- Jan 23, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 9
Laury Silvers The Lover Review - Best Companion Piece to Mirage?
-Written by Adam -
I'll be honest, when I picked up Laury Silver's The Lover, I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was a murder mystery set in 9th-century Baghdad.
One of the aspects of this book that drew me in the most was that of the characters. They are an incredible melting pot of the devout, the corrupt and the honourable.
The interactions between these characters form the backbone of the book, playing off each other in entertaining and often emotional ways.
However, this book is not for the faint of heart. It does not shy away from controversial topics and provides an in-depth look at the grim reality of Baghdadi life for the poor and destitute; as well as the societal treatment of women and children.
In my opinion, this only serves to elevate the story as it provides a backdrop to the characters' struggles, both externally and internally. It also serves to teach the reader about the society that underpins the themes that run throughout the book.
I'll be honest, I have a severe lack of knowledge when it comes to my Middle Eastern knowledge. To my shame, anything that isn't Japanese or Chinese, I tend to lack knowledge of.
The Lover does alleviate a lot of the gaps in my knowledge though as it provides an everyday 'street view' of Baghdadi society that is easy enough to understand without being overly complex.
Silvers does an excellent job of showcasing different characters' opinions of the societal status quo, some are content with the life they have and some are not.
It is a fact that many people were disadvantaged in historical society but this has been hushed up for the most part in historical texts etc. By emphasising the characters' struggles and doubts about society in the way the characters speak and act, it brings a more modern sensibility that we, as a modern audience can relate to.
I do have one concern and in all honesty, this could be an issue with me and not the book. It took me a significant amount of time to understand who's who. It may be because I'm not that familiar with Arabic naming conventions but it's still something to be aware of.
There is a glossary at the end of book, explaining naming conventions etc and personally, I think it would have been better served being placed at the start of the book; to help familiarise readers with the information.
All in all, Laury Silvers The Lover is an excellent read, for those interested in an engaging story with great characters. It also slots in nicely as a companion piece to Assassin's Creed Mirage, able to build on the societal aspects of the game that were glossed over.
A huge thank you to Laury for sending her book to me and for allowing Scholars of the Creed to review it!
If you enjoyed this article be sure to follow Scholars of the Creed on BlueSky for more content on the art, history and science of the Assassin's Creed Universe. Safety and peace be upon you.