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Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Susie Helme’s Dreaming of Jerusalem is set in the chaotic Ottoman world of the 1340s and follows Ysabeau, a young woman who has always wanted more than domestic duties. When her father, a former Knight Templar, is murdered by Tatar pirates outside Constantinople, she makes revenge a lifelong mission. Stealing her mother’s chalices, she flees from an unwanted Scottish wardship, traveling east in pursuit of revenge. She fights pirates and Alpine bandits, joins a troupe of mummers, infiltrates a Mongol camp, rides with Princess Theodora's wedding party to Orhan Bey's court, and escapes the Bursa harem with Layla, a Thracian captive who becomes her love. She converts to Islam, taking the name Ayşe, and fights alongside the Ahî Brotherhood through court intrigue, Ottoman campaigns, and a bloody Egyptian coup. But when Layla’s hard truths force her to confront what she has become, she begins a new journey. Will it lead her back home?
The worldbuilding is impeccably accomplished, and you are treated to vivid images of the vineyards in Trépail, the Genoese trading posts, the rug guilds in Anatolia, and the Mamluk palaces. Each location brims with life and activity, and historical figures, such as Orhan Gazi, stamp the period with authenticity. The plot is intricately constructed, with battles, courtroom drama, escapes, and intrigue. The episodic storytelling makes the book delightful and fast-paced. Ayşe’s arc is the unique strength of Dreaming of Jerusalem: she is impulsive, brave, and bloodthirsty, yet the transformation taking place in her inner world is inspiring, and her journey culminates in an enjoyable climax. Susie Helme’s thematic exploration of faith and conversion, justice versus vengeance, and love as redemption is stellar. This swashbuckling historical novel is surprisingly thoughtful and a literary creation you will love for its many delights.
