Description
Malal by Ahmed Rao is described in the preface as the author's very first novel, written at age 14 (the author is now 17) — a complete novel written entirely on her own without help, from start to finish. The book explores the universal theme of "malal" (regret) — how everyone carries some regret in life, and how life is never fully black and white. The story follows four main characters: Braq Hisham, Inspector Manha, Laila Sultan, and Azlan Khan, with a plot that doesn't shy away from harsh realities of life. Notably, the author says neither of the two heroines in the story is written as weak or overly innocent — both are strong characters by design.