First published 2009
Genghis Khan leads his Mongol horsemen into unknown territory beyond the steppes they have conquered. His brothers, sons, and commanders have already forced emperors to submit and destroyed massive armies from the frozen plains of Mongolia to Korea. Now Genghis enters a land of towering peaks and barren desert, where he awakens a more dangerous foe than any before. Shah Ala-ud-Din Mohammed commands thousands of Arab fighters, swift cavalry, and armored war elephants. When the Arabs strike back, they prove their worth as warriors. Genghis must abandon his own camp, leaving the Mongol women and children exposed to a furious enemy. As his people fight for survival and assassins move through the darkness, a deeper conflict emerges within his own family. His sons Jochi and Chagatai burn with hatred for each other. Warriors pick sides between the brothers, and someone commits murder. The most powerful ruler on earth must now select his heir, a choice that will spark the most vicious battle yet.
Genres: historical-fiction, military-fiction, adventure, action
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, family-drama
Setting: Mongolia, Korea, Middle East
Period: 13th Century
416 pages · Hardcover · Delacorte Press