The Blue Eye

By Ausma Zehanat Khan

Third instalment in Ausma Zehanat Khan's powerful epic fantasy quartet: a series that lies somewhere between N. K. Jemisin and George R.R. Martin, in which a powerful band of women must use all the powers at their disposal to defeat a dark and oppressive, patriarchal regime

When speech isn’t free, whose word can you trust?

The Companions of Hira used their wits and magic to battle against the Talisman, an organization whose hyper conservative agenda limits free thinking and subjugates women.

They were defeated. But Arian continues to lead a disparate group of Companions in pursuit of the mystical artifact that could end the Talisman’s rule: The Bloodprint. For the arcane tome slipped out of their reach once more in the heat of battle. Through all they have endured, Arian’s band of allies has always remained united in the face of their enemy. In pursuit of their goal.

Until now.

Their group is fracturing. To continue the fight, Arian must journey to a distant city to recruit new allies. It is not the first time she faces risk, but now she cannot rely on her friends to watch her back. Now she is forced to seek alliances she would otherwise never trust…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Oct 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780008171698

Ausma Zehanat Khan

AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN holds a Ph.D. in international human rights law with a specialization in military intervention and war crimes in the Balkans. She is the author of the award-winning Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty mystery series, which begins with The Unquiet Dead, as well as the critically acclaimed Khorasan Archives fantasy series. Her crime series featuring Detective Inaya Rahman begins with Blackwater Falls. She is also a contributor to the anthologies Private Investigations, Sword Stone Table, and The Perfect Crime, and the former Editor-in-Chief of Muslim Girl magazine. A British-born Canadian and former adjunct law professor, Khan now lives in DC with her husband.

Reviews for The Blue Eye

[dgrachel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've been trying to figure out what to put in this review. It's difficult because (a) I love Ausma Zehanat Khan, so writing a thoughtful review that is more than just fan-girling is hard, and (b) there's so much going on in this book and this series that I want to both avoid spoilers, but still convince people to read the books. It is a series that among people I know is underrated and under-read.The Blue Eye is book three in The Khorasan Archives, a Fantasy series that features a unique magical structure, strong female protagonists, and a Middle Eastern setting that I can't get enough of in the genre. Many characters are morally gray, with often selfish motives, but the truly evil villains, like The One Eyed Preacher and his followers known as the Talisman, call to mind the horrors of modern religious zealots, which lends an eerie realism to the series.The Blue Eye is dark. There's still no happy ending, at least not yet, and nearly everyone's motives are suspect. Our heroines suffer greatly. Previously concealed identities are revealed and the answers are shocking. It's action packed, and there were many moments when I read on with my heart in my throat, fearing for my favorite characters.I think the thing I love most about this series, though, is something that has become even clearer in this third installment. The system of magic and power is tied to The Claim, the sacred religious text of all Khorasan. As a reader, the idea of words and stories, whether fables or histories, being the center of strength and power, is beautiful and relatable. I am both looking forward to the final installment of The Khorasan Archives, which *should* be out later this year, and dreading it. I am sure there will be more loss, more heartbreak, but I am hopeful that Khan will end the series on a high note and that Good will triumph over Evil. I'm willing to send her chocolate and all the cat pictures she could possible want, if she'll take bribes