Jahan, a twelve-year-old Indian boy, arrives at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul with a gift for the Sultan: a little white kisser named Shota. In this city, Jahan's life changes thanks to two prominent figures: the Sultan's daughter, Mihrimah, who charms him; And the famous architect Sinan, who uses his training to build mosques, palaces, bridges, baths, schools, and most importantly, to discover oneself and rebuild the soul.
An amazing novel that takes us through Shafak to the palaces and their gardens, where the animals and the tame ones, the malicious ministers and the beautiful maids; And to this city/pot in which religions and cultures melt and the colors of poverty and crime mix: and to the dark and bright interiors of the soul at the same time...

أليف شافاك: روائيَّة وناشطة تركيَّة. صدر لها عن دار الآداب: قواعدُ العشق الأربعون، لقيطة إسطنبول، شرف، قصر الحلوى، الفتى المتيَّم والمعلِّم، حليب أسود، بنات حوَّاء الثلاث، «البنت التي لا تحب اسمها»، «عشر دقائق و٣٨ ثانية في هذا العالم الغريب»، و«جزيرة الأشجار المفقودة».