Then it turns out his lover's new fiancé is the 'Hand of God,' as they call the head of state security, and his henchmen come after Alif, driving him underground. The aristocratic woman Alif loves has jilted him for a prince chosen by her parents, and his computer has just been breached by the state's electronic security force, putting his clients and his own neck on the line.

He goes by Alif-the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, and a convenient handle to hide behind. In an unnamed Middle Eastern security state, a young Arab-Indian hacker shields his clients-dissidents, outlaws, Islamists, and other watched groups-from surveillance and tries to stay out of trouble. Open the first page and you will be forced to do its bidding: To read on.'-Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and Out of Oz Willow Wilson conjures up a tale of literary enchantment, political change, and religious mystery. 'Driven by a hot ionic charge between higher math and Arabian myth, G. You should read what she writes.'-Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust and American Gods Willow Wilson has a deft hand with myth and with magic, and the kind of smart, honest writing mind that knits together and bridges cultures and people.

Bound in what looks like human skin, and titled “The Thousand and One Days”, Alif soon realizes that this token of affection is actually a dangerous source of old world magic.Description 'G. As their final communication, Intisar sends the heartbroken Alif a mysterious old book. But their budding love affair is cruelly ended when her father arranges a marriage for her with a man of her class…A man who turns out to be the state’s leading censor, a shadowy and powerful figure known only as ‘the Hand’. Alif has fallen in love with the beguiling Intisar, an aristocratic woman he meets online. His job is to provide security to enemies of the Arab states, ranging from pornographers to militant Islamists. Alif is a half-Arab, half-Indian, 23-year-old hacker working in the Arab Emirates. You used to walk among us, and we among you. Welcome to the Empty Quarter, the domain of Djinn, ghouls, demons and the effrit who take the shapes of beasts. This is a compelling and bewitching first novel, perfect for book groups, that mixes old world magic with modern adventure.

Alif the unseen review