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The City of a Thousand Faces

A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay

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The City of a Thousand Faces

By: Walker Dryden
Narrated by: Clare Corbett
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Summary

 'A complex, gorgeous and compelling tapestry of love, death, trust and betrayal' - Daily Mail
A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay

******

'Immersive, rich, compelling and populated with characters who come alive on the page, it will transport you to a different world. I loved it and didn't want it to end.' - Sarah Lotz, author of The Three

'Written with the finesse of a master-assassin's dagger... I could not put it down!' Christian Cameron

******

Tumanbay: the most magnificent city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams - where those who arrived as slaves now reside in the seat of power.

But the wheel of fate is never still: from the gilded rooftops to the dark catacombs, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered.

For Gregor, Master of the Palace Guard, the work of rooting out spies and traitors is never done. His brother, the great General Qulan, must quell a distant rebellion. Whilst Shajah, chief wife to the Sultan, is suspicious that her new maid Sarah is not who she claims to be.

And a mysterious stranger arrives with a gift for the Sultan himself.

A gift that will change Tumanbay forever...

******

'The writing and imagery are flawless, taking you right into the heart of the story and characters. While I was reading, this was MY world, and you can't ask for more than that from a fantasy novel.' Reader review (five stars) Ancient Egypt Fantasy Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Middle East Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Ancient Egypt Fiction
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Critic reviews

Immersive, rich, compelling and populated with characters who come alive on the page, it will transport you to a different world. I loved it and didn't want it to end.
Written with the finesse of a master-assassin's dagger... I could not put it down! (Christian Cameron)
A complex, gorgeous and compelling tapestry of love, death, trust and betrayal
Immersive and engaging
Compellingly written...its urgent storytelling still allows for subtle characterisation and comprehensive world-building. Tumanbay is distinctive and irresistible.
Extraordinary. A triumph of the imagination, rooted in the ruthless games of political power that still echo today . . . Read this and be astonished.
All stars
Most relevant
I've listened to it on the radio and love the way the story has been fleshed out in the book. I can't wait for the next installment.

Loved it

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I don’t know where to start with what I love about this book because it’s so rich and engaging in every aspect. It’s a fabulously engrossing story set against the lavish and fascinating backdrop of the opulent city above juxtaposed against a dead city below.

But, for me, the best part is its nuanced characters, who mirror the darkness and light of the setting. They’re far from perfect and yet somehow still loveable (like Gregor, the vicious palace guard who’s constantly managing his own insecurities, and Ibn Bai, the sweet-natured slave trader who’s too gentle for his trade). Walker/Dryden have created characters you know you should hate and yet, despite your better judgement over their dreadful actions, you still can’t help getting behind them: you want to spend time with them. That’s not an easy thing to pull off but Walker/Dryden manage it because the characters are so nuanced and three-dimensional and their motivations feel justified and realistic. They really come alive in your mind.

The plot twists and turns with unexpected alliances and betrayals, all with credible cause and effect, until finally unravelling to a thrilling and completely unexpected end. You’ll be utterly engaged every step of the way, there’s never a dull moment and you won’t be able to put it down.

The Guardian compared the radio podcast to Game of Thrones and while I’m not sure I agree with that comparison (there are some similarities) this feels more like a very grown up Aladdin or Arabian nights. And, personally, I found Tumanbay more enjoyable than GOT because of its fast-moving and twisting plot. With GOT you’re always waiting for something to happen until you eventually get to the finale, but with Tumanbay something’s happening in every chapter and the finale is cherry on a very tasty cake! I preferred the characters too; even characters I hated, I still wanted to see more of.

Clare Corbett had her work cut out for her with so many characters to narrate but she pulled it off with distinct and recognisable voices for all of them. I can't even begin to imagine the work and concentration that must have taken as she switched between them all. Phenomenal.

Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

IT'S FIVE STARS FROM ME!

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Tumanbay has been my absolute favourite radio drama of all time. I think the book will fill out a lot of the characters and I am really looking forward to reading it, but I have had to return the audiobook because the narrator doesn’t suit me. She does an amazing job with the different characters, but I just can’t get on with the actual narration - her voice isn’t right for it (for me, others will differ)

I loved the radio series, but not so much the book

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