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The Sirens of September
A sweeping historical coming-of-age novel set against India’s 1948 takeover of Hyderabad, The Sirens of September shifts between the palaces of princely Hyderabad, the refugee camps of post-Partition Bombay, army command rooms and the seedy lanes of London’s Piccadilly. Farishteh Ali Khan, an aristocratic teenager who enjoys a gilded existence, tumbles into a web of international espionage, political intrigue and dark family secrets. A few chance meetings between her and an air force pilot, Saleem El Edroos, lead to them striking up a long-distance courtship. When Hyderabad falls, the new regime makes the Ali Khans and the Edrooses answer for their old loyalties. The one person who can come to their aid can also tear Farishteh’s family apart.
Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2025
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28 people want to read
About the author
Zeenath Khan
1 book1 followerZeenath Khan is a writer who divides her time between Hyderabad, India and New York City. She has written on history, travel and current affairs. for Scroll.in Mint Lounge, Siasat, Literary Traveler and Daily Times Pakistan. Aside from writing, she enjoys reading, working out, baking and spending time with her friends and three grown-up children. The Sirens of September is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 9, 2025
✨️ It is one of the most lesser explored chapters of Indian history. That turbulence of 1948's annexation of Hyderabad state during Operation POLO, shook the entire dynamics of Indian history. There is archival research, historical detail, and intimate emotional storytelling to create an image of Hyderabad at a moment when loyalties shift, secrets surface and identities fracture.
✨️ It becomes a history blended with memory, love, loss and the price of transition. Through the eyes of a young aristocratic girl and a brave but conflicted air force pilot, the novel unravels the final days of a princely state caught between fading grandeur and rising political chaos. Fifteen years old Farishteh Ali Khan born into an upper class Muslim family , narrates her childhood with a blend of innocence and curiosity. She is privileged - accept that! - sprawling estates, formal social gatherings, clubs and strict family traditions - those unspoken understanding that politics is something happening “out there”.
✨️ But Hyderabad is already standing at the brink. The rising tension between the Indian Government and Nizam's rule creates an atmosphere of unease. Farishteh senses this unease but does not yet understand it. This shimmering life starts cracking soon but she forms that unbreakable emotional bond, especially with Saleem El Edroos, a young air force pilot. This is complicated though!
✨️ The character of Saleem is caught between the duty of Hyderabad, pressure from the shifting political climate and the pull of personal relationships- this life reveals the life of “adult life”. But Farishteh's world is actually crumbling now. The core of the novel does not focus on the characters but on OPERATION POLO - the Indian Army's military action to absorb Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
✨️ The sirens echoing through the city, aristocrats fleeing from the city, communication gap and the rumors - all made me feel like I'm a part of this war. It offers how that privilege turns down into a meaningless outburst when it comes to grief. As the Hyderabad crisis begins to grow, Farishteh begins to discover her family's secrets which have been carefully buried under tradition and prestige.
✨️ But it was amazing how Farishteh grows from a sheltered girl into a young woman who has survived that collapse. But there was Saleem who faced the consequences of loyalty, loss and duty in a new political landscape. It is something that creates the tone of melancholy and hope at the same time - it is a sign to rebuild someone's identity, life and society.
✨️ The story is beautifully and elegantly crafted with post-independence history. The author does not actually promote her story to us - she immerses us into the emotional, cultural and psychological reality of a city on the brink of transformation.
✨️ If you love to know how history reshapes the world then it is your time to know about this book too!
✨️ It becomes a history blended with memory, love, loss and the price of transition. Through the eyes of a young aristocratic girl and a brave but conflicted air force pilot, the novel unravels the final days of a princely state caught between fading grandeur and rising political chaos. Fifteen years old Farishteh Ali Khan born into an upper class Muslim family , narrates her childhood with a blend of innocence and curiosity. She is privileged - accept that! - sprawling estates, formal social gatherings, clubs and strict family traditions - those unspoken understanding that politics is something happening “out there”.
✨️ But Hyderabad is already standing at the brink. The rising tension between the Indian Government and Nizam's rule creates an atmosphere of unease. Farishteh senses this unease but does not yet understand it. This shimmering life starts cracking soon but she forms that unbreakable emotional bond, especially with Saleem El Edroos, a young air force pilot. This is complicated though!
✨️ The character of Saleem is caught between the duty of Hyderabad, pressure from the shifting political climate and the pull of personal relationships- this life reveals the life of “adult life”. But Farishteh's world is actually crumbling now. The core of the novel does not focus on the characters but on OPERATION POLO - the Indian Army's military action to absorb Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
✨️ The sirens echoing through the city, aristocrats fleeing from the city, communication gap and the rumors - all made me feel like I'm a part of this war. It offers how that privilege turns down into a meaningless outburst when it comes to grief. As the Hyderabad crisis begins to grow, Farishteh begins to discover her family's secrets which have been carefully buried under tradition and prestige.
