The City of a Thousand Faces

A sweeping historical fantasy saga based on the hit podcast Tumanbay

By: Walker Dryden

Narrated by: Clare Corbett

'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)

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.

If you've listened to the podcast don't bother

Brilliant narration but this book feels like there are holes which you'll find in the podcast. If you've listened to the podcast this book really doesn't add much to the story but if you've only read the book you'll need to listen to the podcast to get the fuller story because I felt there was more there. Probably because the podcast is a full cast so each character gets to be fully developed.

The narrator is brilliant though. Her ability to change voices makes it a worthwhile listen even if you have listened to the podcast.