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Edge of Armageddon
Set during the 13th century, Edge of Armageddon is the stirring climax in the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy. The story brings together characters from Books 1 and 2: Duyal, the enslaved nomad boy who rose to command a reconnaissance unit; Leander, the French soldier who abandoned the Crusades to join the devout Islamic warriors he admired; and Baybars, a Kipchak from the Eurasian steppe who is now the charismatic leader of the elite Bahri Mamluks of Egypt.The novel introduces us to Esel, a respected bowmaker in her nomadic tribe who is seized, enslaved, and sold to a wealthy arms merchant in Syria. Overhearing her master plotting against Baybars, a nephew she has not seen since his adolescence, Esel risks her life to flee Damascus and warn Baybars of the coming betrayal.Embraced in Baybars’ camp, Esel plunges into the hazard and intrigue surrounding her ambitious nephew. Soon, she is aiding Baybars in his quest to win the sultanate and countering the efforts of a female spy who stalks the roving Bahri.Tension builds as the Mongol army slashes a bloody path through Mesopotamia and northern Syria, eyeing Cairo as its prize. In a fateful battle on the wide plain just east of the biblical site of Armageddon, Egypt’s Mamluks come face-to-face with the seemingly unconquerable Mongols, who sacked their Kipchak tribes twenty-four years prior. At stake for Esel and the Mamluks is the survival of their people, preservation of their fledgling empire, and the continuance of Islam itself.A gripping tale of betrayal and love, retribution, mercy, abandonment, and redemption, Edge of Armageddon is also a compelling account of the historical Battle of Ayn Julut—an unheralded clash whose outcome leaves crucial repercussions still felt today.Author Graft, a former U.S. Marine officer, conveys to his characters an authentic understanding of combat and fighting men. His inspiration for the book started with the history of the Mamluk Sword, the saber worn traditionally by Marines as part of the dress uniform. Based on exhaustive research that took the author to Mongolia and the Middle East, the book is filled with vivid cultural details and battle accounts.Praise for Edge of Armageddon"This absorbing tale deftly brings to life momentous military events of the 13th century . . . A fierce group that is too often generalized as a faceless horde is skillfully illuminated." —Kirkus Reviews
“Edge of Armageddon is an inherently fascinating action/adventure novel written with a great deal of attention to authentic historical detail… a compelling page-turner of a read from cover to cover.” —Midwest Book Review
“Edge of Armageddon is an inherently fascinating action/adventure novel written with a great deal of attention to authentic historical detail… a compelling page-turner of a read from cover to cover.” —Midwest Book Review
556 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2022
3 people want to read
About the author
Brad Graft
4 books1 followerBrad Graft is a businessman who runs a national chain with his partners. A former U.S. Marine officer, he helped develop a military program that assists wounded servicemen and families of the fallen. He continues to steer fundraising for charities serving this cause. An avid fly fisherman and hunter, for decades he has pursued gamefish in remote places around the world. Also a history buff, his research on the Brotherhood of the Mamluks series took him to the Middle and Far East, where he studied Medieval-era routes and fortresses and trekked the Mongolian steppe on horseback, learning the ways of native hunters and nomadic herders.
The author's first novel, "Chains of Nobility," was recently selected as a finalist for the 2019 Colby Award, a nationally-acclaimed honor, which "recognizes a first work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs."
The author's first novel, "Chains of Nobility," was recently selected as a finalist for the 2019 Colby Award, a nationally-acclaimed honor, which "recognizes a first work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs."
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May 14, 2022MWSA Review
Book Three of the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy, Edge of Armageddon, leads up to and then describes the actual battle of Armageddon on September 3, 1260. Military historians will appreciate the strategy, tactics, and preparation for battle as well as the advancement in weapons – the Mamluks have figured out how to shoot an arrow every second and a half by holding up to four arrows in each hand. The book shows how hard it is to field, arm, feed, and communicate with thousands of soldiers. While modern armies must provide fuel for their vehicles, the 13th century army had to find fodder and grass for their horses, mules, and camels—not easy on the mountain and desert terrains they crossed. Along the way, they captured and raided for both food and additional fighters. At one point, the Mongols had 80,000 troops heading toward Cairo, their ultimate goal. Throughout the book, the value of intelligence gathering is seen for both sides. This battle, according to Eric H. Cline in “The Battles of Armageddon: Mediddo and the Jezreel Valley from the Bronze Age to the Nuclear Age” halted the westward advance of the Mongols and shattered the myth of Mongol invincibility (page 151) and is a battle that cannot be overestimated.
