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The Cradle And The Cage
Yasmine has spent her life piecing together fragmented stories of her homeland, Kurdistan—half-truths and evasions from her mother, the only remaining link to a past shrouded in silence.
Her father died long ago in a car accident, or so she was told. But the gaps in her family’s history have always felt deliberate, like a puzzle with missing pieces. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on her first journey to Kurdistan.
What awaits her is far from the homecoming she imagined. An embittered uncle shatters the narrative she grew up with. As Yasmine struggles to navigate the weight of her discoveries, she finds an unexpected bond with Tara, an Iranian-Kurdish sex worker whose life hangs in a fragile balance. In a land where past and present collide, Yasmine is forced to confront not just her own identity, but the harsh realities faced by those who have been silenced for too long.
The Cradle and the Cage is a haunting and powerful exploration of heritage, identity, and the meaning of family—set against the backdrop of a region where history is both an inheritance and a battleground.
Her father died long ago in a car accident, or so she was told. But the gaps in her family’s history have always felt deliberate, like a puzzle with missing pieces. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on her first journey to Kurdistan.
What awaits her is far from the homecoming she imagined. An embittered uncle shatters the narrative she grew up with. As Yasmine struggles to navigate the weight of her discoveries, she finds an unexpected bond with Tara, an Iranian-Kurdish sex worker whose life hangs in a fragile balance. In a land where past and present collide, Yasmine is forced to confront not just her own identity, but the harsh realities faced by those who have been silenced for too long.
The Cradle and the Cage is a haunting and powerful exploration of heritage, identity, and the meaning of family—set against the backdrop of a region where history is both an inheritance and a battleground.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 5, 2025
Wow, what a whirlwind of a story, from which I learned so much about Kurdistan and its many contrasts - from the beautiful cradle of civilization to melting pot of inequalities and injustice - through the gripping story of a young British woman who visits her mother's homeland on what she hopes will be a pleasant holiday. Meeting members of her family is the starting point for a shocking quest that changes her life forever - and her sense of self, as well as her sense of her past. I felt my understanding of certain political and human rights issues was much enhanced by reading this book - but I'm not saying what they are, for fear of spoiling the plot.
I enjoyed this so much that I'm going to buy the author's first book now too.
(Special shout-out for the cover designer by the way - perfect for the nature of the book, and looking very striking on my coffee table!)
I enjoyed this so much that I'm going to buy the author's first book now too.
(Special shout-out for the cover designer by the way - perfect for the nature of the book, and looking very striking on my coffee table!)
December 23, 2025
THE CRADLE AND THE CAGE by HASTIE SALIH (Troubador) ISBN 9781836283386
They say it’s best not to meet your heroes…
When young Yasmine Brewer travels alone to Iraqi Kurdistan to connect with her heritage and seek out her beloved Uncle Aram, who she remembers fondly from her childhood and who disappeared after a car crash that killed her father, she gets embroiled in an adventure that tests her to the limit. Meanwhile, her mother Sozanne isn’t happy she is going and in this is supported by her partner, Sam. At the same time, Yasmine has relationship issues of her own with her boyfriend Harry.
As Yasmine discovers the truth about Uncle Aram and her own relatives in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, she has to make tough decisions. Having befriended Tara, an Iranian Kurdish sex worker on the run, Yasmine has to find the courage to confront her identity and stand up for her principles.
This is a beautiful, unputdownable book with a gripping story. The culture clash between East and West is sensitively portrayed. The characters are engaging and you really root for Yasmine as well as feel sympathy with her Aunt Dilly and Uncle Jamal, who put her up in their home, and have to put up with some of her demands — Yasmine is very much a headstrong teenager! — so the clash is also generational.
Snatches of Kurdish and Arabic adorning the text are always easy to understand from the context and make the setting vivid. FGM, violence against women, people trafficking and LGBT issues are all woven skilfully into a narrative that’s always compelling and never predictable.
There is tragedy, but there is also positive hope for the future as well as reckoning with the past secrets and lies. Character arcs are believable and satisfying. Hastie Salih never shies away from tackling big issues and difficult events and emotions.
