She grew up listening to the stories of her grandmother harboring freedom fighters and hiding guns and weapons in the family garden.

[6] This led the author to be inspired to write about everyday citizens' war experience and small, but meaningful ways they can become revolutionaries.

[5][10] The mounting Bengali nationalist movement led to the Pakistan army to carry out Operation Searchlight.

This military operation targeted Bengali intellectuals, academics including university students, and Hindus.

[5] This led to the 1971 Bangladesh genocide that caused millions of refugees to flee to India and the deaths of 58,000 to 3,000,000 civilians.

Rehana's children escape the attacks on Dhaka University due to an engagement party for Silvi.

[1][4] The next day 26 March 1971 the Mukti Bahini called for independence from Pakistan and establishment of the new country of Bangladesh.

As a young widow she fights to regain custody of her children after losing them to her late husband's brother and wife.

[1] Growing up with two parents that had been involved with the Bangladesh Liberation War, patriotism was important to Anam's family.

[1] Sohail and Maya were born in Dhaka and their native tongue is Bengali and have an easy loyalty to Bangladesh.

"[16] Clemency Burton-Hill of The Guardian described the book as a "stunning debut";[9] David Robson from The Sunday Telegraph described its beginning as the struggle of a new author, but the story turns "into a real page-turner, with a bravura, heart-stopping ending";[17] and Theo Chapman from The Sydney Morning Herald called the book a "thought-provoking work and a rewarding read".

[19] This includes citing the 1963 film Cleopatra before it was released which left some critics questioning some of the liberties that Anam took with the fictional characters and telling of the story.