Not only does the novel embrace a classic feel similar to Dumas’ timeless The Three Musketeers, but it also remains steady in its ties to the Islamic faith.
Not only does the novel embrace a classic feel similar to Dumas’ timeless The Three Musketeers, but it also remains steady in its ties to the Islamic faith.
Based in London, author H.G.Hussein has a background of almost ten years in the fields of music, drama, and film. It was his love for literature and writing, however, paired with the birth of his children, that motivated him to start what would eventually become his debut novel: The Broken Kingdom.
Explaining that he and his wife home-school their two children, Hussein commented that they found a huge lack in young adult and children’s books for Muslims:
Both my wife and I are keen readers and we can see that the reading bug is deep within our children. We didn’t want to deprive them of the joy of reading an enjoyable book. [But] there was hardly anything that we could find/offer in regards to entertaining fiction…where were the stories for older Muslim children?!”
He then went on to solve the problem himself, by writing an adventure novel that incorporated both Muslim children’s faith and the world of imagination. Writing first for his children, he now has written for the benefit of Muslims (and non-Muslims, for that matter) of all ages to engage and enjoy the beauty of a good novel. Believing strongly in the power of literature, Hussein hopes that novels like his encourage both a strong Islamic faith as well as a love for imagination and creativity. He beautifully explains:
Whatever time we spend reading should ultimately have the same goal and result, to wake up the heart. As Muslims we believe there is only one method of awakening the heart and that is remembering the Creator of the heart. The sole purpose of mine, with this book is just that, to remember the Creator, with every page you turn and every sentence that is read.”
Hussein’s novel, The Broken Kingdom, is the perfect blend of historical fiction, swashbuckling adventure, and strong Islamic morals and values. Following the story of three soldiers of the Sultan, who are sent on a journey of adventure after the Sultan dreamt of a hidden city, the novel takes the reader on a tale of foreign realms, wild beasts, natural disasters, and a mysterious enemy who follows them through their journey.
Not only does the novel embrace a classic feel similar to Dumas’ timeless The Three Musketeers, but The Broken Kingdom remains steady in its ties to the Islamic faith. With the characters, settings, language, and even themes all strongly representative of the faith, the author manages to create a masterpiece that not only takes you to a faraway land, but also reminds you of your own faith.
As Adam looked at the faces of the city dwellers, he was reminded of the times he, with his army, had entered cities that were at the mercy of a tyrant. It was a look that unfortunately he had seen too often. The eyes always appeared the same. Even though the people may have been looking upon you, the hollowness and the spark in their eyes was gone or at the very least dimly lit. He knew that he had to reignite that spark within the people.”
The Broken Kingdom
The Broken Kingdom a classic adventure book in it of itself, but the fact that author H.G.Hussein has beautifully brought the tale together while remaining steadfast in his religion remains a marvelous feat. As Muslims, not only should we support the creative arts within our communities as a way of celebrating our talents and forms of expressions towards God, but we should also support novels like this that actively connect the creative arts with our religion. For book-lovers and beginners alike, The Broken Kingdom is one for everyone’s bookshelves. Let’s hope the author continues with a sequel!
For more information on the novel and to order it online, visit the author’s website here.
