Emiliya Ahmadova's Broken Chains is a powerful work in the area of protest literature,a tale that gives voice to the voiceless people who suffer in any form of relationship. In Silvana, Ahmadova develops an icon of protest against the numerous forms of injustices orchestrated against women. The author writes confidently about issues in a wide selection of themes, including religion,interracial, and inter-religious marriage, the primacy of human dignity, the primary right to freedom and happiness, and a lot more. Silvana is a compelling and well-developed character who will not only interest readers, but will be a powerful example of a warrior for freedom and human rights. "
Reviewed by Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
readersfavorite.com/book-review/broken-chains/1

A few month ago I have translated Broken Chains into Russian language. I must say Broken Chains is a fascinating novel, the primary merits and strengths of Broken Chains are its sincerity and originality. The author is a woman who was raised in a Muslim multinational setting, thereby becoming acquainted with the customs, traditions, and peculiarities of life in different countries and even different continents. In addition, she has had the unique opportunity to communicate with a wide spectrum of people from varying cultural backgrounds and outlooks on life. All this has culminated in her relating in fictional form (throughout riveting pages) her multifaceted life experiences and a wealth of knowledge. In her novel the story line seems so natural, including engaging dialogue. Ahmadova describes her characters so vividly and clearly that readers will not view them as uniform and unipolar. Each elicits sympathy or antipathy in a natural manner. Before encountering the protagonist, readers will learn the dramatic story of her mother's life, followed by that of her grandmother. Such an opening permits readers not only to trace the relationships among generations, but also to assess the influence of parental conduct on the lives of the descendants. Nonetheless, the chain of "hereditary damage" is derailed by the protagonist's faith and hope in God in reaching out for salvation. The main character, Silvana, finds inner strength to change the trajectory of her life and, in turn, transforms the lives of many around her suffering alone and in silence, also feeling shackled and chained down by paralyzing fear and hopeless despair enveloping their human condition. In this way, Silvana becomes a role model for all of them, living proof that fundamental human happiness is in their own hands and can make all the difference, together with not only hard work and an unceasingly and unquestionable faith in God, but also an insatiable desire to make a difference on this earth.
​Ekaterina Romanova (Translated Broken Chains into Russian Language)

This book is the story of Silvana. It begins when her mother, Esmira, a young bookstore manager in Baku, Azerbaijan, meets Silvana's father, Samed. The author could have chosen to introduce Silvana earlier in the story and used backstory to give the reader family background. However, there was much to divulge and I believe the best way of doing it was what the author did. That is, she gave the reader the backstory by starting the book at the time Silvana's parents met.

Esmira was attracted to Samed from that first meeting. However, we learn it wasn't the same for him. He was a womanizer out to score. By the time Esmira figured this out, it was too late. She was pregnant. She was encouraged to, and seriously considered, abortion. But she put it off until it was too late.

By the end of the book, it dawned on me that had Esmira had an abortion, many people's lives would have been affected in a negative way. Even so, this is not a story about abortion. It is a story of how we are all shaped by our parents and grandparents, and try as we may, there are some characteristics and beliefs that are difficult to overcome. Silvana shows us that we can overcome them. I pulled for her throughout the book and shed tears of happiness for her.

This book is well written and one that you will not easily put down. In addition to the story, I enjoyed reading about food and culture in areas where I have not been.

"Silvana is a strong and very relatable character. I have only read one other book that has brought me to tears the way this one did. You get a real sense of truth behind each and every situation as you follow Silvana through out her story and journey. Because of this you can't help but feel a strong connection with her and her children. There were several occasions that I had to put the book down and regroup because the writing is so real and intense. I enjoyed Broken Chains for so many reasons but mostly because it is going to be very hard to forget. All I can say is get those tissues ready and hang on tight!"

