I have very mixed feelings about this book.  99% of the book I enjoyed thoroughly – exciting plot, interesting characters, the flavor of a different culture…but unfortunately the hated 1% is the ending – which sucked.  It was as if Ms. Kazan just decided, “I’m bored with this, new project please.”   

Suddenly the plot halts and there is an epilogue providing scant details of each character’s end days.  What?  Who married who?  What?  The child?  Are you kidding me? 

 The problem with bad ending to me is I have invested time, energy and my emotions in these pages, come on I deserve a little closure!  I bet she would break up by text message…

 Thus I can not recommend this book, however good, because I am still annoyed by how crappy the ending was…If you are so blessed not to get hung up on endings – have at it and sink into the Ottoman Empire - intrigue, murder, politics and sex abound…