Between Love and Honor

Written by Alexandra Lapierre

Narrated by Nick Podehl

Jamal Eddin Shamil is only eight years old when he is stolen from his native Caucasus Mountains and whisked away by Russian soldiers to the glittering court at St. Petersburg. There Czar Nicholas takes a special interest in his exotic Muslim hostage, the eldest son of Chechen warrior chief Imam Shamil. In St. Petersburg, Jamal Eddin is immersed in imperial life, educated alongside the czar’s own sons and gradually maturing into the consummate courtier. Through it all, he remains true to the Muslim faith of his father—until he falls in love with a beautiful Russian aristocrat. To marry her he must convert to Christianity, a sacrifice Jamal Eddin is prepared to make for the woman he loves. But he doesn’t realize that there are greater forces at work, forces that have lain in wait for Jamal Eddin to come of age and serve the purpose for which he was groomed. And when he is called to return to his native land and take his rightful place as leader of the Muslims, Jamal Eddin must choose: reject his people to follow his heart or abandon his bride to fulfill his duty.

Based on an astonishing true story, Between Love and Honor is a sweeping historical novel in the grand style of Alexandre Dumas and a breathtaking love story of sacrifice and devotion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Translator: Jane Lizop
• Release date: Apr 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469200194

Alexandra Lapierre

Alexandra Lapierre is a bestselling French novelist, short story writer, and biographer. She graduated from Sorbonne University and the University of Southern California. Her works, including Artemisia, bring back to life great women and characters neglected by history. Her books have been published in more than twenty countries. She lives in Paris.

Reviews for Between Love and Honor

[bsiemens_2 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I began reading this audio book, but finally abandoned it for the text version because I was missing too many details. At the end of my Kindle edition, the publisher included a two page glossary and a fifteen page last of main characters and places. Can you imagine how difficult to follow a story without those resources at your finger tips? In retrospect, I opine that the author relied too heavily upon detailed naming and neglected the flow of the story. Too bad.