This novel is an eye opener and revelation. A true page turner, seeped in history and brilliantly narrated by a skilled writer. Anyone with an interest in current history and modern warfare cannot fall to learn something, following the aftermath of 9/11 and dirty bombs. Brave men took on evil and risked their lives as a consequence.

This is a complex story and deserves to be read twice; once for outline and then for detail. It starts and ends with Omar, whose son Nasser is at the centre of the story, but it’s so much more. I would urge everyone even with a limited knowledge of ISIS to read this fascinating and inspiring book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a review.

5🌟

Wow...it is not often that I finish a book and let out a giant sigh.

In The Gales of Alexandria, history professor Omar El-Mohammedi is forced to decode his late son's journal under CIA pressure, uncovering painful truths about faith, family, and identity. Set in post-9/11 Egypt, the novel follows those left in the wake of loss, weaving a gripping story of grief, radicalization, and the search for meaning in a fractured world.

I can't believe this is a debut novel. It is fantastic. The Gales of Alexandria is part history lesson, part mystery, part action movie, and part meditation on faith, family, loss, and values. It's not a quick read - at least for me, it wasn't. I enjoyed looking up unfamiliar terms/events related to the Middle East, Arabic, and various religions. I even listened to songs that were mentioned. It helped immerse me even more into the novel. There are many characters to keep track of, but I feel that they are all connected in a way that makes it easy to figure out who is who. The prose was lovely as well. I'll keep an eye out for other publications by Ehab Elgammal.

Emphatically recommended for historical fiction readers.

Thank you to NetGalley & Escape Editions for the ARC.

I was deeply surprised by this novel. I went in expecting a political thriller, something from the Middle East where I grew up—familiar territory. But I found so much more: a beautifully layered story that brings readers into a world they might not know, putting faces and stories behind headlines.

I especially connected with Dalia and Houda’s arcs, appreciating how the novel authentically explores female strength, navigating between liberal and religious worlds—something many in the Middle East would understand, yet portrayed beyond the stereotypes often seen in the West. The chapters set in Alexandria made me nostalgic for a city I've visited once and loved.

This is a thoughtful, deeply human novel that skillfully tackles complicated issues such as extremism and America's role in the Middle East, without ever losing sight of the individuals living those experiences. Beautifully written, a fantastic debut, and strongly recommended.

Thanks to the author for the ARC; this book genuinely surprised me.

The Gales of Alexandria is a hauntingly beautiful story that clearly was lovingly crafted with passion and attention to detail. This is the kind of story that stays in your mind days after completion, while you revisit characters that you feel you know and scenes so vividly described that they feel like memories of events you personally experienced.

A year ago, I had a different view of the Middle East, one heavily influenced by Western history and media. I was always aware that holders of power in the region, and elsewhere in the world, frequently abused it to further their own aims, but this awareness increased significantly over the past year with the horrendous events unfolding in the world. This book does a great job in laying bare, at a very human level, the underlying mechanisms and thought processes, influenced by such things as culture, religion, politics, greed, vengeance and herd mentality, that give rise to such abuse and intolerance.

The story has a strong message of hope and highlights that regardless of where we are born and the actions of our respective governments, or those who oppose them, we have a common connection in our shared humanity and the ability to question and choose our own path.

As another reviewer pointed out, there are some POV transitions between third limited on different characters, which the author mainly uses to good effect, and third omniscient which are slightly jarring. This leads to questioning who is the narrator in places. However, this is a very minor quibble, and likely hints to the massive amount of research and character development that has gone into this incredible story.

Thanks to the author for providing the ARC. I look forward to adding it to my collection officially upon release, and hopefully one day in printed format. Highly recommended!

The Gales of Alexandria balances gripping storytelling with profound emotional depth. From the first chapter, I was transported into Omar’s library, deeply feeling his grief and urgent quest to decode the truth hidden in his son’s journal. Nasser’s character haunted me—I found myself reflecting deeply on the journey of a young man marked by promise, unpredictability, and the heavy weight of expectations.

What struck me most was how effortlessly Elgammal shifts between timelines, capturing the lives and friendships of the four Alexandrian friends—Adam, Youssef, Dalia, and of course Nasser. The scenes in New York felt just as engaging and authentic as those set vividly in Alexandria; I felt genuinely transported by the author's words.

The novel subtly but powerfully explores how major historical events ripple through individual lives, shaping our identities and relationships. This isn’t just a story—it’s a compelling exploration of family, politics, and the search for meaning. Absolutely loved it, and highly recommend!

I received an ARC for this book for free. Thank you to NetGalley.

If you want a book that will make you feel and think. This is the book for you. Elgammal artistically wove together not only a story of history, activism and change … but also a stark reminder that one’s decisions doesn’t stop the rest of the world from moving…from the people in their lives from being impacted from existing. I find myself to be a character loyalist when I read book and often found myself wishing for more of certain perspectives, but the numerous character perspectives in the book were necessary to full understand the story…

Stories about 9/11 exist…but not from this perspective, not from this place of understanding and depth. I’ll be picking up the paperback when it’s published.

Thank you Netgallery for the arc and Ehab Elgammal for writing this masterpiece!

This was such an interesting read- I love books that are political.

I cannot wait for this to come out so I can buy a copy and share.

everyone must read!!!

Ehab Elgammal’s The Gales of Alexandria is a deeply moving novel that explores the intersection of faith, politics, family, and patriotism through the lens of multiple, interwoven characters. The novel’s structure - divided into distinct parts, each represented by a gale - adds a poetic rhythm to the narrative, mirroring the forces that shape the lives of the protagonists.

At its core, the novel is a study integrity and values, as the characters grapple with their personal convictions against the backdrop of global events. The tragedy of 9/11 serves as a pivotal moment in the story. The multifaceted approach allows readers to witness the emotional and ideological shifts that occur in the wake of such a world-altering event.

The characters are deeply developed, each undergoing significant growth and transformation. Their journeys are marked by moments of revelation and reckoning, making their struggles feel personal yet universally resonant. The shifting perspectives create a layered and immersive reading experience, offering insight into the complexities of identity, loyalty, and the search for meaning in an increasingly fractured world.

With this lyrical prose and thought-provoking themes, The Gales of Alexandria is a compelling read that challenges readers to reflect on the forces that shape history and our lives.

If you’re looking for a page-turner that devastates you for days, this is the book for you. I read this book while on vacation and found myself yearning for my kindle while I was sightseeing. It’s one of those books that’s hard to put down or get out of your head once you get started.

This novel does a good job of showing the readers how world events and politics impact individuals and their everyday lives. How racist policies can create chasms in marriages or how a corrupt police force can disrupt people’s lives forever. It’s sounds silly, but I genuinely believe this book could permanently shift the way some people view politics. These aren't just abstract hypotheticals for debate. These policies have real, tangible effects on people's lives.

As a child of immigrants, I felt drawn in by the Adham and Youssef chapters. The way they struggled with balancing their new lives with their old ones really struck a cord in me and made me think of the struggles my parents went through when they migrated. My favorite chapter had to be Adham’s chapter “2003: New York”. I think most of my highlights were from that chapter. The way Ehab Elgammal describes the beauty of cultural diversity and Adham’s fears and joyful anticipation were so well done. I also just think the writing and themes surrounding Adham were so well executed. The concept of Adham the good Egyptian boy vs. Adam the American family man were so thought provoking and made me question my own assimilation into Western culture. I could read an entire book (and write an entire essay) about Adham alone.

My only critique of the book is how these two chapters, “The Mourners” and “Old Shores and New Lands”, are written, which is unfortunate because they’re the start and end of the book. I think the first chapter is a lot stronger than the final chapter, though.

Firstly, my criticism is primarily due to personal preference because they’re written in third person omniscient and I highly prefer the third person limited chapters. Secondly, I just think the writing is weaker in these chapters (specifically the last chapter) compared to the rest of the novel; they primarily rely on telling rather than showing. I’m being told Dalia, Houda, etc. plan to do x, y, and z… but in the other chapters I physically see these characters going through the motions. I think this book could’ve benefitted from a much longer final chapter and scenes with final emotional conversations between specific characters (Adham and Dalia!!!! We got hints of it in the final Houda POV chapter, but I needed more! Please!). We just got mentions of conversations taking place, but not the actual conversations :(

The last chapter is why I’m rating the book 4-4.5 stars instead of 5! It just left me wanting more.

Overall, I loved this book and appreciated the amount of effort that went into it. I have so much to say about this book and its themes and details… I could go on for days. Definitely will be recommending it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of the book and thank you Ehab Elgammal for writing it! I loved it so much

I really enjoyed reading The Gales of Alexandria. It's a powerful story about family, loss, and how big events in the world can shape our lives in ways we don't always expect. Much of the novel is set in Alexandria, Egypt, and the sense of place added even more depth and beauty to the story. The characters felt so real, and I cared deeply about their journeys. I also loved how the female characters were written — each with her own journey, her own strength, and her own struggles, portrayed in a way that felt real and authentic. While it was heartbreaking at times to follow Omar as he tried to understand his son's life and choices, it made the story feel even more realistic. A beautiful, unforgettable novel.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advance copy with me!

For fans of Kite Runner, The Book Thief, and Mornings in Jenin: This debut historical fiction novel is set against pivotal historical events including 9/11, the subsequent US war in Iraq, and Arab Spring, and is framed by history professor Omar El-Mohammedi's desperate race to decode his deceased son's journal and potentially prevent a terrorist attack. Chapters transport us to different points in time, to learn how four friends from Alexandria and their families were caught up in and experienced these events. The title's Gales are seasonal storms that serve as symbols for the narrative, and in the end guide the professor's insight about how to prevent the attack. What struck me most was the novel's exposition of shared values across seemingly different worlds—how characters like Matt, a dedicated West Point graduate serving in the CIA, ultimately holds sacred the same principles of duty, honor, family, and faith as those from Alexandria.

This book was so interesting to read. I've never read anything like it before. It was complicated politics and morals. I loved reading it. It was so enjoyable when I got into it. Please paperback this book so I can own her!!

I loved the writing style. It was classic-ish and I enjoyed it so much. I definitely recommend. The characters were loveable and I enjoyed watching them grow and learn as the book went on.

Thank you Netgallery for the arc and Ehab Elgammal for writing this masterpiece!