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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I was able to get an ARC of this book and I'm so glad I did! The novel mixes time travel, adventure and alternate history very well to create a compelling and entertaining story. It was well thought out and plotted so that loose ends were tied up and storylines came together nicely. It was a "what-if" scenario that I had never considered. What if the Ottoman Empire still existed to control all of the Middle East and almost all of Europe. Our world history would be vastly different. I was impressed with the insight into the Middle East and the cultures that have come from there. It went beyond an adventure story and really made me think about cultural and societal norms, while injecting mystery and fantasy with history and social commentary. This is my first time reading this author but I will seek out more of his books.
Interesting idea for time travel/alternate history book, what if the Ottoman Empire conquered Europe instead of being defeated at Vienna in 1683 and ruled Europe and Middle East until the present day. The details of the author's research are impressive. I had just read a review of [b:God's Shadow: Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World|53121648|God's Shadow Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World|Alan Mikhail|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571125233l/53121648._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73351352] about the influence of the Ottoman Empire on our world in this timeline. The review gave some examples, which were interesting to compare to how Koury imagines the Ottoman Empire literally being the modern world, at least in Europe.
But two thirds into the book the plot dragged and dragged the book down to two stars.
But two thirds into the book the plot dragged and dragged the book down to two stars.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Everyone seems to love an alternate history. A scenario that takes a moment and time and asks the question what if it turned out another way. And they have been around for a long time, the first being recorded in the fourth century BC. But they really came into their own in the Twentieth Century and there are so many examples of this subgenre of speculative fiction that the subgenre itself can be divided up. Raymond Khoury’s The Ottoman Secret falls into the camp of alternate history created by way of time travel. The premise being that someone goes back in time to ensure that the Ottoman Empire wins a crucial battle in 1683 and goes on to conquer Europe and last hundreds of years.
When the book opens it is the equivalent of 2017 in our time. Paris, like the rest of Europe is ruled by the Ottomans, with an iron fist. Kamal is a member of the secret police, charged with rooting out enemies of the state. But his sister-in-law Niseem is somehow involved and he walks a tightrope of loyalty to the state and an unrequited love for her. At the same time Niseem’s husband, an anaesthetist is treating a tattooed stranger who came into the hospital needing heart surgery. He learns that the stranger is a time traveller, who had gone back in time to ensure the ongoing success of the Ottoman Empire. On learning this secret all hell breaks loose for all three. More time travel at that point is inevitable.
Talking about the plot too much would give away too many of the twists and turns of what is essentially, in the end a fairly linear thriller narrative. The trick is not to think too deeply about the mechanics of the time travel that make this all work because it makes little to no sense. And of course, ever since Terminator, time travellers always emerge naked (hence the tattoos). But Khoury is really interested in the logical (if such a thing exists) mechanics of time travel. The Ottoman Secret is about using that mechanic to play with history and make his characters improvise as they deal with the constraints of different historical periods.
The problem that Khoury has is the probable lack of familiarity of his readers with the history of the Ottoman Empire. This is essential knowledge if readers are going to appreciate how he has played with word events. However, this necessarily leads to huge slabs of information needing to be worked into the narrative. But once that is out of the way, The Ottoman Secrets settles into being a pacey, if somewhat unbelievable (even in its own context) thriller.
The Ottoman Secret is what is generally referred to as a beach read. It is silly and not worth spending too much time thinking about but Khoury has an easy style to the point that when the exposition stops, the pages practically turn themselves. And Khoury does, eventually, have a serious point to make about the modern world and the philosophies that it is based on. Which does not necessarily justify the time spent with the book but does give readers something to think about after the dust has settled.
When the book opens it is the equivalent of 2017 in our time. Paris, like the rest of Europe is ruled by the Ottomans, with an iron fist. Kamal is a member of the secret police, charged with rooting out enemies of the state. But his sister-in-law Niseem is somehow involved and he walks a tightrope of loyalty to the state and an unrequited love for her. At the same time Niseem’s husband, an anaesthetist is treating a tattooed stranger who came into the hospital needing heart surgery. He learns that the stranger is a time traveller, who had gone back in time to ensure the ongoing success of the Ottoman Empire. On learning this secret all hell breaks loose for all three. More time travel at that point is inevitable.
Talking about the plot too much would give away too many of the twists and turns of what is essentially, in the end a fairly linear thriller narrative. The trick is not to think too deeply about the mechanics of the time travel that make this all work because it makes little to no sense. And of course, ever since Terminator, time travellers always emerge naked (hence the tattoos). But Khoury is really interested in the logical (if such a thing exists) mechanics of time travel. The Ottoman Secret is about using that mechanic to play with history and make his characters improvise as they deal with the constraints of different historical periods.
The problem that Khoury has is the probable lack of familiarity of his readers with the history of the Ottoman Empire. This is essential knowledge if readers are going to appreciate how he has played with word events. However, this necessarily leads to huge slabs of information needing to be worked into the narrative. But once that is out of the way, The Ottoman Secrets settles into being a pacey, if somewhat unbelievable (even in its own context) thriller.
The Ottoman Secret is what is generally referred to as a beach read. It is silly and not worth spending too much time thinking about but Khoury has an easy style to the point that when the exposition stops, the pages practically turn themselves. And Khoury does, eventually, have a serious point to make about the modern world and the philosophies that it is based on. Which does not necessarily justify the time spent with the book but does give readers something to think about after the dust has settled.
A fascinating idea: combining time travel with and an Ottoman Empire that encompasses all of Europe. I also like the use of current events to illustrate political choices and the impacts from those choices over years. It’s a good way to understand what’s going on around us today. I’ll have to see if I can read some of his other books too.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the most stressful book I have ever read. Honestly reads like an action movie. I read it for my book club and I’m honestly surprised how much I enjoyed this book.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Enjoyable time travel book that shows France under the iron fist of the Ottoman Sultan.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No