Shadows of Tehran, the powerful debut novel by Nick Berg, is set to hit bookshelves on April 22 this year, and it is already making waves across the literary world. With nearly 10,000 copies sold in pre-sale, it is poised to become a breakout hit, with strong projections placing it on both the New York Times Best Sellers list and the London Sunday Times chart. Published by the rising powerhouse Fortis Publishing, this gripping, emotionally charged novel is based on a true story—and it’s one readers are unlikely to forget.

At its heart is Ricardo, a boy caught between two worlds, born and raised in Tehran, yet tethered to the West by his American father. But his life is violently upended when his father abandons the family just as the Islamic Revolution of 1979 erupts. As the streets of Tehran descend into chaos, and religious fanaticism strips away the basic rights of the people, Ricardo’s world becomes increasingly unrecognisable.

His mother’s remarriage introduces a new figure into the household—a stepfather with a chilling secret, whose presence casts a darker shadow than the revolution itself. At just 14 years old, Ricardo’s spirit refuses to bend to the oppressive new regime. Instead, he channels his pain and anger into action, becoming a teenage rebel leader known in hushed tones as the Shadow Rider of Tehran, a name that carries both fear and hope through the city's winding alleys.

But fame comes at a cost. When his identity is compromised and an execution order issued, Ricardo is forced to flee the only home he’s ever known. What follows is a heart-stopping journey across continents, as he reinvents himself not as a victim, but as a warrior. Eventually becoming a US Special Forces soldier, Ricardo’s path takes a dramatic turn, bringing him full circle, back to the very soil from which he once escaped.

Blending memoir, thriller, and political drama, Shadows of Tehran is more than a tale of war and rebellion. It is a deeply human story about resilience in the face of trauma, the quest for identity, and the moral complexities of survival. Berg’s prose is both muscular and lyrical, capturing the inner life of a boy becoming a man in a world that offers him no clear path forward. The novel is a meditation on abuse, abandonment, and loss, but above all, it is a declaration of defiance, a call to arms for anyone who has ever been told to stay silent, to stay small, to surrender.

Behind the scenes, Berg’s journey to publication has been as remarkable as the book itself. Under the expert mentorship of Ken Scott, one of the world’s most respected book coaches and ghostwriters, Berg was able to shape raw experience into a tightly constructed, emotionally resonant novel. Scott’s influence is unmistakable, his deep understanding of pacing, character depth, and coherence helped turn Shadows of Tehran into a publishing phenomenon even before its official release.

Fortis Publishing, known for amplifying bold, authentic voices, saw in Berg’s manuscript not only a timely story but a timeless one. They have thrown their full support behind the book, launching it with a major marketing push, global distribution, and film and foreign rights interest already on the table.

Shadows of Tehran doesn’t just entertain, it confronts. It forces readers to grapple with the weight of history, the fragility of freedom, and the strength it takes to stand tall when everything around you falls apart. For those looking for a book that will linger long after the last page is turned, this is it.