✨️ But it was amazing how Farishteh grows from a sheltered girl into a young woman who has survived that collapse. But there was Saleem who faced the consequences of loyalty, loss and duty in a new political landscape. It is something that creates the tone of melancholy and hope at the same time - it is a sign to rebuild someone's identity, life and society.
✨️ The story is beautifully and elegantly crafted with post-independence history. The author does not actually promote her story to us - she immerses us into the emotional, cultural and psychological reality of a city on the brink of transformation.
✨️ If you love to know how history reshapes the world then it is your time to know about this book too!
November 11, 2025
“The trumpet of doomsday blew straight into my ears. In a matter of seconds, a terrible wailing engulfed Khushnuma from all directions. My bedside lamp wouldn’t turn on when I tugged its cord. I tiptoed between the long shadows cast by my bedframe and dressing table until I reached the window.”
Review:
The Sirens of September by Zeenath Khan takes you back to an era when aristocracy, culture, and simplicity carried an almost divine grace. The novel unfolds through two central characters, their lives intertwined by history and letters.
Farishteh, a teenage girl, becomes an unwitting participant in a dangerous web of espionage after typing a few letters for her grandfather. The other perspective belongs to General Edross, the recipient of those very letters. The narrative shifts between them, each chapter peeling back another layer of secrets and betrayals.
Khan’s writing is rich with historical detail, exploring the complexities of the Indo-Pak Partition, the fall of the Nizam’s rule, and the fading grandeur of princely Hyderabad. Through vivid storytelling, the novel captures shifting loyalties, forbidden love, and the haunting cost of political change.
The Sirens of September is not an easy read emotionally, also if you are reading multiple books at time, holding on multiple characters can me to re-read couple of chapters as well— it grips you, tenses you, and makes you reflect. For lovers of historical fiction, especially stories rooted in Partition-era India, this is a must-read.
Review:
The Sirens of September by Zeenath Khan takes you back to an era when aristocracy, culture, and simplicity carried an almost divine grace. The novel unfolds through two central characters, their lives intertwined by history and letters.
Farishteh, a teenage girl, becomes an unwitting participant in a dangerous web of espionage after typing a few letters for her grandfather. The other perspective belongs to General Edross, the recipient of those very letters. The narrative shifts between them, each chapter peeling back another layer of secrets and betrayals.
Khan’s writing is rich with historical detail, exploring the complexities of the Indo-Pak Partition, the fall of the Nizam’s rule, and the fading grandeur of princely Hyderabad. Through vivid storytelling, the novel captures shifting loyalties, forbidden love, and the haunting cost of political change.
The Sirens of September is not an easy read emotionally, also if you are reading multiple books at time, holding on multiple characters can me to re-read couple of chapters as well— it grips you, tenses you, and makes you reflect. For lovers of historical fiction, especially stories rooted in Partition-era India, this is a must-read.
November 11, 2025
Sirens of September is a historical fiction based around the operation polo. This is about how Indian army marched the Hyderabad State and took over Nizam rule to integrate the very part into Indian Union. But the situation dint seem to be a smooth process like a cake walk. This book is based upon the same historical times where the drama of privilege, espionage seems to unfold.
To me it's a story of chaos, indifferences, loss of privilege, heartbreak especially from tha place that I hail from which is Hyderabad. More than the times of September horrors ..it's a story of a broken privilege and horrors around it. Because there is more to the operation polo than just loosing a privilege to Indian union.
From the fictional perspective it's a terrific take of how life has changed with ilthe blink of an eye. How does it feel if blamed to the things that has been undone. How emotions and families are broken apart during times of chaos and how does one cope up from such situations. You can pick this if historical ficiton interests you.
To me it's a story of chaos, indifferences, loss of privilege, heartbreak especially from tha place that I hail from which is Hyderabad. More than the times of September horrors ..it's a story of a broken privilege and horrors around it. Because there is more to the operation polo than just loosing a privilege to Indian union.
From the fictional perspective it's a terrific take of how life has changed with ilthe blink of an eye. How does it feel if blamed to the things that has been undone. How emotions and families are broken apart during times of chaos and how does one cope up from such situations. You can pick this if historical ficiton interests you.
December 11, 2025
When I started The Sirens of September, I immediately felt the book move at a quieter, more melancholy pace than I expected — not slow for the sake of it, but the kind of sadness that hangs over people whose world is changing fast. It drew me in with small, intimate moments more than loud historical scenes. I felt pulled into Farishteh’s life almost like I was sitting across from her, listening.
