The Sky Worshipers
In The Sky Worshipers, Deemyad takes us on a vivid and lush journey through the Mongol conquests of the 13th and 14th centuries. The story begins when Lady Goharshad, queen of the Timurid kingdom, finds a journal hidden within the walls of Samarkand. Within those pages, four women who had been forced into, and held captive, by Mongol rulers during various times of their rule, escape the despair and loneliness they chronically felt from not only their experiences but that of the Mongol leaders themselves. The story mainly focuses on the Mongol conquests of Central Asia and the Middle East but also throws in bits of narrative on the Yuan Dynasty of China and the Russian Golden Horde.
Initially, the reader may feel a bit lost with the historical terminology and abrupt start of events. But Deemyad’s impressive historical research and ability to give life to the antagonists quickly rectifies that and immerses readers into the rich world of the main characters. The Sky Worshipers is an excellent read for anyone interested in Mongol history and/or stories of bloodlust and betrayal, but also fulfillment.
