Launching The Father of Beasts — A Historical Novel of the First Crusade
After countless drafts and a determination to bring forgotten history to life, I am pleased to announce the release of my latest novel: The Father of Beasts.
About the Story
The novel is set in 1098, in the city of Ma’arrat al-Nu’man during the First Crusade. Famine and fear grip the streets as a siege tower inches closer each day, pushed by men who pray for blood. On the walls stand not professional soldiers, but ordinary townspeople: masons, farmers, and boys clutching slings. Among them walks Ahmad, a hunter bound not by titles but by loyalty to his people he travels with a wolf, a hawk, and a black stallion by his side.
As the siege tightens, Ma’arra becomes more than a battlefield. It becomes a crucible of betrayal and survival, where history and legend collide. Chronicles describe the hunger, the violence, and the terrible attrocities committed in those weeks. But behind the violent records lie human lives — voices rarely heard. This novel is my attempt to give them a voice, to show that even in the darkest hours, resistance was possible.
Why This Book Matters
The First Crusade from the side of the west is remembered for its grand victories and holy rhetoric, but The Father of Beasts turns to the margins — to the civilians caught in the storm, to the side of the slaughtered. By blending historical fact with immersive storytelling, I wanted to create a book that feels both unflinchingly real and mythic in scope.
The wolf, hawk, and stallion are not just animals in the tale; they are symbols of endurance and loyalty, reminders that survival often depends not on crowns or crusades, but on those who walk beside us.
Where to Find It
A gut-wrenching journey through real history
A city under siege. A people betrayed. A figure whispered into legend.
In the winter of 1098, famine and fear choke Ma’arrat al-Nu’man. A siege tower creeps closer each day, pushed by men who pray for blood. On the walls stand masons, farmers, and boys clutching slings. Among them moves one hunter with beasts at his side — a wolf, a hawk, and a black stallion stamping in the smoke.
Based on the chronicles of the First Crusade, The Father of Beasts is a story of endurance and betrayal, loyalty and memory — where history and legend meet, and even in the darkest hours, resistance is possible.
The Father of Beasts is available now in paperback and ebook through global distribution, with library access included. Links can be found above. The book is listed across major retailers, including Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and more.
Thank you for supporting independent publishing. Every copy sold, every review written, every recommendation shared keeps these stories alive and ensures that the forgotten voices of history are not lost.
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