The Chaos Constellation - The Gryphon King by Sara Omer

The first in a sweeping Southwest Asian-inspired epic fantasy trilogy brimming with morally ambiguous characters, terrifying ghouls and deadly monsters.

Combining queer and polyamorous romances with cut-throat dynastic politics and expansive worldbuilding, this book is perfect for fans of Godkiller and Samantha Shannon.

Bataar was only a child when he killed a gryphon, making him a legend across the land. As an adult, he is the formidable Bataar Rhah, conqueror of the Red Steppe, chosen by god to rule the continent that once scorned his people. After a string of astonishing victories, Bataar turns his sights on the wealthy, powerful kingdom of Dumakra, whose princesses rule the skies from the backs of pegasuses.

When rumours reach the capital, Kalafar, that a tribal warlord plans to storm the city, Nohra Zultama is not afraid. She and her sisters are harpy knights: feared warriors, mounted on winged, man-eating horses. But as deceit and betrayal swirl through her family, Nohra soon learns the price of complacency. With her father dead and Kalafar under Bataar's rule, Nohra vows to take revenge. But her budding feelings for Bataar's wife, Qaira, threaten to undo her resolve.

When rioting breaks out and mythic beasts incite panic, Nohra must fight alongside Bataar to keep order, her growing attraction to the man she's sworn to kill becoming ever harder to ignore. Soon, both realize that the true threat is a chaos more ancient than any empire, and it's walked alongside Nohra all her life. Old evils are rising. Only together will Nohra and Bataar stand a chance against the djinn, ghouls, and monsters that threaten to overrun their world.

Inspired by the diverse Turkic cultures of Southwest Asia, this gorgeously written fantasy is sure to sweep readers of their feet.

Sara Omer is a Pushcart Prize-nominated short story writer. She's been a technical editor for medical and engineering publications and is now pursuing teaching. You can find her (sometimes unsettling) poetry and prose in places like The Dark, PodCastle, Small Wonders, and Strange Horizons. The Gryphon King is loosely inspired by history and culture shared by her Turkic and Kurdish family.