Zaim, is prince of the Arabs, he governs the spice routes from Aden to Gaza. Loved by his friends, honest and brave, yet hated by his jealous brothers. He will meet the woman he loves, but she is not the woman he can marry, for she is sworn to his brother.
Daughter of an emperor, Apollonia is surrounded by wealth, yet her life is devoid of meaning. What faith she had, she lost – how can she know God when he is so far away? Now fate conspires against her in a loveless marriage to an Arab prince.
Chao is a matchless General in the Han Chinese army, grandson of legendary explorer Zhang Qian. Chao is sent on a mission to chart the route west but when he reaches the Arab city of Petra, he will need to use all his experience in its defence.
Destiny will bring these three together. There will be heroic deeds and ferocious battles, love will be earned and lost.
Beware, the Oracle will declare, ‘The day the dragon enters the falcon.’
For it will be a time for empires to fall.
A time for myth making.
A time for legends.
About Author
Rehan Khan has always been intrigued by the way in which legends and chronicles from all over the world have the power to cross time and space to delight and unite us centuries later – whoever and wherever we may be. A lover of history, he has read extensively about past civilisations and the role virtue has played in the lives of people. His exciting descriptions of swordplay, weaponry and close combat in battle are the result of these studies, although in real life, Rehan prefers to wield a tennis racquet rather than a scimitar.
When not writing, Rehan helps executives improve their focus, and teaches management topics. Born and educated in London, he now lives in Dubai with his family.
Website: www.rehankhan.com
You can follow Rehan on social feeds: @rehankhanauthor
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“Page-turning historical epic rich with atmospheric detail, vivid battle scenes, philosophical depth, and romantic intrigue” –
With a poet’s heart and an historian’s eye for detail, Rehan Khan takes the reader on a heart-stopping journey from Alexandria to Gaza in 90 BC, skilfully resurrecting the forgotten Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires as they battle to wrest resources from the Nabateans garnered in the Spice Trade.
A Tomb of Empires is a page-turning historical epic rich with atmospheric detail, vivid battle scenes, philosophical depth, and romantic intrigue. In its pages you’ll find kings and queens, warriors and traitors, oracles and assassins, rabbis and rascals, a dashing Arab prince, a brave Egyptian princess, and her irrepressible cat. What more could you want? Dive in!
Leza Lowitz, Co-author of Jet Black & The Ninja Wind
“A world of captivating depth and enthralling delight that grips one from start to finish.” –
A world of captivating depth and enthralling delight that grips one from start to finish. Having read previous novels from the author, I was keen to read his latest rendition and was not disappointed.
I think Rehan has continued his impressive trajectory as an author and developed his particular style of historical fiction into an art, having evolved to such an extent that he is beginning to stand out as one of the more prominent authors of this genre. His ability to map out stories that weave together intricate historical civilizational details with profound human stories of love, friendship, betrayal prompted by lust for power, all alongside a healthy dosage of spiritual wisdom through maxims and aphorisms ensures this offering raises the lofty bar he previously set even higher.
As I found myself engrossed in the tales of Chao, the Han Chinese explorer, Zaim the prince of Nabataea, and Apollonia, the Princess of Ptolemy, alongside many other interesting characters, I couldn’t help but marvel at the imaginative capacity of the author who brought them to life. In particular I loved his introducing the Wushu martial arts element of Chao’s military training and the aphoristic spirituality imparted by the Jerusalem based Rabbi as timeless advice we would benefit from acting upon.
Once the plot thickens, the pace of the novel is fast, and gets especially intense towards the end as it culminates in a climactic battle, ensuring this novel is in keeping with the style of similar best-selling novels of its genre (think Dune, Lord of the Rings, etc.).
From an educational perspective (schools take note!) the level of depth and historical references to civilizational details that Rehan employs open up many avenues for future research, and novels such as these are ideal for academic syllabi, as they provide plenty of material for classroom discussion and the stirring of adolescent imagination. In short, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying Rehan has found another committed fan and I can’t wait for his next project.
Dr Yusuf Jha, Shari’a Specialist, The UAE Council for Fatwa
“An incredible page-turner, this obscure tale of history should not be missed. ” –
We may have gotten somewhat lost in perpetuating the creation of a bland industry of fossilised fiction: superheroes, morose heroes, dark fantasy, loveable villains, heroic saviours, lone wolves, the outcast, and so on. Especially the morally ambivalent protagonist, all centred on a Western paradigm of storytelling. Here, perhaps for once, we have a novel that champions and valorises another way of thinking: that of Arab nobility, an entirely different perspective and set of values that have been overshadowed by Hollywood’s cynicism.
The protagonist of the novel, Za’im, upholds a chivalric code of conduct well-known amongst Muslims of all stripes: the makārim al-akhlāq, or the acquisition of the noble character traits. Generous to the poor, gentle to the weak, staunchly brave in the face of his enemies, self-restrained, deeply selfless and compassionately concerned for the whole of creation. Za’im stands in sharp contrast to his cowardly and gluttonous brothers, as the rightful heir to Nabatean sovereignty, and so does the wonderful Apollonia, daughter of the Ptolemaic king, who shares Za’im’s sense of universal of compassion.
It is with these masterful strokes that Rehan Khan weaves an engrossing tale of a little-known Nabatean as enclave existing in Jordan prior to the birth of Christ. Full of plot, intrigue and a colourful cast of diverse characters, Khan imaginatively constructs a story of how a small Nabatean kingdom stands up to the powerful bullies, made up of a much larger empire: the Seleucids.
An incredible page-turner, this obscure tale of history should not be missed by all lovers of historical fiction.”
Dr. Faris Abdelhadi PhD and LLB
“Feels like watching a riveting movie.” –
Brings to life a fascinating period of history in one of the richest geographic locations in historical events. Reading it feels like watching a riveting movie, unable to move your eyes away from the screen!
:- Dr Qais Mekki.