, but I've added it to my wishlist! (❁´◡`❁)

>1 Laynacakes: Could it be Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, by Barbara Cohen?

>14 jayspear18: Not it, but thank you for trying! （*＾-＾*）

Bumping this to the top of the list ヾ(•ω•`)o

There's City of Brass but that was published in 2017.

Likewise, Alif the Unseen but it's from 2013.

>17 humouress: Not my book, but it sounds really good! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o

>18 beyondthefourthwall: Not the right one, but thank you for trying (●ˇ∀ˇ●)