 |
What nation would dare to stand against the powerful Egyptian Empire? Azmera is a power-hungry queen with delusions of defeating this juggernaut. She is enraged by the embarrassing annihilation of her armies by the Egyptians. She is about to learn that power has a limit. Her fatal mistake of publicly ridiculing her generals sets a treacherous plot in motion.
Sidra is the highest-ranking general and has the loyalty of the troops. His love for his men and country calls him to plan the unthinkable: destroy the queen. Brute force is not feasible. He will need cunning to blindside the regime. What he needs is an irresistible lure under his command, and he has the perfect candidate in mind. Sidra's best friend has entrusted his son, Tizzra, with him. He has become the finest soldier in the land. Now he could be the key to ridding their land of this evil regent. However, they have only one chance to make this work.
Baldwin's skilled writing creates a vivid ancient world for this fascinating story of political intrigue. It has fast-paced action intertwined with interesting schemes. The characters are multidimensional and demonstrate a full range of emotions. The author balances the exciting action with the reality that war takes a tremendous toll on communities. He treats the tragedy of violence with appropriate sensitivity for that era without applying a modern lens. The conversations come across as authentic and genuine, pulling readers into the narrative. Baldwin has succeeded in crafting a novel about ancient cultures in a political power struggle that is not commonplace or trite. He provides colorful details of the peripheral characters and mundane activities that bring Sidra's world to life. This thoughtful, compelling narrative will have readers eagerly waiting for Baldwin's next novel.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review