What the story is
At the heart of the novel is Farishteh Ali Khan, a fifteen-year-old from an aristocratic Hyderabadi family, and her life as Hyderabad’s old order collapses around 1947–48. The plot weaves her coming-of-age with political events — there’s espionage, family secrets, and a gentle romantic thread with Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot. The book moves between palaces and refugee camps, army rooms and even London, showing how big history affects small, private lives.
Characters and how they felt to me
Farishteh felt real to me: fragile in places, stubborn in others, and full of feeling that never got shouted. The people around her — her family, the military figures, and those who enter her life suddenly — are drawn with enough detail that I cared about them. Saleem’s presence as a distant, honorable figure added a steady emotional line. I liked that the novel didn’t make anyone purely heroic or purely bad; people had loyalties and flaws, and that made them human.
The setting and history — how well it worked
The book’s setting is one of its strongest parts. Hyderabad in 1948 comes alive in small sensory details: the echo of palace rooms, the cramped, frightened spaces of refugee camps, the hush of military planning. Zeenath Khan’s research shows — you can tell she’s read memoirs and records — and that gives the story weight. At the same time, the novel never becomes a history textbook; it stays rooted in people’s lives so the politics always feel personal.
Writing style and tone
The prose is simple and direct, with a steady melancholic tone (the author has spoken about using the Turkish idea of hüzün). That made the book feel gentle and reflective rather than flashy. The narrative moves through different forms sometimes — letters, monologues, other viewpoints — and that variety kept me engaged without being disorienting.
Themes that stayed with me
Identity, privilege, loss and loyalty kept returning in my head after I closed the book. Watching a young woman from privilege confront a world where her family’s place is gone was quietly powerful. The novel asks how people survive when the rules they grew up with vanish, and it doesn’t give easy answers. I liked that it left space for the melancholy to exist without forcing a big moral lesson.
What I loved most
I loved the book’s empathy. Even in scenes about betrayal or violence, the focus stays on how people feel and what they lose. The small details — a memory of a house, a letter kept in a drawer, a private fear — built into a clear emotional picture. The historical backdrop made those private moments feel larger, and the voice of the book made me care.
Small criticism
If I have to name one small thing, it’s that Farishteh often processes things inwardly; at times I wanted her to take more outward action. That’s not a fault so much as a character choice — it’s more contemplative than action-driven — but some readers might wish for more agency in certain scenes.
Who I think will like this book
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on people rather than battles, or coming-of-age stories tied to big events, this will suit you. Readers who like atmospheric, melancholic novels with carefully observed social detail — and who don’t need nonstop action — will find a lot to love here.
Final thoughts
Overall, the book stayed with me. It’s a thoughtful, well-researched debut that balances personal emotion with real historical upheaval. I found it haunting in a good way: not because it shocks, but because it makes you feel the loss of a world and the quiet ways people try to live on after it.
What the story is
At the heart of the novel is Farishteh Ali Khan, a fifteen-year-old from an aristocratic Hyderabadi family, and her life as Hyderabad’s old order collapses around 1947–48. The plot weaves her coming-of-age with political events — there’s espionage, family secrets, and a gentle romantic thread with Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot. The book moves between palaces and refugee camps, army rooms and even London, showing how big history affects small, private lives.
Characters and how they felt to me
Farishteh felt real to me: fragile in places, stubborn in others, and full of feeling that never got shouted. The people around her — her family, the military figures, and those who enter her life suddenly — are drawn with enough detail that I cared about them. Saleem’s presence as a distant, honorable figure added a steady emotional line. I liked that the novel didn’t make anyone purely heroic or purely bad; people had loyalties and flaws, and that made them human.
The setting and history — how well it worked
The book’s setting is one of its strongest parts. Hyderabad in 1948 comes alive in small sensory details: the echo of palace rooms, the cramped, frightened spaces of refugee camps, the hush of military planning. Zeenath Khan’s research shows — you can tell she’s read memoirs and records — and that gives the story weight. At the same time, the novel never becomes a history textbook; it stays rooted in people’s lives so the politics always feel personal.
Writing style and tone
The prose is simple and direct, with a steady melancholic tone (the author has spoken about using the Turkish idea of hüzün). That made the book feel gentle and reflective rather than flashy. The narrative moves through different forms sometimes — letters, monologues, other viewpoints — and that variety kept me engaged without being disorienting.
Themes that stayed with me
Identity, privilege, loss and loyalty kept returning in my head after I closed the book. Watching a young woman from privilege confront a world where her family’s place is gone was quietly powerful. The novel asks how people survive when the rules they grew up with vanish, and it doesn’t give easy answers. I liked that it left space for the melancholy to exist without forcing a big moral lesson.
