Title : Burnt Shadows 

Author : Kamila Shamsie

Genre : Historical Fiction 

A novel based on some unforgettable historical happenings. Burnt Shadows tells us the tale of Hiroko Tanaka, a resident of Nagasaki, well now you get an idea of the historical event, right?

Having lost her father and the man she loved, Konrad Weiss, Hiroko embarks on a journey to a completely different nation which is going through its own turmoil and war for independence, India. What makes her travel, well she goes to meet the only relative of Konrad, his cousin Elizabeth Weiss, or should I say Elizabeth and James Burton. She hardly knew anything about them.

During her stay with them, she meets Sajjad Ashraf who becomes her life. Amidst the Indian independence and partition, the Ashraf’s moved to Pakistan. Raza Konrad Ashraf, their son is brought up well by the two. Sajjad’s heart is still with Delhi as he longs to go back. 

As the days progress, Raza is unclear of what he needs to do and meets Harry Burton, who apparently works with the CIA and his daughter Kim. After this the events take a big turn resulting in all of them getting displaced only to be united in another historical event – the 9/11.

Each character has a deep scar that goes with them forever, and the way Kamila takes  the events to travel with them is commendable. The incidents travel with the characters as shadows.