I am a day late, but I am here! I am posting my review for the publication day push for the second book in The Ottoman Chronicles. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for my gifted copy of the book.
Set against the majestic backdrop of Imperial Istanbul in the aftermath of the First World War, A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul is a captivating tale of family, duty and the resilience of the human spirit.
İstanbul, 1922: As the Ottoman Empire crumbles in the wake of the Great War, the fate of the Imperial capital and the House of Osman come under threat. Emboldened following their victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish Nationalist Government in Ankara abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate, marking the end of over six centuries of Ottoman rule. The Ottoman Caliphate endures for now, but Istanbul, stripped of its Imperial mantle, mourns its lost glory. Prince Nihadfears for the nation and the fate of the Imperial family, while his son, Prince Vâsıb, envisions a hopeful future defined by peace following the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne.
As the new Republic of Türkiye emerges from the ashes of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and the Ottoman Dynasty confront the crossroads of history, their destinies entwined with the shifting tides of the Bosphorus. Yet, amidst these perilous currents that separate East and West, where the deep waters threaten to engulf the city’s Imperial past and sweep away its soul embodied by the Imperial family, the Ottoman Dynasty must navigate a new and uncertain course.
The history of the Turks and their vast and powerful Empire has been intertwined with the Ottoman Dynasty for over six hundred years. But can the Imperial family survive the tempest of change as the world enters a new era?
My Review
I am glad I can say I have read and blogged the first book in The Ottoman Chronicles, The Gilded Cage On The Bosphorus. I was over the moon when I saw A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul. I was sure it would be just a good as the first book. I was right.
This is another novel that is written tight from the heart. The author is actually a descendant of the Ottoman dynasty, and both of the books are deeply personal to her. I am a historical fiction nut, and this book is another story that is very real. More reality than fiction. I could feel the emotional pull as I read.
A tale of strength and resilience. The way that her descendents dealt with the blows that were dealt at the time. Told in a sensitive and truly compassionate way, I felt every emotion running through this book.
The characters are so well described that I felt for each and every one of them in some way or other. I would even say I may have shed a tear or two. A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul is easy to read as a standalone, but for depth and continuation, reading both books makes this series so very special.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CZJ7TYC3
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZJ7TYC3
Author Bio
Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu is a member of the Ottoman Imperial family, being descended from Sultan Murad V through her grandfather, and from Sultan Mehmed V (Mehmed Reşad) through her grandmother. After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, she obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies from SOAS, University of London, where she specialised in Ottoman History. Her debut novel, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus was published in 2020.
Ayşe Osmanoğlu lives between Türkiye, France and the United Kingdom with her husband, five children and two cats. Her research and literary works concentrate on the late Ottoman period, exploring narratives embedded in her imperial heritage.
Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/ayseosmanogluauthor
https://www.instagram.com/aysegulnevsultan/
https://twitter.com/AyseGulnev
AuthorWebsite https://www.ayseosmanoglu.com
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