The Cradle and the Cage is an important, brave novel, which sheds much-needed light on a part of the world that rarely features in fiction, and deserves a wide readership. Highly recommended.
They say it’s best not to meet your heroes…
When young Yasmine Brewer travels alone to Iraqi Kurdistan to connect with her heritage and seek out her beloved Uncle Aram, who she remembers fondly from her childhood and who disappeared after a car crash that killed her father, she gets embroiled in an adventure that tests her to the limit. Meanwhile, her mother Sozanne isn’t happy she is going and in this is supported by her partner, Sam. At the same time, Yasmine has relationship issues of her own with her boyfriend Harry.
As Yasmine discovers the truth about Uncle Aram and her own relatives in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, she has to make tough decisions. Having befriended Tara, an Iranian Kurdish sex worker on the run, Yasmine has to find the courage to confront her identity and stand up for her principles.
This is a beautiful, unputdownable book with a gripping story. The culture clash between East and West is sensitively portrayed. The characters are engaging and you really root for Yasmine as well as feel sympathy with her Aunt Dilly and Uncle Jamal, who put her up in their home, and have to put up with some of her demands — Yasmine is very much a headstrong teenager! — so the clash is also generational.
Snatches of Kurdish and Arabic adorning the text are always easy to understand from the context and make the setting vivid. FGM, violence against women, people trafficking and LGBT issues are all woven skilfully into a narrative that’s always compelling and never predictable.
There is tragedy, but there is also positive hope for the future as well as reckoning with the past secrets and lies. Character arcs are believable and satisfying. Hastie Salih never shies away from tackling big issues and difficult events and emotions.
The Cradle and the Cage is an important, brave novel, which sheds much-needed light on a part of the world that rarely features in fiction, and deserves a wide readership. Highly recommended.
August 31, 2025
Yasmine, a young woman from London, is drawn to her mother’s homeland of Kurdistan, compelled by a deep curiosity about her family’s past. Staying with her aunt Dilly and uncle, she begins to uncover the painful truths her mother left behind — particularly the fate of her beloved uncle, who was like a second father to her.
As Yasmine navigates the unfamiliar terrain of Kurdistan, her eyes are opened to the brutal legacy of Saddam Hussein’s regime during the early 1990s. The horrors — the torture, the suffering of innocent families, women, and men — are harrowing to learn about. It’s unimaginable what these people endured, and yet it's a reality for so many.
During her journey, Yasmine befriends Tara, a sex worker fleeing her abusive father, who threatens her life. Tara’s story adds another heartbreaking yet powerful layer to the novel, highlighting the ongoing struggles many women still face today.
I deeply appreciate the author’s research and sensitivity in weaving together modern themes with the historical truths of the Kurdish people. The characters are complex, raw, and brilliantly portrayed. And I was especially moved to see Yasmine’s mother find love again — with a woman — a quiet triumph in a story filled with pain and resilience.
This book is modern, relevant, and filled with hard-hitting truths that still echo around the world today.
TW- FGM, misogynistic views, rape, abuse, war, death
As Yasmine navigates the unfamiliar terrain of Kurdistan, her eyes are opened to the brutal legacy of Saddam Hussein’s regime during the early 1990s. The horrors — the torture, the suffering of innocent families, women, and men — are harrowing to learn about. It’s unimaginable what these people endured, and yet it's a reality for so many.
During her journey, Yasmine befriends Tara, a sex worker fleeing her abusive father, who threatens her life. Tara’s story adds another heartbreaking yet powerful layer to the novel, highlighting the ongoing struggles many women still face today.
I deeply appreciate the author’s research and sensitivity in weaving together modern themes with the historical truths of the Kurdish people. The characters are complex, raw, and brilliantly portrayed. And I was especially moved to see Yasmine’s mother find love again — with a woman — a quiet triumph in a story filled with pain and resilience.
This book is modern, relevant, and filled with hard-hitting truths that still echo around the world today.
TW- FGM, misogynistic views, rape, abuse, war, death
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews