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Kingdoms of Scars: Baldwin, Saladin, and the Price of Piety
Two men. Two faiths. One kingdom on the edge of oblivion.
In the sweltering heat of 12th-century Jerusalem, two titans of history are destined to collide in a visceral struggle for faith, power, and the soul of the Middle East. Kingdoms of Scars is a sweeping historical epic that breathes life into the legendary rivalry between Baldwin IV, the "Leper King," and the brilliant Sultan Saladin.
The King of ScarsBaldwin IV is a boy born to a precarious throne, a king of Jerusalem who must age faster than ordinary men. As an unseen scourge begins to claim his flesh, his mind sharpens into a formidable strategic weapon. Forced to rule a kingdom that fears his touch, Baldwin must defy his physical decay to lead his knights into battle, navigating treacherous court politics and seeking to secure his fragile realm against a rising tide of power.
The Lion of IslamAcross the desert sands, Saladin embarks on a meticulous campaign to unify a fractured Muslim world. From the opulent courts of Egypt to the strategic strongholds of Syria, he employs a masterful blend of military genius, political acumen, and calculated mercy. His ambition is the reconquest of Jerusalem. Saladin is portrayed as a complex leader who understands that true power lies in the strategic application of both force and clemency.
The Price of PietyFrom the improbable Christian victory at Montgisard to the devastating Crusader defeat at Hattin and the climactic Siege of Jerusalem, this novel explores the brutal mathematics of warfare and the agonizing moral compromises demanded by power. Witness the devastating impact of Baldwin's illness on his reign and follow Saladin's patient consolidation of an empire, even as the seeds of future division are sown.
Why Readers Love This Crusader Intense Psychological A haunting portrait of a boy king fighting a war on two fronts—against a rising sultan and his own disintegrating flesh.
Visceral Historical Experience the sights, sounds, and lethal politics of the 12th-century Crusades through the eyes of those who lived it, including the chronicler William of Tyre.
Authentic Immerse yourself in a world where faith and fear were tangible forces and ghosts surrounded the living.
Epic A narrative that spans vast territories and examines how the stories of these iconic figures continue to resonate through centuries.
"Both built something they believed would last forever. Both were wrong."
Kingdoms of Scars is a haunting masterpiece perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, and the film Kingdom of Heaven. It is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and the high stakes of a world soaked in faith.
In the sweltering heat of 12th-century Jerusalem, two titans of history are destined to collide in a visceral struggle for faith, power, and the soul of the Middle East. Kingdoms of Scars is a sweeping historical epic that breathes life into the legendary rivalry between Baldwin IV, the "Leper King," and the brilliant Sultan Saladin.
The King of ScarsBaldwin IV is a boy born to a precarious throne, a king of Jerusalem who must age faster than ordinary men. As an unseen scourge begins to claim his flesh, his mind sharpens into a formidable strategic weapon. Forced to rule a kingdom that fears his touch, Baldwin must defy his physical decay to lead his knights into battle, navigating treacherous court politics and seeking to secure his fragile realm against a rising tide of power.
The Lion of IslamAcross the desert sands, Saladin embarks on a meticulous campaign to unify a fractured Muslim world. From the opulent courts of Egypt to the strategic strongholds of Syria, he employs a masterful blend of military genius, political acumen, and calculated mercy. His ambition is the reconquest of Jerusalem. Saladin is portrayed as a complex leader who understands that true power lies in the strategic application of both force and clemency.
The Price of PietyFrom the improbable Christian victory at Montgisard to the devastating Crusader defeat at Hattin and the climactic Siege of Jerusalem, this novel explores the brutal mathematics of warfare and the agonizing moral compromises demanded by power. Witness the devastating impact of Baldwin's illness on his reign and follow Saladin's patient consolidation of an empire, even as the seeds of future division are sown.
Why Readers Love This Crusader Intense Psychological A haunting portrait of a boy king fighting a war on two fronts—against a rising sultan and his own disintegrating flesh.
Visceral Historical Experience the sights, sounds, and lethal politics of the 12th-century Crusades through the eyes of those who lived it, including the chronicler William of Tyre.
Authentic Immerse yourself in a world where faith and fear were tangible forces and ghosts surrounded the living.
Epic A narrative that spans vast territories and examines how the stories of these iconic figures continue to resonate through centuries.
"Both built something they believed would last forever. Both were wrong."
Kingdoms of Scars is a haunting masterpiece perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, and the film Kingdom of Heaven. It is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and the high stakes of a world soaked in faith.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 25, 2025
About the author
Robert Walker
578 books6 followersLibrarian note:
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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
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