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Saira has never liked the way she looks. She is blonde, has blue eyes and everyone calls her Kharami, that is to say bastard. She lives in Afghanistan with her sister, mother and grandfather, and believes herself to be eight years old. When Ramin – a cruel man and supporter of the Taliban – comes into her life, her family is dogged by misfortune for ever. But not everything is lost for Saira.
What if it were possible to recognise every corrupt politician, police officer or business person by an indelible mark on the face? And what if a humble pawn were to cross the whole board, become a queen – or at least a princess – and put the enemy king in checkmate? And what if a humble young man were to rock the whole political, economic and social system of a country?
This novel tells of the relationship between a young councillor from Cádiz, brilliant, combative and spirited, and an older writer from Madrid, apparently calm and with as few illusions as prejudices.