"This book recounts the story of three generations of women who endure the common theme of domestic abuse. In every case the abuse is inflicted upon them by the very people who should have loved, cherished and protected them. The reader is introduced to Sadaget, who is the mother of Esmira. Esmira becomes a single mother when she gives birth to Silvana who then becomes a mother and herself suffers from the scars of the heritage of emotional cruelty.
This chain of suffering is referenced in the title, but the book offers hope of redemption when Silvana breaks the chain and frees herself from the trap that generations of her family had endured. Though the story ends on a hopeful note, the suffering is painful to read.
This is a sad story, but well worth reading. It clearly shows how difficult a trap these emotional prisons can be. But it also shows that the chains can be broken, and that the cycle of emotional and physical abuse do not have to be endured or passed along to one’s children."

"Emiliya Ahmadova's "Broken Chains" delves deep into the issue of promiscuity and abuse. The grandmother was hard to love, but her nagging and criticism were just a mother wanting more for her daughter. Instead of learning from her mother's mistakes, she walked right into her footsteps. Silvana's character begins with a young girl who needs attention and love from a male figure and progresses through understanding her why her mother wants more for her and the courage she has to leave her abusive situation. It is satisfying to see her character develop through the years. It is the granddaughter who breaks the generational chain of events."

The book written by Emiliya is really good. She, somehow, describes very authentically some outskirts of my own life. It brings tears to me but also hope, hope for better future in any human being. Thank you, Emiliya.

''What a sad generational saga, but that is the point of the book. There were times I wanted to tell the characters "hello, don't do that!" and other times I would've let them cry on my shoulder. I love the happy ending of redemption and the breaking of generational sin. I also enjoyed the international locations, especially Azerbaijan as it's not a country mentioned much in the U.S.A. so it was fun to learn about the culture.'

'I really enjoyed this book. From the beginning to the and, it held me captivated. You go on an emotional journey throughout the book with its characters. you really got to know all of the characters to the point where you felt like you were right there with them. This was a really good book.'

'Good overview to begin the story. The overview really sets the tone. Book reeks of sincerity and believability. It is a great insight into a Muslim woman’s outlook, Silvana. As a man, I felt at first that the story was going to be too `feeling` for me, but I was soon engulfed by the entire account, and was completely involved in it. Although the description of her encounters was a bit too expressive for my personal taste, the drama of the telling overcame that easily. This seems to be a book geared for the woman readers, but the plot is such that it is a great eye-opener for all of us. It is a moving account of a situation that – if we have never encountered personally – we can sure relate to its drama. And I think that by relating to it – we become a better, more informed individual. When we trace her marriage to Mark, and witness vicariously its eventual unhappy state, the entire telling takes on a new perspective. As we see her increasing thirst for independence and escape from her overbearing husband – we have to have in our minds that this is a superb telling – from beginning to end. It is believable and sad, yet inspiring! We become emphatic to Silvana as she eventually finds spiritual peace.
A Five star easily.'

'For an author whose first language is not English, this book is pretty well-written. There are a few stumbles but nothing that cannot be overlooked, as the story is pretty intense. It is a story about generational abuse, and it is as sad and painful as it sounds, but the story is compelling. It also brings out a light that shows there is hope even when the life being led is dismal. A heartbreakingly inspirational subject that is more true than fiction.'

'Emiliya Amadova's book 'Broken Chains' is very compelling. It is an enjoyable read. It takes you into the unfamiliar world of Azerbaijan,before going to Kenya and Canada. The book gives good insights into how women sometimes are victimized by abusers, and how they can get free. The inter generational nature of victimization was made very clear through the tragic stories of the grandmother, mother and daughter. Christian faith shines through a rather tortured journey of guilt, shame, fear and regret. The book's ending has the heroine sharing at a conference on how to say no to abusers. The ending would benefit from being tightened up.
Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, author of Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit.'