What I loved most
I loved the book’s empathy. Even in scenes about betrayal or violence, the focus stays on how people feel and what they lose. The small details — a memory of a house, a letter kept in a drawer, a private fear — built into a clear emotional picture. The historical backdrop made those private moments feel larger, and the voice of the book made me care.
Small criticism
If I have to name one small thing, it’s that Farishteh often processes things inwardly; at times I wanted her to take more outward action. That’s not a fault so much as a character choice — it’s more contemplative than action-driven — but some readers might wish for more agency in certain scenes.
Who I think will like this book
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on people rather than battles, or coming-of-age stories tied to big events, this will suit you. Readers who like atmospheric, melancholic novels with carefully observed social detail — and who don’t need nonstop action — will find a lot to love here.
Final thoughts
Overall, the book stayed with me. It’s a thoughtful, well-researched debut that balances personal emotion with real historical upheaval. I found it haunting in a good way: not because it shocks, but because it makes you feel the loss of a world and the quiet ways people try to live on after it.
November 4, 2025
Alright after watching it all over the social media , I finished this book in 3 days and 3 nights, and honestly, it felt like time didn’t exist while reading it. The way it’s written it’s as if every page calls you to take a sneak peek into history. Zeenath Khan’s storytelling feels like you’re reading someone’s diary from that time every emotion, every situation, even the air of those days feels real.
This is my first time reading her’s & its beautiful.
Set against the backdrop of Hyderabad’s struggle for independence, The Sirens of September isn’t just a historical novel it’s a window into a world on the edge of change. Through the eyes of a teenage girl, Farishteh, you witness chaos, courage, and loss all woven together with a haunting beauty.
What I absolutely loved is how Zeenath doesn’t just narrate events; she makes you live them. You can feel the uncertainty in every silence, the tension in every word, and the hope that somehow still survives amidst fear.
The writing is poetic yet piercing every description breathes life into Hyderabad, making it more than a setting; it becomes a living, aching character of its own. It’s the kind of storytelling where politics meets poetry, and history meets heart.
There’s suspense and stillness, heartbreak and strength all in the same breath. You see a young girl growing up in a city that’s slowly being torn apart, and you realize that sometimes, freedom comes with its own kind of pain.
Zeenath Khan’s writing is elegant, emotional, and timeless. Her words don’t just tell a story; they preserve it.
If you’re someone who loves books that transport you to another era and make you feel history, not just read it this one deserves your weekend.
It’s emotional, vivid, and unforgettable the kind of story that stays with you long after you close the book.
sound so poetic, powerful, and deeply human.
not going to tell you the plot as it might spoil your reading experience, so go & read it is a must recommended..
This is my first time reading her’s & its beautiful.
Set against the backdrop of Hyderabad’s struggle for independence, The Sirens of September isn’t just a historical novel it’s a window into a world on the edge of change. Through the eyes of a teenage girl, Farishteh, you witness chaos, courage, and loss all woven together with a haunting beauty.
What I absolutely loved is how Zeenath doesn’t just narrate events; she makes you live them. You can feel the uncertainty in every silence, the tension in every word, and the hope that somehow still survives amidst fear.
The writing is poetic yet piercing every description breathes life into Hyderabad, making it more than a setting; it becomes a living, aching character of its own. It’s the kind of storytelling where politics meets poetry, and history meets heart.
There’s suspense and stillness, heartbreak and strength all in the same breath. You see a young girl growing up in a city that’s slowly being torn apart, and you realize that sometimes, freedom comes with its own kind of pain.
Zeenath Khan’s writing is elegant, emotional, and timeless. Her words don’t just tell a story; they preserve it.
If you’re someone who loves books that transport you to another era and make you feel history, not just read it this one deserves your weekend.
It’s emotional, vivid, and unforgettable the kind of story that stays with you long after you close the book.
sound so poetic, powerful, and deeply human.
not going to tell you the plot as it might spoil your reading experience, so go & read it is a must recommended..
November 2, 2025
Sirens of September is a beautifully crafted historical fiction that depicts the most tragic yet unexplored chapter of Indian history, the 1948 annexation of Hyderabad. Its the story of how life of families were affected and identities were disrupted due to this war and politics.
At the center of this story is Farishteh Ali Khan, a young girl from an aristocrat family, raised in the royalty of princely Hyderabad. Her world was of privilege, until the tide of change of Independent India swept over their lives. When the Indian Army marches into Hyderabad, the illusions of nobility began to crumble and Farishteh finds herself washed away by the currents of espionage, forbidden love, and buried family secrets that threaten the life she lived until now.
