Empire of Lies by Raymond Khoury

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One battle. One battle can change the course of history. How would our world be different if the Ottoman Empire had taken Vienna in 1683 instead of losing? That is what Raymond Khoury explores in his latest alternate history novel.

It’s 2017 and Paris has been under Ottoman rule for centuries. Suffering under the loss of oil revenue to the Christian Republic of America, the Ottoman Sultan employs his secret police and cybersecurity forces to quell any speech critical of the Empire. When a mysterious man covered in tattoos appears at a local hospital suffering from cardiac distress the doctors quickly become suspicious of his behavior. Ramazan, the anesthesiologist, uses his knowledge of sedatives and painkillers to slowly bring the mystery man around to an unguarded state and question him. What Ramazan discovers is a closely held secret to the Empire’s success and his research into the man’s story will put his family in danger with sultan’s secret police. Unable to trust in his brother Kamal, an officer on the antiterrorist task force, Ramazan and his wife Nisreen must flee with their children to safety. Sadly, they were too late. When Kamal finally discovers the police focus on his brother, Ramazan and his two children have already been killed and Nisreen is set to have the same fate. Rescuing Nisreen and learning of the fantastical story of a time-traveler who has shaped the future of the Ottoman Empire places the two on the course of a deadly mission to attempt to set the world back on track and seek revenge for the deaths of Ramazan and the two children.

There is so much that goes on this story. By the end, I had over two dozen book flags marking important events and I immediately began to read up on the battle at Vienna when I finished the book. It’s gripping, fast paced, and these characters are put through the wringer. No one is safe in this book. I really respect how the author had no problem killing off important characters-it left you really questioning how the book would end. The character’s Muslim faith guides their every decision and has a huge impact on their decision to try and change history. If they succeed in putting the world back on a more progressive path, how does that align with their religious beliefs? If the Empire is successful because of God’s will, do they have any right to question it? It’s fascinating reading.

The author doesn’t hold anything back on his descriptions of the U.S. The Christian Republic of America is exclusively white and exclusively christian. He describes a nation as backward and misogynist as you would believe, the only redeeming factor is the latest President wanting to fight climate change because they have to protect God’s creation. Maybe we could change some minds today with that thinking. The protecting earth part, not being shitty people part.

I really enjoyed this one for it’s gripping writing and characters that I quickly became invested in.

Highly recommend for those that love: political thrillers, alternate history, action packed adventures.

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