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Silk and Song Trilogy #2
By the Shores of the Middle Sea
By the Shores of the Middle Sea is the second novel in Dana Stabenow’s Silk and Song Trilogy.
In Everything Under the Heavens, 16-year old Johanna fled Cambaluc—and her murderous stepmother—joining her uncle's westbound caravan on the Silk Road. With her foster brother Jaufre and a few faithful companions, they made it to the rooftop of the world—Terak Pass—separating Mongol China from the scattered sheikdoms of the Persian empire. Then, disaster struck. In a climactic skirmish, Johanna and her stallion, North Wind, were abducted and Jaufre left for dead.
Now, in By the Shores of the Middle Sea, Johanna is a prisoner in the harem at Talikan, with Baron Ogodei's army pillaging the countryside and preparing to sack the tiny Persian enclave. Hundreds of leagues to the south, in Kabul, Jaufre lies recovering from his near-fatal wound. Their journey has taken them halfway across a continent, yet an equal distance still lies between them and Gaza, where Johanna and Jaufre once meant to take ship for Venice and the sanctuary of Johanna's grandfather's family.
Gaza and two cities on opposite shores of the Middle Sea that together open a door to the West. For Johanna and Jaufre, it’s a passage that will shape their destiny, if only they can reach it.
In Everything Under the Heavens, 16-year old Johanna fled Cambaluc—and her murderous stepmother—joining her uncle's westbound caravan on the Silk Road. With her foster brother Jaufre and a few faithful companions, they made it to the rooftop of the world—Terak Pass—separating Mongol China from the scattered sheikdoms of the Persian empire. Then, disaster struck. In a climactic skirmish, Johanna and her stallion, North Wind, were abducted and Jaufre left for dead.
Now, in By the Shores of the Middle Sea, Johanna is a prisoner in the harem at Talikan, with Baron Ogodei's army pillaging the countryside and preparing to sack the tiny Persian enclave. Hundreds of leagues to the south, in Kabul, Jaufre lies recovering from his near-fatal wound. Their journey has taken them halfway across a continent, yet an equal distance still lies between them and Gaza, where Johanna and Jaufre once meant to take ship for Venice and the sanctuary of Johanna's grandfather's family.
Gaza and two cities on opposite shores of the Middle Sea that together open a door to the West. For Johanna and Jaufre, it’s a passage that will shape their destiny, if only they can reach it.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2014
50 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,151 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 31, 2014
I loved it. Just flat out loved it. Adventure and dirty dealings and chicks with swords and knives. It's great fun, and written with Dana Stabenow's usual wit and intelligence. Johanna and company are terrific companions.
June 18, 2021
"By the Shores of the Middle Sea" - written by Dana Stabenow and published in 2014 by Gere Donovan Press. I wish I hadn't taken so long to continue this series, but I remembered that I loved the first book and most of the salient points came back to me as I read. Johanna, granddaughter of Marco Polo, and her loyal band of friends continue their trip west along the Silk Road. Exciting adventures never seem to stop coming as they pass through sheikdoms of the Persian Empire, Kabul, Gaza and finally land in Venice where she seeks her grandfather. Stabenow seasons the book with vibrant color, food, action and intrigue, and I can't wait to read the third and, sadly, final installment in the series.
November 21, 2015
A rip-roaring continuation of Johanna and Jofre's silk road adventures. It is killing me that this is coming out in three parts... can't wait for the final volume on October 31st. As always, Stabenow did her research. The characters are engaging and multi-dimensional, the strong female characters take care of themselves and everyone around them, and the historical context is fascinating. Tantalizing bits of historical fact inform the story, not distract from it, and just make me want to plop down in the silk road history section of my local library and read until they kick me out.
January 7, 2022
My rating went up from 4 to 5 stars for this second book in Stabenow's Silk and Song Trilogy, about a time period relatively unknown to me. It was very engaging and really pulled me in. Unfortunately, there were quite a few typos, which always takes my respect down a peg, but in this case not enough to damage my rating. I will look forward to #3! And I do wish Stabenow's primary focus wasn't on mysteries (which I can read, but don't particularly like), because she does a great job of historical fiction.
December 30, 2017
I finished the second part in record time. Is it just me or are there words missing from time to time? Apart from that: great read, great adventures, great characters. I have no idea if the history and the depiction of all the different places and cultures is correct - but the author certainly made me believe so.
November 26, 2019
Even better than the first one, can't wait to read the next one.
April 28, 2022
This one wasn't quite as good as the last one, mainly because I had difficulty believing Sheik Mohammed's actions (or lack thereof) towards Johanna.
