Jihadi Bride - Book Review

Jihadi Bride
by Alastair Luft

Jihadi Bride is the story of a naive student lured to a new religion that promises equality and respect for women. Little does she know she falls into a trap. It’s sad but true! Many young people, like Arielle, are radicalized to promote an ideology. And, to what extent can a parent save their children from misguided principles?

Extremist groups espouse a common campaign to get people to their side. Promises of equality, respect for women, and freedom from “bondage” are their battle cry. Most often, they target students and millennials disgruntled at the system they are in. This is what Alastair Luft’s book is all about. Jihadi Bride is an in-depth story of Arielle’s and Erik Petersson’s struggles under the lawless elements.

Set in the present age, the book begins with Erik looking forward to playing an online game with his daughter. Shortly before their appointed time to play, however, Arielle calls. She informs her dad that she cannot make it to their date. She tells him that she’s traveling to Syria. But, Arielle does not explain the reason for the trip. This catches Erik by surprise and discomfort. Being a former soldier, Erik knows it’s dangerous to travel to Syria at the time. There’s unrest going on in that part of the Middle East.

The Drama Begins

Unable to get the details of her trip, the father begins to go frantic with worry over her daughter. He needs to do something to get her back. Erik, an analyst at the High-Risk Traveler Task Force, knows he needs to do it fast. Otherwise, his daughter is in grave danger. Notwithstanding company protocol, he begins to personally investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Arielle travels with Naomi from Frankfurt, Germany to Turkey. They move as quickly and normally as possible without drawing attention. Arielle, for her part, evades being tracked down by her dad. Besides, the instructions from their contacts in the point of destination is to maintain a normal posture to blend in with other passengers.

As soon as they arrive at their final destination, reality begins to sink in. Arielle soon realizes that life in this place is not what was promised to her in Canada. She was far from being given the chance to work as a nurse and help people in need. Instead, she is thrust into a life of illegal activities. Arielle is then entangled in several twists and turns.

On the other hand, Erik works hard to trace her daughter. With the help of mercenaries, he arrives in Iraq. From here, his life becomes difficult. Thankfully, his training as a soldier and the thought of his daughter keeps him sane.

Both father and daughter fight their respective nightmares. Erik’s major challenge is to locate his daughter in the vast region of the Middle East. But, to what extent can this father go to get his daughter back? And, how long can Arielle’s strength and courage sustain her? Will the father ever see his daughter again? Read Jihadi Bride and follow their individual ordeals.

The Book and the Jihadi Bride Author

Jihadi Bride is an in-depth look into an extremist group and how it operates. It’s a factually accurate account of misguided principles, black propaganda, and hatred towards a race different from their own. Jihadi Bride is a well-research book. Written by a 20-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Alastair Luft gets the opportunity to observe the lawless elements closely. Thus, making the book credible.

The author writes this book as objectively as possible. And, this is clearly seen in some of the dialogues. Particularly, he highlights Abu Noor al Kanadi’s stance on why he chooses to affiliate with the extremists. And, this is the part that I like the most. It makes the whole story balanced.

Moreover, I like the author’s writing style. By putting the time and place of each event, he makes reading easier to follow. Luft’s vivid descriptions of the events are like taking his readers on a roller-coaster ride into the heart of savagery and merciless killing. The story is fast-paced that the reader is always kept on the edge of his seat until the end.

Technically, I give Jihadi Bride a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to readers 18 years old and above. But, just a word of caution: please read it with an open mind. The story is a sensitive matter. I don’t suggest young readers read Jihadi Bride, though. It contains violent acts and gruesome scenes not suitable for young minds. 

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