Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Uruk: A Novel of the First City
Uruk: A Novel of the First City | James Zwerneman
1 post | 1 read
The first in a series inspired by ancient Mesopotamia, following a small band of misfits on an epic, dangerous journey to realize their dream, their establishment of Uruk, the first city. Ki, a member of a nomadic tribe, has figured out how to plant seeds to grow food and invented a dart-thrower, a new weapon that can kill from a distance. Labeled a witch, her sister is the only person who appreciates her genius. That is until Magog, a vicious warrior tribe, attacks, killing her entire family and enslaving her people. The Magog leader discovers Ki's talent and takes her prisoner, wanting to exploit her knowledge for his own gains. Ki manages to escape down the river, but Jakka, the insecure and cruel son of the Magog leader, relentlessly pursues her, seeking to redeem himself to his father. Ta has been exiled from his tribe with other unwanted members, his hand cut off for stealing food. When he steals again and is cast out of the small group, he fears he will die alone. Luck comes in the form of a man, woman, and her baby who have fled their tribe to be free of its rules. Hopeful for a new start and more freedom, they are headed toward the Euphrates River and invite Ta to join them. They discover Ki stranded during a storm, and Ta risks himself to save her. The misfits dare to dream of a new tribe that lives by a revolutionary new code, where everyone has a voice and the elderly and disabled are protected, not left to die. But Jakka is coming for them, and they'll need to pool all their talents to stop the Magog from advancing their reign of terror over the region.
LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
ReadingisMyPassion
post image
Pickpick

I absolutely loved Uruk: A Novel of the First City! Ancient Mesopotamia has always been my favorite time period to read about, and this book brought it to life in such a vivid way.

The pacing was spot on—just when I thought things might slow down, something dramatic would happen to pull me right back in. The characters are wonderfully drawn, a mix of misfits and dreamers who form a found family in a brutal world.