Traditional swords & sorcery fantasy with an authentic middle-eastern spin The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, land of djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, Khalifs and killers, is at boiling point. A power struggle between the iron-fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince is reaching its climax. In the midst of this brewing rebellion, a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. Only a handful of reluctant heroes can learn the truth, and stop the killing. Doctor Adoulla Makhslood just wants a quiet cup of tea. Three score and more years old, he has grown weary of hunting monsters and saving lives, and is more than ready to retire from his dangerous and demanding vocation. But when an old flame's family is murdered, Adoulla is drawn back to the hunter's path. Raseed bas Raseed, Adoulla's young assistant, a hidebound holy warrior whose prowess is matched only by his piety, is eager to deliver God's justice. Zamia Badawi has been gifted with the near-mythical power of the Lion-Shape, but shunned by her people for daring to take up a man's title. She lives only to avenge her father's death. Until she learns that Adoulla and his allies also hunt her father's killer. Until she meets Raseed. When they learn that the murders and the Falcon Prince's brewing revolution are connected, the companions must race against time to save the life of a vicious despot. In so doing they discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn the city, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Throne of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Kingdoms)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Review
Ahmed grabs your attention with a nasty, menacing prologue and doesn't let go, deftly wrapping up the action in a satisfying, do-or-die finale that leaves plot strands a-dangling for the next instalment. A strong debut. -- Dean Evans SFX 20130103 Throne of the Crescent Moon is a fun fantasy novel, and comes from the school of entertaining swords and sorcery tales that don't have a point to prove, they're just a great way to waste time. If you like your fantasy engaging and character driven with a nice dollop of action, give this a look. STARBURST 20121102 Throne of the Crescent Moon gave me the sort of story I often want, but rarely find. The prose is easy to read, the characters and setting a joy to behold, and the story begs you to read just another chapter. It's an impressive novel, and Saladin Ahmed is an author I'll be keeping my eye on. -- Mark Chitty WALKER OF WORLDS 'Throne of the Crescent Moon' is nothing short of essential reading for fans of 'Swords & Sorcery' and fans of fantasy in general, any hype is well deserved. Highly recommended by me, give it a go now. GRAEME'S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW Saladin Ahmed debuts his take on Sword & Sorcery tales and it is a particular fascinating one. Throne of the Crescent Moon is definitely going to be in my year end list and will be remembered by many as a smashing, exciting debut. I would encourage all readers to give it a try as Saladin is definitely an author to watch for. Grab the Throne of the Crescent Moon and lose yourself in this alluring tale. FANTASY BOOK CRITIC Throne of the Crescent Moon is a slim volume in comparison to most fantasy books these days, but that's because there isn't an ounce of fat in it. For a debut author, Ahmed has written the perfect introduction to an intriguing world with truely original characters in a tale that is impossible to put down. Adoulla may be hoping for a quiet life but, I for one, hope many more ghuls and monsters cross his path for years to come. FANTASY FACTION In talks of gods and religion, ancient evils and older spells, Saladin has tapped into the well-stone of good old-fashioned storytelling in an old established setting of ancient Arabia. This is Arabian Nights meets Clark Ashton Smith but with less purple prose and more adventurous actions. For those who want an engaging and exciting tale in a timeless environment, filled with the romanticism of ancient worlds and a touch of the unreal, this is a recommended read. I enjoyed it enormously. -- Mark Yon SFFWORLD Throne of the Crescent Moon is a real pleasure once it gets going. It's refreshing to read something that is a bit different and fun; Ahmed's descriptive writing makes the world jump off the page. For a debut novel this is a real treat. WE LOVE THIS BOOK Overall, this is a very strong novel. I loved the setting, the characters were engaging and well-drawn, and the story has a classic feel to it: power politics, personal struggle, and adventure. CIVILIAN READER
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Saladin Ahmed was born in Detroit and raised in a working-class, Arab American enclave in Michigan. His short stories have been nominated for the NEBULA and CAMPBELL awards, and have appeared in Year's Best Fantasy and numerous other magazines, anthologies, and podcasts, as well as being translated into five foreign languages. THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON is his first novel. Saladin lives near Detroit with his wife and twin children.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Anglobotomy
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. If a couple typos and a few too many epithets are all I can find to complain about with this book, it sits pretty high in my regard. Oh wait . . . it was too short too. Great characters, good simple story, lots of action, but lots of juicy character insight - it was a fun read. And while it was a pretty typical type of fantasy read, it had more heart than most and the setting was atypical of the current new fair. In the age of the 1000+ page epic full of political turmoil, graphic sex and casts of thousands, this book stands out as accessible, and a good example how to do a satisfying fantasy novel without dragging it out forever. Thank you Mr Ahmad.
