Daughters of Smoke and Fire

A Novel

By: Ava Homa

Narrated by: Vaneh Assadourian

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The unforgettable, haunting story of a young woman's perilous fight for freedom and justice for her brother - the first novel published in English by a female Kurdish writer.

Set in Iran, this extraordinary debut novel takes listeners into the everyday lives of the Kurds. Leila dreams of making films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but obstacles keep piling up. Leila's younger brother Chia, influenced by their father's past torture, imprisonment, and his deep-seated desire for justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism grows increasingly risky and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers about her brother's whereabouts, Leila fears the worst and begins a campaign to save him. But when she publishes Chia's writings online, she finds herself in grave danger as well. 

Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the lives and stakes faced by 40 million stateless Kurds and a powerful story that brilliantly illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family, perfect for fans of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun.

©2020 Ava Homa (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Excellent!

Excellent, gripping and extremely powerful. Could not stop listening to this incredibly passionate & powerful book.

Essential reading!

One of the best novels ever. I have always wanted to know more about the Kurds. This is the best introduction I can think of.

uncomfortable subject

painful story but extremely well written with tales of human suffering that we all should be aware of.

Hope this book reach many people

Sad story that unfortunately continues today without the world interfering. Hope it will be translated to many languages

beautifully written book

I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely powerful. Homa is a master writer. The narrator also has a soothing lovely voice.

Story of Kurdish women

By the end of the first chapter, I thought this novel was written about me. As I listened further, however, I realized it was written about all Kurdish women. We’ve all lived a version of Leila’s life. Little by little, it took me back to my teenage years. It brought back painful and happy memories. While it portrays the life of a Kurdish woman, it can be about women everywhere. Traditions and cultures might be different, but we all have experiences that are similar.
This is a beautiful first English novel by Ava Homa and I can’t wait to see her next project. I enjoyed it so much that listened to the audio copy several times and purchased a hardcopy too.  It is a must read.

A “gut-wrenching” story told with poetic eloquence

This story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ava Homa has crafted a timeless story with depth, with the personal, social, political, and cultural perspectives revealed. I also loved the narrator’s presentation of this story.

On target but...

Took me back to my times in Kurdistan and for someone who hasn’t visited that part of the world, it’s on target. I just wish it had more of a plot to keep my interest.

Original, brilliant and unique

The story is highly engrossing and insightful! This book took me on a journey that I couldn't have gone otherwise. Some of the scenes break you apart in their power to influence you. All the while I was listening, I was right there with the characters, feeling what they feel, growing with them, experiencing their fear and resilience. I highly recommend this important, beautiful and powerful story of standing up to injustice and oppression.

The narrator had a calming nf and soothing voice.

I will be looking for more by Ava Homa

Really enjoyed it, I feel like I had travelled there as well as learning, and loved the narration. Thank you

A wonderful story of transformative female courage

Beautifully and elegantly written and performed - you will not regret stepping into Leila’s Kurdistan - and you too cannot fail to be transformed in turn by the experience.