The unforgettable, haunting story of
a young woman’s perilous fight for freedom and justice for her brother, in the
first novel published in English by a female Kurdish writer
Set in Iran, this extraordinary debut novel
takes readers into the everyday lives of the Kurds. Leila dreams of making
films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but
obstacles keep piling up. Leila’s younger brother, Chia, influenced by their
father’s past torture and imprisonment, and his own deep-seated desire for
justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism
grows increasingly risky, and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers
about her brother’s whereabouts and fearing the worst, Leila begins a campaign
to save him. But when she publishes Chia’s writings online, she realizes that
she too is in grave danger. A family friend with ties to Canada offers to help,
but Leila must struggle to forgive him for his role in Chia’s disappearance.
Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the stakes
faced by 40 million stateless Kurds. A powerful story that brilliantly
illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family, it is perfect
for fans of Khaled Hosseini’s The
Kite Runner, Rawi Hage's De Niro's Game and Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun.
"Ava Homa’s debut novel is like nothing I’ve read. Poetic and brave, lyrical and unflinching, it offers a powerful political exposé into the persecution of the Kurdish people, a triumphant tale of one woman’s fight for equality, independence, and social justice, and a soul-melting love story. . . .
Daughters of Smoke and Fire is a story we need to hear. It will change the way we see the world."
