Title: Shadow on the Wall
Author: Pavarti K. Tyler
Genre: Fantasy, Suspense
Publication Date: May 1st
Publisher: Fighting Monkey Press
Rating: 4,5
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Shadow on the Wall is perhaps my favorite book of the entire year. Why? It offers diversity, strong and likeable characters with distinct backgrounds and voices, a view into a culture we not so often see as the focus of a fantasy story, great storystelling and a lot more.

The story starts with Recai Osman, owner of a multi-million dollar corporation in the style of Bruce Wayne. What’s special about Recai is that he doesn’t live in the middle of New York city, Manhatten or even the English country side. He lives in Turkey. Not a lot of novels take place in the Arabian world, or in Turkey, and that along added something original and intriguing to the book. I was eager to read more about the culture, habits and people living in Turkey and the surrounding countries.

Unfortunately Recai’s life takes a turn for the worst when he finds himself thrown into the desert and left to die. He’s saved by Hasad, who hides Recai out of fear that the communist regime, the RTK, could be looking for him. You can see the RTK as a radical police force, who punishes people severely whenever they break the law, but who often break the law themselves.

After an assault on Hasad’s daughter, Recai swears he will avenge her. When he finally returns to his home and becomes a victim of the RTK himself, he decides that enough is enough. In true superhero style, he takes on a secret name “The Sandstorm” and starts to fight injustice.

What I really liked about the book is its focus on women’s right. We all know that in the middle east and Turkey, women tends to have less rights than men. They can’t divorce someone when they want to, they’re not allowed to take care of their children when the husband divorces them, and a lot more. These are sometimes very controversial topics, mostly because these aren’t just laws – they’re religious laws. I liked how the author touched these topics in the book. There were some violent and even cruel things done to women that were mentioned in this book, and I have to applaud the author for her bravery for talking about this.

Pavarti Tyler has made her very own Batman: Recai Osman, a man who fights against tyranny and violence. But not only has she made her very own superhero, set in a world where not everyone is equal, she has also made him an interesting and intriguing person, with doubts as much as everyone else. The way Recai grows throughout the novel is amazing. He starts out a bit naive, focusing mostly on his work, but he quickly changes and sees the world for what it truly is.

If you’re interested in reading something new and exciting, something that will keep you reading until the very end, then Shadow on the Wall is an excellent choice. It’s not for the faint of hard, but the fact that it touches controversial topics without exaggerated and with an extraordinary integrity makes it all the more worthy to read. You will not be disappointed.

Giveaway

Pavarti Tyler was nice enough to give a paperback copy of one of her previous novels, Midnight’s Children to one lucky winner. The contest is international.

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