On the other hand is Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot whose communication with Farishteh blooms into a tender long-distance courtship filled with letters of longing and hope of a future together.
But history had other plans.
The novel takes you from collapsing of Hyderbad's beauty, refugee camps of Post-partition Bombay and even to the streets of London’s Piccadilly making you imagine the faint hum of forgotten ghazals.
This story made me very emotional, the topic of partition and post-partition has always been the most intriguing subject for me and here the author has done excellent job in exploring the way post partition India shaped with complexities of class, gender, and political belonging.
Sirens of September reads lyrical, dramatic, tragic and intimate too.
By the end, what stayed with me isn’t just the fall of Hyderabad, but also the pain of lost love. Its an gripping narrative blending history, politics, and romance.
At the center of this story is Farishteh Ali Khan, a young girl from an aristocrat family, raised in the royalty of princely Hyderabad. Her world was of privilege, until the tide of change of Independent India swept over their lives. When the Indian Army marches into Hyderabad, the illusions of nobility began to crumble and Farishteh finds herself washed away by the currents of espionage, forbidden love, and buried family secrets that threaten the life she lived until now.
On the other hand is Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot whose communication with Farishteh blooms into a tender long-distance courtship filled with letters of longing and hope of a future together.
But history had other plans.
The novel takes you from collapsing of Hyderbad's beauty, refugee camps of Post-partition Bombay and even to the streets of London’s Piccadilly making you imagine the faint hum of forgotten ghazals.
This story made me very emotional, the topic of partition and post-partition has always been the most intriguing subject for me and here the author has done excellent job in exploring the way post partition India shaped with complexities of class, gender, and political belonging.
Sirens of September reads lyrical, dramatic, tragic and intimate too.
By the end, what stayed with me isn’t just the fall of Hyderabad, but also the pain of lost love. Its an gripping narrative blending history, politics, and romance.
November 29, 2025
Book Name- “The Sirens of September”
Author- @zeenath4231
Genre- Historical fiction
.
The Sirens of September by the author sweeps you into a world where aristocratic grace, cultural richness, and everyday simplicity once moved in quiet harmony. At its heart lie two voices—two lives bound by circumstance, history, and the fragile thread of correspondence.
Farishteh, still on the cusp of adulthood, stumbles into a perilous realm of espionage after innocently typing a few letters for her grandfather. On the other end of those letters is General Edross, a man whose life becomes increasingly entangled with the truths they conceal. The novel shifts between their perspectives, each chapter peeling back another layer of hidden motives, fractured loyalties, and long-buried betrayals.
The author’s prose is steeped in historical nuance, bringing to life the turbulence of the Indo-Pak Partition, the decline of the Nizam’s rule, and the slow dimming of Hyderabad’s princely aura. Her storytelling vividly portrays the ache of forbidden love, the instability of political upheaval, and the emotional weight carried by those swept along its currents.
This is not a light read—emotionally or structurally. With its wide cast and deep historical backdrop, you may find yourself revisiting chapters, especially if you’re reading multiple books at once. Yet the novel rewards every bit of attention you give it. It grips, unsettles, and compels reflection.
For readers drawn to historical fiction—particularly narratives set against the Partition—The Sirens of September is an experience worth savoring.
.
Review- 4.5
Author- @zeenath4231
Genre- Historical fiction
.
The Sirens of September by the author sweeps you into a world where aristocratic grace, cultural richness, and everyday simplicity once moved in quiet harmony. At its heart lie two voices—two lives bound by circumstance, history, and the fragile thread of correspondence.
Farishteh, still on the cusp of adulthood, stumbles into a perilous realm of espionage after innocently typing a few letters for her grandfather. On the other end of those letters is General Edross, a man whose life becomes increasingly entangled with the truths they conceal. The novel shifts between their perspectives, each chapter peeling back another layer of hidden motives, fractured loyalties, and long-buried betrayals.
The author’s prose is steeped in historical nuance, bringing to life the turbulence of the Indo-Pak Partition, the decline of the Nizam’s rule, and the slow dimming of Hyderabad’s princely aura. Her storytelling vividly portrays the ache of forbidden love, the instability of political upheaval, and the emotional weight carried by those swept along its currents.
This is not a light read—emotionally or structurally. With its wide cast and deep historical backdrop, you may find yourself revisiting chapters, especially if you’re reading multiple books at once. Yet the novel rewards every bit of attention you give it. It grips, unsettles, and compels reflection.
For readers drawn to historical fiction—particularly narratives set against the Partition—The Sirens of September is an experience worth savoring.
.
