The quote by Napoleon sets the stage perfectly for Khoury's stellar re-writing of Europe's 300-year Ottoman rule, banishing The Church, Catholicism, and Christianity. In these first pages, his most mysterious character is a naked man covered in very detailed tattoos, who is also a time-traveler.
We jump from September 1682 to July 2017 and are introduced to Kamal and Taymoor, counter-terrorism agents of the Sultan's Secret Police who are attending a huge ceremony in honor of their unit for capturing seven people found guilty of treason. Great detail is given of the large crowd attending, the influential personnel from the Sultan's military units, and the executioner and actual beheadings. Kamal is watching the man die and worrying about what his friend will think of his actions regarding the lawyer's death. I'm thinking--WHAT?!?!??!
Read the last bit and wondered how the book would end, but didn't think I could endure any more celebrational beheadings. Mr. Khoury is undoubtedly a talented author with an extensive and well-honed vocabulary, but I'll have to find another one of his books to actually read.
We jump from September 1682 to July 2017 and are introduced to Kamal and Taymoor, counter-terrorism agents of the Sultan's Secret Police who are attending a huge ceremony in honor of their unit for capturing seven people found guilty of treason. Great detail is given of the large crowd attending, the influential personnel from the Sultan's military units, and the executioner and actual beheadings. Kamal is watching the man die and worrying about what his friend will think of his actions regarding the lawyer's death. I'm thinking--WHAT?!?!??!
Read the last bit and wondered how the book would end, but didn't think I could endure any more celebrational beheadings. Mr. Khoury is undoubtedly a talented author with an extensive and well-honed vocabulary, but I'll have to find another one of his books to actually read.