A TUDOR TURK

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This novel came together by way of a circuitous route. With the family, I was visiting the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, where I saw the legendary Staff of Moses in the Hall of Religious Relics. I was left wondering how this holy relic ended up here? What journey did it take from Moses wielded it, for it to arrive in Istanbul?

The following year, after a leisurely cycling tour around the grounds of Hampton Court Palace in England, I read that King Henry VIII was fond of striding around dressed as an Ottoman Sultan. I wonder why I thought to myself? When I delved deeper, I realized that the Ottoman Turks were the Superpower of the Sixteenth Century. In fact, during Henry VIII’s reign, Sultan Suleiman was known as the most powerful man in the world, and it’s human nature to copy the powerful, even for monarchs, so it’s no surprise Henry took to copying Sultan Suleiman.

When I began investigating this period of history I realised there were many indicators of Ottoman and Moroccan influence on the English court in the 1590’s - dress, jewelry, food and literature. For example, Elizabeth was sent dresses by the Sultan’s mother, which she wore in Court and which framed the style of the period. Characters from the east started appearing in English plays. In return Elizabeth sent the organist, Thomas Dallam, who constructed the original organ at Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, to Istanbul with an organ he made to play for the Sultan.

At the time England had been excommunicated by the Catholics because of Henry VIII’s divorce, and after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the superpowers around the Mediterranean, the Turks and Moroccans, started to take notice of England. As someone who grew up watching and reading swashbuckling tales with quest narratives, it got me thinking what a historical fiction adventure set in the 1590’s, in this geo-political background, across multiple locations with a diverse cast would look like? Something like Mission Impossible in the Sixteenth century I suppose. And so, formed the idea of A Tudor Turk. You might be thinking where the Staff of Moses comes in? Well its stolen from the Topkapi Palace in the novel.

FROM THE BACK COVER

Istanbul, 1591 - and Sultan Murad III, the mightiest ruler in the world, has been robbed. The Staff of Moses has been stolen from his private collection of religious artefacts in the Topkapi Palace - right from under his imperial nose! The wooden Staff, held by Moses as he parted the Red Sea, is a magical symbol of power worth a king’s ransom - and the furious Sultan wants it back.

A small undercover unit of hand-picked, trusted warriors is hastily assembled to track down the thieves. They are the Rüzgar the Wind and like the wind, they travel silently and unseen.

Awa, the studious daughter of a noble family from the Songhai Empire in West Africa, was kidnapped and enslaved by Moroccans after the disastrous Battle of Tondibi. Awa is a whirling and deadly force when she has a scimitar in her hand. Will, who was snatched from his home in London at the age of 5, is now 16 and a galley slave on board a Moroccan warship.

Joining the Rüzgar turns him into a man. He and Awa become fast friends. The other comrades are Turkish, Greek and Albanian, all led by the charismatic Bosnian Mehmed Konjic, a wise counsellor and natural hero.

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher: ‎ Hope Road (21 Feb. 2019)

ISBN-10: ‎ 1908446978

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-190844697

REVIEWS

“A rip-roaring adventure full of narrative surprises” - Peter Lerangis, author. Seven Wonders and Max Tilt series.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“A sense of wonder, great for history lovers” - St Augustine’s High, Edinburgh.

“Fantastic read: fast paced, well researched and an absolute page turner. Will and Awa’s stories are entirely believable and as I read, I googled the places and events in history that the author has woven so skillfully into the narrative. I was blown away by the authenticity of the references in time and place. This is young adult fiction at its best. I read The Tudor Turk in one sitting and can’t wait to read the sequel. Rehan Khan’s writing is so relevant to the issues facing young adults today” - Cauvery Madhavan, author, The Tainted.

“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 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 never-ending 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.

“Beyond expectations. I really didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by the way the book was written. I know it sounds like a cliché but it was a real page turner, each section brought on more intrigue and I learnt a lot about the history of the era as I found myself also trapped in the era. This isn’t usually the type of book that I read but I found it very enjoyable and looking forward to the next book, which I hope will not be far behind this one. Well done Rehan Khan and I can see this becoming a motion picture” – Lameen (Amazon review).

“Fast Paced and Great Fun. Really enjoyed reading this book. The pace is fast and the scenes are energetic. Characters are really interesting and well built up, which made the various twists and turns even more enjoyable. Loved being transported to the various locations around the world, and getting a good sense for what life was like back then. You can tell the author researched his history well. I’m already looking forward to the sequel!” - Nathan Eden (Amazon review).

“Mission Impossible set in earlier times. Amazing book. Amazing author” – SSA (Amazon review).

“Absolutely adventurous! Reading A Tudor Turk was like getting transported into the 16th century medieval world and into the minds of the characters involved. The characters are like real and the little quotes in the book made me pause and think! I found the idea of an English man Will as a slave interesting and how the author has made it sound like such a normal thing that could have happened in the time the novel has been set. As with Rehan’s other books the Tasburai series, there is a strong female protagonist Awa who is well educated and daring and adds a soft touch to the otherwise rough manly world. The pursuit of the Staff of Moses is thrilling and I was hooked to the book to find out who else could be involved. Overall a delight to read, can’t wait to have my hands on the next one!” - Zahra K (Amazon review).

“Highly recommended. Reading A Tudor Turk, I felt like an armchair traveller, no longer tethered to the ground but catapulted into the air above the spectacular landscape of Istanbul in1591. And then I was on the ground again, wielding my own scimitar alongside two fine young warriors, Will and Awa – both far from home but unafraid. In turn, like them, I became a prisoner, a gladiator, spy, the pursuer and pursued. And all this in the name of a sacred Quest. The story feels constantly dangerous; it is wildly exciting. It stretches the mind and makes the heart beat faster. Total immersion. I cannot wait for Book 2” - Frances T (Amazon review).

“Another Gem! An intriguing story with totally immersive characters which gripped me from the start. The unlikely combination of the slave Will and the warrior Awa set the scene for a plot layered with imagination and adventure. I found myself catapulted back to the 16th century as the characters journeyed across the medieval world in search of the Staff of Moses. The historic setting had been well researched and I found the book both exciting and educational!” - Mr Atif Rahman (Amazon review).

“Page turner. A rip-roaring adventure from start to finish. Interesting to see young Englishman Will as a slave as normal. Having a strong female lead Awa, who could hold her own against anyone was refreshing and different to the usual stereotype. A new take on the Tudors and how influential the superpower at the time the Ottomans, were to their thinking” – KK (Amazon review). “Adventure Story with Fascinating Historical Background. I like this book a lot. My oldest (10-year- old) is a fervent reader and has become a fan of this series. The historical setting is out of the ordinary, and very informative. The story is action packed - and written in a very compelling way” - Wouter Belmans (Amazon review).

“Fun and fascinating historical fiction. A ripping good tale set in the 1590s that journeys across various countries and cultures: from West Africa to Istanbul then Europe as it follows the story of Will Ryde, an Englishman, and Awa Maryam Al-Jamil, a female Songhai warrior. A really great Young Adult adventure novel that entertains while also being quite informative- I learned quite a lot about this period of history through this novel. It also does something quite rare in YA fiction: it explores Muslim culture and faith and how that interacted with Europe. Really enjoyed reading this - definitely recommend! Can’t wait for book two” – L.A. (Amazon review).