“[A] vibrant debut about sex workers in a Casablanca brothel.” —New York Times Book Review
 
“Startling…impressive…this tragic work remains timely and relevant, encouraging the reader to reflect on universal themes of gender norms, the self-perpetuating cycle of violence, and the inextricable ties that forever bind victims and their victimizers.” —Washington Independent Review of Books

“Written in elegiac prose that tends toward the poetic register of the ghazal, Mohamed Leftah’s novel brings a specific place and time to an aching kind of life, even as it tells, with great empathy, the story of a people who are often relegated to the shadows. The relationship between Zapata and “the Dane,” Nadia and Sophia, and the stories of Rose and Nectarine will stay with readers a long time. Fans of Anosh Irani’s The Parcel and Orhan Pamuk’s My Name Is Red are especially in for a treat.” —Shastri Akella, author of The Sea Elephants

Praise for Captain Ni'mat's Last Battle:
 
“Alluring…graphic and sensuous without being prurient, and a piquant exploration of masculinity, gender, societal taboos, and the nature of love.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Thought provoking and engaging, with well-realized characters and a satisfying conclusion.” —Booklist

“Leftah is highly regarded in the francophone literary world (‘An observer of the abyss. A champion of delight’)…[Captain Ni’mat’s Last Battle is] a stylish and intelligent read…a landmark statement in Egypt’s exciting national conversation.” —The Spectator

“I read this gorgeous book in one sitting. The writing is poetic and breathtaking, rich with history. A must-read…Captain Ni’mat’s Last Battle is so riveting!” —Hasan Namir, Lambda Literary Award–winning author of God in Pink