June 11, 2024
I really like this book, the middle child of the trilogy. It splits itself, one following Johanna alone in captivity, the other following Jaufre and the crew trying to find her and make it to the rendezvous. The world is so lived in, and the same research that goes into Stabenow’s Eye of Isis series is seen in full swing here. The characters are fun, although occasionally I do wish we got to see more from the side characters that make up the motley caravan. Laced with humor and tragedy, and ending in a helluva cliffhanger, this is probably my favorite of the three.
December 1, 2025
By the Shores of the Middle Sea is the middle book in Stabenow's Silk and Song trilogy. The action resumes from the cliffhanger ending of book 1, where Jaufre was stabbed in the back and Johanna and North Wind were abducted by the sheik's men. The novel has two different story arcs - one following Johanna's fate and the other Jaufre's as they both struggle to survive in central Asia. The Middle Sea in the title of the novel refers to the Mediterranean, but most of this book is set in Asia along the silk road. The Mongol army is again advancing, creating more hazards beyond the usual silk road perils of brigands, foul weather, disease and thieves.
I started reading this trilogy because of the unusual setting. Most historical novels seem to be set in England or Rome. But this trilogy is in the fourteenth century in Asia. It is a fictional tale that imagines Marco Polo left behind descendants in China (Johanna) when he returned to Europe.
Johanna was fleeing her evil step-mother when the sheik and his men captured her at the end of Everything Under the Heavens. Now she finds herself trapped in the sheik's harem and plots on how to free herself. North Wind is held in the stables and will allow no one but Johanna to ride him. When Johanna does go out riding, it is always under the supervision of guards. The sheik's son, Farhad, makes unsubtle hints about Johanna's fate when he succeeds his father. In the harem, Johanna makes a couple of friends: Hayat and Alma. These two women have led confined, pampered life and are astonished by Johanna's boldness and initiative. Johanna decides that if she is ever able to escape, she will take these two friends with her.
Jaufre finally regains his wits after a long bout of delirium and illness. Not only was he struggling to recover from the treacherous stab in the back, but he also contracted typhoid. Sasha has nursed him back to health, and once he is fit to travel, they must venture westward to Gaza. If their group ever got separated, the plan was to reunite in Gaza, and so Jaufre and company must join a west-bound caravan and trust that Johanna will meet them there. It is too dangerous to travel alone. Meanwhile, the assassin Firas has gone searching for Johanna.
The novel is about Jaufre's adventures heading west, and Johanna's attempts to escape the harem. It is interesting enough that I will look for book three of the trilogy, The Land Beyond.
December 22, 2020
A great series for fans of historical fantasy to widen their reading options.
I want to thank Dana Stabenow for this masterful continuation of her Silk and Song trilogy. As a reader who has had to wait years for the continuation of more than one series from other authors, I appreciate her hard work and dedication in completing these three books. I am moving on to book three as soon as I finish this review. While this is not a fantasy genre, those readers who enjoy historical backgrounds and detailed worlds will find this series delightful. I doubt you'll miss the threat of long nights, as the Mongols and evil stepmother are as suspenseful as any of the icy creatures and red women that other authors provide. And, yes, A series without dragons can grab and hold our attention.
I want to thank Dana Stabenow for this masterful continuation of her Silk and Song trilogy. As a reader who has had to wait years for the continuation of more than one series from other authors, I appreciate her hard work and dedication in completing these three books. I am moving on to book three as soon as I finish this review. While this is not a fantasy genre, those readers who enjoy historical backgrounds and detailed worlds will find this series delightful. I doubt you'll miss the threat of long nights, as the Mongols and evil stepmother are as suspenseful as any of the icy creatures and red women that other authors provide. And, yes, A series without dragons can grab and hold our attention.
March 26, 2019
Excitement Never Ending
Both Book one, and now book two have enchanted me. I have been led to believe that Ms. Stabenow has written several other books. However, the trilogy of silk and song is her first historical novel. Miss Stabenow brings each and every character I have been led to believe that Ms. Stabenow has written several other books. However, the trilogy of silk and song is her first historical novel. Ms. Stabenow brings each and every one of her main characters to life with her beautifully descriptive prose and art with word choices.
This second book tells of the separation of Joanna and Jaufre. And, how they both survive this year of separation. Book 1 ended with an evil Samurai being sent after Joanna. Book 2 ends with one of our characters on their deathbed. Where will books 3 take us?
A remarkable journey of words and imagination. Kudos to th s author.
Both Book one, and now book two have enchanted me. I have been led to believe that Ms. Stabenow has written several other books. However, the trilogy of silk and song is her first historical novel. Miss Stabenow brings each and every character I have been led to believe that Ms. Stabenow has written several other books. However, the trilogy of silk and song is her first historical novel. Ms. Stabenow brings each and every one of her main characters to life with her beautifully descriptive prose and art with word choices.
