Angel of Aleppo by Jon Cocks covers the Armenian genocide of 1915
at the hands of Ottoman Turks through the eyes of a young
Armenian girl in a harrowing tale of survival against all odds.
Sixteen-year-old Anoush dreads her own fate after the unexpected
disappearance of her elder sister Anahid at the hands of the Turkish
bey, Ibrahim. After accidentally killing one of Ibrahim’s hired thugs,
her nightmares come true when the Turks attack their village,
leaving Anoush and her baby sister Covinar alongside the survivors
in a seemingly hopeless march to nowhere. Witnessing the brutal
atrocities committed by her oppressors, Anoush finds herself as a
nurse in Aleppo, where she desperately searches for her missing
sister. She reunites with her old flame, Krikor. But with Ibrahim on
her trail, will she ever be truly free?
Author Jon Cocks tells a tragic and moving story set against the
backdrop of a harrowing event in human history, the Armenian
genocide under the Ottoman Empire. Cocks’ narrative is
unflinchingly raw, and he never shies away from showcasing the
utterly horrendous acts committed by the Ottoman soldiers during
the Armenian genocide. Using multiple POV characters, the non-
linear narrative switches timelines bypassing decades between
1915 and 1965. The characters feel like real people, and it adds a
sense of authenticity to the story that only makes it all the more
poignant. Angel of Aleppo is a book that is a must-read for readers
who enjoy historical fiction. I found it absolutely riveting and highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
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