Range of Ghosts

Range of Ghosts takes place in a fantasy world inspired by Central Asia and the Mongol Empire during a time of political upheaval. Once-prince Temur must flee his home after a battle leaves him one of the few survivors of a dynastic war. A tiger-woman wizard named Samarkar crosses paths with Temur as dark forces gather strength across the steppes. Their journey spans vast territories where the skies themselves change to reflect the powers of different religions and empires. The story combines warfare, magic, and court intrigue against a backdrop of clashing cultures and belief systems. Multiple characters navigate treachery and ancient powers while pursuing both personal quests and larger conflicts that threaten their world. Beyond the surface elements of epic fantasy, Range of Ghosts explores themes of legitimacy, faith, and how different cultures can either coexist or clash in times of transformation. The novel reimagines familiar fantasy tropes through the lens of non-Western historical influences.

Readers describe Range of Ghosts as an original take on Central Asian fantasy with detailed worldbuilding and strong character development. The magic system and alternate history setting stand out. Readers highlighted: - Rich cultural details and non-Western fantasy elements - Complex characters, especially Temur and Samarkar - Unique cosmology where the sky changes based on political control - Quality of the prose and descriptions Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Multiple plotlines can be hard to follow - Some readers found the worldbuilding overwhelming - Several reviewers wanted more action scenes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (80+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "The world-building is meticulous but never bogs down the story" - Amazon reviewer "Takes time to get going but rewards patient readers" - Goodreads review "Beautiful prose but moves too slowly for my taste" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 Range of Ghosts is the first book in Bear's Eternal Sky trilogy, where the sky itself changes based on which empire controls the territory below it 🌟 The novel draws inspiration from Mongolian history and culture, particularly the time of Genghis Khan, but reimagines it in a fantasy setting with magic and multiple moons 🌟 Elizabeth Bear wrote this book while recovering from major surgery, completing the manuscript during her convalescence 🌟 The story features a unique magic system where sorcerers can manipulate the basic elements of the universe by "calculating" with them mathematically 🌟 The book's protagonist, Temur, is loosely based on the historical figure of Temür Khan, who was briefly Great Khan of the Mongol Empire in the late 13th century