Review- 4.5
October 28, 2025
This is not something one can learn from old newspapers or history textbooks. It needs to be experienced to truly understand the toll freedom can take on people.
India gained Independence from the British in 1947, and Hyderabad fought to remain Independent from INdia till September 1948. After extensive research and with her gift for weaving fact and fiction, Khan has brought an emotionally charged story to life, and full marks to her for that.
Most of the details are drawn from true accounts of that dark period in history. General Edroos, the commander of the Hyderabad army, hired Australian aviator Sidney Cotton to airlift weapons into the princely state to defend themselves from the Indian forces. These real incidents are woven seamlessly into the narrative, told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Farishtey, who plays a pivotal role in the operation.
The narrative is a mix of internal monologues, letters and multiple POV’s. It shows the privilege of the classes and how the common man suffers. Even without its historical backdrop, the storyline is compelling, filled with fiery, colourful characters and an unmistakable zest for life, making it a true page-turner.
Khan has given a voice to the sentiments to the people of Hyderabad who resisted Indian rule. What stands out most is her portrayal of how the Indian army ravaged villages, a chapter of history largely suppressed by the media.
If you want to uncover a forgotten piece of our nation’s history while being drawn into a moving tale of familial love and human resilience, this book is for you.
India gained Independence from the British in 1947, and Hyderabad fought to remain Independent from INdia till September 1948. After extensive research and with her gift for weaving fact and fiction, Khan has brought an emotionally charged story to life, and full marks to her for that.
Most of the details are drawn from true accounts of that dark period in history. General Edroos, the commander of the Hyderabad army, hired Australian aviator Sidney Cotton to airlift weapons into the princely state to defend themselves from the Indian forces. These real incidents are woven seamlessly into the narrative, told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Farishtey, who plays a pivotal role in the operation.
The narrative is a mix of internal monologues, letters and multiple POV’s. It shows the privilege of the classes and how the common man suffers. Even without its historical backdrop, the storyline is compelling, filled with fiery, colourful characters and an unmistakable zest for life, making it a true page-turner.
Khan has given a voice to the sentiments to the people of Hyderabad who resisted Indian rule. What stands out most is her portrayal of how the Indian army ravaged villages, a chapter of history largely suppressed by the media.
If you want to uncover a forgotten piece of our nation’s history while being drawn into a moving tale of familial love and human resilience, this book is for you.
October 22, 2025
🍀Book- The Sirens of September
🍀 Author - Zeenath Khan
🍀Plot - The story is set around when Congress has announced partition and whole of the county was going through the pain of partition as well as struggling with agitations through out the country. Hyderabad was also caught in the wave of protests and unrest.
The book mainly captures a period of major change in Hyderabad following Partition , India’s independence and fall of aristocracy.
“ The Sirens of September “ is an interesting read with multiple narratives and shifting point of view which takes you back to the history of Hyderabad.
The main protagonist Farishteh is very well developed . She is a sensible girl who takes the responsibility of her actions .
This tale of palaces, Bombay’s refugee camps, family secrets and the fall of the old aristocracy is being put by the author after intensive research, which you can feel while reading the book.
1948 take over of Hyderabad ,its culture and various places described , gives you a deep insight about Hyderabad.
No doubt the book is a big one about 400 pages but it maintains the pace with simple language keeping the readers engaged.
Hyderabad is often synonymous with ‘Hyderabadi Biryani,’ but after reading this, you’ll remember the city for its rich heritage and complex history .
“ The Sirens of Hyderabad” makes a compelling read for history lovers and people who want to know about Hyderabad’s lost era of princely state .
🍀 Author - Zeenath Khan
🍀Plot - The story is set around when Congress has announced partition and whole of the county was going through the pain of partition as well as struggling with agitations through out the country. Hyderabad was also caught in the wave of protests and unrest.
The book mainly captures a period of major change in Hyderabad following Partition , India’s independence and fall of aristocracy.
“ The Sirens of September “ is an interesting read with multiple narratives and shifting point of view which takes you back to the history of Hyderabad.
The main protagonist Farishteh is very well developed . She is a sensible girl who takes the responsibility of her actions .
This tale of palaces, Bombay’s refugee camps, family secrets and the fall of the old aristocracy is being put by the author after intensive research, which you can feel while reading the book.
1948 take over of Hyderabad ,its culture and various places described , gives you a deep insight about Hyderabad.
No doubt the book is a big one about 400 pages but it maintains the pace with simple language keeping the readers engaged.
Hyderabad is often synonymous with ‘Hyderabadi Biryani,’ but after reading this, you’ll remember the city for its rich heritage and complex history .
