Paul A's Reviews > Harem

It seems that this book was received with a pretty polarized response regarding Falconer's characterization of his main characters' motivations. People appear to take issue with how Hurrem or Suleiman are portrayed, when in reality, there's no way we can know their true thoughts and motivations - all we have left are their material legacies. Falconer takes liberties with how he interprets their actions, which I don't think is unfair, given that this is a novelization of historical events. It does not seem like a stretch that the protagonists of his story would be less than perfect or ideal. Rather, it lends nuance and impact to their actions that is lacking in the historical record. Falconer does a good job of portraying other cultures in a respectful way, both in his tone and the tone of his characters. I look forward to reading more books in his series.