The novel’s greatest achievement lies in its perfect balance between an intimate family story—rich with love and the textures, scents, and warmth of Persian life—and the overwhelming historical forces that ultimately tear that family apart. What could have been a difficult, even daunting historical novel instead becomes an unforgettable plea for solidarity, compassion, and understanding: a cry that transcends borders, religions, and cultures in remembrance of those who lost their lives in innocence.
Claudia Tokacs