“ The Sirens of Hyderabad” makes a compelling read for history lovers and people who want to know about Hyderabad’s lost era of princely state .
November 7, 2025
Just finished reading The Sirens of September and wow, what a ride. It’s one of those books that quietly builds, then suddenly grips you with its emotion and scale. Set during the 1948 takeover of Hyderabad, it’s a sweeping story that balances history, heartbreak, and the haunting weight of legacy.
Farishteh Ali Khan starts off as this privileged, almost sheltered girl living in a world of palaces and propriety and watching that world crumble around her feels both cinematic and deeply personal. The way the story moves between princely Hyderabad, post-Partition Bombay, and even the smoky lanes of London gives it such texture like every chapter carries a new world within it.
But what really got me was the love story between Farishteh and Saleem El Edroos. It’s tender and tragic and unfolds with the kind of restraint that makes it even more powerful. They’re both caught between duty and desire, history and hope and you can feel that tension in every letter, every silence.
There’s also this undercurrent of espionage and political drama that keeps you turning pages, but at its heart, it’s a story about belonging about people trying to find a sense of self when the world they know no longer exists.
4/5
Farishteh Ali Khan starts off as this privileged, almost sheltered girl living in a world of palaces and propriety and watching that world crumble around her feels both cinematic and deeply personal. The way the story moves between princely Hyderabad, post-Partition Bombay, and even the smoky lanes of London gives it such texture like every chapter carries a new world within it.
But what really got me was the love story between Farishteh and Saleem El Edroos. It’s tender and tragic and unfolds with the kind of restraint that makes it even more powerful. They’re both caught between duty and desire, history and hope and you can feel that tension in every letter, every silence.
There’s also this undercurrent of espionage and political drama that keeps you turning pages, but at its heart, it’s a story about belonging about people trying to find a sense of self when the world they know no longer exists.
4/5
October 27, 2025
The Sirens of September by Zeenath Khan is a compelling read that transports readers back to the turbulent days of the Indo-Pak Partition—a time when people suffered immense pain and loss due to divisions drawn along religious lines. Countless lives were lost, women were brutalized, and families were forced to abandon their homes, livelihoods, and possessions in a desperate bid to survive.
At the heart of the story is Farishtheh Ali Khan, a young teenager and the beloved granddaughter of her Dadajaan, a former Nawab who once served under the legal assembly of the Nizam ruling the Hyderabad State. Unknown to her parents, Farishteh assists her grandfather by typing letters on his old typewriter. Unwittingly, she becomes involved in correspondence with international arms dealers, helping her grandfather in his efforts to strengthen Hyderabad’s army in preparation to resist the advancing Indian Armed Forces.
Another central character, General Eldroos, works tirelessly to secure weapons and broker deals to defend Hyderabad’s stance on remaining independent. Meanwhile, India tightens control over essential supplies—such as chlorine tablets and formula milk—exerting pressure on the state. The Indian government, disturbed by the violent actions of the Razakars against the Hindu population, becomes increasingly resolute in its decision to integrate Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
At the heart of the story is Farishtheh Ali Khan, a young teenager and the beloved granddaughter of her Dadajaan, a former Nawab who once served under the legal assembly of the Nizam ruling the Hyderabad State. Unknown to her parents, Farishteh assists her grandfather by typing letters on his old typewriter. Unwittingly, she becomes involved in correspondence with international arms dealers, helping her grandfather in his efforts to strengthen Hyderabad’s army in preparation to resist the advancing Indian Armed Forces.
Another central character, General Eldroos, works tirelessly to secure weapons and broker deals to defend Hyderabad’s stance on remaining independent. Meanwhile, India tightens control over essential supplies—such as chlorine tablets and formula milk—exerting pressure on the state. The Indian government, disturbed by the violent actions of the Razakars against the Hindu population, becomes increasingly resolute in its decision to integrate Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
November 18, 2025
Sirens of September is a beautifully written historical fiction about the 1948 annexation of Hyderabad, showing how war and political turmoil affected families and identities. The story centers on Farishteh Ali Khan, a girl from an aristocratic family in Hyderabad, whose privileged world changes after India's independence. When the Indian Army arrives, her illusions of nobility fade, and she becomes entangled in espionage, forbidden love, and family secrets. Her love interest, Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot, maintains a long-distance romance filled with hope. The novel takes the reader from Hyderabad’s decline, through refugee camps in Bombay, to London’s streets, evoking forgotten ghazals. The story deeply moved me, especially the themes of partition and post-partition India, exploring class, gender, and political identity. Sirens of September is lyrical, dramatic, tragic, and intimate. By the end, I was touched not just by Hyderabad's fall but by the pain of lost love. It blends history, politics, and romance compellingly.