This second book tells of the separation of Joanna and Jaufre. And, how they both survive this year of separation. Book 1 ended with an evil Samurai being sent after Joanna. Book 2 ends with one of our characters on their deathbed. Where will books 3 take us?
A remarkable journey of words and imagination. Kudos to th s author.
August 19, 2018
At the end of the first book Johanna and her horse Night Wind are taken captive by a Persian sheik, leaving her friend Jaufre stabbed in the back by the sheik's son. The story is told from the split points of view of Johanna and Jaufre, as Johanna tries to escape the harem and Jaufre is struggling to recover.
Lots of good adventure here! Even so I was surprised that I finished this overnight. This is much faster paced than the first book and every bit as entertaining, if not more. On to book 3!
Lots of good adventure here! Even so I was surprised that I finished this overnight. This is much faster paced than the first book and every bit as entertaining, if not more. On to book 3!
February 28, 2020
A good follow-up to the first book, Everything Under the Heavens. Copy editing errors (missing verbs, comma issues) were a bit intrusive and the ending is another abrupt cliff-hanger, but the day-to-day historical details are engrossing.
March 5, 2018
Having read the first instalment in 3 days, I couldn't wait to carry on reading, so with the magic of Kindle, off I went. The swashbuckling adventure continues: what's not to like- travelling in foreign parts, historical detail (sounds accurate, don't have a clue!) fighting, trickery... fantastic. Bring on part 3.
January 28, 2019
See review for book 1 in the series, Everything Under the Heavens.
January 18, 2019
The concept of exploring the Silk Road (just after the time of Marco Polo) from the perspective of an outsider / a woman is fascinating. Add face pace and good historical detail and it's a good read!
August 27, 2019
Learning a ton about the silk road, the Mongols and more in the 1300s
March 6, 2020
Beware of cliffhanger.
July 19, 2020
2nd book in the series.
February 16, 2022
It took me awhile to finish because I bought the trilogy in a single hardback so it's cumbersome. I did like seeing the 2 paths the stories went down. Now onward to the 3rd and final chapter!
July 12, 2019
It had some pretty exciting parts, and it's wonderful to watch Johanna (and her two friends from the harem) grow as a warrior. I think it's a must read if you've read the first book of the trilogy. I'm now into the 3rd book and must say I'm disappointed. So it goes.
October 29, 2014
By the Shores of the Middle Sea is the second book in this trilogy. Johanna gets to sample life in a harem at Talikan. In Kabul, Jaufre recovers from his near-fatal wound. In this book their journey takes them separately, with a couple of adventures, to Gaza. Both Johanna and Jaufre do a some growing up on their journeys, I had to remind myself that they're both very young. Johanna and Jaufre mean to meet in Gaza and take ship for Venice and the sanctuary of Johanna's grandfather's family. Better ending than the first book.
January 30, 2015
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! I have raved before about how much I love anything by Dana Stabenow, but I am absolutely in love with her historic fiction trilogy. I cannot wait for book 3 and the chance to find out what happens next. This second book follows the journey of Johanna and her companions who have been separated. They each have their adventures and challenges before they meet again. It is interesting to see how they fight their way through and grow with the experience. I cannot wait to see what Stabenow delivers next.
December 18, 2014
Dana Stabenow is doing very well with her historical series. This second one, like the first, is well researched and the cultures and customs of the times are interestingly revealed. The characters are engaging and believable; they are continuing to develop and grow. As Johanna and Jaufre continue their trip to Venice, they are beset with varying experiences and adventures. It was a delightful read.
December 8, 2014
This is the middle of the trilogy, and it reads that way. The crew from book 1 is split up, they survive various travails, and then they get back together. These books have never been about plot - they are about the journey and the descriptions of the people they meet and the people they see.
Wonderful writing.
Wonderful writing.
March 12, 2015
This new series by one of my favorite authors just keeps getting better and better. The trials thrown at the young Johanna Wu and her foster brother Jaufre as they travel along the Silk Road from China to Venice in 1324 while beset by Mongol raiders and tribal sheiks intensify in this second installment. Four and a half stars for this highly entertaining read.
May 3, 2015
Usually I enjoy books by DAna Stabenow, but foud thids one tiresome - becuse of the typographical/editorial errors. The fow of the story floundered every time. Otherwise, the premise was interesting.
April 12, 2015
Beautifully written; love the adventures and a little bit mad at the cliffhanger ending and that I'll have to wait for the next book!
February 9, 2015
Dana, you did it again! It was wonderful. Thank you for hours of adventure! I just wish it went on and on. Until the next one!
March 28, 2015
Bought myself this book as my Christmas gift. Definitely worth it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews