The Blind Girl's Sword — Kimberly Coleman

Haqqi Ibais wasn't born a terrorist. His father was a mining executive, his twin a social reformer with Dikallah Province's Government. But a single act by a powerful official dramatically alters a friend's life and his own, setting him on a path to destroy his country. Although 'The Blind Girl's Sword' is essentially a prequel for 'The Blind Girl's War' Series, for maximum impact, the recommended reading order is after Volume One, 'Before The Sun Goes Down'. Even though many of the same characters populate the entire series, the volumes may also be read as standalones. Brief footnotes and references are included in each book so no prior knowledge, other than that these unfortunates exist within a dystopic, politically twisted and violent land where there is somehow always hope for peace. Tazakul is a polluted country where dreams are pursued out of habit since no one can even remember how the war began between their two main provinces. Draka and Dikallah citizens remain trapped for the 13th year, their lives reduced to trying to survive car bombs, censorship, refugee camps, sex slavery, chemical weapons, vengeful Witches, and a race of cannibals who travels when it rains... 'The Blind Girl's War' tells the stories of those caught in the War: shop keepers, mechanics, trash pickers, shepherds, and ordinary people like Qais, an abused, overweight teen who dreams of becoming a soldier; Baradei, a widowed book seller who lives to protect his young daughter from the Minister of Electricity's disturbed son; Zaid, a bitter, unemployed accountant encumbered with his elderly blind father; Kiyala, a brilliant engineering student whose family is targeted by suicide bombers… All will be changed by The Blind Girl's War.