The story moves smoothly back and forth in time with the dates, places, and main characters clearly listed as chapter headings and includes detail after detail of life in the 13th century. The book begins with maps of the battle area as well as list of characters grouped by loyalty. The major players (Cenk, Leaner, and Baybars for the men and Else and Jacinta for the women) each have chapters detailing their struggles, past and present. The excellent cover photo is replicated in silhouette on each page beside the page number—reversed on the left-hand page so that the warriors are charging toward each other, bow and arrow at the ready.
In the acknowledgements, the author thanks the scholars worldwide who spent whole careers studying this period and this sect of warriors as well as those who translated works from Arabic.
Review by Nancy Kauffman (May 2022)
Book Three of the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy, Edge of Armageddon, leads up to and then describes the actual battle of Armageddon on September 3, 1260. Military historians will appreciate the strategy, tactics, and preparation for battle as well as the advancement in weapons – the Mamluks have figured out how to shoot an arrow every second and a half by holding up to four arrows in each hand. The book shows how hard it is to field, arm, feed, and communicate with thousands of soldiers. While modern armies must provide fuel for their vehicles, the 13th century army had to find fodder and grass for their horses, mules, and camels—not easy on the mountain and desert terrains they crossed. Along the way, they captured and raided for both food and additional fighters. At one point, the Mongols had 80,000 troops heading toward Cairo, their ultimate goal. Throughout the book, the value of intelligence gathering is seen for both sides. This battle, according to Eric H. Cline in “The Battles of Armageddon: Mediddo and the Jezreel Valley from the Bronze Age to the Nuclear Age” halted the westward advance of the Mongols and shattered the myth of Mongol invincibility (page 151) and is a battle that cannot be overestimated.
The story moves smoothly back and forth in time with the dates, places, and main characters clearly listed as chapter headings and includes detail after detail of life in the 13th century. The book begins with maps of the battle area as well as list of characters grouped by loyalty. The major players (Cenk, Leaner, and Baybars for the men and Else and Jacinta for the women) each have chapters detailing their struggles, past and present. The excellent cover photo is replicated in silhouette on each page beside the page number—reversed on the left-hand page so that the warriors are charging toward each other, bow and arrow at the ready.
In the acknowledgements, the author thanks the scholars worldwide who spent whole careers studying this period and this sect of warriors as well as those who translated works from Arabic.
Review by Nancy Kauffman (May 2022)
April 20, 2022
"Edge of Armageddon" is the explosive finale of Brad Graft's Brotherhood of the Mamluks series. In each book, especially this one, he manages to bring the reader into the world of the 13th century Middle East, through his evocative descriptions of everyday life, ranging from a desert hunt with Saluki sighthounds to the inspection of a cartload of composite bows. His own experiences in the area, both in location and expertise, shines through, giving the reader a unique insight into the world that his protagonist lived and fought in.
Being myself familiar with the historical events that this book is based on, I found myself waiting with bated breath as the characters neared the time and place of the climactic battle of Ain Jalut, the clash which gives the book its name. The actual battle is seen only through the eyes of one of the protagonists, which may leave one feeling as though they are missing out on a large chunk of the action. I can excuse this, however, as being an intentional decision to leave the fog of war hanging over the battlefield. Still, I greatly enjoyed reading this conclusion to the series and hope to see more from this author in the future!
Being myself familiar with the historical events that this book is based on, I found myself waiting with bated breath as the characters neared the time and place of the climactic battle of Ain Jalut, the clash which gives the book its name. The actual battle is seen only through the eyes of one of the protagonists, which may leave one feeling as though they are missing out on a large chunk of the action. I can excuse this, however, as being an intentional decision to leave the fog of war hanging over the battlefield. Still, I greatly enjoyed reading this conclusion to the series and hope to see more from this author in the future!
January 25, 2022
Culminating book of Graft's trilogy on the Mamluks. Entertainingly brings you to the battle of Ain Jalut which halted the spread, and began the downfall, of the Mongols. While a gripping read, Graft stays historically correct in description of life, weapons and combat of the time. Politics, of course, is intertwined. Movement, logistics, training, patrolling, planning and conduct of battle are complete and well described in an captivating manner. (I can forgive the Marine in Graft for tainting some of the small action tactics). The main characters are interesting and motivations are well covered. The telling of the story suspends a bit of belief in contriving to bring two of the characters together across the expanse of the Middle East.
The story, through the trilogy, is expansive and interesting. It's a long read, but quite satisfying. Recommended.
The story, through the trilogy, is expansive and interesting. It's a long read, but quite satisfying. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews