My dearest Bassam,
Come for me. I am taken away to a dark place. It is the end of my life. I have nothing but this script to console—and my thoughts of you. If these words find you when it is too late, let them comfort you for your life without me at your side. —Forever yours,
Rasha
What is greater than the search for love? Finding the love of your life and having her ripped away.
In the dark of night, a covert group of bandits enters the village of Rekeem and kidnaps Rasha, daughter of the great Abdali-ud-din leader, Zafir. They seek a hefty ransom, and know Zafir will sacrifice everything to win back the safety of his beloved daughter. But it’s not just Zafir who wants to find her. Bassam, Zafir’s young protégé in the caravans, is deeply in love with Rasha. And he will let nothing stop him from finding her—even a perilous journey—even death.
This epic third installment of the Bassam Saga follows Bassam, Rasha, and a colorful cast of characters on a heroic trek from Rekeem, across Egypt, to the pyramids, and the great Nilus River, and back again. What begins as a quest for lost love becomes a battle for life as the pursuers become the hunted, and realize that not everyone is who they seem. With timeless style and masterful storytelling, Paul B. Skousen leads us on a coming-of-age tale that tests will, valor, wit, and swordsmanship, and ultimately bring us back to love.
PRAISE FOR THE SEARCH FOR RASHA
More vivid than most historical novels set in Egypt, Skousen’s attention to deep detail in describing not only events but Rasha’s times makes The Search for Rasha a compelling recommendation that’s hard to put down.
—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Paul B. Skousen tells the story of The Search for Rasha with a polished economy of writing rarely seen today, and certainly with a poetic beauty and sense of presence mastered only by experience. It may seem hyperbolic praise to add: This book reeks of intelligence and knowledge. Academic authenticity saturates this high-paced thriller with immediacy and belief.
—Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers’ Favorite, Five Star Review