By A. Soares
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Throne of the Crescent Moon is the first book of what is sure to be a fabulous trilogy. The novel is a quick read - a little too short for my liking in fact. Almost too much happens in this sub-300 page "novella". However, this sets the stage for future books. Mr. Ahmed creates a beautiful and complex world. We have an aging hero struggling to find a balance between helping people and being present for loved ones. We have the naivety of a young religious fanatic who finds that right and wrong are not always clear cut. We have a struggle between a tyrant king and the Falcon Prince (a Robin Hood of sorts) and we have an ancient evil rising. To me this book was a book about extremes. Fans of sword and sorcery novels will enjoy a fast paced adventure as the last ghul hunter and his young assistant search for the ghul maker responsible for a series of brutal murderers, but those looking for a deeper message will find satisfaction as well, as characters evolve and re-evaluate what is important to them.
I look forward to the next installment.
Note that this book is the first of a trilogy, but stands alone well. There are many stories left to be told, but no cliff-hanger ending.
I look forward to the next installment.
Note that this book is the first of a trilogy, but stands alone well. There are many stories left to be told, but no cliff-hanger ending.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Fantasy Novels Is This Superb Debut from Saladin Ahmed
Jun 9 2012
By John Kwok
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
I have been looking forward to reading Saladin Ahmed's "Throne of the Crescent Moon" since I heard him read from it at a New York Review of Science Fiction reading event back in February and trust me, I'm not disappointed, since it was well worth the wait. Ahmed's debut novel is one of the finest works of fantasy I have read in years, and, without question, one destined to be remembered as among the most notable novels of fantasy and science fiction published this year. With ample enthusiasm, I concur with N. K. Jemisin's observation that "Ahmed is a master storyteller in the grand epic tradition". Drawing extensively upon his cultural and religious heritage, Ahmed has written a swashbuckling tale of adventure, mystery, horror that transcends its "Arabian Nights" setting into one worthy of recognition as a potential contender for the Hugo, Nebula and John W. Campbell Awards. "The Throne of the Crescent Moon" is replete with richly drawn characters and the spectacular city of Dhamsawaat, a city that could be a fictional clone of Baghdad, when it was the greatest city in all of Eurasia back in the Eighth and Ninth Centuries A. D.; it is a compelling saga vividly in Ahmed's finely crafted, quite descriptive, prose. In Adoulla and Raseed, Ahmed has crafted a pair of protagonists worthy of comparison with Naomi Novik's Laurence and Temeraire; the former, an elderly realist who reluctantly embarks on one more quest as the last great demon hunter of his city; the latter, a dashing young swordsman whose enthusiasm for sword fighting is matched only by his fervent religious zeal. Together they will join forces with Zamia, a fierce tribeswoman who gives new meaning to the word "wild", as they confront ghouls, other demonic creatures and the devoted followers of Dhaamsawaat's despotic ruling Khalif and the mysterious thief the Falcon Prince. My sole regret is that Ahmed has told his captivating tale in a relatively brief span of less than two hundred eighty pages; it is definitely a most auspicious start for what promises to be among the best loved trilogies of fantasy.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 111 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
