The Last Beekeeper

Siya Turabi’s debut, which she started at age 40, is magnificent! I love the main character, Hassan, torn between finding Black Bee honey to preserve his mother’s eyesight, or following his new love, Maryam, to England.

Descriptions of 1974 Pakistan are so vibrant that you feel the tension of political intrigues, contrasted with the cool dark forest where healing honey is found.

Relationships and nature are at the heart of this compelling story, which grabbed me from the first. A lovely offering, perfect for a long summer’s day spent in a hammock.

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 19 Aug 2021

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

This book started slow but it quickly had me enraptured. I loved the variety of characters with Hassan making a wonderful main character. The author created a beautiful story that covers love, family and the importance of nature. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the bees. The setting in Pakistan was unique and enlightened me on some of the countries history. This book reminds me of books by Khalid Hosseini, poignant and heartwarming.

Hassan is a strong character even though he is just a teen and he is so eager to learn everything he can while constantly thinking of his Amma and Baba. The lure of the elusive Black Bees is always there and I love how the author entwined Hassan and the bees. The entire book teaches how we can live together peacefully and how important nature is too us.

Simply a beautiful story that had me reading it until 3:30 in the morning. Thank you to One More Chapter for inviting me to read this poignant story.

The Last Beekeeper is an absolutely beautifully written novel about different loves.

There is a line with Hassan’s love for her mother. He is ready to break rules to prevent her mother from loosing her sight in a search of the mythical black honey.

The other love is for the woman from London, who he falls for when he moves to study in Karachi. Hassan has to face a difficult choice between family or relationship. Will he choose his mother or Maryam?

This is a really amazing read about love, family with a Pakistani background. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a well-written novel.

Set in Pakistan The Last Beekeeper is a beautiful story of finding hope. Its a slow burn read but is full of interest. Hassan is tasked to find the last beekeeper in order to save his mother's sight. Its a wonderful journey he goes on to help her. I enjoyed the descriptive narrative of the woods and how and why they were forbidden to go there. I enjoyed this book.

This is a true book of testing times and what actually matters the most.
A wonderfully written book of love and hope and heartache.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The book is set in Pakistan, 1974: Hassan, needs to save some honey before there’s a change in the weather, making his mother’s eyesight go, and for that he has to find the beekeeper.

Winning a scholarship to study alongside the state governor in Karachi, he meets Maryam, whose the niece of the governor from London, suddenly he doesn’t know what to do.

Whilst this is happening, he’s being pulled back to what will happen to his Mother, and a promise he made to the bees. He has a decision to make, Maryam or the beekeeper? Does he stay in Pakistan or go to England, and does he listen to his head or his heart?

An enjoyable, interesting read,