Customer Reviews

Harem

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I first read this book on my honeymoon 6 years ago. I purchased it in the bookstore in my hotel. Much to my husband's dismay, I could not put it down! It was an absolutely fascinating tale of life in Istanbul in the Harem owned by the Sultan. By combining fiction with historical facts, Mr. Falconer weaves a tale so intriguing, it was impossible to put down. I also must commend Amazon who found this for me again after I had given my original copy to someone and never received it back. It took almost two years, but they got it for me. I was thrilled! If anyone is ever able to get a copy of this hard-to-find book, it is a must read!

Colin weaves a vivid tapestry of the medieval turkish world. This story is an engaging story of a female slave using her wits and charms to survive and ultimately win the right as the Sultan's consort. Her mastery of political deception is diabolocal and her revenge sweet. Her son takes the throne but it was not of the Sultan's blood - thus ensuring the fall of the Ottoman Empire. This was all Colin's speculation, but who knows the truth may not be so removed from this afterall.

Great & Wonderful.

well, this was the first time I read a book by falconer and belive me it was a great experience. The plot is intellegent and force you to think. But as a muslim woman I have to disagree with some of the facts that were mentioned in the book.. like the value of women in Islam and I mean here that the writer didn't do an objective research about it... coz in the book he kept saying that the woman soul is like the cats and dog, but of he read a translation of the Qura'an he will see that in it the woman is asked to be taken care of as a daughter, wife, mother and sister and she should be respected as a part -an essential one actually- in the Islamic society. And the other thing is that the writer mensioned is that in Islam you can't take a muslim into slavery which is a wrong fact .. if you take a look in the Islamic history you can see that there were a lot of muslim slaves who apperantely become kings and queens like Qotoz the great muslim sultan who lead a battle against Magholian armies.. But after all the Book is a great experience that everyone should go throug and read..

I am an avid reader - and all of Colin Falconer's books are great. I particularly enjoyed "Fury" and "Dangerous". They have real history with fictional characters, and all his books are different enough that you can read one after the other.

If you haven't read one of Colin Falconer's novels, then I promise you are in for a real roller-coaster ride of never ending intrigue with both these novels.

Set in the 16th century, Harem, and its sequel Seraglio, weave a spectacular, haunting tale of malice, obsession, and zeal set in the magnificent Harem of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, Lord of Lords of this World, Possessor of Men's Necks, Allah's Deputy, and absolute ruler of the mighty Ottoman Empire.

Based on the true-life story of Roxelana (called Hürrem in the novels) and Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, Colin Falconer lends his interpretation to the machinations of a most vile villainess who strives to gain power while captive in the sultan's harem. Ruthless, manipulative, vengeful, clever, and power hungry, Hürrem stops at nothing to gain the upper hand in a violent world where women and slaves are worth little. With one nod, the Sultan can brutally take a life and danger is rampant around every corner.

Bestselling author Colin Falconer writes with succinct prose. Each chapter ends with a gripping cliff-hanger that makes the book irresistible and unputdownable. Although both books can stand alone, I strongly recommend you read both books to enjoy the full impact of the story. He delves deep into the thoughts and motivations of his characters, truly making them seem larger than life.

As the story unfolds in both novels, the reader will immerse themselves in a world ripe with an abundance of historical details, atrocities, brutality, dissension, forbidden love, ambition, and love and hate. The plot twists are plentiful and the story draws one in. Entertaining and shocking, Harem and Seraglio are intense and truly bring to life a turbulent period in the Ottomon Empire.

This fascinating tale from the talented pen of Colin Falconer brings you inside the Harem of the sultan we now know as Suleiman the Great. The harem was a place barred to men, except for the sultan - he had his choice of all the women there and they saw his choosing them as their way out. But Suleiman was different; he did not follow the ways of his forefathers. He stayed faithful to one woman at a time. This is the tale of his second kadin - or wife.

I have long been a fan of Mr. Falconer's work and when I was given the opportunity to review Harem I was ecstatic! So needless to say I loved the book. I will also tell you that if you pick up any of his books you will not be disappointed. But back to Harem! It's really two stories that intersect. And they do so in the harem. The first is the tale of Suleiman and his second kadin - a woman (young girl really) sold into slavery by her father. She is determined to get out of the harem and into a position of power. The second tale is that of a reckless young man and a virtuous Venetian noblewoman.

The writing draws you into time and place and you feel like you are in the harem with the enslaved women. I love books that take me out of myself and get me lost in another time and this was one of those books. You can almost smell the perfumes, feel the heat. There are hard realities of the time too as men are killed in battle and eunuchs are created. Nothing is spared.

If you want to go behind the walls of the forbidden and experience the world of Suleiman the great get yourself a copy of Harem and go back in time....

Hurrem lead us through her story from her birth place deep into the Steppes when she was captured as a slave to the harem of the Sultan Soleiman as a concubine. Feeling of hate, frustration, rivalry and ambition of the concubines made her a cold, cruel and a calculator woman with the sole purpose of winning the Sultan heart, become a favorite and place one of ther children in the throne of the Ottoman Empire after the death of Soleiman. A very well written novel in which the dialogues and description of places make the XVI century Ottoman Empire alive across its pages.

ý read harem and heroine by falconer. ý loved them both,learned a lot ,enjoyed a lot and ý recommend them highly.