'It is said that there are certain cycles that are extremely difficult to break. Chief among them are poverty and abuse. It takes a person of stalwart resolution and faith to break those chains and fly free.
In the case of Silvana’s family, the cycle continues through several generations and across several countries. From Mariya, Silvana’s great-grandmother, to Sadaget the grandmother, and then to Esmira, and her daughter Silvana, the abuse or neglect spreads down like a genetic plague. The mothers try too hard to keep their daughters from making the mistakes they made themselves, and the daughters rebel by inadvertently choosing men who are just as bad as their own fathers—whether or not they ever met them.
Silvana has an advantage over her female relatives, though. She knows she is worth much more than her mother keeps telling her (abuse finds itself into the next generation in more than one way).
The story begins with the meeting of Esmira and Samed, who fathers Silvana. This relationship is rocky at the beginning, and ends badly. Silvana loves her dad nonetheless, and rankles at her mother’s and grandmother’s severe infringements on her freedom. When she finds Mark, she is sure he will be her source of freedom.
Instead, the nightmare is only made worse. Through the birth and raising of four children, Silvana never finds the freedom she thought she would have. That is, not until she believes in herself enough to make the first step from the emotional cage she’d been subjected to.
She never gives up, and this is the core and message of the book. The ending is very believable, and the journey there only too real.
This is a very important book for anyone who wishes to find their way out of the cycle, or for those who want to help someone who is abused.
I highly recommend it.'

'Domestic abuse, both physical and verbal, traps so many people but this important book can hopefully help those who are suffering finally break free from their shackles. Broken Chains is an uncomfortable read as you witness the damage two selfish, abusive men wreak on three generations of women. You read on in the hope that Silvana won't suffer the same anguish as her mother but in the expectation that her own marriage will end up equally doomed. Broken Chains highlights how easy it is for women to end up imprisoned in their own homes and how hard it can be for them to free themselves from abusive relationships. However, it ultimately offers hope by showing that no matter how bleak things become, people still have the power to control their own destiny if they are brave enough to stand up to those who are oppressing them. Silvana ultimately finds this inner strength with the help of her religion and this book also examines how the faith of those who suffer is tested throughout their darkest moments.'

At the core of her novel Broken Chains, the author Emiliya Ahmadova examines three generations of women: Sadaget, the grandmother; Esmira, the single mother; and Silvana, the dutiful granddaughter and mother herself. These interrelationships betray rivalries, jealousies, and vendettas, culminating in Silvana's Christian and Muslim intermarriage. These women's clashes with overbearing and abusive males lie at the core of the novel's message about redemption and victory over neglect and negligence.

The novel provides an incisive treatment of abuse in all forms: sexual, familial, marital, and parental. Ahmadova takes us into Silvana's inner world of turmoil, and her narrative appeals to not only English-speaking women readers, but also men in marriages that are dysfunctional. Moving is the percipient candor of the narrator--her struggles, her ambitions, and her eventual victory over abuse and through a headstrong focus on achieving what we all deserve in life: happiness and independence. Such a victory serves as an inspiration and role model for all of us in a world gone insane with divisiveness, deception, and deceit. The author serves as an admirable and worthy mentor for everyone.

Ahmadova invites women everywhere regardless of boundaries who are overwrought in their kitchen by demanding husbands or micromanaged at their jobs by male misogynists to escape into the world of Silvana and the exotic locales of the Middle East. In intermarrying, she combats a Christian monster and, as a result, a divided and mutinous Muslim family in an effort not only to declare her dreamt independence, but also to pursue her deserved happiness, all universal aspirations in a world fraught by conflicts, collisions, and confrontations of religions, nationalities, and genders. You will find similarities to your own lives, yet Ahmadova exposes the intricacies of Islam when it comes to love beyond its borders.

Brian Daniel Harvey, M.Phil. (Oxon)
Editorial Director, Alamo Trails Press
Rapid City Area, South Dakota, USA

Broken Chains introduces three generations of women trapped in an abusive reactionary lifestyle.

The author's ability to reach out to her readers through her main character, 'Silvana', a heroine in many cases, is not only intuitive and empathetic but also very effective.

