Quest for Honor — A Book Review

Author Sam Barone’s third novel in the Eskaar series titled The Quest For Honor finds the leaders of Akkad in a crisis that new king Eskaar never experienced.  The previous novels cover Eskaar’s rise to power from a mere soldier to a  king after defeating the Alu Meriki Barbarian Hordes at the gates of Akkad and confronting a blood-thirstly Egyptian named Korthac and his gold-hunrgry band of mercenaries who attempted to take control of Akkad from the inside Akkad’s walls. 

What makes this novel different is that in past stories Eskaar was fighting to consolidate power within his own realm and among his own people.  Now that his rule is safe, the threat comes from outside Akkad’s borders. The danger now looms from the south by the growing City of Sumer.  The great cities of the Sumerians are growing rapidly and are in need of new lands to feed its growing population and Akkad stands in their way. 

The story begins with Eskaar traveling south to the borderlands between Akkaad and Sumer to stop what was thought to be bandits raiding Akkadian farmlands.  What was supposed to be a quick military operation against undisciplined bandits turned into something much bigger. 

King Eridu of Sumer secretly sent a small army to Akkadian territory to destory King Eskaar’s small band of warriors who are expecting only bandits.  Luckily Eskaar figures out the ruse and was able suprise Kind Eridu’s forces and annihilates his small army and takes him prisoner. 

This is not the end of the story however. Eridu is soon swept aside and replaced as king by his son Shulgi who rules over Sumeria with his evil sister (and lover) Kushanna.  They at once declare a truce with Akkad and secretly begin preparations for a future all-out war to destroy Akkad. Soon Shulgi is in command of the largest army the world had ever seen up to that point. 

Eskaar does the same and a large amount of the book describes the uneasy truce where both sides prepare for a war that both know is coming.  

While preparations for war may seem boring and though some parts were drawn out, Barone gives the story life with tireless research on the art of warfare during the bronze age. He paints the construction of warships to the training of cavalry and spearmen so well that a desk jockey living in the 21st century can easily follow.  One can easily visualize being a part of the laborous training of a new cavalry regiment.  

Once war breaks out, the book is nearly impossible to put down.  From forced marches into enemy territory to a surpise visit from Eskaar’s sworn enemy the Alu Meriki.  The result of the war will ensure years of peace for one side and utter destruction and slavery for the other.  

What most impressed me with Barone’s writing is how he portrays the advantage a free society has over an enslaved one.  No matter how outnumbered that free society may be. 

Akkadians enjoyed a relative amount of peace and freedom for that period that no citizens had ever experienced.  Eskaar had opened a fair justice system where merchants were able to have their grievances heard fairly.  In Sumer the rich were able to buy their own justice. Eskaar had set up a council of nobles who gave advice on the City while Shulgi governed by his own whim. 

The freedom the Akkadians enjoyed gave them motivation to defend the country that they love while the Sumerians were forced into an Army to fight for a country that gave them nothing in return.  

I strongly suggest this book for an exciting trip back to the bronze age where laws were scare and weapons were in good supply.