Tales set in war-hit Cyprus and Oxford

This week, we look at three new books that are available on order at UAE stores. Among them, civil-war-struck Cyprus forms the backdrop of Andrea Busfield's new book, while Naomi Alderman essays a wonderful coming-of-age tale set against the gleaming spires of Oxford.

Aphrodite's War by Andrea Busfield: Andrea Busfield's last novel, Born Under A Million Shadows, was a poignant story set in Afghanistan, revealing life under the Taliban regime. Aphrodite's War is set miles away in Cyprus, in what seems to be a different world, but shares similarities when the country descends into civil war.

Spread over six decades from 1955, this epic novel, which is gripping at times and lengthy at others, is seen through the eyes of a Greek family and follows their youngest son Loukis as he falls in love with childhood sweetheart Praxis. As a teenager, Loukis decides to avenge the death of his elder brother and joins a cell of schoolboy terrorists – but returns home after three years, yearning for the warmth of his family and Praxis' love.

He is shocked to find his beloved married to someone else and with a young toddler at her feet. Busfield, a British journalist, lived in Cyprus with her family during the 1970s where she witnessed the Turkish invasion before they were evacuated in 1974, so you can't help but feel Aphrodite's War is a bit of a love letter to the island.

And Thereby Hangs A Tale by Jeffrey Archer: Fifteen short stories – 10 based on true accounts and the rest pure fiction – comprise former politician Jeffrey Archer's sixth volume of short stories.

A crime-inspired story, Stuck on You, opens the book. It is a tale about an upper class socialite, fittingly named Arabella, who seduces gullible working class men to steal jewellery for her and dumps them soon after. He ends the collection on a more optimistic note with Caste-off. Inspired by Nisha and Jamwal Singh, it chronicles the love story of a playboy Rajput prince who sacrifices everything to be with a non-Rajput girl he falls madly in love with.

In between, Archer covers everything from a shady Gloria Gaynor doppelganger who uses her looks to her advantage, to an ageing bank chairman who sells his soul to the devil in return for health and youth. If in search of something light and breezy, it's a suitable enough summer holiday read.

The Lessons by Naomi Alderman: Naomi Alderman's second novel – the follow-up to her debut, Disobedience – is a fresh take on university life and the trials and tribulations that follow. Oxford student James Stieff is a bit of a loner and having a wretched time – until he gets together with girlfriend Jess, a well-connected fellow student. She introduces him to her privileged group of friends, including the wealthy Mark and future Prime Minister Simon. On Mark's offer, the group moves into his rundown mansion – where parties and hedonism completely take over James's life. But, after university, Mark's decision to marry Simon's younger sister Nicola has a drastic impact on all his friends – especially James.

It's a wonderful novel about friends, betrayal and self-discovery.

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