The Emperor of Babylon — Murray Lee Eiland Jr.

A rising threat from the biggest city in the world. The Emperor of Babylon has captured Zurga - a brilliant inventor - and is demanding to know how to control volcanic eruptions. He also desires iron weapons, a closely guarded Hittite secret. The emperor plans conquer all the lands surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He has a vast spy network and is preparing a huge army. Orfeo and Clarice, both trained as wanderers, must use all of their skills to save their friend and teacher. They must also stop the Emperor who believes himself to be a deity. Can they stop a madman that could destroy the entire region?
King Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BC) famously codified laws for his kingdom, which encompassed all the city states of southern Mesopotamia (later known as Babylonia). In 1600 BC Babylon was likely the largest city in the world. It may have had a population in excess of 200,000, and covered 2,200acres.  By 1595 BC the city was overthrown by the Hittite Empire from Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Soon after,the Kassites from the Zagros Mountains in northwestern Iran, captured the city-state and ruled for over four centuries.  This novel covers one of the most pivotal periods in ancient history.