First published 2020
Elliot Ackerman sits across from Abu Hassar in a refugee camp in southern Turkey. Abu Hassar fought for Al Qaeda in Iraq and maintains connections to the Islamic State. Ackerman initially claims he worked as a journalist during the Iraq War, but after building trust with Abu Hassar, he admits he served as a Marine. The two veterans then share their combat experiences in the Middle East, realizing they operated in overlapping areas and times. This discovery creates an unexpected bond between former enemies. Ackerman examines what drove him to seek out this encounter, unable to escape memories of battle. He moves between his recent journalism work in Syria and his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The memoir weaves together American and Arab perspectives on two decades of conflict, exploring the magnetic pull of warfare and its lasting effects on those who fight.
Genres: war, military-fiction, memoir, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East, Syria, Turkey
Period: 2000s, 2010s, Iraq War, War on Terror
256 pages · Paperback · Penguin
Content warnings: war