Slaves of the Shinar — Justin Allen

The storied land of Shinar can be both brutal and forgiving. For two men making their way under its harsh sun, it is a land of fate, blood, and strife. Uruk is a nomadic thief from the jungles of sub-Saharan Africa braving the hard walk across the desert. His destination is nothing less than the fabled city of Ur, its temples swollen with riches. Ander is a slave, and has been since youth. But when a chance at freedom presents itself, he strikes, vowing to destroy his captors by whatever means necessary. As these two men navigate the world they share -- an ancient world, which first-time author Justin Allen has painstakingly researched -- their stories converge in a tale of destiny, triumph, and death. Set against the chaotic and bloody backdrop of the Middle East's first great war, this fantasy epic -- part Homer, part Tolkien, part R. Scott Bakker -- brings us into a gritty, realistic world where destiny is foretold by gods, and death is never more than a sword-stroke away.