Saki

The historical dilogy "Saki" by the Kazakh writer Bulat Zhandarbekov (1932–1991) takes the reader back to the 6th century BC, into the midst of events related to palace intrigues and romantic passions, the fall of great powers and the birth of new states, epic battles and legendary heroes. The first book, the novel "Tomiris," tells the story of the birth and rise of two extraordinary rulers of that time – the queen of the Massagetes, Tomiris, and the Persian king Cyrus, as well as their confrontation, which will lead one of them to inevitable destruction. The second book, "The Feat of Shirak," is dedicated to the ascent of King Darius to the Persian throne, and here the narrative continues about the life of the Saka tribes, which have been weakened by wars, civil strife, and political squabbles. During this time, Darius decides to achieve what the great Cyrus could not – to conquer the lands of the unyielding, yet weakened, nomads of Tomiris. How did an unknown shepherd, Shirak, in love with the queen, manage to stop Darius's vast army?