El proscrito y la esclava que salvaron a su pueblo en el alba de la civilización
Una confrontación entre dos formas de vida
Durante incontables generaciones, hordas de belicosos nómadas dominaron las llanuras de Mesopotamia, matando y esclavizando a comunidades enteras de agricultores cuyo pacífico modo de vida despreciaban. Esta es la crónica de cómo la próspera villa de Orak consiguió plantar cara a sus temibles enemigos y defenderse de una vez y para siempre.
Un salvador inesperado
El hombre que logró que el fuego de la resistencia prendiera en el espíritu de sus habitantes fue Eskkar, un guerrero con una cuenta pendiente con los temibles bárbaros. Gracias a su elocuencia y su astucia, resolvieron emprender algo revolucionario: un gran muro que les protegiera de los ataques de los jinetes.
Una historia épica en el alba de la civilización
Para llevar adelante su tarea, Eskkar contó con la ayuda de Trella, una joven e inteligente esclava, quien intuía que su destino estaba ligado al de su amo y que ambos estaban llamados a emprender una hazaña más perdurable que la de la defensa de la ciudad.
Tras liderar a una hueste que se enfrentó a los bárbaros para distraerlos mientras se terminaba la muralla, la popularidad de Eskkar entre sus conciudadanos aumentó hasta el punto de suscitar envidias entre los miembros de las familias más poderosas de la ciudad. A partir de cierto momento, Eskkar y Trella tuvieron que hacer frente no sólo a los enemigos que les asediaban en el exterior, sino también a los que intrigaban en su propio bando.
El esfuerzo y el ingenio combinados de Eskkar y Trella estarán en el origen de una de las poderosas dinastías que convirtieron la cuenca del Tigris en la cuna de la civilización.

The book was okay. As pointed out by other reviewers, there are numerous historical inaccuracies, the most glaring to me were the use of coins, the use of modern measurements for time, and their understanding of relatively current treatments for injuries. Also, much of the dialogue was like listening to today's teenagers. The story lines for the two main characters, Eskkar and Trella, are highly improbable. Eskkar, after settling in Orak, is quickly promoted to one of the top security officers and then promoted again to the top spot. He hadn't done much in the story to warrant either of these promotions. Trella's story is even more improbable. She is a fourteen year old slave who virtually overnight becomes the wisest resident of the city. I just can't believe that someone this age with fairly limited experiences could be so knowledgeable about so much.

With all this said, the author did do a good job of explaining how Orak's defense was established at a time when towns were virtually undefended. Almost the entire book is devoted to building the town's defense, but I found that part interesting. He also did well with the battle scenes. There were three battles in the book, and they rivaled the ones in Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, and Jack Whyte. ( )

Defense against the siege of a town on the banks of the Tigris by its inhabitants led by a mercenary solder, Esskar, and his [almost too] wise slave, Trella. Interesting novel of Bronze Age times, how farmers defended against nomads. Not "historical" except in broad outlines. Too much sex for my taste--not offensive but I was overwhelmed by how much there was. Was this a male novelist's sexual fantasy? ( )

The thing I loved about this book is that is both Epic in scale but also highly detailed.
The author paints a vivid scene of despair and hopelessness, with the 'dirt-eaters' (the early farmers of bronze age mesopotamia) who live in rudimentary settlements, accepting their role as sword-fodder for the warbands who still roam the country hunting for food and pillaging for treasure.
I felt engaged really quickly with the protagonist, Eskkar, as he struggled against his own demons and against the stubborn townsfolk who resisted his pleas to make a stand against the raiders. But Eskkar is not alone, he has a slave girl, Trella, who is as cunning and calm as Eskkar is bold and aggressive. The pair dovetail really nicely without ever coming across as infallible.
The story builds neatly, taking you on the adventure and builds towards a hectic and unforgettable ending.

A must for hist fic fans. ( )

A plausible historical novel, even though events and characters are a little too apt to have everything they attempt turn out perfectly. A small town needs help to prevent the nomadic, warrior tribe from burning the city down again. They ask an exiled warrior to take charge and soon Eskkar has developed leadership skills he didn’t know he had and is getting a wall built and training the citizens to defend their town. Lots of action, killings, and some torture. The citizens win but the nomads vow to return—in the next book. ( )