Nasser eloquently explores racism, Islamaphobia, and xenophobia through a narrative that's tender, haunting, and fearless. Yusuf is a particularly memorable character with a complex architecture of inner turmoil about his identity in this strange land and the traumatic losses that drove him from his homeland. The city of Berlin plays an intricate part of Hidden Colours as Nasser draws on its history to illuminate the irony and hypocrisy of political and cultural views threaded through this novel while also painting a vivid portrait of the celebration of cultural diversity to offset the uglier side of the populace. The budding romance between Yusuf and Ellie felt a little contrived at times and didn’t quite work for me. Hidden Colours is an unforgettable tale of personal trauma and social justice.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite