Series: The Nightingale and the Falcon #1
Release date: July 11 2023
Publisher: Angry Robot Books
Pages: 419
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

An imaginative and sprawling epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia, following the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures in the heart of war.

1260, Persia:
Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world. In the shadow of his grandfather, Hulagu Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, is determined to create a single empire that covers the entire world. His method? Violence.

His youngest son, Temujin Khan, struggles to find his place in his father’s bloody rule. After another failure, Temujin is given one last chance to prove himself to Hulagu, who is sure there is a great warrior buried deep inside. But there’s something else rippling under the surface… something far more powerful and dangerous than they could ever imagine…

Reduced to the position of one of Hulagu’s many wives, the famed Blue Princess Kokochin is the last of her tribe. Alone and forgotten in a foreign land, Kokochin is unwilling to spend her days seeking out trivial pursuits. Seeking purpose, she finds herself wandering down a path that grants her more power than a wife of the Khan may be allowed.

Kaivon, the Persian rebel who despises the Mongols for the massacre of his people, thirsts for revenge. However, he knows alone he cannot destroy the empire. When given the opportunity to train under the tutelage of Hulagu, Kaivon must put aside his feelings and risk his life for a chance to destroy the empire that aims to conquer the world.

Family and war collide in this thrilling and bloody reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia.

Review

The Judas Blossom is the first installment in an all new series from Stephen Aryan which reimagines the invasion of Persia by the Mongolian Empire. We follow four main characters: Hulagu, grandson of Genghis Khan, is determined to see his grandfather’s vision of the Mongol Empire come to life, at any cost. Temujin Khan, Hulagu’s youngest son, has always been a disappointment to his father, but when he discovers a power he never imagined possible, he could become his father’s secret weapon. Kokochin is the last of her tribe and is forced into marriage with Hulagu. Determined to find a purpose for herself, she finds a path to power she did not think possible. And finally Kaivon, a Persian rebel whose only thought is revenge for his people. When he saves Hulagu’s life and becomes a General in his army, he knows the best way to destroy the empire is from inside.

The Judas Blossom is completely unlike anything I’ve read before. I knew virtually nothing about the Mongol Empire so it was absolutely fascinating to read a story set in this time period. Aryan does an incredible job bringing the sights and sounds of 1260 Persia to life and the story felt incredibly well-researched. I was completely glued to this story – this is my first book from Stephen Aryan and I found it to be so well paced with plenty of riveting moments that kept me coming back for more.

Aryan has created some truly fascinating characters in this book and I found each point of view to be so compelling. Temujin and Kokochin were probably my favourites but I was desperate to know where the story was going to take all of them and I cannot wait to see where the story goes in books two and three. Each character felt really well crafted and I loved seeing the journey that they all went on. This story is full of scheming and intrigue with everyone plotting for their own gain. The magic element was also woven into the story really well and I am looking forward to seeing more of that in the rest of the series.

The Judas Blossom is an incredibly tense and gripping historical fantasy tale. If you’re looking for a dark and bloody story with fascinating characters then this one is definitely not to be missed.