A Tudor Turk

The Chronicles of Will Ryde & Awa Maryam Al-Jameel (Book One)

Rehan Khan

Category: Young Adult | Historical Fiction | Adventure

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ABOUT THE BOOK

ISTANBUL, 1591 - and Sultan Murad III has been robbed! The Staff of Moses, used at the parting of the Red Sea, has been stolen from under his imperial nose.

To track down the thieves, an elite band of hand-picked warriors is assembled. Among them are friends Awa and Will. Awa, the studious daughter of a noble family from West Africa, once a slave but now a whirling force with a scimitar, and Will, snatched as a child from his home in London at the age of 5, is now 16 and a galley salve on a Moroccan warship. Escaping that fate to join the Rüzgar turns him into a man.

From the roofs of Ottoman Istanbul, along the canals of Venice and all the way to the court of Elizabeth I.

Nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REHAN KHAN is an avid observer of history and has always been intrigued by how ideas and information move from one civilisation to the next; how nations and tribes have prospered from the efforts of their predecessors. Throughout his travels, he is constantly fascinated by the narratives, legends and chronicles which unite cultures as opposed to shattering them into a thousand pieces. When not writing, Rehan works in the telecoms sector and is a visiting professor at an international business school. Born in London, he now lives in Dubai with his family.

REVIEWS

‘A sense of wonder, great for history lovers.’

St Augustine’s High, Edinburgh.

‘This book provides an interesting and broader than usual perspective on the world during the reign of Elizabeth 1; a time in which the English Queen seeks to make links with Sultan Murad, powerful ruler of the Ottoman Empire.

Through this story and its cast of characters East meets West and rich meets poor providing windows into very different worlds and demonstrating, in particular through the two main characters, how trust, collaboration and a sense of shared purpose bring people together.

This is the first of a series and the story ends with a clear indication there is plenty more adventure to come.’

Books For Keeps >

‘One of the things that make this book so interesting is how real the characters seem, and how real their world seems. While reading the book, I found that I could imagine the setting vividly, the colourful streets of Istanbul, the choking desert and the grey London.

Something that I think is a very good quality for a book to have is something that makes you think. A lot of interesting ideas about how people view religion are integrated into the book, as it was prominent at the time. But it also reveals how people of different race, different culture and different beliefs can be unified by a shared sense of humanity.

In conclusion, this book was well written, thought-provoking and enthralling. I would definitely recommend this to people who love engrossing stories mixed with history.’

Year 7 girl (age 11) The Hemel Hampstead School

‘A brilliant book filled with historical aspects and full of adventure adrenaline inducing, multicultural historical fiction. I would surely recommend this book.’

Book Teacup & Review Full review >

‘Khan’s writing is fluent, and the wealth of details enriches the plot without slowing its pace. The author clearly explains that some historical facts have been altered to suit the narrative, but this still remains an insightful, fascinating and gripping story.‘

Armadillo Spring 2019 >

‘Three huzzahs for this scintillating new take on the late-Tudor period.‘

Naomi Foyle, author, The Gaia Chronicles

‘A rip-roaring adventure full of narrative surprises’ Peter Lerangis, author.‘

Seven Wonders and Max Tilt series

‘A Tudor Turk is a thrilling, page turning action that will leave you with many sleepless nights. It's fast and interesting, ultimately leaving the reader hungry for more at every turn. The split point of view writing style provides a unique neverending action. The split view can cause an issue, as it can undermine the pace of the book, yet it has been used effectively to create a new reading experience for anyone to enjoy. I am sure I am not alone when I say I have high hopes for the future of Rehan Khan.’

Year 10 boy (age 14) The Hemel Hempstead School

‘This is a glorious deep dive into Tudor history - but not as we know it. This is stunning stuff, quite simply the sort of writing and scene setting that pulls you in by your belly-button and keeps you completely enchanted until you reach the end. Wowsers! If you're looking for something totally unique and amazingly intriguing for middle grade readers who love a mystery with real-world connections, but you're fed up with the same tired old settings, this will knock your socks off.‘

READ IT DADDY

‘In these uncertain Brexit days, A Tudor Turk’s portrayals of sixteenth-century prejudice against Ottoman Turks, an ageing queen named Elizabeth, and England as an isolated and despised European outpost cannot but find resonance. To borrow the late MP Jo Cox’s words, the novel shows that different cultures share “more in common than that which divides us'

Claire Chambers, York University

‘The book depicts an authentically multicultural world of the late 1500s, centred on the Turkish Sultanate, in which Britain is a footnote. Will, the English hero, is adrift in a sophisticated world where most people don’t even know where England is. With its straightforward storytelling, it is a book that could capture the imagination of teenagers who enjoy fantasy literature, and the many teenage readers who love Assassin's Creed will enjoy the setting, mysterious mission and swaggering sense of adventure.

This is an area of history which is endlessly fascinating and full of potential for adventure stories, and there are too few books about it for British teenagers.’

BookTrust, The Books We Love >

‘A story that will keep you gripped and take you on a journey across continents in the Tudor times, much to learn and much to enjoy. We have really enjoyed this book and recommend!‘

Books Go Walkabout >

‘With its vividly portrayed settings and exciting storyline, this is a powerful and engrossing story. Recently, I have reviewed very little top quality historical fiction for teens, so this fills a gap and I hope will engage a new generation with the genre.’

Parents in Touch Full review >