Gods, Kings & Slaves
The Siege of Madurai
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
War is coming...
Peninsular India, fourteenth century. The Pandyan empire is at its
peak, its enemies subdued and its people at peace. Having left behind
his step-brother Sundar in the race to the throne, Crown Prince Veera
Pandyan is set to rule from Madurai, reputed to be the richest city in
the subcontinent. But invisible fractures within the kingdom threaten
to destroy it, and a new enemy approaches, swifter than anyone can
imagine.
In Delhi, Sultan Alauddin Khilji’s trusted general, the eunuch Malik
Kafur, has trained his eyes on the distant south, fabled for its riches.
A slave captured by the Khiljis, Kafur is renowned for his ambition
and cunning. None, not even the mighty Mongols, have defeated him
– no empire can withstand the trail of destruction he leaves in his
wake. And all he wants is to see Madurai on its knees, its wealth
pillaged, its temples destroyed.
As an ancient city combusts in flames of treachery, bloodlust and
revenge, brother will battle brother, ambition will triumph over love,
slaves will rise to rule, cities will be razed to dust, and the victor will
be immortalized in history...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British author Titchmarsh (Rosie) brings the art world alive in this engaging romantic drama. In 2007, James "Jamie" Ballantyne reconnects with childhood chum and flame, Artemis "Missy" King, who resurfaces in the showroom of Jamie's auction house in Bath to bid on a painting on behalf of her grandfather. The reunited couple discover that a set of paintings by Sir Alfred James Munnings, owned by Missy's grandfather (himself owner of an established fine art gallery), are fakes. Their investigation reveals a long thread of family secrets and the source of the feud between their two families, revelations that cause the couple to split up. Titchmarsh alternates between the present and the story of Jamie's grandfather, Harry Ballantyne, and Missy's grandmother, Eleanor King, who met as art students at Oxford. The effect is nostalgic and builds anticipation and curiosity in the history of the two families, including the story behind the lost love of their grandparents.
