"Beguiling. . . . Lukas veers from the tried-and-true, making The Oracle of Stamboul a novel that offers delightful surprises." -- Jane Ciabattari, Los Angeles Times

"Lukas . . . brings a raconteur's sense of storytelling, a traveler's eye for color and a scholar's sense of history to his first novel. . . . Lukas has given us a Turkish delight." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"An enchanting, gorgeous read . . . Lukas captures the scents and sounds, the vivid beauty, the subtle intrigue and simultaneous naivety, of the Ottoman Empire unaware of its imminent demise." -- Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men are Gone

"A stunning debut . . . Lukas has managed to create an instant classic that feels as if it should be retroactively slipped into the great libraries of the old world." -- Reif Larsen, author of The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet

"Michael David Lukas charms in his debut." -- Vanity Fair

"A lyrical debut...A passionate novel that beautifully conveys the flavor of Turkish culture...focusing on the effect a young prodigy has on the political leaders of the time." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This first novel by a promising young writer is both vivid historical fiction and a haunting fable." -- Library Journal

"The exotic sights and sounds of nineteenth-century Turkey spring vividly to life in Lukas' promising debut." -- Booklist (starred review)

"A magical debut." -- Good Housekeeping

"The Oracle of Stamboul is a delight, a gem of a first novel." -- Read All Day

"[An] impressive debut novel." -- San Francisco magazine

"THE ORACLE OF STAMBOUL is one of those debuts that defies the norm." -- Bookreporter.com

"...this riveting debut novel not only captures the atmosphere of the exotic European crossroads but also introduces a young girl who is utterly captivating." -- Bookloons.com

"In his enchanting debut novel, Michael David Lukas captures the mystical world of the Ottoman Empire."- -- Book Beast

"A gem of a first novel...an appealing blend of magical and historical realism...This is a polished literary work that will appeal to a wide readership." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A beautifully written debut novel. . . . Political intrigue, historical upheaval and Eastern mysticism come together in surprising ways as Lukas brings the book to a poignant conclusion tinged with magical realism." -- Mercury News

"An enchanting literary debut...A charming tale of passion and intrigue...that could be read in one sitting, spine-tingling descriptions will transport readers to another place and time." -- Today's Zaman