The Tyrant's Nephew

Omar didn't choose to be the tyrant's heir - but if he has courage, he can choose his fate...

Omar and ordinary boy born into extraordinary circumstances, who finds within himself, and with the help of his friends, human and supernatural, the courage to defy the man who terrorises his entire country - his own uncle Haroun, the tyrant known as the Vampire...Set in modern times, in the imaginary country of Mesomia, 'The Tyrant's Nephew' is greatly inspired by the reign of one of the most fearsome dictators of our times, Saddam Hussein. Sophie Masson has been interested in the region for a long time, and has read a good deal about its history, folklore and current events. And through her reading, as well as contact with Iraqis, has come to learn not only about the ugly details of the tyrant's regime, but also about the many acts of heroism by the Iraqi people who tried to fight against him for so long - and for a long time, without help from outside. Sophie Masson also learnt about the bizarre world of the dictator. Saddam is a great believer in magic, believes he is protected by God and by the magical beings called the Jinn, and at the height of his power, employed a great many magicians, sorcerers, and fortune tellers in his palaces. His son Uday also advertised on TV for people with magical powers to come and work for the family!At the heart of fantasy is the fight against the Dark Lord of fearsome powers. In the Iraq of Saddam Hussein, Sophie Masson found this well known theme literally came to life. And she began to ask herself several questions. Fantasy novels are often set around the resistance to a Dark Lord - around people who from their birth are chosen to oppose him. What if it were the opposite? What if instead of being chosen to be the Dark Lord's enemy, you were born into his family, and you were chosen to be his heir? What if the tyrant and sorcerer who held the country in a nightmare spell of terror was of your own blood? What if you were afraid of him but had never been badly treated by him? How would you possibly find the courage to defy him?Omar is an unusual hero. He is scared stiff, he is often uncertain about what to do and he has no idea if anyone will help him or just hate him because of who he is. What happens to him, and how he defeats the evil of his uncle's reign with his friends, both human and supernatural, makes for no ordinary fantasy novel. You will open your heart to Omar and his friends.

The Tyrant's Nephew
Random House Australia
Author: Sophie Masson
ISBN: 1741660599 / 9781741660593
RRP: $15.95