Awais Khan is an author based in Lahore. His writing journey began when he took a creative writing course at the prestigious Faber Academy in London. In 2017, his first manuscript was picked up by a literary agent, Annette Crossland, and in 2019, his first book was published by Simon and Schuster (India) and The Book Guild. After navigating the murky waters of the publishing industry. Critics have acclaimed his books, earning them international praise, and Forbes featured him in 2024. Until now, Khan has published four books: In the Company of Strangers, No Honour, Someone Like Her, and In the Shadows of Love, while his new novel is anticipated to be published by Orenda Books in 2027. Apart from this, he works as an editor and continues to teach creative writing to writing enthusiasts worldwide.
The story revolves around sixteen-year-old Abida’s tiny rural village in Pakistan, where ancient traditions must be adhered to thoroughly to uphold and protect her family’s honour at all costs. Nonetheless, her defiant spirit makes the task even more difficult as she longs to build a home with the man she loves. However, when the unfathomable happens, Abida is bound to endure the same fate as other young girls who have chosen undesirable alliances: absolute, public death. In her quest to fight against the cultural norms she believes are wrong, Abida is accompanied by her father, Jamil, who risks his own life to assist her. She flees to Lahore and vanishes under the dense cloak of a city where prejudices take on a whole new turn, which plagued her village. Hence, Jamil travels to Lahore to determine his daughter’s whereabouts. Furthermore, the novel explores the themes of love, betrayal, societal taboos, and religious extremism.
If there’s a novel that could end the rift between fiction and non-fiction readers, it is No Honour. The story has a way to keep you on your toes as reality quietly seeps into fiction without making the story cumbersome to read. The portrayal of known societal traditions and taboos makes the story relatable to the reader. Whereas the plot effortlessly navigates between the intricacies of the psychological impact of extreme religious fervour and the workings of various illegal networks operating side by side. While reading the novel, I was particularly amazed by how the author, through the protagonist, shows the intersection of different socio-economic classes through the eyes of different characters as they move forward in the world that never looks back, carrying their own unique baggage, ultimately making the reader go deeper into the rabbit hole. However, if someone is looking for fluff or dramatic flair in conventional romance, they may be disappointed. This might not be the story you would want to read, as it might be overwhelming for some people. This book challenges the notion of all kinds of love and plays with the grey areas of society that we know all too well but are afraid to acknowledge, confront, and challenge. The concept of honour itself is a paradox in our society, and if we were to take a step back and wonder, if I were to make a similar mistake or dare to challenge the preconceived ideals of honour, would I be allowed to breathe, or would my family and society see my existence as a shameful curse? In my opinion, this novel takes the ownership of honour from society and gives it back to individuals. In essence, this novel is a must-read for an audience looking for a fresh perspective and an engaging read.