The Sky Worshipers | F. M. Deemyad

(opinião em português depois da em inglês)

First of all, I want to thatnk the author for contacting and sending me a copy fof this book in exchange for an honest review.

Buy the Book: Amazon | History Through Fiction

Synopsis: A powerful, sweeping saga that focuses on the role and influence of women who change the trajectory and strength of Genghis Khan and his Mongol warriors.

In the year 1398 A.D., Lady Goharshad and her husband, King Shahrokh, come across an ancient manuscript in the ruins of Karakorum, the Mongol capital. The manuscript chronicles the era of Mongol invasions with entries by three princesses from China, Persia, and Poland who are captured and brought to the Mongol court.

After being stolen from her family at the Tangut Emperor's coronation, Princess Chaka, the Emperor's youngest daughter is left with no choice but to marry Genghis Khan. Thus, the Tangut join Genghis as allies. She is the first to secretly chronicle the historical events of her time, and in doing so she has the help of an African eunuch by the name of Baako who brings her news from the war front.

Princess Reyhan is the witty granddaughter of the last Seljuk King in Persia. She is kidnapped by Ogodei, Genghis's son and heir, who falls in love with her. The romance does not last long, however, since a Mongol beauty wins Ogodei's heart, and Reyhan is sidelined. Reyhan continues the tradition of recording the events in secret, turning her entries into tales.

During the Mongol invasion of Poland and Hungary, Princess Krisztina, niece to Henry the Pious, is taken as a prisoner of war by the Mongols. Reyhan learns about Krisztina's predicament through Baako and asks Hulagu, Genghis's grandson, to help free her. Krisztina has a difficult time adjusting to life in Mongolia, and at one point she attempts to run away but is unsuccessful. When the child she is bearing is stillborn, the Mongol court shuns her. She is able to return to her homeland in old age but comes back to Karakorum and writes her final entry in the journal.

Through beautiful language and powerful storytelling, this fact-based historical novel lays bare the once far-reaching and uncompromising Mongol empire. It shows readers the hidden perspectives of the captive, conquered, and voiceless. It brings to light the tremendous but forgotten influence of Genghis Khan and his progeny, while asking readers to reconsider the destruction and suffering of the past on which the future is built.

In The Sky Worshipers we learn the story of the Mongol invasions, the story of Genghis Khan and his legacy that even today influences the course of the world in which we live.

The story is told by the perspective of three princesses that where kidnapped by Mongol warriors and find their life purpose by writting a manuscript about the “non-victors” of the Mongol invasions.

So, in The Sky Worshipers, we realize how these women from different backgrounds were able to cautiously influence the decisions of the Mongol leaders.

I had some difficulties getting into the story because of the names of the characters and because of the terminologies used to describe the houses (for example), the cities, festivities, etc. The initial part of the book was full things I had to search on google to be able to picture the scenarios.

However, despite these initial difficulties, since the narrative is highly descriptive, I felt that the scenarios described were highly visual and I felt transported to that time in history.

I especially liked Book II, where the author seemed to lose her fear of scrutinizing the individual story of the characters, thus beginning to give a more personal perspective to Reyhan, a former princess of Persia, in contrast to Book I, in which I felt some shyness from the author to get closer to the protagonist, to fictionalize a little more about her day to day, for example.

So we notice that after a while, there is a clear increase in the author's willingness to go deep and develop the characters (especially Reyhan, my favorite).

Despite giving only 3 stars to the book, they are pretty solid 3 stars, because I felt that this book enriched me and that I grew a lot. I discovered a whole set of customs, architectural details and places from a time in history that I was almost was unaware of. However, I really hoped I liked more, but I felt that something was missing that would make a "click" on me.

I think this happened because normally the historical novels I read and like are written from a more personal perspective that gives me more proximity to the characters, which allows me to know their personality, even if fictionally, more deeply and in this book I felt that I didn't get to know the princesses has much as I wished.

Neverthless, I strongly recommend The Sky Worshipers to all those who love outright historical fiction or even to those who want to learn a little more about the world that preceded us.

The Sky Workshipers is a challenging and very educational book, as each line brings us important lessons about a violent past not to repeat.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

With Love, Brenda

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Opinião literária em português

Em primeiro lugar, quero agradecer à F. M. Deemyad pelo contacto e cedêndia do exemplar para opinião literária honesta.

Compra o livro: Amazon | History Through Fiction

The Sky Worshipers traz-nos a história do Império Mongol, de Genghis Khan e o seu legado que até hoje influencia o percurso do mundo em que vivemos.

A história é-nos então contada por três princesas raptadas por protagonistas do império mongol e que encontram num manuscrito uma forma de contar a história dos “não-vitoriosos” desta conquista daquele povo pelo mundo oriental.

Além disso, percebemos como estas mulheres de outras origens foram capazes de influenciar cautelosamente as decisões dos Khans do império.

Apesar de ter gostado desta leitura, tive algumas dificuldades a entrar na história por causa dos nomes das personagens e por conta das terminologias utilizadas para descrever as casas da época, por exemplo, as cidades, festividades etc. Na parte inicial do livro tive que fazer pesquisas no google para conseguir imaginar o cenário. No entanto, apesar dessas dificuldades iniciais, por a narrativa ser altamente descritiva, senti que os cenários descritos eram altamente visuais e senti-me transportada para essa época da história.

Gostei especialmente do livro II, onde a autora pareceu perder o medo de esmiuçar a história, começando assim a dar uma perspetiva mais pessoal a Reyhan, uma ex-princesa da Pérsia, em contraste com o livro I, em que senti alguma timidez da autora em nos aproximar da protagonista, de ficcionar mais um pouco sobre o seu dia a dia.

Contudo, depois de lhe ganhar o jeito, nota-se perfeitamente um maior à vontade da autora para desenvolver as personagens que nos apresenta (especialmente a Reyhan, a minha favorita).

Apesar de dar apenas 3 estrelas ao livro, são 3 estrelas sólidas, porque me enriqueceu muitíssimo e sinto que cresci muito. Descobri todo um conjunto de costumes, detalhes arquitetónicos e lugares de uma época da história que desconhecia quase por completo. No entanto, gostava mesmo de ter gostado mais deste livro, mas senti que faltou algo que fizesse um "click" em mim. 

Penso que isso aconteceu porque normalmente os livros históricos que leio e gosto são feitos numa perspetiva que me dá mais proximidade às personagens, que me permite conhecer a sua personalidade, ainda que ficcionalmente, mais a fundo e neste livro senti que não conheci as princesas como gostaria.

Todavia, não deixo de recomendar vivamente a leitura de The Sky Worshipers a todos aqueles que adoram ficção histórica sem rodeios ou mesmo àqueles que querem aprender um pouco mais sobre o mundo que nos antecedeu. 

The Sky Workshipers é uma leitura desafiante e muito educativa, pois a cada linha traz-nos lições importantes sobre um passado violento a não repetir.

Classificação: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

Com amor, Brenda

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