Saad Anwar

This book took me on a journey to the war-torn streets of Homs, Syria in the Winter of 2012. It made me feel like I was right alongside Salama as she faced all the trauma and hardships. The writing is flawless, and it captures every human emotion. I recommend it to everyone! This book was published in 2022 but 3 years later, reading it in 2025 after the fall of the brutal Assad regime gives me another level of satisfaction and fulfilment. The 14 year struggle of the people of Syria finally bore fruit on 8 December 2024 when the regime fell and Assad fled. They finally got the freedom they sought. (I know a lot of people would disagree on that but still) The flag of the rebels that Salama and Kenan wanted to see rise high on their buildings and schools one day is now the official flag of Syria. This book would have made me broken and sad if I had read it before the fall of Assad but now it makes me delighted. I am happy for the people of Homs, for the people of Hama, for the people of Idlib, for the people of Aleppo, for the people of Damascus, for all the Salamas and the Kenans, for all the Dr Ziads and Nours, for all the Hamzas and the Laylas and for all the Martyrs that lost their lives in this mindless war. I always loved Syria but this book made me develop another level of love and respect for Syria and its people.

I didn't know too much about history on a large scale but after reading this book I feel like I know everything. The writer has explained everything so precisely and also in proper order. Before this book, I knew about major events but I didn't know how they were linked with each other but its all perfectly explained in this book