November 8, 2025
The Sirens of September is a hauntingly beautiful novel that resurrects one of India’s most overlooked chapters — the 1948 annexation of Hyderabad. Through the eyes of Farishteh Ali Khan, an aristocratic young woman caught between fading privilege and political upheaval, the story captures the shattering of an entire world. Her correspondence with Saleem El Edroos, an air force pilot, offers a fragile thread of tenderness amid a storm of espionage, betrayal, and loss.
What makes this novel remarkable is the depth of research and the elegance of its narration. From the grandeur of Hyderabad’s palaces to the despair of post-Partition refugee camps and the dim streets of Piccadilly, every setting feels alive. The prose is lyrical yet grounded, weaving fact and fiction with finesse.
By its end, The Sirens of September lingers not just as a historical novel, but as an elegy for love and a lost way of life.
What makes this novel remarkable is the depth of research and the elegance of its narration. From the grandeur of Hyderabad’s palaces to the despair of post-Partition refugee camps and the dim streets of Piccadilly, every setting feels alive. The prose is lyrical yet grounded, weaving fact and fiction with finesse.
By its end, The Sirens of September lingers not just as a historical novel, but as an elegy for love and a lost way of life.
November 18, 2025
It’s been a real pleasure reading The Sirens of September by Zeenath Khan.
The main protagonist, 14-year-old Farishteh, is a precocious teenager growing up in an aristocratic family in 1940s Hyderabad. Farishteh lives a charmed existence. The family home is like a palace. A retinue of servants meets her every need and she gets chauffeured everywhere in a limousine. But the bubble is about to burst. Hyderabad’s bid for independence from India is about to be quashed, changing Farishteh’s and her family’s lives forever.
In reading this book, I was particularly struck by the vivid descriptions of customs, traditions and foods of the region. The author has skilfully set Farishteh’s engaging personal story against the tumultous history of the period. I loved Farishteh's character and am hoping for a sequel.
Fans of historical fiction will love this book.
The main protagonist, 14-year-old Farishteh, is a precocious teenager growing up in an aristocratic family in 1940s Hyderabad. Farishteh lives a charmed existence. The family home is like a palace. A retinue of servants meets her every need and she gets chauffeured everywhere in a limousine. But the bubble is about to burst. Hyderabad’s bid for independence from India is about to be quashed, changing Farishteh’s and her family’s lives forever.
In reading this book, I was particularly struck by the vivid descriptions of customs, traditions and foods of the region. The author has skilfully set Farishteh’s engaging personal story against the tumultous history of the period. I loved Farishteh's character and am hoping for a sequel.
Fans of historical fiction will love this book.
November 19, 2025
This is a slow, thoughtful, and emotional book that beautifully presents a part of history we don't often hear about.
I really liked how the author told the story from the perspective of Farishteh – a young girl trying to understand a world that is suddenly changing so rapidly that she can't keep up.
The character's confusion, longing, and quiet strength feel incredibly real.
The book seamlessly blends politics, family tensions, and personal memories. Instead of dramatic twists, it tells a gentle, steady story that stays with you.
I really enjoyed the Hyderabadi setting, culture, and the way the author presented the fear and uncertainty of the time without overwhelming the reader.
It's not a fast-paced book, but it is emotional, reflective, and deeply moving.
Overall, if you love historical fiction at heart, this is a glimpse into the past from a human perspective.
I really liked how the author told the story from the perspective of Farishteh – a young girl trying to understand a world that is suddenly changing so rapidly that she can't keep up.
The character's confusion, longing, and quiet strength feel incredibly real.
The book seamlessly blends politics, family tensions, and personal memories. Instead of dramatic twists, it tells a gentle, steady story that stays with you.
I really enjoyed the Hyderabadi setting, culture, and the way the author presented the fear and uncertainty of the time without overwhelming the reader.
It's not a fast-paced book, but it is emotional, reflective, and deeply moving.
Overall, if you love historical fiction at heart, this is a glimpse into the past from a human perspective.
October 7, 2025
A lot of history involved as the setting of the novel is during the independence time and India's invasion of Hyderabad. It was a good story and started well. Easy to read only if you're that interested in history.
I skipped a few chapters after page 190 as I was not really interested in so much history. And got the gist until the end...
I skipped a few chapters after page 190 as I was not really interested in so much history. And got the gist until the end...
October 10, 2025
A brilliant debut. Very imaginative and deeply researched blend of fact and fiction. Hyderabad has an intriguing past and this book attempts to bring some of it alive in a manner that is easy to read and extremely engaging. While it will hold special appeal for Hyderabadi's, I am sure others who are interested in understanding history will find it engaging too.
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