What the Critics Are Saying.
Richly complex story of faith, politics, and justice ... An intricate look at the precarious relationship between faith, politics, and their potent effects on people, shifting between characters and timelines while handling divisive themes with a graceful nuance.
— BookLife by Publishers Weekly (Editor’s Pick) Read full review →
Author reflection on the review: Read on Echoes Blog →
A painful picture of a lost young man striving to make his life mean something, at any cost... Depicting global history while remaining rooted in the very human dilemmas of finding meaning and staying true to one’s beliefs.
— BlueInk Review (Starred Review) Read full review →
Deeply felt and richly detailed … The shifting POV effect creates a rich texture that helps to separate the novel from its peers … A sobering tale of complex politics and histories.
— Kirkus Reviews Read full review →
Melding the lyricism and cerebral style of literary fiction with the page-turning pull of a political thriller, and the emotional intrigue of a family saga... explores the intersection of global politics with personal convictions, conflicts, and family legacies — all powerfully framed by its Alexandria setting.
— LoveReading UK (Indie Books We Love) Read full review →
One of those books that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been finished… A unique, compelling, and thought-provoking novel of conflicting faith, fevered politics, and the often painful pursuit of justice.
— Midwest Book Review (Reviewer’s Choice) Read full review →
"Wow... it is not often that I finish a book and let out a giant sigh. Somehow this is a debut novel by Ehab Elgammal and it is fantastic. Part history lesson, part mystery, part action movie, and part meditation on faith, family, loss, and values. The prose was really beautiful as well—I enjoyed spending time looking up unfamiliar terms and events related to the Middle East and Arabic culture. Beautiful prose, deeply immersive, and emphatically recommended."
— NetGalley Reviewer (5/5 ★★★★★) Read full review →
In the face of global political events, connected people are set on different paths of self-discovery in the thoughtful thriller … Ehab Elgammal’s political adventure novel zeroes in on humanity and love … personal stories heighten the stakes of a political mystery.
— Foreword Clarion Read full review →
"A riveting thriller that explores loyalty, religion, and humanity in a multifaceted way. Elgammal uses political intrigue and suspense as a backdrop to explore deeper themes of faith, justice, and humanity. The novel vividly showcases how historical events bleed into personal lives, leaving scars that span generations. Readers are invited into the minds of intertwined personalities wrestling with doubt, self-conviction, and the gray areas between loyalty to one’s faith and the harsh realities of the world around them."
— Independent Book Review