As you read each word, you will be drawn deeper into Silvana's life.
You will take on a deep sense of her fears and loneliness of the many abusive generational relationships she faces to the point that they will become your own.
You will feel Silvana's confusion as she struggles with her religious beliefs, seeking strength and guidance that will free her from a roller-coaster of abusive relationships.
Her innate behavior to protect her children which provides her with an inner strength to break free from the chains of abuse are commendable and heroic, hense the word 'Heroine', being used earlier in this review.
Silvana's story is truly a voice of strength, promise and hope that a victim can walk away and move past a life of abuse.
Broken Chains is a compelling and heartfelt story, written with not only the authors heart and soul, but also her need to educate others who may be victims of abuse.
In itself this book can be used as a very resourceful hind-site for all victims of abuse.

The initial focus throughout this book indirectly deals with the dynamics and scars of abuse.

This story sends several very strong and encouraging messages to victims of abuse and to those who are amidst its struggles.

1. It is NOT your fault,
2. Abuse of any form is unacceptable,
3. You have the right to walk away,
4. You can forgive in order to move forward.

Womensselfesteem.com: highly recommends Broken Chains for all victims of abuse. As much as it is an emotional and horrific journey, reading Broken Chains most definitely promises positive messages of hope and freedom from abuse. It is one of the most motivational stories I have read to date.

Broken Chains by Emiliya Ahmadova was a super can't put it down read. It had intense family situations that we all have from time to time but deep dark issues that no one likes to talk about. It brought out my family's past in living color. WOW.... It made me realize that other families around the world are no different then here in America. Suffering and determination to survive is a basic human characteristic.

To rise above may take a lifetime of struggles but also can be multi-generational. This is a story of such dept and intense joy I could not help but think it is a classic. To me I thought how everyone any age could benefit from the teachings I learned in this MUST READ BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!

So, check it out and see If I am right!!!!

A BIG FAN of Miss Emiliya Ahmadova.

Mike Hardinger
Network Engineer
Chattanooga TN

I came across Emiliya Ahmadova’s book “Broken Chains” after reading Emily Hayworth’s book “Verbal Abuse: Diary of an Abusive Relationship”. Broken Chains is another moving story pointing out domestic violence. Some people may say these are just common stories. Are they? I don’t think so. The fact that too many women live a life of oppression, injustice, and abuse, be it verbal or physical, doesn’t mean these life-stories are “ordinary”. It should not be considered normal when people, especially women, are treated like slaves, trash, and “second class humans”. But, unfortunately, the reality is quite different. That’s why, in my opinion, it’s so important that more women dare to raise their voices.
Broken Chains is an awesome book. I love it. The plot is rich, unique and really gripping. I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading the last chapters at 5 o’clock in the morning.

Emiliya Ahmadova writes in her very own fascinating style. Authentic and honest. It’s a very touching story of 5 generations of Azeri women. Mary, Sadaget, Esmira, Silvana and Silvana’s daughters. Each of them tries to prepare the next generation for a better life. In vain? Is there a way to escape fate and traditions, break up with unwritten rules and change the future for good?
The author shaped colorful and very believable and likable characters. These women have a lot in common and are so different at the same time. The story seems very real. Indeed it is, because, unfortunately always today, myriads of women deal every day with domestic abuse. The kind of taboo topic. It happens only to the others.

There are never too many stories narrated, too many books written, too many songs sung or too many people raising their voices against abuse, violence, and humiliation. Whoever argue that this is only one more ordinary story never lived it and should hold his tongue. For the rest of us, this book is very inspiring and full of lessons and hope. Hope for a better life for all of us. Hope for a new future for the next generations. For a new world, where justice and human rights reign instead of hate and indignity.
This book will find its way to many readers across the world. It is beautifully written, stirring, and full of suspense. The story is filled with drama but also a lot of hope for a better future. A better world will come. I truly want to believe it. Congratulations to Emiliya Ahmadova who created this inspiring story--with passion, love, and hard work. Women, get the words out! Each story is important and helps to raise awareness, and finally, shape a new future for all of us.