Since the age of 12, Miro has been a prisoner of war—a fate he shares with his brother, Markus, and the four cellmates that raised him from childhood in the dark. When a brutal murder becomes the key to their escape, the fugitives must forge their way across an occupied land to reach the city, and the refuge of the Resistance. Over the course of 13 days, their survival in the face of great odds will stir the hopes of a nation, unravel the cycles of history and spark the fires of uprising.
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
In Nasr's memorable novel, Miro has been locked away since he was a boy. He and his cellmates are forced to endure horrible conditions, until they make the most of their one chance at escape. Readers will be engrossed by this novel from the very beginning. The setting is beautifully described and Miro is a sympathetic character with whom readers will empathize. With intense pacing throughout, excellent character development, and distinct and realistic dialogue, Nasr's novel is one readers will want to finish in one sitting.
Date Submitted: September 21, 2016
“A gripping thriller of struggle against jack-booted occupation. A suspenseful, action-packed tale of war and insurgency. A battle against all odds of the just against the strong and arrogant. Miro is all these things, and something more. Anita Emile (A.E.) Nasr has produced a riveting story from the oldest of legends: the underdog slogging on in the face of overwhelming odds. This is a strong and remarkable novel, its pace sustained through a wide variety of plot settings, its deeper truths plainly on display.”
“…You will simply not want to miss the spectacular climax. It provides a fitting and gratifying conclusion to this fugitive journey, and proves that our intrepid author will command a large audience in the future. It’s that good.”
“A sweeping, memorable story that will provide readers with a grand escape of their own, along with a deep appreciation of a highly skilled new author. Take up this marvelous book!”
At Basso Profundo, I had the good fortune to read and review the brilliant Miro, by the wonderful debut author A.E. Nasr. She graciously agreed to reply to a few questions I proposed, and the insightful proof of Ms. Nasr's talent and depth follow.
Excerpt:
BP: The terror of occupation and oppression occur in so many places around the world, making the themes of your novel unfortunately all too current. Was it this pervasive nature that led to your book? Or were there a few particular instances of it that inspired you (no need to identify them of course)?
AE Nasr: War and occupation have been part of my life—the background music, shall we say: at times enraging, at times terrifying, perhaps dulling my senses but never dull. But when I began writing MIRO in 2007 it was a simple writing exercise—a writer in front of a blank page on the computer screen...
